Buried Treasure
I work a job that requires me to get out in the community and form connections with local business owners that my company wants to partner with to provide them with advertising.
This week I met a local shop owner who told me he was retiring, so he had no need for my company's services. I told him no hard feelings and we started talking. I found out he's a 3rd generation Watchmaker who is closing his doors due to not enough business.
This building was like a watch museum, guys. He was talking about needing to sell off or throw out these massive bins of watch crystals and parts, as well as all the boxes of stuff that was left on his father & grandfather's work benches.
He pulled out a box of watches that were repair jobs people never picked up. My eyes lit up at the prospect of digging through these unwanted watches but he said "eh they're all just a bunch of junk or they would've been picked up." The man was thinking about just throwing it all out but I urged him to let me look through them. Inside all of this we found:
A Bulova mechanical alarm, a vintage Tissot seastar with a 70s prx-like case, a vintage Mido oceanstar, a 14k gold Universal Geneve dress watch, a Masters Tournament commemorative 2-tone watch, a Seiko lord matic, a vintage gold Longines dress watch, as well as other various seikos like a chronograph & datejust homage.
All together at least a couple thousand dollars worth buried under all the junk he didn't want!
I'm a simple man. I like pretty, well-made watches and breakfast food.
Also, pictures are ones I found online. I was having too much fun to think to take pics of the ones we pulled out of the box.
So, did you pick up any of the watches or parts from the bin?
So, did you pick up any of the watches or parts from the bin?
Not at the time. I plan to go back to at least look for some backup crystals for my vintage pieces. I would really like to get that wrist alarm if he doesn't want too much for it. Still worked perfectly!
Buried treasure indeed. What a find to stumble upon!
On this episode of American Pickers we explore for buried treasure but it’s not a Coca Cola bottle, 66 Mustang convertible but rather a Bulova, Tissot and Mido… lol.
Does the shop have a website?
Sounds like you stumbled into quite a find! Hope you’ll go back and snag a couple gems (or at least some more photos). Great story!
On this episode of American Pickers we explore for buried treasure but it’s not a Coca Cola bottle, 66 Mustang convertible but rather a Bulova, Tissot and Mido… lol.
Does the shop have a website?
He doesn't do any online stuff to my knowledge. I think that's part of why he's closing down. Bummer too because I live in an area with almost no nearby watchmakers
Sounds like you stumbled into quite a find! Hope you’ll go back and snag a couple gems (or at least some more photos). Great story!
Right? I'm very tempted by the bulova alarm if he's looking to let it go for a deal
The ug lug is beautiful! Maybe u can offer to sell it for him and take a few as commission fees ;)