A few years back i received a call from a Jeweller who had a client bring in “a few watches” that he wanted to sell. As usual, i asked for a few pictures………..then they started to “pour” in….one after another. I would guess there were approx 50-60 pictures that sounded like i had won the Jackpot at a casino as the “ping” notification sounded on each picture as it arrived on my phone. There was a huge mix of watches, many ladies, a few pocket watches, some chronographs, some dress……..but one thing they all had in common…..they were all NOS (New Old Stock)…..watches that had never been worn before. I immediately agreed to meet up and take a look at the watches in person as it was difficult to asess the size and models from the pics. On arrival the next day, i was presented with literally a SUITCASE of watches……with small trays/boxes inside. It was far from organized anymore……i guess it had been opened and mixed up far too many times. I took a look at them all and there was a mix Jaeger Le Coultre, Cyma, Tudor, Tissot, Eterna, Movado……and a few other Swiss brands.

I arranged to meed the owner at the jewellers shop the following day. The watches belonged to his father who ran a Mercedes car service station. Apparently a client had had his car repaired and was unable to pay the bill. The car was withheld until the owner came up with a reasonable suggestion of how he would pay for the work done. All he had to offer was this suitcase of old watches……all from the 1940’s and 1950’s. Reluctantly the owner of the garage agreed as nothing else was forthcoming………….and the owner of the Mercedes drove off in his now repaired/ serviced car. Fast forward 60 years, the owners son is now sorting out his affairs after his passing…….and he comes across this box of watches that he remembers his father telling him the story about many years prior. Some he kept as a memory for himself of his dad and the rest he was happy to sell. Below is a selection of 23 that were in the suitcase……

There were a few boxes in the suitcase, including this Rolex watch display case.

A selection of Radium dial/hands

A 1950’s Rolex Oyster Date Precision with “Waffle Dial”…..still with original caseback sticker and Rolex strap.

NOS 1940’s Rolex Precision…….with the Rolex “Crown” engraved on the caseback

A lovely NOS JLC triple date manual wind

Radium hands and dial JLC

Pink gold markers and hands

Lovely NOS Movado Triple date moon phase…..manual wind

Time stopped at twenty to two! Radium hands burned onto the dial from close contact.

Lovely pink gold markers and hands on this Tudor

1950’s NOS Movado chronograph Ref: 19038 with Radium hands and dial markers. Movados legendary M95 movement.

A lovely pair of matching Tudors with sub seconds dials. Note the radium burn on the one on the left.

Various NOS Cyma watches

NOS 1950’s Jaeger Le Coultre

Quite an under-rated and under the radar brand….Eberhard & Co

And finally a pair of 1940’s Tissots. Both with sub second dials.