Thrift Store Lotto Win

[cornerstore]

Not necessarily stolen but could have been dumped to claim an insurance loss. Years ago in my bars customers occasionally would dump damaged high end watches needing repair into the staff tip jars . Then the owners likely reported them as lost as opposed to stolen to avoid insurance fraud. No police no “ lie” if returned.

[DKS2375]

How did you get that bezel off? And did it go back on?


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[uncleluck]

Originally Posted by bayerische

I don't want to be Mr Negative, but realistically what are the odds of it not being stolen?

I’d say 98% otherwise the remaining 2% is a split on a 1% chance (as mentioned) a disgruntled spouse sold it or a 1% chance it was inherited and they assumed it was fake (but we know by watchout forum that’s unlikely to go by without authentication)

Mind you, that’s assuming someone sold it to the store? Not really even sure what a thrift store is? Is it a charitable thing? If that’s the case it’s more likely someone donated it assuming it was fake, maybe relative or spouse that was told it was fake. But even then (looking on watchout) the first thing people who ‘inherit’ these things do is get them authenticated. It doesn’t strike me as an old enough watch for a dead relative inheritance.

It’s gotta be hard not to gloat on something like this but an Internet Rolex forum is probably the worst place you could have done it (even though it’s also the best). After seeing that thread on the vintage bezels a couple of months ago and jealous people contacting the seller I’d have kept quiet about this to be honest.

I hope you got one in a million lucky, get Mum to pick the lotto this week too.

[Jojoshop]

If they are convinced this is fake ,then it shouldn’t have a forsale sign. I don’t think they are allowed by law to sell contrafit items.
If it is indeed an authentic piece, the outstanding question is it stolen? And more likely the answer is yes. the watch should be sent to their rightful owner.

Did you google the serial number ?

[mikester]

Winner! Winner! Chicken dinner...Maybe previous owner left it in a jacket pocket and was accidentally given for donation... Someone's going crazy somewhere looking for it.. I would be!

[uncleluck]

Originally Posted by Jojoshop

If they are convinced this is fake ,then it shouldn’t have a forsale sign. I don’t think they are allowed by law to sell contrafit items.
If it is indeed an authentic piece, the outstanding question is it stolen? And more likely the answer is yes. the watch should be sent to their rightful owner.

Did you google the serial number ?

Indeed. That is a bit odd a store would be selling a fake Rolex, let alone the fact they were asking $1k for it. Wouldn’t that be some sort of offence over there? Even aside from how it got there that part is also very bizarre to be honest, why would they list it for $1k ‘knowing’ it was fake? Why that expensive.

He does say he checked the serial no but IF it was stolen it could have all been done so quick the serial no wouldn’t have even hit the lists yet. Also not everyone keeps their boxes & papers, maybe it’ll never hit a stolen list, maybe the owner is still in hospital after the mugging, maybe it was a mistake it got to the store, maybe it was a gift to the store (but if that was the case you’d want them to realise it’s value assuming charity & it’d have its b&p)

I think I’d have kept quiet and exhausted the serial search for months before feeling in the clear. I can only imagine how I’d feel if one of my own watches went missing and I’d like to think other genuine enthusiasts would all feel the same way.

Maybe the dealers on here would have more idea how long it’d take for something like this to show up? It may be ok today but what happens if in a years time OP goes to sell it and it’s on the stolen register? Would be the worst $700 spent then. Or what if he sells it on eBay for a (no box and papers) market value and the new owner has shelled out many thousands and then they go to sell it to a shop.

[Wahlberg]

So, are you willing to take the risk and bring it to a Rolex Service Center with the risk of it getting flagged stolen or independent?

[SpeakWithMichael]

Man, what a find. I don't think if 50 of us went hunting for a modern Rolex like that across garage sales and thrift stores, that any of us would find that in 5 years time. Mom deserves a spa day and a really nice dinner out.

[SpeakWithMichael]

Originally Posted by bobernet

Go back and check all the framed art for a Declaration of Independence.

[TswaneNguni]

Amazing story

[justdate]

Almost certainly a stolen watch. The shop knows it is and that’s why they said it is fake, to stop any further questions / investigations by the new buyer. As you said, ‘if it’s too good to be true...’

[Harry-57]

Cor.

[piratfisk]

Holy sh!t. Nice find!

[watchmaker]

I hope everything works out fine with this for you and it is just the luckiest find from the dumbest thrift store ever.

I’m afraid my gut tells me something’s not right and as suggested is probably stolen. There are as yet undiscovered Amazonian tribes that know how much a Rolex is worth. As you said yourself, is something seems too good to be true, it is.

[Soly20]

What a story! Congrats.

[SkyJuice]

Amazing story, congrats!

[HogwldFLTR]

Amazing; congratulations!!! You'd think with all the available media that would be impossible.

[zengineer]

I don't understand how you suddenly decided that it was real. The most obvious tell on fake Rolexes looks wrong on this one...the cyclops should magnify 2.5 times, this one barely seems to magnify at all.

How did we jump to thining it is 100% real. Unless a RSC says so I'm still in the it's probably just a decent fake crowd.

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[pkincy]

For the non US persons, a thrift store gets their merchandise by donation not purchase. A consignment store has items consigned to it by the owner and typically shares proceeds with the owner. A thrift store is generally operated by a 501(c)(3) organization, a charity.

[mrV.85]

Nice find (understatement)!

However, still seems to good to be true.

On the plus side: The watch being stolen does not seem to be in line with a thrift shop. Why go through the trouble of stealing it and then handing it to a thrift shop?

[amh]

Congrats!

Give it a bath and wear it

[zengineer]

Originally Posted by mrV.85

Nice find (understatement)!

However, still seems to good to be true.

On the plus side: The watch being stolen does not seem to be in line with a thrift shop. Why go through the trouble of stealing it and then handing it to a thrift shop?

Robinhood?

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[DasKptl]

Originally Posted by sillo38

So this happened about a week ago and still haven't fully come to terms with my mom's luck. She's being thrifting lately and has found some cool stuff . . . .

You should send your mom to many other thrift stores. She might find a good authentic Patek Nautilus for, say, $1500.

Your mom is the Lady Luck. Please treat her extremely well.

[Sublovin]

Originally Posted by sillo38

That was the first thing that crossed my mind after I realized it wasn't fake, especially because I originally thought it came from a pawn shop and not a thrift store. I ran it through a couple of the online databases and nothing. I think they just genuinely didn't know what it was.

My other theory is some employee in the thrift store planned on buying it once they saved up money and told the manager it was fake.

Now for the ultimate test...send it to RSC
That is the true test of being stolen as well as authentic. Spend the $800 on a service and you really might have something

[Luap1976]

Originally Posted by Rocket_Man

What a great find. But I wonder why it was there? Do you wonder if it was stolen?

Defo stolen.i also find it hard to even belive this story sorry guys

[travisb]

Wow. Crazy! Do you plan on taking it to a Rolex service tech?

[Luap1976]

Originally Posted by Jojoshop

If they are convinced this is fake ,then it shouldn’t have a forsale sign. I don’t think they are allowed by law to sell contrafit items.
If it is indeed an authentic piece, the outstanding question is it stolen? And more likely the answer is yes. the watch should be sent to their rightful owner.

Did you google the serial number ?

Also if they were sure it was fake why the hell were they trying to sell it for 1000
I don't buy this story

[RaceDoc11]

+! Absolutely! OP needs to check and keep the the receipt in case he needs to prove the purchase and get the money back.

Originally Posted by bayerische

I don't want to be Mr Negative, but realistically what are the odds of it not being stolen?

[77T]

Your Mom will have quite a story to share for many holiday family gatherings in the years to come. The watch appears correct and she should save the receipt just in case the RSC flags it before it’s serviced.

How it came to rest in a thrift shop would be a great sidebar story, too.

Now for the bonus question...will you sell it or keep it after it’s all spiffed up by the RSC spa treatment?


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[FrontHeadlock]

Originally Posted by bobernet

Go back and check all the framed art for a Declaration of Independence.

lmao