Someone Was Drunk!

[iloveshinythings]

Hi Everyone!

I've been a Tnet stalker for a few years now, but never really felt like I had anything to share. Until today! I know I didn't find it with a detector, but it is gold....


WHoOOOO!


So I was driving down to Home Depot, and I spotted a yard sale on the side of the road with some large sheets of tempered glass leaned up against the tree. So I pulled over because I've got a project I need some glass for. (Trying to build some closet doors)

The person there says I can take the 80 by 24 inch sheets for 2 bucks each... SOLD! Yeah! It's just what I needed!

So then I start to poke around. I bought a brand new apple computer keyboard in the box for a buck, and then two awesome over the mirror light fixtures (each for a buck). And I make my way over to the clothes and counter.... I almost fell out of my skin when I got to the jewelry table, which was shockingly vacant of other people (probably because most of the stuff there was a bunch of rain soaked linens and stuffed animals....)

And I saw this straight off the bat...



I'm no sucker, but it looked legit, and when I saw the markings - I had to ask... how much you want for it? They said 10 bucks for the set, and the box had 18K written on it. *MINE*

That got my interest piqued, so I kept looking.

I look around some more and start shaking when I start pulling great jewelry... I mean, like NICE, from stacks of costume junk.



All in all I take up the necklace set, the opal earrings, the CZ pendant, and the aquamarine pendant - plus the tempered glass panels and a few other nicknacks and sterling pieces to checkout. And I look down at a row of watches and see this... and I kind of stopped breathing.



I was a little suspicious at first, because let's be real.... who would have a Rolex mixed in with this bunch... but the more I looked the more I was convinced it was a vintage Day-Date (probably from the 70s or earlier). I even wound it up, to see if the movement was smooth, which is was..... So I put it in my stack, wondering what they're gonna ask for it.

I'm SHOCKED when they total up what everything to $56.00, because I would have paid that just for the set of tempered glass panels. I got my money ready, and then the man stops for a second. He then says, oh yea, - it's half price day because they want the stuff gone... - I ask him, if he's sure.... because I wasn't gonna argue... but he said he liked me, so he did it. I walk out for $28.00 with 18K, 14K, 10K and a vintage Rolex.

It's too bad that I like shiny things, and will probably keep it all.

The large gold necklace set checks out at 18K, the Victorian Opal Earrings are marked 14K, and so is the Aquamarine pendant and earrings set. The three CZ pendant is marked 10k. And I got a set of cool Jasper and sterling earrings and a green glass and sterling set of earrings as well.

I'm wondering if anyone has reference materials on Rolex? Or where I could start looking. It's been worn for at least thirty years, judging by the wear and tear, and when I wound it up, and it runs smooth as glass - no tick-tocking at all. I'm certain it was Grandpappy's watch that no one knew about...


I've always heard about sales like this, where people hit big. BUT MAN. I didn't think they still happened.

 

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[iloveshinythings]

It's amazing how many rather different forms treasure hunting can take - thrift store shopping , yard/garage sales , bottle digging ,
coin roll hunting , metal detecting , prospecting for gold /gems - to name just a few of my favorites . I have a good friend who
has learned a lot about a particular kind of gemstone ( I wont specify here to protect his interest ) but he can cherry pick the
valuable ones off ebay listings - and score massively because of his expertise on this stone . There are tons of people out
there who don't know pot metal from high karat gold .They have no clue as to what a hallmark is or denotes. Many of them
were born well after silver coinage had gone away , therefore they also know little or nothing about collectible coins . Please
don't get me wrong - I'm not suggesting they're not fine people - they just don't know or care about some of these areas
that myself and other "treasure hunters" are pretty much obsessed with . Keeping an open mind about what constitutes
"treasure" is one of the most valuable lessons I'm learning .

Isn't it fascinating. As one of those born post-silver coins, I'm definitely one of the few in my circle who even likes this stuff. Most of my people are stuck in their phones all the time (although now that I have the TNET ap, I may be one of them, too). I've never been that successful metal detecting, although I have found about three hundred pull tabs, a few chewed up tin cans, a pair of glasses and one civil war button… For me, finding hidden treasures out in the retail world has been my better success.

Treasure hunting of any kind has to be the BEST HOBBY of all time. I'm to the point now where I'm dragging my parents around flea markets, because I want a buddy to do this stuff with and no one my age wants to…. But days and finds like this one make it all totally worth the time!

 

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[iloveshinythings]

Gotta hang on to at least one of those treasures...........as a reminder..........tomorrows hunt awaits.........

Yeah, I have a feeling that the aquamarine necklace isn't going anywhere but around my neck….

 

[doninbrewster]

There are a few ways to tell if a Rolex is real. Unscrew the winder. If it doesn't unscrew and just pops out it's a fake. Once unscrewed, wind the watch a bit. The gears on a Rolex are extremely fine and when winding it, it doesn't sound or feel like other watches. Take a close look at how the second hand moves. If it clicks over one second at a time it's not a Rolex. The second hand on a Rolex moves 4 or 5 times a second. The link on how to tell a real Rolex was a bit misleading with it's information about adjusting the date. The newer Rolexes have a "date just" feature so you don't have to wind all the way around to get to the next day. The older Rolexes didn't have this feature. Looks like you made some great finds. I've done well at tag sales myself buying gold, silver and platinum.

 

[I-DIG-IT]

Nice score. Welcome to T.N. I would pay it forward some how, for your great fortune, let it be charity, your church, etc. I always live by the karma thing.

 

[Erik in NJ]

I'm sure it'll look lovely on you (I see it there in you profile pic, but kinda hard to make out)

Yeah, I have a feeling that the aquamarine necklace isn't going anywhere but around my neck….

 

[romeo-1]

Nice score...but the Rolex is a replica. The date magnifier should be 2.5x magnification and from the picture you provided yours is less than that. Can you post a few more pics including the back and a straight on shot of the dial? Also, the crown side of the watch.

Edit: I just checked the link provided earlier in the thread and see that the magnification method is listed and that yours passed that test...you may have something there if that's the case. The best thing to do is to have a jeweler remove the back and just check the movement.

 

[Just some Guy]

Awesome!!!

 

[huntsman53]

Congrats on scoring some really nice items! One of the first things that will usually clue you in that a Rolex is genuine, is the weight in hand. A genuine Rolex is heavy and most counterfeits have the weight of a fairly large Seiko Watch. Also, I don't know where you are in Tennessee but I have taken, Rolex...Breitling and Tag Heuer Watches to Jared's and Markmans' Jewelry Stores in Knoxville to have them checked out as to whether they were genuine or fakes. Most of the folks in both stores are very helpful and since they carry these brands, they have to know their' watches.


Frank

 

[park pirate]

Wow what a score love the watch....

 

[Back-of-the-boat]

A gentleman my Mother and Aunt worked for told them to toss all his wife's jewelry and clothes away or donate to Goodwill and we are talking furs, gold, diamonds and rubies.So they asked if it was o.k. to pick through and he said it was.My Sister had her and her husbands wedding set made from one necklace while my cousin thought it was costume and gave hers away.My Sister's supposed costume jewelry appraised at over 4500.00.

 

[CincinnatiKid]

Damnit!
I found it difficult to "like" this thread.
Well done.
Peace ✌

 

[pepperj]

Congrats on the score of the jewellery and the watch (hope you hit a home run with it being the real deal), it's a numbers game with digging holes or at sales do enough of them something great is going to show up.

Last sale I was at I dug a sterling ring out of the costume jewellery box and I showed the owner, she ripped it out of my fingers and the box disappeared as well. Lol

 

[stealthycat]

oh
my
gawd

 

[iloveshinythings]

There are a few ways to tell if a Rolex is real. Unscrew the winder. If it doesn't unscrew and just pops out it's a fake. Once unscrewed, wind the watch a bit. The gears on a Rolex are extremely fine and when winding it, it doesn't sound or feel like other watches. Take a close look at how the second hand moves. If it clicks over one second at a time it's not a Rolex. The second hand on a Rolex moves 4 or 5 times a second. The link on how to tell a real Rolex was a bit misleading with it's information about adjusting the date. The newer Rolexes have a "date just" feature so you don't have to wind all the way around to get to the next day. The older Rolexes didn't have this feature. Looks like you made some great finds. I've done well at tag sales myself buying gold, silver and platinum.

Awesome! And thanks for the hint. It does unscrew. I think I may have to take it into a dealer! I'll keep ya'll all posted on what happens!

 

[iloveshinythings]

I'm sure it'll look lovely on you (I see it there in you profile pic, but kinda hard to make out)

Yeah. I definitely wore it today... Ha! I wish I had more earring piercings so I could wear all the gold at once!

 

[iloveshinythings]

Congrats on scoring some really nice items! One of the first things that will usually clue you in that a Rolex is genuine, is the weight in hand. A genuine Rolex is heavy and most counterfeits have the weight of a fairly large Seiko Watch. Also, I don't know where you are in Tennessee but I have taken, Rolex...Breitling and Tag Heuer Watches to Jared's and Markmans' Jewelry Stores in Knoxville to have them checked out as to whether they were genuine or fakes. Most of the folks in both stores are very helpful and since they carry these brands, they have to know their' watches.


Frank

Thanks! I'll have to go to a jewelry store tomorrow after work! Usually people are pretty friendly here in Nash.

 

[iloveshinythings]

A gentleman my Mother and Aunt worked for told them to toss all his wife's jewelry and clothes away or donate to Goodwill and we are talking furs, gold, diamonds and rubies.So they asked if it was o.k. to pick through and he said it was.My Sister had her and her husbands wedding set made from one necklace while my cousin thought it was costume and gave hers away.My Sister's supposed costume jewelry appraised at over 4500.00.

That's CRAZY TO ME. I just don't get people who don't care to take the time to treasure that stuff. It's such a silly thing to do! But, hey I'm sure your sister is really happy - I know I am!

 

[Erik in NJ]

Don't worry Stacey, I'll save you a trip to the dealer and give you twice what you paid for that watch

 

[MuckyBottles]

Getting into the weeds...lol..

Have you tried it all on? lol

 

[huntsman53]

Thanks! I'll have to go to a jewelry store tomorrow after work! Usually people are pretty friendly here in Nash.

Great! I would recommend taking it to one of the larger Jewelry Stores that carries Rolex Watches such as Jared - Galleria of Jewelry. The folks there will tell you truthfully if it is genuine or not and unlike some Jeweler's I have encountered, they won't offer to purchase the watch after telling you it is a fake. This is usually a dead giveaway that a Jeweler is not being truthful but they also know, that even some fake Rolex Watches have value and can sell for $100 to $300 or more.

Good luck and I hoping for you that it is in fact a genuine Rolex!


Frank