US Military Veteran discovers his Rolex Daytona ref. 6263 could be worth $700,000 on Antique's Roadshow - PBS

This is the wonderful moment a US Forces vet who took his watch to be valued on PBS's Antique's Roadshow found out his beautiful Daytona, purchased in the 1970's for $345.95 is now worth up to $700,000. The veteran who recalls his admiration for the Rolex watches he would see on pilots in the early 1970's when he was stationed with the military in Thailand, finally managed to save the money to purchase this wonderful Rolex 6263 PN Cosmograph in 1975. He paid approximately one month's entire salary to purchase the piece, he decided it was too nice to wear, and so stored the watch, which has since spent the vast majority of it's life in a safety deposit box. As such the watch made in 1971, sold several years later, remains in new old stock condition which is just outstanding. Being the diligent fellow that he appears to be, having exercised far greater control than the majority of us collectors could bare, he managed to only take it out from storage to look at it a few times, therefore not only is the watch pristine, but so too is the paperwork. Due to the outstanding condition, the watch is appraised at up to $700,000 and the reaction of the owner is enough to put a smile on any face! Little did he know, that stretching to afford that purchase back in the 1970's would turn into enough for him to potentially comfortably see retirement in.

Here is that moment, the full episode can be watched on PBS online here.

This gentleman's watch truly is in incredible condition. The dial is immaculate and every lume plot perfectly complete, fluffy and undisturbed.

Having spent the vast majority of it's life in safety deposit box, the dial has remained pristinely white. The case is immaculate with it's brushed top, bevelled edges and mirror sides looking like the day it was made.

The screw down pushers remain completely unmarked, protruding from the body of the watch, these pushers are too often seen scratched, dented or dinged.

Due to the owner's clever foresight in thinking it was too nice to wear, the watch was kept in storage and thus the paperwork is entirely perfect and complete also.