1974 Veteran Can't Believe How Much His Watch Is Worth Today

An Air Force veteran made what seemed like a simple purchase in 1974, spending nearly an entire month's salary—$350—on a Rolex while stationed in Thailand. Originally intended as a scuba diving watch, he decided it was far too beautiful to risk in the ocean and carefully stored it away with its original box, receipt, warranty, brochure, and paperwork. For 45 years, the watch remained virtually untouched in a safety deposit box until he brought it to Antiques Roadshow. What experts discovered left everyone stunned: an exceptionally rare 1971 Rolex Cosmograph Daytona Oyster in museum-quality condition, now estimated to be worth an astonishing $500,000 to $700,000.

WATCH:

An Air Force veteran spent $350 on a Rolex in 1974 nearly an entire month’s salary at the time.

He bought it for scuba diving while stationed in Thailand.

But when it arrived, he looked at it and thought it was too nice to risk in saltwater.

So he never wore it.

Instead, he… pic.twitter.com/xVXRRUXMqN

— Damian (@damian173_) July 29, 2026