Antiques Roadshow is a popular television program that’s been around since the late 70s. Its aim is to give residents of each location the opportunity to have their items appraised by antiques and fine arts specialists.
Eager collectors always grab the chance to find out if the items they have are worth fortunes, while some reluctantly accept that the value of certain things are limited to just purely sentimental.
The items featured on the show are almost always coupled with intriguing back stories or some sort of connection with the episode’s venue.
Having your items appraised by an expert elicits so many emotions for both guests and viewers: excitement, nervousness, hopefulness, name it. With so many thoughts racing through your head and your heart pounding as you wait for the verdict, there’s no telling what will happen next.
In one episode which took place in Bonanzaville in West Fargo, North Dakota, the Antiques Roadshow crew met up with U.S. Air Force veteran David.
The veteran purchased the watch in 1974 for $345.97.
David originally bought the timepiece for scuba diving but he found it too nice to bring in the water. The watch, still in excellent condition, even came with the original receipt.
The veteran explained that he barely wore the watch.
“After I got out of the service I had other watches I wore and I just put this one into a safety deposit box. It stayed there for 30-40 years.”
To David’s surprise, appraiser Peter Planes dropped some major news.
Turns out a similar watch at an auction was valued at $400,000.
Stunned at the number, the veteran dropped to the ground in complete disbelief.
His dramatic reaction took everyone by surprise, including the appraiser.
When David was back on his feet, the appraiser shared the good news.
As if that announcement wasn’t major enough, Planes had an even bigger bomb to drop on the already astonished veteran.
“Your watch at auction today, ‘$500,000 to $700,000’.”
David couldn’t believe his ears. He didn’t realize his Rolex Oyster Cosmograph would be worth so much.
His response to the incredible appraisal was understandable and comical, even if some parts had to be bleeped out.
“You gotta be [expletive] me!”
Planes offered more details to the amazed veteran.
“It’s an absolute fabulous find. It’s one of the rarest Paul Newman models and in this condition, I don’t think there’s a better one in the world.”
According to Inside Edition, a similar timepiece worn by late actor Paul Newman sold at an auction for nearly $18,000,000.
The evaluation was so much more than anyone had ever expected, even those who already estimated a large number for the timepiece. It was such an incredible episode that the Antiques Roadshow clip immediately went viral – mostly because of the amazed veteran’s priceless reaction. The impact of the episode was so great that viewers everywhere were inspired to hunt for treasures of their own – items that could possibly make it on the show and be appraised for hopefully hundreds of thousands as well.
Watch the video for David’s amazing reaction!
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