NT931
1872
I'll kick things off with a sad story with a happy ending
Back in 2016, I came across an uncommon rose gold Nomos Tangente with an attractive
"mocha" brown dial on eBay. No box, no papers, but since I'm a sucker for time-only, manual-wind watches, this immediately drew my attention. I made an offer, and eventually the watch arrived , and I was quite pleased with the new arrival. My first gold Nomos!
I then tried to register it with Nomos. After an uncharacteristically long delay of 8 days, Nomos emailed me back to say this was a stolen watch!! It was reported stolen from a retailer some years back.
There was no way I could honestly own this watch. I immediately contacted the eBay seller, and he was quite surprised as well. To his credit, he immediately offered to refund me the money and take the watch back. So without any further drama, the watch was returned, and I was refunded my money.
And that was the end of it, I thought. The End. No happy ending.
I posted my sad story on a watch forum as a cautionary tale, and as this was an uncommon RG Nomos, I did not expect to find another anytime soon, as these did not appear for sale often.
To my great surprise, 5 months later, a kind Nomos collector who had read my story alerted me to another Tangente Mocha on sale - exact same model, but fortunately a different serial number. This time, I made sure it came with box and papers. And I contacted Nomos to confirm that there were no reports of theft (just in case!). Once all was cleared, I bought the watch, and it was all good! I still own this watch, and I just love the warmth of the RG.
It isn't often that an unfortunate tale of a stolen watch ends up with a happy ending, but I guess I got lucky, thanks to the kind help of a fellow collector. In the past 6 years, I've not seen another such watch come up for sale, so I was quite fortunate indeed.
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Contest is Now Live !!!
Here we are, Friday at last! Well, the games definitely afoot ! I hope you all had enough time to select all of your most interesting stories to tell ! Without further ado, please start your posting ! ...
Great theme Seiji …
I’m looking forward to seeing the interesting posts from our community. I will return later with a few stories and photos. Best regards Captain
I'll kick things off with a sad story with a happy ending
Back in 2016, I came across an uncommon rose gold Nomos Tangente with an attractive "mocha" brown dial on eBay. No box, no papers, but since I'm a sucker for time-only, manual-wind watches, this immediately drew my attention. I made an offer, and eventual...
What a fine watch & what a story !
And Yes, most stories of watch thefts do not end that well - Congrats to you & wear it in the Best of your health !! 😊😊
Curious story JML! A true good ending. In spite of the disappointment of your experience finding the first watch was stolen it was a good point that the seller was an honest guy who...
... accepted to return it and refund your money. And it was very lucky to find another similar watch. gold case and brown dial as it is a very rare combination and a beautiful one indeed. I´m glad to know you are enjoying this watch so much. Thank you for...
That's a wonderful watch
Never knew it existed. Any idea what happened with the original one, was it returned to the retailer? I assume at this point it would have been paid out by insurance claim? Interesting. Glad another enthusiast helped you out.
Good question. I don’t know but I would imagine it was returned.
I not only notified the seller that it was stolen, but also notified eBay as well. I hope things got set right in the end, and if the seller didn’t do the right thing, I hope eBay had some rule that made returning the watch mandatory.
Hmmhh !.. Let me see, how to play this week..
Team, 😉 When having seen the upcoming WS theme, I thought about which stories might qualify for a submission and I basically came up with two; stories that are connected with the arrival respective watch acquisition, quite some time ago, in fact dating ba...
Thx so much for your kind looking & your nice comments !
I am glad you liked the stories & the pics It has been a truly stimulating theme and I am further looking forward to the other members’ articles. HAGWE & Best, 😊😊
Hello dear friend HS! Two great stories you share and they are around some wonderful timepieces in your collection.
About the first one: OMG! I can easily understand your feelings and stress flying back to your home with one of your new found in Paris babies missing! What an upsetting situation! And I can imagine your surprise and joy when finding that charming chrono ...
Hello my dear friend, in kind return !.. Thx so much for your nice & thoughtful comments !!
You indeed have hit the „nail on the head“ in your kind assessment of the importance of that first Jaeger Chronograph, which was first thought to be lost and then was happily regained !!.. „All is well, that ends well“ - and I know how careful with „alcoh...
My big pleasure to read and comment your great stories dear friend HS.
Of course I see you learned a lesson: you may keep enjoying friends and drinks... after having safely guarded your precious horological catches! Lol! And yes, a find like your beautiful Breguet which tells you its previous story with the rare original box...
Two wonderful stories …
The first one had me perspiring at the prospect of you loosing a watch 😅
Thx, dear Capt‘n for your kind understanding & nice words !!
And Yes, it had been a sort of restless flight home, with focusing how easy one might loose a great find, in my beloved city of Paris. The deeper my joy, when that „little Monsieur“- Jaeger Valjoux 72 Chrono in the end was happily regained !! 👍 Again, thx...
Hello Seiji! Again welcome to hosting wishing you´ll enjoy it so much. You bring a great Theme. Stories make a big part of the enjoyment and interest of owning our beloved watches.
I will be posting my watch and story a in a few minutes. Abel
Hello again Seiji!! Here’s my entry answering your Theme.
I hope not to bore our friends as I have told this one several times before but it is one of my favorites among the many which have accumulated through my long collecting journey. My first serious watch was a Submariner 5513 gloss gilt dial which my paren...
Hello my friend - another time an amazing, no - highly dramatic story with a truly good ending !!
I can only marginally imagine, how that robbery could have gone seriously dangerous, even life threatening !! Thx to your lovely wife you practically immediately were „re-imbursed“ with that great 1680, a very good sample- no doubt but of course one is le...
Hello again my dear friend HS. I appreciate so much your thoughtful message and kind viewing and reading my post.
You catch my deep feelings about that first Rolex I owned. It was not easy for a young 18 years old guy to own a Rolex in those years here in my land. And it was a present from my dear parents to make a long long dream of mine come true in an special date...
Wow!
Hello Abel! You are raising the bar with your story! I am with my cellphone, and I wish I could comment more!
Thank you so much Seiji! I´m glad you liked my story. Regret to say that it was not my only scary experience with an armed assault though fortunately I can still tell them myself.
Life is getting complicated here in my country and wearing a nice and high brand watch means getting into trouble. I only wish never to be involved in another experience of this kind again. Thank you for your hosting and interesting theme. Best cordial re...
Thank you Seiji for your kid comments.
An unusual and scary experience in which I was very lucky to end unharmed. Best cordial regards Abel
Kidnapping, oh my goodness!
I’m glad no one was hurt, and that you eventually found another gilt Sub. The patina on the gilt Sub is gorgeous!
Thank you NT. Yes a scary experience it was.
I was lucky indeed. Though I still miss that first 5513 Sub. Glad you like the replacement 5513. Agree about its patina. Appreciate your kind comments so much! Best cordial regards Abel
What a story. Happy you only lost…
…things that “almost” can get replaced Albeit of great sentimental value Best regards Hans
Omega Calibre 560 for the US market
I have actually made a post on this reference… a little back… on Dec 28, 2009.. The calibre 560 was a 17 Jewel calibre only produced in 3000pcs for the US market. The calibre has been produced from 1959, but has been used in models for the US market mainl...
Hello Hans! Three beautiful vintage Omega watches you are sharing. Specially interesting the super rare Kleerback transparent caseback model KL6292, and a superb and very rare dial ...
of the ref166020. So beautiful and different! Thank you for sharing a very interesting story/information about these Omega watches you own. Have a nice and relaxed weekend, Abel
Here another favourite
In the 560 series Reference 14770 With a nice cyclope if you want BR Hans ...
Really enjoyed your pics and the background stories connected !
This Kleerback variant also seems to be a really rare bird !.. - also love your first shot with the two variants side-by-side. Last but not least let me say Thx for the educational background ! Cheers !
Thank you so much
It took me some years to investigate and find every variant and some deep understanding That’s probably what I like the most. The research and the hunt BR Hans
Here's an old pocketwatch which has been in my father's family for...well quite a long time.
First, here is the watch, then the story! So, it's a JAS Harding of Liverpool with a fusee. Family tradition dates it to the early 1800s. My family tradition is not overly reliable, but similar watches date to that time. It ran well enough to be used for ...
Hello Spangles!! This is a most beautiful pocket watch and with a great story behind. Provenance of this watch adds to its interest and nostalgic value for you and your family.
Interesting movement as well. Glad to know you could have it restored and be able to listen its original ticking sound after so many years. Keep enjoying and loving it so much! Best cordial regards, Abel
Tremendous story …
You did well to find a good watchmaker that had the passion and skill to restore the movement.
Once upon a time …
Hello Seiji and friends, My watch story starts many years ago in Monaco, when the place had an air of quiet glamour and real style. The weather was warm the drinks were cold, the women were hot ;-) and fell in love with this beautiful Patek Philippe. Buyi...
I smiled when reading your comment regarding acquisition of the Patek in Monaco . . .
. . . as it brought back a memory from 1967 when Dad bought Mom a Longines in Zurich. 'Civilized' is an apt description of the experience. Ah, the good old days . . .
The good old days …
Sadly missed not just for nostalgia purposes, it’s because the world really can be a better place if people take the civilised approach.
Great story behind this wonderful Patek dear Captain!
It’s easy to understand why this timepiece is so special for you and imagine also for Mrs. Scarlet. A romantic story I feel which is reminded each time you wear it. Keep enjoying and loving it so much my dear friend!! Cheers! Abel
Thank you dear friend …
I’ve had to edit some of the details due to the “X certificate” 😉
Ha ha ha!! I can understand! Lol!
My pleasure my friend. It’s interesting to remember old times when buying a watch was a more pleasurable experience with certain brands. I can remember in my far youth when shop windows were full with almost all models of Rolex. Watch world has changed so...
I remember the first Rolex I bought…
That was a great day ! … if only I had known what I had just started 🤷🏼♂️
Ha ha ha!! Yes, the first Rolex purchase is a memorable experience…
… though we don’t know about its consequences! Lol!
I can imagine your joy my dear Captain!!
The Date is a beautiful watch. Which year is this one? Do you still own it?
I really enjoyed owning it …
From memory it was back in the late 80’s. I exchanged it for a blue dial submariner.
Thank you for your answer dear Captain. I’m sure you enjoyed it so much.
The Bluesy Sub! Be it a two tone or a full gold is a wonderful variant of the old black dial Submariner. The deep cobalt blue of Rolex is almost impossible to beat. Cheers my dear friend!
It’s interesting …
Looking back at these watches. I remember how the Jubilee bracelets stretched and how popular the Bi-Metallic finish was back then.
It’s true Captain! Jubilee tend to stretch more easily than the Oyster.
At least in the older versions. And agree that two tone watches were trendy in the 1980’s and 90’s. Probably they will make a return soon I feel. Cheers my dear friend
I've forgotten how to insert a link within a post . . .
. . . so please wander to our Piaget forum and enter 'Original Pantry' into the search engine for the story behind this Omega. Art ...
Here is the link dear Art. I feel it’s a winner story…
… as your beautiful vintage Omega has the most awesome story behind: www.watchprosite.com Have a nice Sunday my dear friend! Abel
Thanks, Abel! . . .
. . . I'll get the low-down on inserting links from Mike R . . . I texted him yesterday but he must be tied up as he hasn't replied yet. Art
My big pleasure dear Art. I´m not very knowledgeable with this matter but I just searched your post and then copied the complete address to paste it in my own answer.
That´s truly a great story!! And it adds to the pleasure to own this nice vintage Omega. Keep enjoying and loving!! Have a nice Sunday! Abel
This one
Story in brief as laptop just crashed Inspiration Acquisition Theft Fighting two bureaucracies ( UK & US post offices) Finding another Servicing woes Sending back home While not fully descriptive, it gives you the essence of my journey with my Futurematic...
A beautiful watch I love so much JML!
Worth all the troubles involved to make it possible to enjoy it on your wrist! Hagwe! Abel
Inspiration
Hi The spark to get it was an article in a watch magazine - a forerunner to QP in the UK. A bit like this site - watch magazines can be very dangerous things! Yes you're correct - European version & I always thought more common than the port hole version....
Really Great to Read Everyone's Stories!
This is really great, the stories are so interesting! I find it interesting that we associate more stories with watches than other personal items with the exception of a house or car, it think watches seem to have something so much more personal about the...
Entries are now Closed!
It is actually 5:00PM Pacific Time! I am sure there's a few more great watch stories out there, but they will have to wait for next time to be told. A good watch story never gets old, they just become a bit of history. So, I'm beginning the difficult task...