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Daily Mail
02-07-2025
- Daily Mail
Antiques Roadshow guest's jaw drops as they learn whopping value of Rolex watch bought for just £200 and left collecting dust in a drawer
An Antiques Roadshow guest's jaw dropped as they learned the whopping value of a Rolex watch that they bought for just £200. In a recent episode of the BBC show, which originally aired in 2022, a number of guests travelled to Woodhorn Museum in Northumberland to get their special items looked at. One man brought along a watch for expert Richard Price to look at. Richard told the guest: 'So, Rolex collectors obviously know what this is and this is a Rolex Oyster GMT Master. 'And they refer to everything by the reference number. In this case, it is the reference 1675. 'It's also here on the bill of sale which I see is from a Hong Kong retailer in the early part of 1971. 'It's obviously not bought by you so who bought it in 1971?' And the man explained how he got his hands on it and said: 'It was basically a gift to my dad and about give years ago, he passed it to me for inheritance. 'He's still alive, but he just thought give it to me to see what to do with it and it's been in a drawer ever since!' Richard then shared the history of the watch, explaining that the airline history in the 40s and 50s made longer trips, and pilots flew on GMT. Pan American Airways has a discussion with Rolex to develop a watch with an extra hand to set it to GMT - it was developed for the airline in 1954. The watch became the standard GMT master. 'What is so lovely about this is that you have got all the paper work,' Richard said. He pointed out that the bezel was original, but the value may have been reduced if it wasn't, but the bracelet wasn't the original. The expert pointed out that he thought it was purchased for £200, and then went on to say how much he think it is now. Richard said: 'That £200 50 years ago has actually done quite well. 'If it had the original bracelet with the full set, we could have put two noughts on and made it £20,000. 'But it's not got the original bracelet. 'So I'm going to take it back to in this condition, around £14,000.' The guest was lost for words and said: 'What?! Woah! No way.' Richard asked: 'You happy?' 'Yeah!' the guest replied. 'I didn't expect that at all. It comes after an Antiques Roadshow guest's jaw dropped in shock as she learnt the eye-watering value of her 'exquisite' watch - despite a swipe from a BBC expert. A recently repeated 2004 episode of the BBC show, which sees specialist appraisers value heirlooms and heritage items, went to Hampton Court Palace in London. Expert Richard Price met with a woman who had brought in a gorgeous Swiss ball watch she had inherited after a 'very dear friend' passed away. She explained their relationship: 'I actually used to work for her and her husband was a buyer at one time in Harrods, a jewellery buyer for Harrods.' The antiques specialist asked if her friend wore it often, to which she replied: 'Yes, she used to wear it nearly every day on her suit lapel.' Richard was touched - and impressed: 'That's a lovely story and I'll tell you something, it is in absolutely exquisite condition. An Antiques Roadshow guest's jaw dropped in shock as she learnt the eye-watering value of her 'exquisite' watch - despite a swipe from a BBC expert The guest was absolutely amazed at the eventual valuation, with her jaw dropping in shock 'There's not a chip out of that enamel anywhere.' He tried out the mechanism, winding the unusual spherical watch using the bezel and testing the clock hands, before saying it 'does everything it should do'. The antiques expert showed off its inner workings to the camera, dubbing the delicate metal work 'absolutely typically Swiss'. 'It is an exquisite thing. Wonderful quality', he exclaimed. But it was not an entirely positive assessment, as the expert took a swipe at the watch's bezel: 'But there's just one thing I'm not entirely happy with. 'The little rose diamonds around the bezel of this watch just don't have quite the same style and class, if I can use that word, of these brilliant cut ones here.' He asked, as the guest nodded in agreement: 'Do you see how that's just a little bit nicer than the watch itself?' Richard also had a problem with the chain used to hang the watch: 'I'm not sure that the pendant actually went on with the watch when new.' But it was not an entirely positive assessment, as the expert took a swipe at the watch's bezel: 'But there's just one thing I'm not entirely happy with' 'The little rose diamonds around the bezel of this watch [left] just don't have quite the same style and class, if I can use that word, of these brilliant cut ones here [right]' But the appraiser was willing to move past that: 'The colours are so good that it doesn't really matter. 'It blends extremely well because this is an unusual quality of enamel and it's an unusual colour because you've got the dark reds and you've got these lovely almost coral-y petals.' The guest was not sure what period the watch was from - but Richard used his expertise to identify it: 'Well, these flowers, the petals, leaves, the enamel, it's very sort of art nouveau in style, isn't it?' 'And just looking at the general shape and size of the piece, I'm quite happy to say it's about 1905 to 1910.' Then came the moment the guest had been waiting for - the valuation. Richard said: 'Well, you're never going to replace it because you'll never need to. 'But if you went to look for one, I think that's going to cost you an absolute minimum of £6,000 to £7,000.' The guest was absolutely amazed, with her jaw dropping in shock: 'Oh goodness! Oh goodness me! Thank you, that's wonderful.' Richard said, laughing: 'Next time somebody takes you out for a lovely dinner, pop it on.' The woman chuckled, looking towards her partner off camera: 'I'll tell him!' It comes after an Antiques Roadshow guest was left wide-eyed as an expert gasped 'I need time to come down from this' in response to the 'trickiest item she's ever had to value'. A repeat episode of the BBC show went to Belton House near the town of Grantham, Lincolnshire. Expert Hilary Kay met with a woman who had brought in a unique item - the funeral standard of 17th-century English statesman Oliver Cromwell. He led parliamentary forces in the English Civil Wars in the mid-1600s against King Charles I, helping to overthrow him before his execution in 1649. The soldier and politician then led the Commonwealth of England that was quickly established, serving as Lord Protector from 1653 until his death in 1658. Hilary began the segment: 'Sheltering from a passing shower and sheltering with an object which is, I feel, almost radioactive with power. 'It's a very interesting phenomenon to be this close to something that is really quite important.' The woman explained how such an incredible object came into her possession: 'It was in a collection about seven years ago. My father actually bought the collection of militaria. 'We now own it as a family. It's actually kept in one of our spare rooms and as you say, it's one of those objects that make you tingle.' With anticipation built up, about an item with such historical value, the valuation could not come sooner - and it did not disappoint. Hilary said: 'This is about the trickiest thing I've ever had to value. 'It is certain to fetch £25,000 but how much more would it go for?' The wide-eyed guest was rendered absolutely speechless, with Hilary saying: 'It's going to take me a little while to come down from this. 'It'll take a couple of bars of chocolate and a cup of tea but this has been a really special moment with a really extraordinary object, don't you agree?'
Edinburgh Live
02-07-2025
- Edinburgh Live
Antiques Roadshow expert confesses watch could have been worth 5-figures if it wasn't for one problem
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info WARNING: This article contains spoilers from Antiques Roadshow. An unsuspecting Antiques Roadshow guest was astounded to discover that a watch that had been living in a drawer was actually worth a considerable sum. The beloved daytime programme made its way to Northumberland, where filming took place amidst the stunning backdrop of Woodhorn Museum. There, BBC expert Richard Price encountered a guest who brought in an especially striking timepiece. Price began his appraisal by saying: "So, Rolex collectors obviously know what this is and this is a Rolex Oyster GMT Master. And they refer to everything by the reference number. In this case, it is the reference 1675. "It's also here on the bill of sale which I see is from a Hong Kong retailer in the early part of 1971. It's obviously not bought by you so who bought it in 1971?" 'It was basically a gift to my dad and about five years ago he passed it to me for inheritance', the guest explained. 'He's still alive but he just thought give it to me to see what I want to do with it and it's been in a drawer ever since.' (Image: BBC) Price further explained the historical significance of the watch, noting that it was during the 1940s and 1950s when airlines began undertaking much longer flights, requiring pilots to operate on GMT (Greenwich Mean Time). It was in the mid-1950s that Pan American Airways, commonly known as Pan Am, approached Rolex to create a watch featuring an additional hand that could be set to GMT. "By 1959 or certainly just around five years later, this reference, which is the 1675, became the standard GMT master," Price elucidated. "And what is so lovely about this is you've got all of the paperwork, what we call in the trade, the full set." Delving into the details of the timepiece, the expert observed: "Things to point to, the bezel is original. Had it been changed, the value would have been reduced." Yet, not everything was perfect as he noted: "The bracelet is not original. This will be what they call a service replacement. "The only thing that spoils it, because otherwise it's in lovely original condition." (Image: BBC) Originally bought for £1,040 Hong Kong dollars, roughly under £2 00 at the time, the watch had appreciated significantly. "That £200 50 years ago has actually done quite well," Price remarked, but with a tinge of disappointment, he added: "If it had the original bracelet with the full set, we could have put two noughts on and made it £20,000." The owner could only muster a "wow" upon hearing this, but Price had more news: "But it's not got the original bracelet so I'm going to take it back to, in this condition, around £14,000." Overjoyed, the owner couldn't believe it, exclaiming: "What? Woah! No way." His happiness was evident when asked if he was pleased, replying with a content: "Yeah. I didn't expect that at all." Antiques Roadshow is available to watch on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.
South China Morning Post
24-05-2025
- South China Morning Post
The enduring legacy of Rolex's 70-year-old GMT-Master
Visitors to West Kowloon Cultural District's Freespace in Hong Kong between May 26 and June 8 can catch an exhibition on one of Rolex's most important models: the GMT-Master. The watch celebrates its 70th anniversary this year, an occasion that marks one of watchmaking's most elegant answers to the problem of tracking multiple time zones. The watch and its namesake GMT complication gain their name from the addition of an extra watch hand that tracks time on a 24-hour index. The GMT hand can be set to one's home time zone, or to Greenwich Mean Time – also referred to as UTC or Zulu Time. The Longines Zulu Time from the 1920s also allowed for multiple time zones, but the 24-hour index of these watches was located within the minute track rather than on a rotating outer bezel. Armin Strom Dual Time GMT Resonance First Edition. Photo: Armin Strom The GMT complication was mainly seen on pilot's wrists in the mid-20th century – indeed, Rolex developed the GMT-Master together with the historic airline Pan American Airways. Today however, anyone who travels frequently might consider getting one. 'Nowadays, we are travelling on planes more than ever,' says Helbert Tsang, co-founder of watch community The Horology Club, 'and the GMT-Master still looks pretty much as it did when it was first launched in the 50s. What has changed since then is the reason people buy and wear watches. What used to be an essential tool (for fliers) is now a luxury item or a status symbol. People working in front of a screen all day may still imagine themselves as a globetrotter or a commercial pilot landing at different destinations every day, and a GMT watch is the perfect prop for them to live out that fantasy.' The GMT complication's history, combined with its surprisingly modern utility, has led to its consistent popularity. Unlike dive watches or chronographs – the functions of which have since been supplanted by computers – wearing a GMT watch means one can still use the complication to track time for loved ones in a different part of the world, or to recall important international meetings at a glance. Parmigiani Fleurier Tonda PF GMT Rattrapante 2025. Photo: Handout Luxury brands now put design at the forefront of GMT watches to appeal to collectors. At Watches and Wonders in Geneva this year, manufacturers made their own efforts to show multiple time zones elegantly. Rolex interpreted their modern GMT-Master II with green Cerachrom and tiger iron dials. Panerai, Armin Strom and Parmigiani Fleurier chose to add additional complications with GMTs (respectively, perpetual calendar, simultaneous dual time display and rattrapante). Tag Heuer, known for its racing chronographs and divers, added a Twin-Time model, which tracks the second time zone along a two-coloured internal 24-hour index, to its Carrera pieces. Nomos Glashütte developed a new automatic movement and introduced a world time complication to their Club collection.•
South China Morning Post
24-05-2025
- South China Morning Post
The enduring legacy of Rolex's 70-year-old GMT-Master: it revolutionised time zone tracking and brands like Tudor and Panerai are adding extra complications with GMTs to appeal to collectors
Visitors to West Kowloon Cultural District's Freespace in Hong Kong between May 26 and June 8 can catch an exhibition on one of Rolex's most important models: the GMT-Master. The watch celebrates its 70th anniversary this year, an occasion that marks one of watchmaking's most elegant answers to the problem of tracking multiple time zones. The watch and its namesake GMT complication gain their name from the addition of an extra watch hand that tracks time on a 24-hour index. The GMT hand can be set to one's home time zone, or to Greenwich Mean Time – also referred to as UTC or Zulu Time. The Longines Zulu Time from the 1920s also allowed for multiple time zones, but the 24-hour index of these watches was located within the minute track rather than on a rotating outer bezel. Armin Strom Dual Time GMT Resonance First Edition. Photo: Armin Strom Advertisement The GMT complication was mainly seen on pilot's wrists in the mid-20th century – indeed, Rolex developed the GMT-Master together with the historic airline Pan American Airways. Today however, anyone who travels frequently might consider getting one. 'Nowadays, we are travelling on planes more than ever,' says Helbert Tsang, co-founder of watch community The Horology Club, 'and the GMT-Master still looks pretty much as it did when it was first launched in the 50s. What has changed since then is the reason people buy and wear watches. What used to be an essential tool (for fliers) is now a luxury item or a status symbol. People working in front of a screen all day may still imagine themselves as a globetrotter or a commercial pilot landing at different destinations every day, and a GMT watch is the perfect prop for them to live out that fantasy.' The GMT complication's history, combined with its surprisingly modern utility, has led to its consistent popularity. Unlike dive watches or chronographs – the functions of which have since been supplanted by computers – wearing a GMT watch means one can still use the complication to track time for loved ones in a different part of the world, or to recall important international meetings at a glance. Parmigiani Fleurier Tonda PF GMT Rattrapante 2025. Photo: Handout Luxury brands now put design at the forefront of GMT watches to appeal to collectors. At Watches and Wonders in Geneva this year, manufacturers made their own efforts to show multiple time zones elegantly. Rolex interpreted their modern GMT-Master II with green Cerachrom and tiger iron dials. Panerai, Armin Strom and Parmigiani Fleurier chose to add additional complications with GMTs (respectively, perpetual calendar, simultaneous dual time display and rattrapante). Tag Heuer, known for its racing chronographs and divers, added a Twin-Time model, which tracks the second time zone along a two-coloured internal 24-hour index, to its Carrera pieces. Nomos Glashütte developed a new automatic movement and introduced a world time complication to their Club collection.•
Metro
18-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Metro
Eddie Marsan explains truth behind his 'Kentucky accent' in devastating BBC dram
Eddie Marsan has revealed the inspiration behind his Kentucky accent in the BBC's gripping drama about the Lockerbie disaster. On December 21, 1998, Pan American Airways flight 103 exploded over the small town of Lockerbie in south-west Scotland as it made its way from Frankfurt to Detroit via London Heathrow. All in all, 270 people – including 243 passengers, 16 crew members and 11 people on the ground – were killed as the plane fell from 30,000ft. Soon after, investigators discovered that the explosion was caused by a bomb, making it one of the deadliest attacks to ever hit the UK and, at the time, the largest crime scene in the world spanning 845 square miles. The horror of that crash and the efforts of individual law enforcement agencies to uncover what caused it is now the subject of a six-part drama on BBC One, called The Bombing of Pan Am 103, which stars Connor Swindells, Peter Mullan and Suits star Patrick J. Adams. Marsan, who plays real-life FBI explosives expert Tom Thurman, discussed his preparation for the role and what attracted him to the project. Speaking at the Curzon theatre in Soho after a screening of the BBC series, Marsan – who has played Amy Winehouse's father in last year's Back to Black – was adamant that this is not a story about 'one hero'. 'It's really not a story about just one hero, one lone person that solved all of this. It's about the work of a community. 'There's also a collective response to this trauma, that was one of the things that really interested me about this project. Touching upon the American accent he uses, Marsan added: 'Well, I didn't have any chance keep up with Peter Mullan doing a Scottish accent, so I thought I'd be the Kentucky detective with a twinkle in his eye. 'No, seriously, I hope I did the accent well. Really, it's like training to be a boxer. 'You do it for an hour or two, then you break and do it all again. The good thing was that I had my dialect coach with me on set, so it was easy really. I didn't have to think about it, I just did it and then she would tell me if I was doing anything wrong.' Following the release of Sky's Lockerbie: A Search For Truth, starring Colin Firth, which takes a look at the efforts of Dr. Jim Swire who searches for justice following the death of his daughter Flora, the new BBC series takes a different perspective on the crash. More Trending Written by Jonathan Lee and Gillian Roger Park, the series focuses on the never before seen efforts of US, British and Scottish law enforcement agencies working together to discover what happened. However, the story is one that continued to develop throughout the shooting of the series. In March it was revealed that the trial of Abu Agila Mas'ud Kheir Al-Marimi, known as Masud, who is accused of building the bomb that destroyed the plane will be postponed after it was originally planned for May 12. View More » The Bombing of Pan Am 103 airs on BBC One on Sunday May 18. Got a story? If you've got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@ calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we'd love to hear from you. MORE: 'I'm 77 but Rose Ayling-Ellis' experiment has turned me into a big kid' MORE: Who came last in Eurovision 2025 as Austria secures victory for third time MORE: Graham Norton leaves Eurovision final viewers in stitches with 'brutal' Margaret Thatcher jibe
