Isang U.S. Air Force veteran ang naging instant multi-millionaire dahil sa binili niyang Rolex watch worth PHP19,000 noong 1974.
Ang veteran ay kinilala bilang si David (hindi ibinigay ang apelyido), at naengganyo lamang na bumili ng isang Rolex watch noon dahil ginaya ang mga kasamahan sa serbisyo.
Sino ang mag-aakalang after 45 years, ito pala ang magpapabago sa kanyang buhay?
Tumaas kasi ang value ng relo na umabot ng milyun-milyong piso ang katumbas.
Ang kuwento ni David ay patunay na ang pagbili at pag-iingat ng branded items ay isang investment.
Noong 2020, naitampok ang kanyang kuwento sa Antiques Roadshow, isang ongoing American TV show mula pa noong 1997.
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Tulad ng titulo ng programa, tampok dito ang antique items at idinadaan sa appraisal para mabusisi kung magkano ang value ng mga items.
Ginawa ang TV episode kung saan na-feature si David sa isang fair sa West Fargo, North Dakota, USA.
Ang item na binusisi ay isang Rolex Daytona Paul Newman watch.
Ang design ng watch ay Rolex Oyster Cosmograph na ginawa noong unang quarter ng 1971.
Ipinangalan ito sa American Hollywood actor na si Paul Newman.
In-order ni David ang watch noong November 1974, at dumating ito sa kanya noong April 1975.
Na-station daw noon si David sa Thailand mula 1973 hanggang 1975.
Sabi niya, “While I was there, I flew on Air America Airlines and Continental Airlines and I noticed most of the pilots that were flying those aircrafts wore Rolex watches, and I was intrigued by them.
“I always wanted to purchase one, but they were very expensive.
“Later, when I was transferred to another base, I did some scuba diving. And I knew that Rolex watch was good for scuba diving.”
Binili ni David ang Rolex Daytona watch sa halagang $345.97 (PHP19,400) na gagamitin sana niya sa scuba diving.
Pero hindi rin ito ginamit ni David.
Paliwanag niya, “I never used it. I looked at it and I said this is really too nice. I just kept it.
“After I got out of service, I had other watches I wore.”
Dugtong niya pagdating sa Rolex watch, “I just put this one into a safety deposit box. It stayed there for 30-40 years. I only took it out 2-3 times to look at it.”
At present, ang Rolex Daytona editions ay nagkakahalaga ng PHP1 million hanggang PHP6.5 million.
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MULTI-MILLION WORTH AFTER 45 YEARS
Namangha ang nag-appraise ng Rolex watch ni David na si Peter Planes ng Luxe Auctioneers, isang auction house sa Palm Beach, Florida.
Sinabi ni Peter na “rare” ang Rolex item na hawak ni David, na nagawa pang itago ang warranty paper, original brochure, order slip, payment receipt, outer box, at original box ng relo.
Sabi ni Peter, “Basically, it’s a new old stock watch. [There’s] no wear on it. The original foil sticker on the back of it.
“And the fact that we have the complete documentation here, also maybe one of the very rare ones in the world that’s never worn…
“Your watch at auction today is $500,000 to $700,000,” o katumbas ay PHP28 million at PHP39 million.
Hindi makapaniwala si David sa kanyang narinig. Aniya pa sa appraiser, nagbibiro lang ito.
“No, I’m very serious,” sagot ng appraiser.
Sabi ng appraiser sa Rolex watch ni David, “An absolute fabulous find. One of the rarest Paul Newman models and in this condition. I don’t think there’s a better one in the world.”
Ayon sa mga watch websites, 3,000 pieces lamang daw ang na-manufacture na Paul Newman watch—2,300 ay stainless steel at 700 ay gold.
Isang Paul Newman Rolex Daytona na may reference number na 6239 ang itinuturing na "most expensive Rolex ever sold to date."
Sa Phillips Auction House sa U.S. ito nabili sa halagang $17.8 million o PHP999,923,900 (based on current conversion rate) noong 2017.