Antiques Roadshow reveals astonishing value of Omega watch damaged in lawnmower
An Antiques Roadshow guest was "amazed and excited" to learn the value of his broken watch he believed was "a load of old rubbish".
Clock expert Richard Price was equally as excited by the damaged Omega Speedmaster watch, made in 1963, which had accidentally been through its owner's lawnmower and found in the compost pile.
Antiques expert Price explained the watch was an Omega Speedmaster Professional, dubbed the Moon Watch because Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin wore them when they became the first people to set foot on the Moon in July 1969.
Read more: Antiques Roadshow: Guest 'astonished' by valuation of charity shop painting
He said: "There is an unfortunate word in the watch making industry for if something is in a very poor state. We call it derelict and this is fairly derelict.
"How did it get in this condition?"
The guest revealed: "It unfortunately went through my lawnmower. We had a burglary and somehow they must have dropped that in the grass as they went. Several months later my wife was turning the compost heap and low and behold what did she find. A great shame."
He added: "I bought it either late 1965 or early 1966, it was second hand at the time."
Price revealed: "The watch is earlier than that. There are three types. Pre-space, up to 1965, before any of the lunar landings were envisaged by NASA and pre-moon and post-moon. It is extraordinary that is has survived."
Looking at the damaged watch he said: "This is still pretty good, bit of rust. You've lost one of the pushers, but other than that the case is not too bad. The bezel [which holds the glass in place] is completely shot away."
He went on: "The important thing is the strap. This is the 7912 strap with a date of manufacture '63. It's 100 per cent right for the watch.
"This is a very rare piece of kit."
Price urged the owner: "Look into having it restored.
"Assuming you can get these pieces in good condition with that strap, I see it being retail-able for towards £18-20,000. And that on it's own is at least £3,000 — just that strap."
The guest said: "I came along expecting you to say it's a load of rubbish, throw it away."
Price joked: "If you want to throw it away, I've got a big pocket here!"
The owner added: "I'm amazed, I'm excited, I mean I came along here convinced it was basically beyond repair a bit of rubbish really. My son will be excited because he wants to inherit it."
The Antiques Roadshow returned to BBC One at 8pm on Sunday evening with a brand new series, hosted by Fiona Bruce. The latest episode was filmed at Swanage Pier and Seafront.
In the previous series of the BBC antiques show, which has run for 46 series since 1979, antiques experts surprised guests with their valuations of items including an original Live Aid poster, the first ever Beatles logo designed by a sign-making friend of the band and a signed helmet and overalls belonging to Formula One star Sir Lewis Hamilton to be worth £10,000.
Read more: Antiques Roadshow guest shocked at value of Lewis Hamilton's helmet
The show also featured collections of locks of hair belonging to romantic poets Samuel Taylor Coleridge and William Wordsworth were given an estimated value of £30,000-40,000.
Watch: Antiques Roadshow reveals value of Live Aid poster found by the bin
This article originally appeared on Yahoo TV UK at https://uk.news.yahoo.com/antiques-roadshow-omega-watch-value-104331179.html
