You should check out the photos posted on Hoodinkee, by the seller of the famous rolex. I loved the Lockheed Constellation in the background, one of the coolest airplanes ever (featured also on the cover of the Sinatra Come Fly with Me album).
I don't really care about Rolexes but I do agree with some of the later posters here and think the amount of obsession cynisism around the story is overdone. OK, maybe he did know it was a valuable vintage Rolex, but the guy (thru Hoodinkee) has photos of himself wearing the watch (and some cool planes), so the bigger story seems as verified as can be. It's a shame if we have to knock down any story if every detail doesn't fit a perfect picture. Part of the downside of the forum world, I guess.