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Re: Amazing watch and a great story

I really enjoyed reading this. Great story and thanks for sharing.

: This is one of my favourite watches in my collection. It one of the
: most beautiful of the Monaco line, and the dial and hands are in
: incredible condition. But the story behind it is what makes it
: really special to me.

:
:

: It is the "Sammy Davis Junior" watch, which came up in
: auction a few years ago. I took a chance on it because I didn't
: have a transitional Monaco but mainly because this photo is just
: so cool:

:
:

: I won the watch, and was really delighted when I picked it up as
: the condition was just amazing. Check out that lume colour! Part
: of the auction lot was the photo and also the auction receipts
: and catalog from the guy who bought the watch at the original
: auction of Sammy Davis Junior's estate. So all the provenance
: looks really good. I think the guy paid around $200 for the
: watch at the auction in 1991!

: The only problem was that watch did not work at all. Nothing. Not
: even for one second. Have to say I was a little disappointed
: with Antiquorum - they described the watch movement as
: "service recommended" - I think "not
: working" would have been more honest, but hey, it is par
: for the course for auction houses. I was a bit worried about two
: things, firstly, what I would find when the watch was opened - a
: totally rusted movement? Or a wrong movement? The second thing I
: was worried about was who would repair it. I tried contacting
: TAG Heuer directly, explaining that it was a historically
: significant watch and they needed to be sure not to change
: anything. I got a stock answer about policy of not returning
: replaced parts - very dispiriting, so I crossed them of the
: list.

: Finally I entrusted "my precious" to Nic
: "HeuerBoy" Green. He did a fantastic job in repairing
: the movement and confirmed everything was as it should be for an
: early Monaco. Thanks Nic! Here is another photo - the photos
: don't do justice to the watch; it is just too nice today to take
: photos in doors and I'm struggling with the sunlit pictures.

:
:

: There have been numerous posts about the early Monaco dials, I love
: the way the colour changes as the light changes. Here is another
: mediocre photo of the dial in different light:

: .
:
:
: .
: .

: The story doesn't end there. A year ago, my dad passed away. I was
: wandering round his apartment and I saw an autobiography of
: Sammy Davis Junior. I asked my mom if I could take it to have as
: a package with the watch, and she said "sure, but be
: careful, it is signed from when we met him at some charity
: event". So a perfect companion for the watch! And to make
: it even better, I flicked through the photos in the book, and
: was amazed to find a photo of him wearing the watch...

:
:

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