A story of a watch... FUN READ :)

[Sigurdur JS Founder]

Recently I was contacted by one of our customers from the USA. He had a sad story to tell me of his 1919 watch. I just wanted to share his story since I find it quite amazing :) Here is his first letter to me :

Good morning, Sigurdur -

Well, you won't believe this... my watch was stolen. It may be recovered, of course. The police say that it is so unique that if anyone tries to sell it, they'll likely catch them. However, I'd like to know if you have any more available in the event that I need to replace it with a new watch?

If so, has the price changed? Are the same colors, band, etc. available?

I'm incredibly sad, as I was truly beginning to love the watch, and it was becoming a part of me...

Best regards,
Matthew

I really felt felt bad when I read his letter and told him in my reply that I hope the watch would miraculously turn up some how. But in my head I was sure it was lost forever... Then suddenly some time later he sent me another letter, here it goes:

Sigurdur -

Impossible as this may seem, my watch has been returned. It's a long story, but I'll give you the... interesting... highlights, if only because they sound like they were extracted from a bad Hollywood movie.

As you know, my watch was stolen. Apparently, a janitor in the building where I exercise decided that he would be happier with whatever was in my locker than I would be, and as a result became the proud (if illicit) owner of a JS Watch Co timepiece. From him, it went to a prostitute, in payment for some kind of activity. No doubt, the activity provided a much more gratifying sense of pleasure than wearing the watch, for he traded it for the prostitute's services. According to my source, the prostitute's time would have cost the janitor $500. The prostitute, in turn, traded it to a tattoo artist, who provided a red, yellow and orange shooting star on the back of her neck... a $200 decoration. The tattoo artist, in turn, has a brother-in-law who collects vintage Harley Davidson's, leather jackets and, among other vintage objects, fine watches. The artist clearly saw a bargain when my watch appeared in his shop, and, after executing the tattoo, called the collector. The collector, in turn, studied the watch and listened to the story with great skepticism. Although he frequents the kinds of places that one might expect would be full of stolen goods, he does not traffic in illegal material. So, after he saw the watch, researched it online, realized that it was a bespoke watch (with my name engraved inside it, no less)... he decided to find a way to get it back to me. A simple Google search revealed my whereabouts, he called me, we met... and I have my watch back.

Incredible, isn't it?

So, no need to build another one!

Best regards,
Matthew

When I read that letter I laughed out loud in disbelieve, what an amazing story of a watch :) I just wanted to share it with you all since it is to good not to be shared with others, don't you think ? And I hope you all enjoy it as much as I did :)

Matthew, congratulations on the return of your watch, now it has a great and an amazing life story behind it :)

[Thomas Carey]

Now that is one heck of a story! :clap That watch sure is leading a rather colorful life thus far. =)

Thanks so much for sharing this very interesting tale with us.

Best Regards,

Thomas Carey

[vincentvw]

Now that is one funny (yet also a bit sad) story. I hope the watch found it's way back to the owner without any damage to it?

Hmm.....I think I could make a tattoo, kind of, probably, well it wouldn't hurt.......much.....
So give me a needle, some ink and your watch and I'll make you the most special tattoo you ever saw.... :woohoo

Deal? ;-)

[Narwhal]

People always talk about how the traveler/adventurer should carry a rolex or omega in case they lose everything, because anywhere in the World they can trade the watch in for tickets home, etc...

Now we know; if you lose everything else, a JS Watch will still get you a ho.

[Sigurdur JS Founder]

Here is a more polished version of the story I got from Matthew today :

Dear Sigurdur -

I wanted to share with you a rather fantastic story regarding my 1919 watch...

As you know, this watch was a gift from my wife, a combination 45-year birthday present, congratulations for reaching the third year of my company's existence, recognition of our tenth year together... and generally for being a decent husband. I received it last Autumn and have worn it with increasing pleasure ever since. Sadly, the watch was stolen early last week from my locker at the gym where I exercise when the weather is simply too vile to consider heading outside. After realizing that it was gone, I panicked. A thorough examination of the surrounding area, my pockets and briefcase convinced me that I had no simply mislaid it. I was devastated, and extremely reluctant to tell my wife. Fortunately, she is in South Africa for two months, so I had plenty of time to let the pain pass before she found out what had happened!

After speaking with the police and feeling very sorry for myself, I began to resign myself to the strong probability that I would never see my watch again. The only thread of hope to which I still clung was that it is a unique timepiece and has my name engraved on the inside of the crystal on the back. If anyone were to try to sell it, there seemed to be a fair chance that my name would be seen and possibly recognized. A thin thread, but one that I kept in mind.

Several days later, I received a strange call from a man, who shall be called Mr. C. He phoned me at work, introduced himself, and in my obvious bafflement told me that he had a strange story to tell me about a watch. Apparently, Mr. C is a former ne'er-do-well who is now a successful businessman but who has never been able to quit himself of his nefarious background. As such, he claims that a regular stream of "misplaced" goods comes to him from a wide assortment of characters. As such, he has found himself a collector of vintage Harley Davidson motorcycles, leather jackets, chrome motorcycle fittings... and expensive watches. The day before, a tattoo artist contacted him and said that he had a watch that Mr. C might be interested in seeing. As you can guess, this was my watch. The tattoo artist said that a prostitute friend of his had appeared in his studio with this watch, claiming that her grandfather had willed it to her, but that she couldn't even figure out how the strap works and therefore wanted to trade it for a tattoo. The artist, obviously a man of refined aesthetics, saw a chance to make a quick buck and executed a red, orange and blue shooting star on the side of her neck on the spot.

Once he was done, he pressed her, saying that the watch was far too new to have been left to her by her grandfather and asking her what the real story was. She admitted that she had been lying, indicating that if she had told the truth, she may not have received the tattoo, which she wanted "really, really bad". She further explained how she came to be in possession of the watch, saying that a guy she knows found it at a local gym and nobody had claimed it so he kept it. He traded it for... certain intimate activities. She figured she could probably sell it or trade it, and when she drove past the tattoo parlor was suddenly inspired to get the aforementioned artwork inked into her body.

Mr. C then told me that he became curious once he saw my name engraved on the inside of the watch. He first searched the internet for the JS Watch company and found, to his surprise, that your company is one of the finest bespoke timepiece builders in the world. He then searched for my name and discovered that I am a visible, philanthropic, successful entrepreneur in his town... and he decided to polish his karma. So he called, delivered the story and the watch, and I gave him a fine bottle of wine as a gesture of thanks and for re-affirming my faith in mankind.

Cost of watch: $1,800
Value of erotic services: $500
Value of tattoo: $200
Cost of bottle of wine to get the watch back: $19
Value of story: Priceless

As far as I'm concerned, my watch is now even better than it was before... because it has such an incredible story attached to it!

Best regards,
Matthew

PS - If you hadn't insisted that I let you engrave my name on the watch (candidly, I thought it was a bit pretentious to do so), I would never have had it returned to me. Thanks for your persistence!

I find the story of this watch highly entertaining :)

[Narwhal]

It's a fantastic story with a great ending!

[Thomas Carey]

Might I suggest you place the polished version of this story on your site as sort of a testimonial. :clap

Best Regards,

Thomas Carey

[vincentvw]

Absolutely a great story. Thank god, the watch wasn't damaged during it's adventure.
Too bad the criminal janitor was not damaged during HIS adventure either.... burnbaby

Does the janitor still work at your gym?

Anyway, enjoy your watch and keep a close watch (pun intended) on it so that it shouldn't be reclaimed after yet another great adventure. Luck doesn't last a lifetime (unless you die very young).

[village]

Fantastic...what a great story!
One can only wonder what $500 gets you these days :no comment

[Thomas Carey]

I wonder if this might be made into a short movie. =) Are there any film school students in the house? :jacks

Best Regards,

Thomas Carey

[bowagner]

Classic tale! Love this ....