In search of the rightful owner of a Heuer Carrera Dato 45 in my procession

F fsflee

All, I am new here and trying to search for that needle in the hay stack.

My father was a watch repairer in Hong Kong. He passed away in 1975. I migrated to Australia in 1976 with his box of belonging which I have never opened until I did a clean up couple of months ago. Amongst the things in the box is a working, possibly repaired, black dialed Heuer Carrera Dato 45. I am reasonably sure that the watch doesn’t belong to him as I don’t think we could afford having one at the time. I can only surmise that the owner of the watch, for whatever reason, failed to claim it back.

I did a bit of research and realize that it is now a watch of some value. I am quite happy to return the watch to its rightful owner if

1. He/she can identify the watch with the number stamped on the case; or

2. Name the shop that he/she deposited the watch in for repair; or

3. In case it is a private repair job, my father’s name.

This offer is absolutely unconditional (except that the claimant is to pay for freight from Australia) and will be open for 6 months, after which I shall pass the watch to my son.

imagwai

It's very noble of you, but I think after so much time has passed, you'd be pretty safe in assuming the owner won't be found now.

Marcos Alvarenga

Nice initiative.

please post pictures after 6 months or after the right owner finds it.

Marcos Alvarenga

Nice initiative.

please post pictures after 6 months or after the right owner finds it.

eduk

This - nearly 50 years ago, very possible the original owner is no longer alive

abrod520

Well, these weren't very expensive watches back then, especially in 1975 as style trends had changed considerably from the late '60s which is when this watch was designed. It would instead have been just a couple-years-old used watch, so unless your father was truly destitute I don't think it's completely out of the question that it may have been his.

TomGW

Any update on this? Don't discount it being your father's, even if you never saw him wear it. My father died in February 2017, at 87, and during my lifetime I seldom ever saw him wear a watch. He had a fairly nondescript manual watch during my childhood which was seldom worn, although it sat on a dresser in the bedroom. In later years he had a cheap and nasty gold coloured quartz that he took on holiday but otherwise it was never seen. To my surprise, when we were clearing out the house we found both of the aforementioned watches, as well as a pie-pan Connie, complete with box, receipt and documents.

TomGW

Any update on this? Don't discount it being your father's, even if you never saw him wear it. My father died in February 2017, at 87, and during my lifetime I seldom ever saw him wear a watch. He had a fairly nondescript manual watch during my childhood which was seldom worn, although it sat on a dresser in the bedroom. In later years he had a cheap and nasty gold coloured quartz that he took on holiday but otherwise it was never seen. To my surprise, when we were clearing out the house we found both of the aforementioned watches, as well as a pie-pan Connie, complete with box, receipt and documents.

F fsflee

All
First of all, I thank all of you for your attention and interest in the matter. Secondly, I wish to inform that my effort in the last six and half months to find the owner of the watch has failed and I'll pass the watch to my son as I have said previously. Lastly, I am attaching some photos as I have promised.

Regards


Inside the old Green Rolex Box were eight metal cigarette boxes filled with assorted watch parts, (balance staffs, assorted screws etc). The Heuer was in one of those boxes. There are also some damaged push button parts and an old watch glass of same size on the watch. Because the glass and push buttons on the watch look new, I surmise that the watch has been repaired and those items replaced. By the way, the watch is running and keeps time.