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.

 

Sorry, my POSSESSION, I mean

 

Nice initiative.

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

 

It's mine! I wondered what I did with it, but now I remember

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.

 

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

 

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.

 

Thank you. I might just do that.

 

Eduk & Imagwai: That's my worry but I think I still have to give it a go.

 

Highly unlikely. I have never seen him wearing a watch.

 

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.

 

Hi TomGW. Thank you for your email. Since late June I have cast the net wider and try to trace my father's contact in Hong Kong as it was where the watch was originally from. No luck so far. I can be almost sure that my father would not have bought that watch as he was never a wheel and deal person. Judging by the condition of the watch, it was pretty obvious that the watch had a had life. If the watch did belong to my father, my guess would be that it was given to or left with him for parts and my dad decided to have it fixed. I'll take some photos of the watch and post it up later. Thanks again for your interest.

 

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.

 

A precious gift, enjoy with memories

 

That's a real beauty. Congrats.

 

Very well done. You have done more than could reasonably be expected to find the previous owner (if indeed it wasn’t your father’s all along). It’s a very nice example of a highly desirable, collectible watch and I hope your son enjoys something that was, at the very least, worked on by his grandfather so many years ago. Just a word of caution - if he is going to use it, it should be serviced as the lubricants will have dried up and wear will start to occur.

 

I think you've "cleared the Karma" on this one, so to speak. For all intents and purposes, it is your son's due to your effort behind the ownership.