On a seemingly ordinary day, Lemona Brandon was intimately linked to a watch by chance. In 1968, in the prime of his youth, he bought an Omega watch for 379 yuan at a price equivalent to a month's salary. This seemingly simple purchase unfolds a story that spans half a century in the days to come.
Time flies, and when the watch sells for $337,000 on the market 51 years later, Brandon truly realizes that he has much more than just a watch for timekeeping.
A fortuitous purchase that led to a half-century collection
In 1968, Lemona Brandon, a young American sailor, arrived in Hong Kong on his birthday. This bustling city is not only an international trading center, but also a veritable shopping paradise.
In those days, Hong Kong's malls and alleyways were full of treasures from all over the world, and for a sailor from afar, it was undoubtedly full of temptations. After enjoying the reception banquet prepared by a friend, Brandon's trip in Hong Kong is still not over.
One of his local friends, a watch wholesaler, learned that it was Brandon's birthday and offered it as a birthday present, hoping that Brandon would pick a watch. The wholesaler noted that he had just recently received a new batch of Omega watches. The offer was both appealing and sudden for Brandon, who had not intended to buy any expensive gifts.
Hong Kong is a major manufacturer of counterfeit watches, and Brandon initially had reservations about the authenticity of the watch. But when he saw the watch's exquisite workmanship with his own eyes, he was immediately drawn to it. He was immediately impressed by the watch's meticulous craftsmanship and elegant design.
It has an elegant appearance, the pen is delicate and smooth, and it comes with a comfortable-looking wrist strap. Despite the asking price of £35, equivalent to a month's salary for Brandon, he decided to buy the Omega watch. Since then, Brandon has been wearing this watch by his side, and everywhere he goes, he has attracted the admiration of those around him.
It's not just an expensive accessory, it's a symbol of Brandon's memories of Hong Kong. As a result, the watch is extremely memorable for Brandon. Even in his work, the watch has always been by his side and has become an indispensable part of him.
However, in 1983, an accident caused Brandon to re-examine the value of the watch. He accidentally fell while walking, and although his body was fine, his watch hit hard ground. Brandon was distressed that the appearance of the watch had clearly undergone damage, and after careful wiping, Brandon decided to keep it safe to avoid further damage.
This precious watch has since been carefully stored in a jewelry box. For nearly forty years, the watch sat quietly in a drawer, no longer jumping on Brandon's wrist every day, but instead entered a long period of silence. Although time has changed and the world has progressed, the charm of this watch has not diminished with the dust.
On the contrary, as the history of the OMEGA brand has become more and more deeply rooted in the hearts of the people, each classic watch has a unique legend behind it. And Brandon's watch silently tells the intersection of Hong Kong in the last century and the unpredictable fate of a crew member.
The evolution of watches, from daily necessities to precious collections
In 2017, as he got older, Brandon also entered retirement. By chance, he learned that the town where he lived would have a famous antique roadshow for filming, and the program team also invited senior antique experts to identify the old objects on the spot.
This was undoubtedly a great opportunity for Brandon to understand the value of his watch. After all, this watch has been with him for nearly half a century, and although he has a deep affection for this watch, he really has no bottom about its true value. So, full of curiosity and hope, Brandon took the long-dormant watch to the antique appraisal site.
At the scene, when Brandon carefully handed the watch to an expert who took considerable time to carefully examine every detail of the watch. They asked about the origin of the watch and how Brandon kept it. Brandon described in detail his experience of buying watches in Hong Kong and his collection of watches over the years.
Considering Omega's position in the watchmaking industry at the time, as well as the limited edition and fame of the "Master of Speed" collection, experts showed great interest in this watch. The experts first identified the brand of the watch – Omega, a historic and prestigious Swiss watchmaking brand that has been synonymous with precision timepieces and elegant design since its founding in 1848.
Subsequently, they further confirmed that the watch belonged to the Omega "Speed Master" collection. Since its debut in 1957, this collection has become an icon in the history of watchmaking due to its exceptional chronometric performance and unique design, especially since the watches of this series landed on the moon with the Apollo 11 mission, thus earning it the nickname "Lunar Watch".
This information made everyone present take a keen interest in Brandon's watch. However, the real surprise moment was when the experts discovered that this "Speed Master" was not an ordinary model, but a very rare "Ultraman Limited Edition".
Inspired by the famous Japanese sci-fi TV series "Ultraman", this watch is issued in limited editions, and each piece has a unique number and design elements, which makes it extremely valuable in the collector's world. It is known that the number of watches of this design is extremely limited and rarely appears on the market, so it is worth a lot.
At this moment, everyone's eyes on the scene were focused on Brandon's watch. The experts carefully examined the model number, the serial number of the watch, and the characteristic design elements, such as the conspicuous orange seconds hand on the watch and the specially designed indexes.
After a series of professional appraisals, the experts finally came to the conclusion that this is not only a real Omega "Ultraman Speed Master" limited edition, but also in good condition, even after decades.
The results shocked the audience, and for Brandon himself, although he could not understand the professional explanations of the experts, he could feel the unexpected value of the watch. This unexpected appraisal not only made Brandon's watch a sensational topic, but also gave him a new understanding and cherishment of this watch that has accompanied him for many years.
Exceptional value recognition
After Brandon's watch was recognized as a valuable collection by expert experts at an antiques roadshow, he was faced with a decision: what to do. Once the true identity of the watch was revealed, it attracted widespread attention. Many auction houses and collectors began to reach out to Brandon in the hope of acquiring the rare watch.
Before the results of the watch's appraisal were announced, Brandon never imagined that his watch would be so valuable. As more and more people showed interest in the watch, Brandon realized that the watch not only represented personal memories, but also had a lot of economic value.
Although the watch was an important birthday present in his youth, Brandon decided to sell it due to the effort and cost of keeping and caring for the watch, as well as the value it had in the market.
At this time, the value of the watch was assessed by various experts as a whopping £40,000 and could fetch a higher price in future auctions due to its scarcity and intact state of preservation. After consulting with his family, Brandon finally selected a well-known auction house to act as the sales agent for the watch.
In the process of selling the watch, the experts of the auction house carried out a full range of publicity about the watch. They highlight its historical background, watchmaking skills, and the story behind the watch. This operation has greatly increased the reputation of this watch, and there is an endless stream of buyers who come to visit it. In a well-planned auction, the watch was finally sold for £31,000.
Through this auction, Brandon's watch found a new owner, and he himself made a windfall from the sale of the watch. In the eyes of the new owners of the watch, this "Ultraman Omega Speed Master Limited Edition" is undoubtedly a jewel in their collection. Although the watch has left Brandon for many years of protection, its story and value will be rewritten through the new owner.
The sale of the watch also caused quite a stir in the local community. For years, Brandon was the low-key retiree, and now he's the talk of the town thanks to a chance appraisal and a successful auction.
For the town's residents, the auction is not only a testament to the potential value of old objects, but also a testament to the undiminished luster of genuine arts and crafts no matter how much time passes.
Redefining the meaning and value of collecting
News of Brandon's watches quickly spread throughout the collecting world, not only for its rarity of styles, but also for its remarkable achievements in the auction market. For the new owner of a watch, this is not just a purchase, but an important investment in history, culture and the art of watchmaking.
In addition, the incident has led to a re-evaluation of other similar collections, especially those that are historically significant, well-known, or associated with significant events. The new owner of the watch has entrusted it to a professional antique watch care company for care and maintenance.
The company is experienced in the maintenance of precious watches, and the experts know every detail of the watch's construction, ensuring that this priceless watch receives the most suitable care. The watch thus maintains its functionality and aesthetics, and retains its value in the best condition.
During the maintenance of the watch, the repairers found that although Brandon was relatively simple in its safekeeping, the watch was surprisingly well preserved. The mechanical parts of the watch still function precisely, and the slightest wear and tear on the exterior does not affect the overall beauty and style of the watch.
This is a reflection of OMEGA's exceptional watchmaking craftsmanship and quality as a top watch manufacturer, which remains in good condition even after decades of circulation. After the maintenance of the watch was completed, the new owner housed it in a beautifully crafted display case and held an exhibition about precious antique watches in a private exhibition space.
Resources:
"Omega Watch History" from the official Omega website
"Watch Collection and Investment Value Analysis"
"Valuing the Old: History from the Everyday"
"Hong Kong 1968: The Transformation Years of a Shopper's Paradise"