Authorities in Scarborough, England are seeking the owner of a valuable, 1940s Rolex pocket watch that was found in "excellent condition" in a lane near the seaside town. The vintage timepiece was picked up by a Good Samaritan who turned it into police.
The approximately 80-year-old pocket watch is is believed to have been issued by the armed services during World War II, according to the BBC. However, given the age, value, and condition of the watch, it's a mystery as to how it ended up on the road.
Scarborough: Appeal to reunite 1940s Rolex pocket watch with owner https://t.co/vW0teZdQQA
— BBC Yorkshire (@BBCLookNorth) March 1, 2024
"This little piece of history is likely to hold great sentimental value. We need to reunite it with its owner," said North Yorkshire Police Sergeant Elaine Malcolm. "It's potentially been by someone's side during some of the biggest dates of the 20th Century, including the end of World War II, the first man on the Moon, and the fall of the Berlin Wall."
"How it ended up in a country lane in Scarborough is a mystery," Malcolm continued. "But we're glad someone did the right thing and handed it in, and we've already begun inquiries to find out more about it and try to trace the owner."
Police officials are urging anyone who may have owned a similar pocket watch to check on the whereabouts of their property. If anyone should come forward to claim it, authorities are requiring proof of ownership, such as confirmation of the watch's serial number and the ability to correctly respond to a line of police questioning.
