@mikemonnette Restoring a vintage Rolex dress watch from the 1940's that was passed down to me by my late grandfather. To be honest my whole family thought it was fake because of the way the numbers are cut off, and because he said he bought it overseas while he was in the military, so it's very cool to confirm that it's real and to get it working again. Big shoutout to @craftandtailored for getting it fixed up! #watches #watchesoftiktok #watchtok #mensstyle #menswear #mensfashion #classicstyle ♬ Cómo Te Quiero - Khruangbin
There’s something special about a watch that goes beyond its function—especially when it carries a lifetime of history. For me, that watch is a 1940s Rolex that once belonged to my grandfather. He gave it to me before he passed away, but it had never worked since I received it. To be honest, I wasn’t even sure if it was real.
For years, my whole family believed it was a fake. The numbers on the dial were oddly cut off, and my grandfather had mentioned buying it overseas while serving in the military. That story made it feel even more like a knockoff—after all, how often do you hear about someone picking up a genuine Rolex on their travels? But curiosity got the best of me, and I finally decided to take it to the experts to find out the truth.
I brought the watch to Craft + Tailored in downtown Los Angeles, a well-respected shop known for their vintage watch expertise. As they carefully opened the case, they confirmed what I had always hoped: it was, in fact, a real Rolex. But that wasn’t the end of the story—the watch was in rough shape, and finding the right parts to restore it wouldn’t be easy.
A few weeks later, I got the call I’d been waiting for. My grandfather’s Rolex was fixed and ready for pickup. Holding it in my hands, now fully functional, was an incredible feeling. It runs on a mechanical movement, which is new to me, and unlike modern watches, it isn’t water-resistant or shockproof. That means it won’t be an everyday piece, but more of a special occasion watch.
Beyond its brand name or vintage appeal, this watch holds immense sentimental value. I was very close to my grandfather, and having this timepiece restored feels like bringing a small part of him back to life. It’s more than just a watch—it’s a tangible link to his past, his experiences, and his legacy. And now, after all these years, it’s finally ticking again.