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Lt. Brian Economy had just graduated from Naval School Explosive Ordnance Disposal school back in the late '80s when he showed up to his next post, just to find out he required a list of personal dive equipment. As it turns out, he was short one item: a watch. He had never worn a wrist watch in his days before the Fast, so he turned to his Chief and said, "Chief, can I simply use yours? " His chief said, "No, are you kidding? This is a G-Shock, and it's brand new. " Lt. Economic climate went to the availability officer as well as asked for a dive watch.

"They stated, 'we don't have any more jump watches, ' but I asked him for something, anything, to take the time. He mentioned, 'here's the box of watches, pick something out. ' U picked the only two that worked. "It just so happens that one of the two watches was an incredibly rare Tornek-Rayville. The watch was recently consigned by Lt. Overall economy for sale at Sotheby's (Lot 81, up for auction 06 9th) and also comes with a variety of items that reinforce the watch's history and provenance (including any diving regulator and Cressi-sub scuba mask, Department associated with Navy TECHNICAL SCUBA DIVING certifications, dog tags, medals, photographs, call tape, rank insignia, along with more). Provenance on a military watch doesn't get superior to this.
My colleague Tony a2z Traina rightfully put these military-issued TR-900s at the top of their "grail" category in his recent collector's guide on Fifty Fathoms watches. Any "average" Tornek-Rayville has a fascinating history. With Swiss watch companies stifled by the "Buy United states Act" regarding 1933 (requiring U. S. military goods to be bought from the Usa States), Allen Tornek found a creative solution. He imported watches through "Rayville" - an anagram of the town of Villeret where Blancpain was headquartered - with a brand new name. Otherwise, the watch had been just a good-old Blancpain.

Only roughly 1, 000 of the Tornek-Rayville model were made, and as almost every view was military-issued and heavily used -- and despite the stringent requirements of use and durability the watches needed to meet to be issued : very few of them survived.
One benefit the enjoy had towards its survival was that it took twenty-two years from the first time some sort of TR-900 has been put into service with the You. S. army for this specific watch to become issued in order to Lt. Financial system in 1988. It's not exactly clear why it was a little while until so long for the watch to get issued, but regardless it sat around until, eventually, this specific see had become everyone's last choice. Furthermore, Lt. Economy didn't even realize it was worth some serious money until a few months ago.
The great condition of the watch is not anywhere near a reflection that Lt. Economy babied the watch. There's obvious wear, especially on the crystal, but the case shows it too. The face, hiding under the scratched crystal, looks fantastic, and the bezel seems to be in surprisingly great shape. Lt. Economy isn't sure how it held up the way this did.
When I asked Lt. Economy if he discovered it strange that his or her watch might be worth more with his story attached, this individual waived that off, telling me about the feelings which informed the decision to join the support at 18 and fight for and defend his country. "Forget my name. Remember what I was for, inch he told me.