4. $34,375 Worth of Abstract Paintings Discovered at a Goodwill Store
Location: North Carolina's Concord
Year Found: 2012
Estimated Value: $34,375*
Secondhand stores often have fantastic finds, especially when it comes to art. Beth Feeback purchased two paintings for $10 at a Goodwill store in North Carolina in 2012. She intended to paint enormous cat faces all over the canvases until she noticed an artist's identity label on the back and decided to have them assessed on a whim.
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$34,375 Worth of Abstract Paintings Discovered at a Goodwill Store @moneywisecom/Pinterest
Fortunately, she did, because it was discovered that Russian artist Ilya Bolotowksy was the creator of these abstract paintings in the shape of diamonds. One painting, Vertical Diamond, went on to sell for $34,375 at a Sotheby's auction, much more than its $10,000–$20,000 pre-auction estimate.
5. 1959 Deep Sea Alarm Watch Made by Jaeger LeCoultre Found In Goodwill
Location: Arizona's Phoenix
Year Found: 2015
Estimated Value: $35,000*
A $5.99 watch was discovered by a man rummaging in a Goodwill store in Phoenix, Arizona. After realizing the watch might be expensive, collector Zach Norris bought it and had it evaluated. It turned out that Norris's suspicions were right—this watch was a 1959 Jaeger LeCoultre Deep Sea Alarm.
The discovery of an undiscovered 1959 Jaeger-LeCoultre Deep Sea Alarm watch, as captured by ©Oleg GawriloFF/Shutterstock, is a fascinating story of luck and timing. This rare timepiece was found by a man named Norris while he was at a Goodwill store, initially searching for a golf cart. To his astonishment, he came across a watch with the dial clearly marked "LeCoultre Deep Sea Alarm," a name that would be familiar to any watch enthusiast or collector.
Norris, recognizing the potential value of the watch, decided to have it professionally assessed. The evaluation confirmed that the watch was indeed an authentic Jaeger-LeCoultre Deep Sea Alarm, a model that holds a special place in horological history. Produced in the late 1950s, Jaeger-LeCoultre manufactured only 1,000 of these Deep Sea Alarms specifically for the US market, making them exceedingly rare and highly sought after by collectors.
The Jaeger-LeCoultre Deep Sea Alarm was one of the first diving watches to feature an alarm function, a groundbreaking innovation at the time. This feature allowed divers to set an audible alarm to remind them when it was time to resurface, enhancing safety during underwater excursions. The watch's rarity, combined with its historical significance and innovative design, makes it a prized possession for collectors.
After the assessment confirmed the watch's authenticity and value, Norris decided to put the timepiece up for auction. The auction attracted significant attention from collectors and watch enthusiasts around the world, ultimately selling for an impressive $35,000. This remarkable sale not only underscores the value of the Jaeger-LeCoultre Deep Sea Alarm but also highlights the potential for hidden treasures to be found in the most unexpected places.
The story of Norris and the Jaeger-LeCoultre Deep Sea Alarm watch is a testament to the enduring appeal of vintage timepieces and the excitement of discovering a rare and valuable item. It serves as a reminder that sometimes, extraordinary finds can be made in the most ordinary settings, and that a keen eye and a bit of knowledge can lead to remarkable discoveries.
