A beautiful story about a lost Rolex Submariner ref. 5513 from the 1970s

Today we bring a very different but still real and beautiful story. A Father and son on a mission to recover a valuable Rolex Submariner from the 70s.

Heroes of the Noosa River: Elliot and Daren Styles' Environmental Mission

Elliot and Daren Styles, alongside their friend Michael Whitehead, have earned hero status in the Noosa River area of Queensland's Sunshine Coast. Not only have they been dedicated to cleaning up the river, but also to finding many different objects.

Their journey kind of began when Elliot discovered a GoPro camera while snorkeling. After posting its images on a local Facebook page, the camera's owner was identified. This event established their reputation as the "finders of the Noosa River." Their most impressive find was the Rolex Submariner, a watch treasured for its sentimental value. Daren explained their regular finds, saying, "We've pulled bikes, shopping trolleys, fishing gear, plastic pipes, glass bottles, you name it, we've pull it out of there."

Eco-Warriors of the River: Daren and Elliot's Environmental Advocacy

Daren describes their group as "eco-warriors of the Noosa River," emphasising the importance of their work. He highlights the river's significance: "The river is a wonderful place... Even if you just pull out a straw and a bit of fishing line and a plastic bag, it's something less in the water to tangle things up."

Elliot's passion for marine life led him to pursue a degree in Marine and Antarctic Science. His father, reflecting on their efforts, said, "It's moving all the time, it's a living entity — let's just look after it."

The lost Rolex Submariner ref. 5513 from the 1970s

The Rolex in question, a 1970s Submariner reference 5513, belonged to a man named Greg. He lost it while boating on the river; the strap snapped when he fell off the boat, stuck on a sandbank. Greg, devastated by the loss of his watch, a gift from his parents in 1973, contacted Elliot and Darren for help after learning of their reputation for finding lost items in the river.

Accompanied by Greg, Elliot and Darren set out to find the watch. Despite the challenge posed by the river's tides, which could quickly bury objects under sand, Elliot found the watch after about 20 intense minutes of searching. The watch, still in working condition (and ticking!), was lying on the riverbed about three meters deep.

A story of persistence and environmental consciousness of the Styles family that illustrates the emotional value and history attached to wristwatches like Greg's Rolex Submariner.