The watch Norris found was a 1959 LeCoultre Deep Sea Alarm, one of fewer than 1,000 made for the U.S. market—its simple “LeCoultre” mark hid a mechanical alarm that warned divers when to surface. After spotting it face‑down in a Goodwill basket on West Thunderbird Road, he paid $5.99 and posted photos on a Facebook watch group, sparking instant interest from collectors worldwide.
Oliver Smith Jeweler in Scottsdale opened the caseback and confirmed the watch’s authenticity; the K815 movement was intact and the alarm still vibrated as designed. Hodinkee editor Eric Wind advised Norris on the watch’s true market value, ensuring he wasn’t over‑priced by dealers.
Collector Eric Ku offered $35,000, insisting on hand‑to‑hand delivery and an Omega Speedmaster in exchange for the LeCoultre. Norris flew to San Francisco, personally handed over the watch, and received the cash and the Speedmaster.
The windfall covered his upcoming wedding costs, and Norris also donated part of the profit back to Goodwill, turning a thrift‑store trip into a life‑changing windfall.
The deal closed a few days after the authentication, and the watch now sits in Ku’s private collection, a rare piece of horological history.