BBC Antiques Roadshow guest bursts into tears as he discovers huge price of beloved watch

An Antiques Roadshow participant was overwhelmed with emotion upon discovering the staggering value of their treasured timepiece.

Expert Richard Price rendered the guest utterly astonished as he evaluated the precious family piece.

The antique watch caught Richard off guard during the recording in picturesque Oxfordshire, where he didn't hesitate to hint at the substantial sum the authentic vintage Submariners Rolex could command.

Inheriting the lavish item from his late father, the owner recounted how it came into his possession. He reminisced about the moment his father acquired the watch when he was a mere seven years old, during a family trip to Birmingham, adding layers of emotional significance to the piece.

The guest shared with Richard: "It was my dad's watch. He bought it for himself in 1972 when I was seven and me, my mum, my dad and my brother went to Birmingham to buy it.", reports .

"My dad passed away in October and he gave it to me a couple of months before he passed away. It means absolutely everything to me."

"It's part of my dad. It's a very, very special watch that is and it will be forever."

Originally purchased for a modest £132, the watch has been meticulously maintained over the years, adorned with various straps to preserve its pristine condition.

One particular strap presented for appraisal was the original, which verified the production date, further elevating its already considerable worth.

The expert delved into the history and peculiarities of the watch in question, before finally estimating its value. On the show, as Richard enlightened the audience about the unique aspects of the distinguished timepiece, he disclosed that it could fetch a staggering £20,000.

His explanation began with: "This is the Submariner date and it was introduced in 1967 and it had the word Submariner written in red, which is why collectors call it the red submariner."

He pointed out a notable change in the design when he said: "Around nine or ten years later this was changed and all that writing was in white."

Richard elaborated: "Watch collectors particularly Rolex collectors are pedantic and within that ten-year period, this watch was made with six different types of dial."

Emphasising the rarity of the watch in question, he detailed: "But the important thing to see is that yours has feet first the first three dials, it was metres first and we refer to those as marks 1, 2, 3. The owners, however, was a mark four meaning it was the first of three different dials with feet first."

He couldn't help admiring the item as he stated: "It's a lovely watch", before astonishingly revealing to everyone that the watch's value stood "around the £20,000 mark".

The reveal left the guest visibly moved to tears, speechless at the unexpected great fortune.

Wrapping up the segment, Richard concluded with heartfelt words: "It's something you've obviously loved and you're going to keep it forever. It was your dad's and I think that's a lovely, lovely story and a great inheritance."