(Photo credit: @kevincooley_/Instagram)
Watch collectors often indulge in a hypothetical scenario: “There’s a fire in your house, and you can only grab one watch. Which one do you choose?”
In a weird twist of fate, a man renowned for his wildfire photography — who was away documenting the Palisades Fire — found his house tragically destroyed in the Eaton Fire, which swept through neighborhoods in Altadena, Calif., leaving behind only ashes and memories.
But his wife’s quick thinking saved a Rolex Day-Date, a cherished heirloom that now represents a profound connection to his family’s past. Saving the Rolex wasn't just about the watch's value but its emotional significance.
The watch originally belonged to his grandfather, and his Los Angeles home also burned down in a wildfire decades ago. A watch that's been handed down from grandfather to father to son carries the weight of several generations, tragedies and stories of survival.
“He lost his house in the Bel Air fire so I have this connection, through the watch, to a man I barely knew, but have this shared sense of loss,” he told local TV station ABC7 in Los Angeles.