Nearly three decades ago, Tom Place, a Hollywood stuntman, lost a valuable possession that has since fueled a relentless quest. At the age of 18, in the summer of 1996, Place’s cherished Rolex Submariner Date 16610, purchased for $3,100, slipped from his wrist and sank into the depths of Trout Lake in New York.
The incident occurred when Place dove off a boat, only to have the watch’s clasp break mid-air, sending it into waters exceeding 79 feet in depth with limited visibility. Despite immediate efforts, including diving attempts and the use of a heavy industrial magnet to comb the lake bed, the timepiece remained elusive. Over time, Place accepted that the watch had likely become obscured beneath layers of mud and aquatic plants.
Renewed Efforts Amid a Global Pause
After years of intermittent searching, Place reignited his mission in 2020. The pause in film production caused by the pandemic offered a unique opportunity to dedicate time and resources to the recovery effort. Equipped with advanced diving gear and underwater metal detectors, he methodically explored the area where the watch was believed to have been lost.
What began as a youthful misfortune has evolved into a decades-long endeavor, with Place organizing multiple expeditions to reclaim his submerged Rolex. His unwavering commitment highlights the sentimental and financial significance attached to the watch, underscoring the lengths to which he is willing to go in hopes of retrieving it from the lake’s murky depths.