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Thread: Watch cremation

  1. #1
    Grand Master ryanb741's Avatar
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    Watch cremation

    Was talking to a doctor friend who said he'd heard that one of his patients who sadly passed away from cancer was quite the watch collector and had requested to his family that he be cremated with one of his favourite watches on - said watch was apparently a very rare Rolex issued by the Omani Sultan in the 70s for services rendered to the country.

    That's a lot of money literally up in flames!

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  2. #2
    Why not.

  3. #3
    Master
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    Call me cynical, but my money's on the undertaker opening the casket, then whipping that watch off his wrist before he gets anywhere near the flames.

  4. #4
    Quote Originally Posted by estoban7 View Post
    Call me cynical, but my money's on the undertaker opening the casket, then whipping that watch off his wrist before he gets anywhere near the flames.
    at his work here too?


  5. #5
    Grand Master wileeeeeey's Avatar
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    What an idiot.

  6. #6
    Master drhexagon's Avatar
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    Why wouldn’t you just leave something like that to your family? Makes me wonder how many people have been buried with their favourite piece like some sort of horological pharaoh

  7. #7
    Master endo's Avatar
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    Why not, his property his choice.



    Think i’ll take my PP’s with me, the next generation can look after their own watches.

  8. #8
    Master jukeboxs's Avatar
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    It's been going on for thousands of years, not surprising. I'll be leaving mine to my daughters and charity.

  9. #9
    Master
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    A family friend who was an Funeral Director years ago, before he retired always said to buy gold as there will always be a demand for it as a lot of it is buried every year with people who die. How much to affect the demand of gold I’ve no idea.

  10. #10
    Master RogDen's Avatar
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    I thought I had heard all metal was removed before cremation including casket handles


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  11. #11
    some Japanese art collector has ordered a Van Gogh to be burnt when he dies apparently 😳

  12. #12
    Grand Master snowman's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by GOAT View Post
    some Japanese art collector has ordered a Van Gogh to be burnt when he dies apparently
    A bit like a Banksy, then!

    M
    Breitling Cosmonaute 809 - What's not to like?

  13. #13
    SydR
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    Seems very wasteful given the temperatures involved in cremation don’t get hot enough to melt metal implants, for example, so would expect a rather sad looking watch to remain in the ashes.

    Metal objects used to be collected and buried however, due to environmental reasons, they are now sent for recycling by many crematoriums.

  14. #14
    Grand Master MartynJC (UK)'s Avatar
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    Used to include the wife. I guess this is an improvement. (I’ll get my coat)
    “ Ford... you're turning into a penguin. Stop it.” HHGTTG

  15. #15
    Quote Originally Posted by RogDen View Post
    I thought I had heard all metal was removed before cremation including casket handles
    I have visited a working crematorium and whilst the subject of a wristwatch wasn't specifically mentioned I was made aware that there's a lot of rules about cremating items other than the casket and the human body.

    Given the process of how the skeletal bones are processed post-cremation I would be surprised that a watch would be allowed tbh.

    R
    Ignorance breeds Fear. Fear breeds Hatred. Hatred breeds Ignorance. Break the chain.

  16. #16
    Craftsman williemays's Avatar
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    Watch cremation

    Interesting reading here:

    The Musings of a Crematorium Worker: The £6,500 Rolex
    https://kjemm.wordpress.com/2017/03/04/the-6500-rolex/

    “Most things do burn away in a cremator. For instance, the handles of the golf clubs went, watch straps burn away, metal pendants melt into unrecognisable forms, gold is just blobs but some things do remain, charred, but still present. Like a £6,500 Rolex.”
    Last edited by williemays; 9th May 2021 at 18:48.

  17. #17
    Quote Originally Posted by williemays View Post
    Interesting reading here:

    The Musings of a Crematorium Worker: The £6,500 Rolex
    https://kjemm.wordpress.com/2017/03/04/the-6500-rolex/

    “Most things do burn away in a cremator. For instance, the handles of the golf clubs went, watch straps burn away, metal pendants melt into unrecognisable forms, gold is just blobs but some things do remain, charred, but still present. Like a £6,500 Rolex.”
    I think cremation chambers temperatures are from 1600 to 2400 F. Melting point of steel is about 2450 degrees F. So I imagine a SS watch might just survive.

  18. #18
    Quote Originally Posted by endo View Post
    Why not, his property his choice.
    When he dies it won't be.

  19. #19
    It does seem wasteful rather than leaving to family or selling/auctioning for charity.

  20. #20
    Master M1011's Avatar
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    Lucky day for the folk loading the casket...

  21. #21
    Master
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    As I understand it (got a mate in the death business ) all left over metals are removed after cremation as all the remains are then ground into dust before ashes are handed over to any relatives etc


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  22. #22
    Grand Master PickleB's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by RAJEN View Post
    I think cremation chambers temperatures are from 1600 to 2400 F. Melting point of steel is about 2450 degrees F. So I imagine a SS watch might just survive.
    Quote Originally Posted by emgee View Post
    As I understand it (got a mate in the death business ) all left over metals are removed after cremation as all the remains are then ground into dust before ashes are handed over to any relatives etc


    Sent from my iPhone using TZ-UK mobile app
    See also The Standard Cremation Process - 2021 for:

    What happens to objects that are not combustible e.g. metal nails or jewellery?

    A magnet removes the ferrous parts (ironware) and other metals (which now fused with other material and not recognisable) are removed. These traditional[ly] have been buried at the crematorium grounds. However many now send them off for recycling.

    Note: the best advice would be not to leave jewellery on the deceased as it won’t be part of the ashes you receive back and it can’t be retrieved.


    IMO the issue is 'How best to recycle a Rolex?'

  23. #23
    I think Rolex are missing an advertising opportunity here.

    "Rolex: the only watch that is still recognisable after it has been cremated."

    R
    Ignorance breeds Fear. Fear breeds Hatred. Hatred breeds Ignorance. Break the chain.

  24. #24
    Quote Originally Posted by ralphy View Post
    I think Rolex are missing an advertising opportunity here.

    "Rolex: the only watch that is still recognisable after it has been cremated."

    R
    Rolex are halfway there already with their coffins.

  25. #25
    Grand Master Onelasttime's Avatar
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    I call this as BS.

    The watch won’t be burned fully and will be thrown away after the cremation so what would be the point? Being buried with it I can just about understand, although that would still be ego-driven idiocy.

    You’ll be dead, why bother? What possible significance would it have?

  26. #26
    Grand Master MartynJC (UK)'s Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Onelasttime View Post
    I call this as BS.

    The watch won’t be burned fully and will be thrown away after the cremation so what would be the point? Being buried with it I can just about understand, although that would still be ego-driven idiocy.

    You’ll be dead, why bother? What possible significance would it have?
    Tell that to the Egyptians. .
    “ Ford... you're turning into a penguin. Stop it.” HHGTTG

  27. #27
    Grand Master Chinnock's Avatar
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    Bloody idiot!

    Smacks of “If I can’t enjoy it anymore, why should somebody else?”

  28. #28
    Grand Master Onelasttime's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by MartynJC (UK) View Post
    Tell that to the Egyptians. .
    Yes, these things were important back in 3000 BC.

  29. #29
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    I know it's stretching a point but one could argue that by destroying an existing watch, he is in his own little way, doing his bit to push up residuals by reducing availability.

    At the end of the day, it is his watch to do with as he likes.

  30. #30
    Grand Master Onelasttime's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Mick P View Post
    I know it's stretching a point but one could argue that by destroying an existing watch, he is in his own little way, doing his bit to push up residuals by reducing availability.

    At the end of the day, it is his watch to do with as he likes.
    Priceless

  31. #31
    Master
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    Quote Originally Posted by Onelasttime View Post
    Priceless
    I am more than happy for residuals to be protected, simple as that.

  32. #32
    Grand Master
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    Quote Originally Posted by Chinnock View Post
    Bloody idiot!

    Smacks of “If I can’t enjoy it anymore, why should somebody else?”
    I can think of circumstances where id cremate a lucrative rolex rather than handing it on.
    You dont know the guys family or situation.

  33. #33
    Grand Master Onelasttime's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by verv View Post
    I can think of circumstances where id cremate a lucrative rolex rather than handing it on.
    You dont know the guys family or situation.
    Surely donate to a charity rather than ruin it?

  34. #34
    Grand Master
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    Quote Originally Posted by Onelasttime View Post
    Surely donate to a charity rather than ruin it?
    Nope.

  35. #35
    Anyone who wants a watch like that destroyed is not a lover of watches, he just wants one last flex.

  36. #36
    Master James.uk's Avatar
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    This must be the oddest thread I’ve ever read on TZ, and there has been a few odd ones


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  37. #37
    Grand Master mart broad's Avatar
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    In all seriousness who cares it’s only an object to do with what the owner wants
    I FEEL LIKE I'M DIAGONALLY PARKED IN A PARALLEL UNIVERSE

  38. #38
    If i'm being buried with a watch it has to be a fully charged 4G enabled Samsung Galaxy watch because you never know I suppose. Doctors get things wrong sometimes :-)

  39. #39
    Apprentice
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    I am thinking of being buried surrounded by 23 toasters and 2 kettles. That'll confuse the Archeologists when they dig me up in 800 years time.

  40. #40
    Master Tony-GB's Avatar
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    I'm glad he didn't wear a Prince Albert.

  41. #41
    Master
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    Will leave the watches to my kids but the warranty cards are coming with me.

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