THE HUNT: FINDING A.S. DU PLESSIS
A 21-Year Service Watch from the City of Welkom
STATUS: FAMILY SEARCH IN PROGRESS — NOT FOR SALE
Some antiques are bought to be sold. Others arrive with a story that first needs to be found.
Antique Hunter recently acquired a vintage Edox Delfin Automatic wristwatch carrying a remarkable inscription on the back:
21 JAAR
A.S. DU PLESSIS
STAD VAN WELKOM
The watch is a Swiss-made Edox Delfin Automatic with a 21-jewel movement. Our research currently places it approximately in the mid-to-late 1960s, a period that corresponds closely with an important era in the history of Welkom.
But the watch itself is only half the story.
WHO WAS A.S. DU PLESSIS?
The inscription strongly indicates that the watch commemorated 21 years of service associated with the City of Welkom.
At present, however, we do not know the full name of A.S. du Plessis, what position he held, or what his role was in the development and administration of Welkom.
That has become our hunt.
We are searching historical records, newspaper archives and the memories of people who lived and worked in Welkom during this period in an attempt to identify him and, ultimately, locate his family.
WHY FIND THE FAMILY?
The monetary value of an antique is not always its most important value.
To a collector this may be a vintage Swiss watch.
To the children or grandchildren of A.S. du Plessis, it could be something entirely different — a tangible piece of their family's history.
For that reason, the watch is currently NOT FOR SALE.
First, we want to discover its story.
If you worked for the former City of Welkom, knew A.S. du Plessis, recognise the name, or believe that you may be a member of his family, we would very much like to hear from you.
Even a small piece of information — a first name, department, photograph, newspaper clipping or memory — may provide the clue that completes the hunt.
THE HUNT IS COMPLETE
When Antique Hunter found this watch, all we had was a name engraved on the back:
A.S. du Plessis — Stad van Welkom
We knew the watch had once marked an important moment in someone's life, but we did not yet know the man behind the name.
So the hunt began.
Antique Hunter reached out to the Welkom community for help. The search was shared on the Facebook group of the local News under “I once lived in Welkom”, where former residents and people with connections to the city began helping us follow the trail.
Then came the breakthrough.
We found the family — and discovered that this was not simply an old Swiss watch.
It was a lost family heirloom.
The watch had never reached A.S. du Plessis's grandson. He had been searching for it for 38 years.
After nearly four decades, an object carrying his grandfather's name had somehow found its way into the hands of Antique Hunter.
From that moment, there was no question of a selling price.
Antique Hunter returned the watch to the family at no cost.
An heirloom is not something we believe should be sold back to the family whose history it carries.
A newspaper photograph has also allowed us to put a face to the name engraved on the watch — A.S. du Plessis.
What began with an engraving on the back of an old watch ended with a piece of family history finding its way home.
After 38 years, the hunt is over.
Every Piece Has a Story.
Antique Hunter — Tell us what you're looking for. We'll hunt it down.
Antique Hunter — Tell us what you're looking for. We'll hunt it down.