OMG. It would have to be the watch.

But it sounds like you are going to get it back. You might need to wear it out to a nice restaurant that night to celebrate it's return.

You are right!

Smithsonian mineralogist George Switzer is credited with persuading jeweler Harry Winston to donate the Hope Diamond for a proposed national gem collection to be housed at the National Museum of Natural History.[48] On November 10, 1958,[14] Winston acquiesced, sending it through U.S. Mail in a box wrapped in brown paper as simple registered mail[11] insured for $1 million at a cost of $145.29, of which $2.44 was for postage and the balance insurance.[11][49] Upon its arrival it became Specimen #217868.[50] https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hope_Diamond

I had never heard that about the Hope Diamond but I did know that the Cullinan was shipped from South Africa to London by registered parcel post. Supposedly Scotland Yard decided that shipping it in a plain box by mail was the most secure way to ship it. A diversionary shipment with a massive show of security was publicized while the real diamond was sent in the mail.

So that’s two famous diamonds that were delivered safely in the public mail!

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cullinan_Diamond

In the case of shipping a valuable watch...I don't quite understand why FED-X would choose a shipping broker to get a "bulk rate?" Makes no sense. What am I missing here?

I read it as the where repair shop used a broker. That said, how much is he saving versus potentially losing a valuable/heirloom item?

FedEx didn't. The watch repair place did.

There really is a transportation/ supply chain breakdown happening. A truck from LA to ATL that used to run $2-3k is now $8k (if you can find one). Shipping containers from China that used to run us $2500 are now $27.5k.

Something small like a watch, I don't care if it costs $100 to ship, as long as it makes it from point A to point B is all I'm worried about.

Good idea. The real sadness about it going missing wasn't that it was a Tudor, but the memories attached.

GREAT news it's coming home.

Here's a video I enjoyed. A well known high end watch dealer on his most precious watch..a family thing...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=27D0Wmns9e0

Something wrong with the figures there unless there are some circumstances that you are not telling. Yes, container prices have doubled port to port, but 10 X???

I have family that works in the Port of Long Beach as well as other ports on occasion. My wife retired from a port related job (stevedoring company) so I have my finger on the pulse, if you will.

And, yes, the outer harbor is jammed. Just thought I'd throw that in.

We've seen container shipping prices jump 5x for freight coming in to the US - via either coast. Leaving the US is much easier.

Trucking prices are also going through the roof. Lots more freight these days, and a shortage of both trucks and truckers.

I can confirm I have heard similar from UPS staff.

as a Tudor wearer, i am really worried alongside you bud.

i hope it works out. please keep us updated.

Thanks all…will do. My dad wore it every day of his last 21 years of life until he handed it to me a month before he died. I intend to do the same for the balance of mine…as soon as it gets here. I’d do the same if it was a Timex. But it’s a very cool piece as well. So, all the better.

No news at all so far today.

Excellent suggestion! Absolutely will do that.

I can vouch for this being true. I sent my inherited Leica M3 back east to be CLA'd. Spent $80 on double boxing at the UPS Store. It got there fine.
The guy sent it back with only bubble wrap wrapped around it and a box barely large enough for it to fit into, but it had a big red FRAGILE stamped on it. When it arrived I couldn't believe the camera could have survived the trip.
I'll never use that tech again for anything.
He could have just put the camera inside the inner box it arrived in and it would have been better protected than the re-used box he did use to return it.
It is more about the memories the camera has associated with it than the camera itself.

I almost hesitate to type this, (don't want to jinx myself), but I've never had any problem shipping or receiving packages from any of the common carriers. UPS/FedEx/USPS...they all arrive where they are supposed to go. I've read the horror stories here and don't question or doubt anyone else's experience but it's not mine. And that is with hundreds of packages, easily.

USPS is absolutely the best one, though, in my experience. I once had a package misdelivered to the address across the street, (easily retrieved), the supervisor at the neighborhood PO was able to show me the exact GPS location where the carrier hit the button saying that he or she had delivered it.

All of the shipping companies have the exact same problem, the employees that don't have the slightest bit of pride of doing a job right, and work hard at making it worse. I have had horror stories from all the shippers. Lots of packages delivered just fine however.

I’ve had a lot of good service from the Postal Service. Even some above and beyond type service.

I've had good service from all of the services. I've also had bad service from all of the services. The postal service used to have very moderate customer service if you went someplace in person, but in the last 5-ish years, I think they've tried to turn that around because 1 it's been better and 2 most/all of the receipts have a link/QR code to go to some sort of CX (customer experience) survey. I've had items lost, stolen and/or damaged by every one of them at some point over the years.

Maybe double packaging, properly insuring, and not marking "Fragile" is the way to go. Seems like "fragile" labeling invites package testing.

Makes me think of "Baby On Board" bumper stickers. I personally do not try harder to not hit those cars. I find they annoying. A friend of mine has a "Student Driver" bumper sticker on his car. Maybe that instills a little fear in the other drivers.

I think we should put those on corvettes, camaros, mustangs, hellcats, 911s (especially GTx and/or turbo models), etc....