A woman from Missouri recently made headlines after purchasing a thrift store watch for $150, only to discover its potential value might be significantly higher. Kayla Russina spotted the watch while shopping with her boyfriend in downtown St. Louis. Recognizing the familiar name of Gucci, she was immediately intrigued.
“It caught my eye because I had seen these watches online before and I knew that they were highly sought after,” Russina said in an interview with Newsweek. After consulting with her boyfriend, they decided to take the plunge and buy the watch.
The market for secondhand Gucci watches varies widely. According to Chrono24, a prominent online marketplace for luxury watches, prices range from $80 to over $800. Russina sensed that her find could be worth more, especially as the watch still came in its original Gucci case and featured multiple bezels designed for customization.
With similar watches selling for over $1,000 on eBay, Russina felt confident in her purchase, even considering the battery would need replacing. Originally priced at $200, she secured the timepiece for $150, a decision she later celebrated on Reddit.
In her post under the handle u/ilovedaniellarson, Russina shared her excitement about the find, stating, “Blessed by the thrift gods yesterday!” The response from the online community was overwhelmingly positive. One Redditor remarked, “One of my white whales. Good price too, because I regularly check prices online for this item. Congrats.”
Others chimed in with their own experiences. “That’s about how much I paid for mine new in 1993!” another user commented, while a third noted the high demand, mentioning a similar watch sold for $1,100 on Facebook Marketplace just the week before.
Doubt lingered for Russina at first. “We were worried initially,” she admitted. However, that uncertainty faded after they took the watch for authentication, which confirmed it was genuine.
Now, Russina anticipates selling the watch for between $500 and $700. “We just got a new battery for it today and it is working,” she noted. Though some might choose to keep such a unique timepiece, Russina plans to sell it. As a college student, she sees the financial benefit as a priority.
“I will most likely be selling it as I am a college student and need the money,” she explained. Reflecting on her lucky find, she added, “I would say that this is definitely one of my best thrift finds. The fact that there are no pieces missing and it is the full complete set is amazing!”
Russina’s story highlights the thrill of thrift shopping and the potential for unexpected treasures in secondhand markets. For many, her experience serves as a reminder that with a keen eye and a bit of luck, significant value can be found in the most unlikely places.
