A woman from Missouri has turned a $150 thrift store purchase into a potential profit of hundreds of dollars after discovering that her watch, branded with the renowned name of Gucci, is likely authentic and highly sought after. Kayla Russina, while shopping with her boyfriend in downtown St. Louis, spotted the watch in a box, which prompted her to act quickly.
“I knew these watches were highly sought after,” Russina stated. “When I saw it, I immediately went and grabbed my boyfriend to show him and we decided to buy it.” Such secondhand Gucci watches can have a wide range of values, with listings on Chrono24, a leading marketplace for luxury timepieces, showing prices from $80 to over $800. However, Russina felt confident that her find would be worth much more.
The watch, dating back to the 1990s, came in its original Gucci case and featured a selection of interchangeable bezels, allowing the wearer to customize the watch’s appearance. With similar models listed on eBay for over $1,000, she decided to purchase it, despite needing a new battery. Originally priced at $200, she managed to negotiate it down to $150.
After acquiring her new treasure, Russina took to Reddit, posting under the handle u/ilovedaniellarson to share her excitement about the purchase. “Blessed by the thrift gods yesterday!” she wrote, alongside a photo of the watch and its bezels. The post garnered significant attention, with users expressing admiration and envy. One commenter remarked, “Good price too, because I regularly check prices online for this item. Congrats.” Another user noted, “That’s about how much I paid for mine new in 1993!”
Despite the positive feedback, not all responses were enthusiastic. Some users questioned whether the price was too high, but Russina remained hopeful. “We were worried initially,” she admitted. However, her concerns dissipated once she had the watch authenticated, confirming it as a genuine Gucci piece.
Russina now expects to receive between $500 and $700 for the watch. “We just got a new battery for it today, and it is working,” she confirmed. While some might choose to keep such a unique item, Russina plans to sell it to support her finances as a college student.
“I would say that this is definitely one of my best thrift finds,” she reflected. “The fact that there are no pieces missing and it is the full complete set is amazing!” Her story highlights the potential rewards lurking in thrift stores, reminding others that valuable treasures can often be found in unexpected places.