The Repair Shop from Great Britain is one of my favorite TV shows, but I have often thought the stories of why this item means so much a bit over the top.

Yesterday, my living brothers and I were going through the personal effects of our deceased brother. We found an Elgin pocket watch, which my younger brother remembered was given to our father (as to each of his brothers) by his father at 18, with thanks for not having taken up smoking.

None of us really wanted a pocket watch, but I noticed a Phil Delta Phi legal honorary society “key” on the watch chain, so I took it for my son, a third-generation lawyer, who conveniently had worn a three-piece suit to his uncle’s funeral. He was a “1L” when the first-generation lawyer died.

So no, I now see that the stories aren’t over the top. (And yes, when I wound the stem a turn, the old Elgin started running.)