Farmer Finds Watch After 50 Years Thinking Cow Had Eaten It

A British farmer has found his Rolex watch, 50 years after he believed it had become a meal for a hungry cow.

James Steele, 95, bought the Rolex shortly after his 21st birthday in 1950, but lost it around 20 years later while working on his farm in Shropshire, England.

At the time, he still looked for it in the fields, but his only clue was a cow nearby. "The cow could have eaten it with a mouthful of grass, the vet said," Steele told SWNS Media Group.

The watch resurfaced 50 years later, after Steele's son gave 'treasure hunter' Liam King permission to use his metal detector and search the estate for old coins.

It was unclear whether the watch, which now has a green tinge to its face, had in fact passed through the digestive tract of a bovine.

"I was devastated, but I saved up again and bought another one. I'm very happy because I never thought I'd see the watch again. I only have half of the bracelet - the other half must have disintegrated," he said.

Although the watch isn't working, there's no rust on it. However, Steele doesn't plan to have it repaired, as it would be a costly endeavor.