The Watch

Hello Mr Glander,

I have been doing some research into a Playboy watch that has come into my possession. It is an Omega and is inscribed on the back with the words;

J. Piasecke

With Thanks

Hef

Whilst Googling the name I came across your Reunions website. I was wondering if you be so kind as to be able to shed some light on Jim Piasecke' roll at, I presume the London Casino? Also if you’re aware of why a watch such as this may have been presented? Any information you may have would be greatly appreciated.

Kind Regards

Adam Lewis

Medical Photographer

Medical Illustrations

Royal Perth Hospital

Nicolay Block, Level 2

Murray St. Perth. 6000.
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Hi Jim...

Neil here from www.casinoreunions.com

Check out this email I received. Fascinating!

The watches were 10 year service awards, right.

Please keep me informed. I would be most interested.

thanks,

Neil.
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Neil

I tried phoning this guy but get a constant busy signal from the number. Yes that was a ten year award but having kept it over the years not wearing it(I have a Rolex I wear)I have had to keep insuring it and it got to be more expensive each year. I was given a good price for it here and thought I'd let it go as I couldn't see insuring each year and keeping it in a box. How in the hell it got back there I don't know. He must have been here and bought it from the dealer I sold it too, it'd be interesting to see what he paid for it.

Jim

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Hi Neil,

Wow thank you for passing my email on, I honestly wasn't expecting a reply! Its great news to hear about the watch, it is indeed a very interesting piece. I purchased it from a dealer in Singapore and it came with the original box but no paperwork. The world is indeed shrinking when something like this can travel so far when being traded from one person to another. Until I read about the Playboy Casinos on your website I had no idea they existed either, no wonder you all still keep in touch. They must have been heady days indeed.

Thanks again for your help, it is very much appreciated. I have included a couple of pics that you might like to put on your website.

Kind Regards

Adam Lewis
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Hi Jim,

Thank you very much for getting back to Neil about your old watch. My apologies for the office number being constantly engaged, being in Australia theres some trickery involved in removing 0's and adding numbers on to get through.

I will be having it professionally restored ie. a good clean and service, a new crystal glass and the case polished. Hopefully I can get my hands on a new Omega band as well. What colour was the original?

Also I'd be most interested to know what your role at the Casino was and when it was presented to you? Was the watch something that a lot of people got, I can't imagine too many people did 10 year stints. Was it personally presented by "Hef" ? It must have been a fascinating place to work in!

A lot of questions, my apologies! I'm a bit of a watch bore but I find it fascinating tracking down the history of them.

Kind Regards

Adam Lewis
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Hi Adam

Playboy wasn't just a Casino. We had 25 apartments one being a penthouse at the top where many celebrities often frequented. Five restaurants of which one was in the basement Disco which was the rave in the 70'sThen the casino consisted of three floors whereby we had 28 tables which was the largest in the UK at that time.

I was the Night Manager at the time for 11 plus years,whereby I was in charge of the whole place. During that time the UK was having all the bombings from the IRA so I was the guy who received the many bomb threats we got and I'm pleased to say I only chose to evacuate the club three times of the many calls I got.:

No the presentation of the watch wasn't all that glamorous, I was just called in to see the General Manager whom I saw every day before my shift and was given the watch by him who by the way had it engraved. I did meet Hef on two of his visits tho.

Last but not least we had 450 Bunnies of which 200 were cocktail type that served food and drinks and 250 were croupier type who dealt the games.

I guess that should answer most of your questions I hope if you have any further questions feel free to write.

JIM
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Hi Neil,

Yes I did hear back from Jim. What an interesting story! I will have a look at the site for the pictures when I'm not at work, the government is a bit touchy about viewing images on a "Playboy" site apparently! I edited Jims email to remove the info about the money side of things - perhaps he would agree to the rest being put up as info about the watch on the site. 450 Bunnies, no wonder you all like to catch up and talk about the old times. I'd just like to thank you for your help in getting me in touch with Jim and therefore to the bottom of the story of this most interesting watch.

Kind Regards

Adam Lewis