Only Fools and Horses: Exactly how much the famous watch that made Del Boy and Rodney millionaires is worth in 2021

For years Only Fools and Horses fans watched Derek Trotter convince his family, and himself, that one day they’ll be millionaires.

Although his statement seemed very farfetched, Del Boy eventually saw his dream come true in 1996 – 15 years after the first episode aired on television.

Time On Our Hands aired in 1996 and became the most-watched Only Fools episode of all time, and also the most watched episode of a sitcom of the decade.

Viewers rejoiced as we witnessed Peckham brothers Del Boy and Rodney Trotter find their fortune in a fairy tale ending.

Of course, this wasn’t the final Only Fools and Horses episode but it was the very last time David Jason (Del Boy), Nicholas Lyndhurst (Rodney), and Buster Merryfield (Uncle Albert) would ever share the screen.

Let’s recap on the Time On Our Hands episode

Del Boy’s better half Raquel Turner (Tessa Peake-Jones) plans a homemade family dinner at the Trotters flat in Nelson Mandela House.

As the Trotters and Raquel’s parents sit down to enjoy their meal, the food was ruined after clumsy Uncle Albert confused gravy with coffee.

However, the next day their whole lives were flipped upside down when Raquel’s dad James makes an incredible discovery.

When James picks up his car from the Trotters’ car garage the antique dealer spots an old pocket watch sitting on a gas cooker.

After closer examination, he suggests the watch is the work of John Harrison – the same person who designed and built the world’s most successful maritime clock back in the 18th century.

Experts confirm the watch to be a Harrison “lesser watch”, a semi-mythical piece whose designs exist but it was unclear whether the watch was ever made.

The timepiece is then auctioned at Sotheby’s.

Del Boy promptly (and rather hilariously) faints after hearing the opening bid of £150,000, but after recovering the wheeler-dealer and Rodney rush back into the auction room as the bidding continues.

The final bid was confirmed at £6.2 million and when Rodney re-reads Sotheby’s statement in the yellow reliant van, the Trotter Brothers begin whooping hysterically, rocking the van with joy as they are now millionaires.

Later in the episode, the brothers reminisce on their life in Peckham and how their ducking and diving lifestyle will change now they’re wealthy.

How much would the antique watch be worth in 2021?

Time On Our Hands was set in 1996 and the watch was worth £6.2 million.

According to the Bank of England, inflation averaged 2.8 percent each year between 1996 and 2020.

So £6.2 million in 1996 is the equivalent to exactly £11,901,859.23 in today’s money.

The Trotter’s would have had nearly £6 million each if the watch had been sold today.

* You can re-watch Time On Our Hands now on Britbox.