Esteemed gentlefolk, A couple of questions relating to bracelet and end pieces for a '68 145.012. What is the correct end piece #? If I am anal about bracelet year, then for a 68 watch we would be looking at a bracelet to around 1970. What year did Omega stop stamping the production date in the 1039? (I have seen some with no year stamped). Have also seen some with brushed centre links and unbrushed outer and others where all links look uniformly the same. Are these two different versions, or is it that the brushed appearance was lost through polishing during servicing? As ever, thanks in advance!!
I believe that the correct end piece would be a 516. From what I understand, brushed center links were the original finish, and any that appear uniform have simply lost their factory finish.
The '69 Speedmaster I recently sold was originally sold in 1970 and the original bracelet was stamped 1 70 (first quarter of 1970). I think the bracelets were added at or just before the time of sale. As receipts seem to show some watches being sold several years after production, I'd say a '68 would have a 69 or 70 bracelet.
I have a 66 (caseback) with a bracelet stamped 67; and a 67 (caseback) with a bracelet stamped 68. I think it is reasonable, particularly with 145.012s, to find 1039/516 bracelets stamped into the 70s, as occasional examples have been reported some provenance or documentation (one owner, papers), indicating that their first sale was as late as 1972.