Well I recently bought this project/beater and am not too well versed in omega, I know the bezel dial and presumably hands are all replacements but I can’t figure out when they’re from or if they have any value by themselves, if the watch is worth restoring or what I should do moving forward. I like the watch but not sure if I should move it for something I really like or start the process of getting her back to original, or at least as close as possible.

 

So you're gonna have to replace dial, hands, and bezel... how much did you spend on this one?

 

Caseback as well which looks like it’s a 105.003.63. Found an all original one with extracts that was 370 SN prior to this with a 63 back. I have ~$2,000 in her

 

Bought it thinking it was something completely different than it turned out to be.

 

So then the question is are you willing to spend $$$ to try to make it all correct? I think it's very possible and doable, and you can sell the parts you currently have now on to recoup. I would do it, if it were me IMO.

 

Even with where I’m at, still looking at $1,500-2k for a caseback, a decent DON is $3k and a good dial around $4,000. Which is right around $11,000 into the watch-whatever these parts would sell for. I definitely want to get the correct caseback but past that I’m unsure of how much more is actually going to add value to the watch vs the investment involved

 

But better lighting

 

Oh, I misunderstood. You don't have a caseback? Well... OK. That's harder to deal with.

If I were you I might still get the dial and hands sorted, to get the correct look at least. I don't mind the bezel and back personally when I wear it as a daily. And the parts currently on look good! They are probably worth something.

So yes it might be much harder if you want to get it to a collector level. But to get it to a very nice beater, daily wearer, it's reasonable, and I think that is worth it.

 

I think a lot of these projects become labors of love. It may take a minute to source the right parts (caseback in particular). But it could be a fun project if your hearts into it, I’d be game to play that game!

 

I'm not sure what a handset will cost these days. I'm not sure what hands are on there now, but Chrono hand is short so not a speedy pro hand.

I have not had good luck with most all of my project watches. In the end I think better to buy a watch that is already what you are looking for...but at $2k I get the challenge.

 

If you're in it for the final sale then maybe it's a good candidate for meister's chop-shop (H/T @gemini4).

But if it's a labor of love and you hope to wear it, I'd consider this: If you can't make it 100% original what would be essential to you for it to be correct about it for you to be excited to wear it. Do you need to locate every last part including vintage pushers, a caseback etc or could you live with just the dial, hands, case being correct?

 

IMHO, there are two alternatives :
1) track down original components to build a period correct watch : obviously, difficult and costly, probably costing more than an original watch bought as is. You will likely end up with a 10k+ parts watch, not very satisfying.
2) just use a modern service dial and handset to build an Ed White lookalike. Franken? Yes! But more interesting than a modded FOIS, it will still be a very good watch for a fraction of the price of option 1)

 

It is indeed a labour of love. Plenty of patience, constantly checking the market and spare cash required.

 

+1

 

First get an extract - if it fails then there is no (financial) point in hunting and buying period vintage parts.

 

The 105.003-63 is a rare watch and it might be difficult to find the correct parts.

But somehow this watch made its way to you and I would look patiently for the missing parts in order to restore it.

 

This one has a serial number 370 movement numbers prior to mine so at the latest it would be a 105.003.64 from what I’ve read and according to his extracts