So what do all the gurus think of this one? http://forums.watchuseek.com/f29/fs...-white-apollo-program-provenance-3036410.html
Wrong hour and minute hands Damaged dial, crappy lume Not much historical significance Cracked lume on chrono hand JB Champion is straight end piece, value 450 to 500 Polished case Service crown It's on eBay too
Thanks for the response, I'm not interested in buying, just trying to learn better what to look for. What do you mean when you say 'straight end piece' for the bracelet? How can you tell that the hour hand is wrong, I thought the minute hand looked off but I was stumped by the hour hand?
The lume is too short on the minute hand. Hour hand seems off, maybe yes maybe not. Looks too wide. JB CHampion bracelets, NASA style, come in to models. Straight and curved end pieces. Curved are more disireable. These are straight.
Earn undergraduate degree = Study Speedmaster101.com Earn Masters Degree = Buy and study Moonwatch Only
Yeah I've been kicking around the idea of buying the book, but $350 seems like a lot for a book to me.
Btw, @Taddyangle has displayed a wonderful photo of what a 105.003 (Ed White) is supposed to look like.
Let me share my observations on this watch because I was asked about the NASA provenance a few weeks ago. 1) Tom Miller was indeed a North American Engineer but probably one of hundreds that worked on the LEM during the Apollo era. 2) The May 24, 1969 date does indeed correspond to a date during the Apollo 10 mission but my personal opinion is the date is more personal than a reference to the Apollo 10 mission. If he worked on the landing gear of the LEM then why not commemorate Apollo 9 when the gear was first tested and extend? Also, why not engrave "Apollo 10 - May 24, 1969" Unless the explanation came directly from a family member, I'm skeptical. There is also this quote from a Fratellowatch article on this watch. "I noticed another engraving in the case back. It says “May 24th 1969″. I found out that on this day, the Apollo X mission took place. The mission prior to the Moonlanding and where they practiced to separate the Lunar Module from the Command Module in space. After orbiting, the Lunar Module redocked again with the Command Module." So the Apollo 10 corrolation to the date appears to be from research done by the buyer/owner of the watch not from first hand knowledge of the family. 3) The pouch included is a bit odd as well and appears to be modern. I can't imagine someone in 60's needing to add 105.003 to the pouch. In my opinion this was added by someone that knows the historical significance of the 105.003 reference and added it for their personal use and not to create a false impression. Now it is simply moving along with the watch as it's being sold. 4) Speaking of adding to the NASA allure of the watch. The JB Champion was a later addition to the watch as well and not worn by Tom Miller. The watch head was sold here at the OF in February 2015 without the bracelet or the storage pouch. https://omegaforums.net/threads/196...ro-straight-lug-ed-white-105-003-brown.21966/ This watch is highlighted here at Fratellowatches as well. It's odd that in the descriptions both had contacted the son about its history. Again, I think this story just keeps getting cut and pasted as it moves along from sale to sale. http://www.fratellowatches.com/spee...r-i-want-variation-in-my-speedmaster-watches/ All together it makes a good story. I'm skeptical of the history not to mention the less than stellar condition that others have already pointed out. I see this story and watch quickly attaining mythical status similar to the famous "Hoff" engraved Speedmaster that was once possibly owned by....
That looks like the one that was for sale on here back in Feb last year. https://omegaforums.net/threads/196...ro-straight-lug-ed-white-105-003-brown.21966/