My first message here... So first of all hello everybody and thank you for the great posts I have been reading here these last few days!

I'm considering taking the plunge for a Speedmaster from the 60s, as close as possible to the one worn by the astronauts on the Moon.

I started looking on eBay and found an interesting 321 from 1963: http://www.ebay.fr/itm/221764451575?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649Purchases made through these links may earn this site a commission from the eBay Partner Network

After reading through many posts on this forum and following the links to great websites (especially speedmaster101.com) I'm trying to apply my freshly acquired (and very limited) knowledge to have a critical view on this listing. Here is what I noted. Please correct me whenever I'm wrong!

- Dial: looks original and attractive, with the correct applied metal logo and yellow lume.
- Hands: they're clearly modern.
- Subdials: the chronograph doesn't properly reset, so the watch definitely needs a service.
- Bezel: looks good and the right type for the year. In suspiciously good condition, but doesn't look new either.
- Case: not bad, but I can't really tell if it has been polished or not.
- Movement: it's a 321, no rust that I can see, everything looks tidy, but the serial is blurred and completely unreadable! Anyway the clutch bridge is the correct symmetrical model for the year, so it must be ok.
- Band: looks nice and old, but I couldn't say if it's the correct model or not.
- Seller: from Italy and doesn't accept returns... Not good for 'buying him'!

What do the knowledgeable people think? How right (or wrong) am I in my analysis?

Many thanks in advance!

Motik

 

Dear Motik, welcome first.

In my opinion , look elsewhere. Its price will be too high and you will have to make several changes. The hands are horrible , the mesh is not the original .The case was polished

With patience , keep looking. You 're on track . I would not buy this watch.

Of course , in this forum there are real master who know much more than me.

Best regards.

 

The end links don't match; one says 47 the other is unmarked. The clasp looks like something you'd find on an 1175, but the bracelet itself looks like an 1171 since it has more rounded vs flatter links.

 

This is a watch for someone ready to deal with issues.

If I am buying a -63, I like to see the non T marked dial. It's rare, and the only time you should see a professional tritium dial without T markings.

This watch needs hands, obviously, and has been polished - but not more than many. For a price it's worth having, bearing in mind it needs a service, hands, and the bracelet is worthless.

 

Agree with you, but pay attention that it is an "asymmetrical T" dial, which means it was factory-made witout T markings

 

was putting on aftermarket "T"s a thing? where would someone go for that?

 

It´s not aftermarket, it´s "after-new-law" (see long story in Moonwatch Only)

 

If anyone is crazy enough to get this piece, I've got a set of hands.

 

I have a 105.012-63, so yes they did make them.

 

They did, and they are considered the most rare of the 105.012 iterations..

 

Here is one:

 

Actually, I did a OF survey a while back and the 105.012-64 might be rarer. There is no doubt that the 65 and 66 are plentiful.

 

I think that may be true.....

Well I dont have one, so they must be rare!

 

Here is mine.

 

As to the movement I can't quite see the serial, but I'd probe more before bidding. Shouldn't the rare -63 / -64 Speedys have 20mm serial and the symmetrical clutch bridge(especially if -63) and if yes, then the whole watch could be frankenfake

I looked at the watch again and seller gives a full serial in 20mm. So does anyone know?

 

Sorry, a symmetrical clutch bridge??!!
If it's easy to post a photo could you... No problem if difficult to I'll do my homework on the Internet!

 

https://omegaforums.net/threads/321-some-things-i-look-at.19070/

In answer to my question!

 

Asymmetric:



Symmetric:


Context:

 

Yes, was about to post but already sorted!! Nice

 

..... clutch bridge or coupling yoke