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145.022-69 Apollo XI

TNTwatch
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Malthus101 Malthus101
So it looks like the watch I'm looking at... could be legit?
By all appearances so far pending the serial number, this is a legit watch with a wrong but earlier and more valuable bezel.
 
gemini4
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Other than the BA 18K model, these are the 2 different 145.022-69 straight writing casebacks. I don't believe any of these had a DON bezel or a 220 bezel either. These had DNN bezels.

image.jpeg
 
abrod520
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TNTwatch TNTwatch
speedy4ever's statement about the pointed A's is here: https://omegaforums.net/threads/spe...e-numbered-version-or-fake.31245/#post-352233.

Would be interesting what the serial number is.

In that statement he says that none of the straight-writing Apollo XI casebacks had pointed As and (diplomatically) that it's very unlikely to be genuine - I think this watch and the one from Japan may have come from the same, let's say, "modification shop"
 
TNTwatch
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abrod520 abrod520
In that statement he says that none of the straight-writing Apollo XI casebacks had pointed As and (diplomatically) that it's very unlikely to be genuine - I think this watch and the one from Japan may have come from the same, let's say, "modification shop"
Did you read his and my other post?
 
TNTwatch
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Malthus101 Malthus101
296XXXXX is all I have....
29,6m would be right for the bezel but then would be wrong for the case back. Started to smell like a fish now, expensive fish.
 
abrod520
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TNTwatch TNTwatch
Did you read his and my other post?

Yes, but I think there's something I'm missing...?
 
sky21
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This really speaks to the level of sophistication that these guys will go to now in order to sell a fake or a franken watch. It also shows me that they are now smart enough to target very specific details that may be attractive to collectors such as the blue DO90 bezel and the chocolate dial and the straight writing version of the caseback. I guess I'd say watch out if they ever get a hold of a 'Moonwatch Only' book. With the money these pieces can command now, we'll start to see complete forgeries with actual correct serial numbers and every little font will be matched as well. The only way to know for sure will be to get an Extract for every watch and hope Omega has the data. Kind of sucks moving forward, how do we stop it and make sure people don't get burned for lots of money??
 
abrod520
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sky21 sky21
This really speaks to the level of sophistication that these guys will go to now in order to sell a fake or a franken watch. It also shows me that they are now smart enough to target very specific details that may be attractive to collectors such as the blue DO90 bezel and the chocolate dial and the straight writing version of the caseback. I guess I'd say watch out if they ever get a hold of a 'Moonwatch Only' book. With the money these pieces can command now, we'll start to see complete forgeries with actual correct serial numbers and every little font will be matched as well. The only way to know for sure will be to get an Extract for every watch and hope Omega has the data. Kind of sucks moving forward, how do we stop it and make sure people don't get burned for lots of money??

Basically what we're witnessing in real-time is what happened to Rolex in the last ~10yrs, applied to Speedmasters now that they're valuable (in part because of the Christies auction; in part because they deserve to be)
 
sky21
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abrod520 abrod520
Basically what we're witnessing in real-time is what happened to Rolex in the last ~10yrs, applied to Speedmasters now that they're valuable (in part because of the Christies auction; in part because they deserve to be)

I don't know anything about Rolex, but have collectors found any way to know for sure what they are buying?
 
TNTwatch
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abrod520 abrod520
Yes, but I think there's something I'm missing...?
Something like he probably misspoke since his two statements contradicted each other? One of them was obviously not true since all the straight writings non-Apollo have exactly that same pointed A and high W.

Also there are dozens of them, not just two.
 
abrod520
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TNTwatch TNTwatch
Something like he probably misspoke since his two statements contradicted each other? One of them was obviously not true since all the straight writings non-Apollo have exactly that same pointed A and high W.

Also there are dozens of them, not just two.

Sorry - can you link the other post where he contradicted that? This I think is what I've missed here. Don't mean to be argumentative, just would like to get the full picture. Thanks
 
TNTwatch
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abrod520 abrod520
Sorry - can you link the other post where he contradicted that? This I think is what I've missed here. Don't mean to be argumentative, just would like to get the full picture. Thanks
I've linked both of them above, but below are his two posts in their entirety. Edit: His statement did not apply to the non-Apollo backs, but since the non-Apollo backs all have the pointed A and the high W, just like those Apollo's in question, I think this is a legit variant.

https://omegaforums.net/threads/speedmaster-profesional-1969-transitional.30480/#post-342695
"It seems indeed that there are 2 different writings for this apollo XI caseback. No idea of the production volume because nothing at Omega archives. Only observed about ten of them. Possibly specific for delivery to Japan, but difficult to be sure as a caseback can be easily swapped with another one"

https://omegaforums.net/threads/spe...e-numbered-version-or-fake.31245/#post-352233
"There are 2 fonts (we missed it in the book) for the Apollo XI 1969 STEEL caseback, but none with pointed A and none is numbered. I would be curious to see the inside.
Stating that it's a fake becomes very usual here and without proof I would not state it, because there are probably still many things to discover. But here let's say it is very unlikely..."
 
pitpro
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IMHO, the caseback is wrong and added for $$ value.
I have a Blue bezel, DON, Brown dial, 145.022
that's only 113 serial numbers away from this one, and
it has Hippocamus caseback. Which should be correct
for 29636xx

edit:{sorry 113 serial away, not 4}
Edited:
 
gemini4
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I also have a 145.022-69 PREMOON, DON, 29636xxx
 
cwindham
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I also have a 145.022-69 with DON, (hippocampus tho) 29114xxx
 
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