145.022-69 Speedmaster: Earliest 220 Bezel Serial?

220SPEED · May 4, 2026

I am the proud owner of a 145.022-69 with 220 bezel. I notice that its serial number of 30.584.XXX falls ahead of the 30.588.xxx~31.008.xxx listed range.
Is this the earliest known error bezel serial, or reason to question if it's correct? Any thoughts/resources would be much appreciated.

SOG53 · May 4, 2026

Congrats on your nice Speedy. The slighly green lume color is typical of that period, mine is same. The serial numbers are based on observed examples so I dont think they are absolute, so I would say yours is close enough.

If you enter the SN onto the ilovemyspeedmaster.com site it gives production estimate of July 1970 which is a bit early for 220 but again its an estimate.

You could never exclude possibility that the watch originally had a DON bezel and was later fitted with the 220 bezel, but it may have come with the 220. Regardless you have a good example with one of the cleaner 220 bezels I have seen.
Enjoy the watch!

hansaboy · May 5, 2026

Hi and welcome with your nice Speedy!

I do not want to rain on your parade...but the chrono hand is from a previous version, it should have the square end.
And regarding your question about the bezel,
I have a 69, with a DON, and the serial nr is 30591xxx, with production 4th of September 1970.
😉

220SPEED · May 5, 2026

SOG53
Congrats on your nice Speedy. The slighly green lume color is typical of that period, mine is same. The serial numbers are based on observed examples so I dont think they are absolute, so I would say yours is close enough.

If you enter the SN onto the ilovemyspeedmaster.com site it gives production estimate of July 1970 which is a bit early for 220 but again its an estimate.

You could never exclude possibility that the watch originally had a DON bezel and was later fitted with the 220 bezel, but it may have come with the 220. Regardless you have a good example with one of the cleaner 220 bezels I have seen.
Enjoy the watch!

Thanks for the ideas, SOG53! This mid-late 1970 was such interesting period of production with DONs, 220s, 1039 bracelets all coming and going. I have the feeling this is just the start of a deep rabbit hole on these 145.022-69s for me 🤣

220SPEED · May 5, 2026

hansaboy
Hi and welcome with your nice Speedy!

I do not want to rain on your parade...but the chrono hand is from a previous version, it should have the square end.
And regarding your question about the bezel,
I have a 69, with a DON, and the serial nr is 30591xxx, with production 4th of September 1970.
😉

Thanks hansaboy! Great to know about the chrono dial. I’d never know about that evolution… it looks like those switched to the flats around 1968 - generally speaking with the intro of the 861 movement…? Really such an interesting period.

I’m seeing this roughly 30.3M - 30.60 range as a real grey area where there’s legitimate possibility for DON, Early DNN, or 220s.

That’s a great looking DON you’ve got! So cool to see one so close in serial number to mine. Its my understanding that Omega is no longer doing the Archive extracts anymore, no? Any thoughts as to best resources for getting into the weeds on all things Speedmaster?

Dan S · May 5, 2026

220SPEED
it looks like those switched to the flats around 1968 - generally speaking with the intro of the 861 movement…?

Many 145.012 examples came with the flat-end chrono hand, before the cal 861. If you are curious about the various subtleties, many of them are well documented in Moonwatch Only, or the speedmaster101 website. Personally, I find that these details are mainly useful for distinguishing what is plausibly original and what is not, but some people find them interesting in their own right.

IMO, most published serial number ranges should not be taken as gospel.

hansaboy · May 6, 2026

220SPEED
Thanks hansaboy! Great to know about the chrono dial. I’d never know about that evolution… it looks like those switched to the flats around 1968 - generally speaking with the intro of the 861 movement…? Really such an interesting period.

I’m seeing this roughly 30.3M - 30.60 range as a real grey area where there’s legitimate possibility for DON, Early DNN, or 220s.

That’s a great looking DON you’ve got! So cool to see one so close in serial number to mine. Its my understanding that Omega is no longer doing the Archive extracts anymore, no? Any thoughts as to best resources for getting into the weeds on all things Speedmaster?

Omega sadly stopped the extracts a few years ago...

And learning about Speedys...phweeew....😁😅

Start here:
https://speedmaster101.com/145-022_update/

And here is a very interesting video:

And these are only about the 69!
Done by @Spacefruit who has forgotten more than I have learned about Speedys!

Have fun, and enjoy your nice watch!

220SPEED · May 6, 2026

Thanks for the great resources!

Any suggestions for a good service/repair shop? Everything is working well, but as this is new to me and I don't know the service history I'd like to have it looked at professionally.

In case I wanted to explore the possibility to swap out a flat-end chrono hand I imagine it'd best be done at time of servicing...? Any thoughts as to if that would best be something I'd source then send it together with watch to the service center?

hansaboy · May 7, 2026

If you write were you live, Forum members could point you to a skilled watchmaker.

hansaboy · May 7, 2026

Ahhhh...well there are lots of members in the US that could help you out!

220SPEED · Sep 30, 2026

hansaboy
Hi and welcome with your nice Speedy!

I do not want to rain on your parade...but the chrono hand is from a previous version, it should have the square end.
And regarding your question about the bezel,
I have a 69, with a DON, and the serial nr is 30591xxx, with production 4th of September 1970.
😉

@hansaboy Your flat end chrono hand advice led me to lots of searching for tritium replacement hands, then the eventual realization that what I needed was... a new watch! Same one, but with the correct chrono hand 😁 Thanks again for the help!

ibis888 · Oct 1, 2026

220SPEED
@hansaboy Your flat end chrono hand advice led me to lots of searching for tritium replacement hands, then the eventual realization that what I needed was... a new watch! Same one, but with the correct chrono hand 😁 Thanks again for the help!

That’s a great watch, congrats. I was seriously considering picking that one up as well. Nice honest vintage Speedmaster.

220SPEED · Oct 1, 2026

ibis888
That’s a great watch, congrats. I was seriously considering picking that one up as well. Nice honest vintage Speedmaster.

Thanks! I really like it.

Jarett · Oct 1, 2026

Hello, greetings from SN 30.599.XXX 😉

220SPEED · Oct 2, 2026

Jarett
Hello, greetings from SN 30.599.XXX 😉

Greetings from 30.595.XXX 🤩
When did you get yours @Jarett ? Were you specifically searching for the 220 or was it an happy accident?

Felix_La_PuBelle · Oct 2, 2026

Here's mine. 30.592.xxx

It came with a 1039 bracelet with stamped manufacture date in the 3rd quarter of 1970. While it ticks all the boxes of period correct parts, who can ever say what journey it's been on over 56 years.

I acquired it after becoming obsessed with the story of the 220 bezel. If I could put into words why it fascinates me it would probably come off as some obnoxious academic metaphor about the human condition.

There's an older thread with members sharing their serials for comparison.

https://omegaforums.net/posts/658534/

Barking mad · Mar 4, 2017

Allegedly only about 400 produced. I have four, three on their original watches and one spare.
I then started to think how many are on the forum as I have seen quite a few lately, come on fess up who has one.

Here are mine...

Serials: 30,5990xx, 30,5977xx and the other is much lower but I believe to be legit as it was purchased from original owner who stated that nothing had been changed on the watch.

220SPEED · Oct 2, 2026

Thanks for the link @Felix_La_PuBelle - Such a great 220 thread that I somehow hadn't seen.

And yes, there's something wonderfully human to me about a glaring error slipping past quality control. Definitely hard to put into words without sounding really self-serious. Maybe it's just that it makes me feel better about forgetting to take my cup of coffee off of my roof before driving away 🤣

Jarett · Oct 3, 2026

220SPEED
When did you get yours @Jarett ? Were you specifically searching for the 220 or was it an happy accident?

Just by chance - I originally bought them as regular 145.022s 😀

Felix_La_PuBelle · Oct 3, 2026

220SPEED
And yes, there's something wonderfully human to me about a glaring error slipping past quality control. Definitely hard to put into words without sounding really self-serious. Maybe it's just that it makes me feel better about forgetting to take my cup of coffee off of my roof before driving away 🤣

I truly think it’s a fun positive thing, but I can’t escape the possibility that if I try to go too deep on the psychology that compels me to like watches the journey could turn into this.

SOG53 · Oct 3, 2026

30.589.xxx delivered Japan Sept 1970 by EOA
Few dings along way including stint in Vietnam

145.022-69 Speedmaster: Earliest 220 Bezel Serial?

220SPEED

SOG53

hansaboy

220SPEED

220SPEED

Dan S

hansaboy

220SPEED

hansaboy

hansaboy

220SPEED

ibis888

220SPEED

Jarett

220SPEED

Felix_La_PuBelle

220SPEED

Jarett

Felix_La_PuBelle

SOG53

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