I am looking at a 145.022 ST 71 back case marking with a 399***** serial movement. Is this possible? According to the charts, the 399 serials fit to later model 145.022-74. Do any of you have something like it? I am considering buying it.

 

Basically, no that movement wouldn’t have come with that case back. Does it have a step dial?

 

Yes. It does have a step dial and 1171 bracelet.

 

From ilovemyspeedmaster.com:


Could you post more pics of the watch? Dial, bezel, etc.?
The Delrin brake makes it a little bit more likely that its a mid 70ties movement, although this is not a hard fact. A 145.022-71 could have been delivered with Delrin brake instead of steel.

Cheers

 

Sure. Let me know if I am wrong but the case, bracelet, bezel, dial are all consistent with 71. The movement is throwing me off.

 

I recently sold my 145.022-71 on a bracelet. Serial number quite a bit lower than this. Unfortunately, I can’t add anything helpful in this department, I would agree it seems too late.

With respect to the watch as a whole, if it’s a great deal go for it. I tend to define “good deals” on comparable sale prices, Speedmaster 101, and of course your gut. I think the watch has some really attractive patina. And the bezel looks great.

Some detractors for me, it appears the caseback has been heavily polished (could be the resolution from the photos). The lettering has been smoothed out and there isn’t any black inlay left. This could also be an indication the watch has been polished as well. Again, hard to really tell from the photos, but it looks like the back of the case is so shiny it’s almost mirror-like. Below is the one I sold for reference - it is far from perfect.



I also believe the chronograph hand could be a later replacement. The paint color seems a bit off compared to the other hands which appear original.

 

Attractive watch, really nice bezel, but unfortunately a replacement movement. The '71 shouldn't have a Delrin brake either if I recall correctly, so it definitely has a later movement. As with everything it depends on price. The collectibility aspect is probably somewhat shot, but it is definitely wearable as is. For $3K its a good deal. At $5K it definitely isn't.

 

I can only says that my two 74 (one on sale here, btw ) are in range 31xxxxxx and this stated to be as 71 in range 399xxxxx
So the seller is selling something that is not correct.

That would be already a red flag for me...

 

Judging by the condition of the back gasket that has faded to that typical tar, I would assume that the movement must have been swapped long time ago. Maybe when the watch was being 'serviced' for the first time?

The rest of the watch looks nice IMO.

 

That is what's tripping me up. The rest of the watch looks nice. The mismatched movement vs the rest of the watch is a deal breaker though....

 

Don't know if this would be a deal breaker for me. It would depend on the price.

Finding unmolested '71 Speedies is already getting difficult, while finding a matching movement/donor watch should be solvable.

 

Even if you find correct s/n mvt what happens when you sell it and somebody pays up for an archive and it comes back different than what they have? Something I never really thought about till last year or two when I considered getting archive info on a few Omegas I have.

 

Money wise I don't see great advantages in buying a watch uncorrect an then search for a correct 71 movement (which probably won't be cheap either ).
It might have more sense wait for a correct watch.

 

Aren't Omega extract solely based on the movement number ? If serial number is correct for a 71 mvt the extract will show that.

 

That's why I said it depends on the price.

 

No. 861's were found in other references as well. An extract would show this.

 

Yeah. Seller is asking for $5500. I offered a price and he said he got higher offers with less discussions. Oh well...

 

Thanks for all the help.

 

Oddly as noted there is a watch on this forum I feel has the opposite issue...

 

Are you referring to this one?

https://omegaforums.net/threads/fs-omega-speedmaster-145-022-74-serviced.89032/#post-1152539

If so, I am really lusting the step dial so not this one.