My first Speedmaster Pro arrived this morning. While I initially thought about an earlier model, I settled on a birth year 1979 145.022. I am pretty pleased as the case is incredibly sharp, could be factory polish, and all of the parts appear original with the dial and hands having a pleasing patina (most accurate in the first pic). It came on the incorrect 1170 bracelet with 633 end links, which is not a big deal as I do not see myself ever wearing it on a bracelet.

Overall, I am pretty pleased with this clean and honest example, and a birth year to boot! Now the hunt for an earlier pre-moon, maybe a 321? Who knows...

 

That's a beauty............well done!!

 

Any idea what the number on the 1 o'clock lug signifies, apart from ending in 79?

 

Not really sure on that one, at first glance I thought it was a SSN, but it reads "285200J314-79". Some sort of ID number that is very nicely engraved--any ideas to its meaning would be greatly appreciated. I need to take it to my watchmaker and have him pop off the back.

 

that is beautiful, I really need to start a birth year quest!

 

Thanks to MikiJ for pointing me in the right direction on this one...without his vote of confidence, I would not have pulled the trigger.

 

Congratulations on your birth-year Speedmaster. You have a beautiful watch. I recently picked up a birth-year year Speedmaster as well: 145.022-69 (depicted below). I shows signs of age, just like me! I typically don't wear vintage watches, but I thought I'd try a birth-year Speedmaster because it is beautiful, rugged and timeless design. Enjoy your Speedmaster in good health and for many, many years,to come.