Forums Latest Members
  1. kidkimura Aug 25, 2015

    Posts
    602
    Likes
    1,524
  2. Spacefruit Prolific Speedmaster Hoarder Aug 25, 2015

    Posts
    5,191
    Likes
    22,933
    Lets put a picture from the site:
    original.jpg
    Wrong bezel, otherwise correctly appointed.

    Triangle lume on the hour hand - i prefer this style, obviously contemporary.
    Correct hand layout, with stick subdials and spear chrono.
    cant see case condition.
    Cant quite see what the pushers are, they may be originals that I am not familiar with - I have learned that pushers changed over the years.
    No movement number
    It is a -62, so least desirable of the 2998's

    Dial is potentially poor.

    The body colour looks "dry", slightly grey, and damaged. It shows some marks on the subdials, including a hand scratch. The lume looks in very good condition, strange given the condition of the dial. The dial itself would need careful inspection in hand to establish that it is the correct contemporary dial, not altered in any way.

    There are so few of these on the market I suspect competition for this might be strong, perhaps up to £10,000 plus the (almost usurious) commission of 21% if you use the Internet. It would not be crazy money for a watch that apart from the bezel, (and pending a correct movement) is pretty much correctly appointed.

    Buying a 2998 is, because of the extreme shortage on the market, a compromise. There are not many 100% correct examples in people's collections, and on the market there are even less. It is all about compromise and making a value judgment and seeing what you can live with, or think you can improve. In the example above, it will be a simple matter to source a new bezel, as long as you have the money. About $1500 ought to do it.

    Here is a 2998-62:

    P8250004.jpg

    It has the wrong sub dial hands (Pretty common to see this actually) and the bezel is tired. This just shows that you have to make allowances if you want to own one. It is unlikely a perfect one will present itself.

    P8250007.jpg

    This one is pretty good. Bezel has some marks, but just look at that dial! The hands are correct, and although it is fantastic, there is one issue, the lack of a silver rehaut. This is not a big deal, but underlines, yet again, that nothing is perfect.

    So it will be interesting to see what this sells for.

    More on 2998's here:
    http://speedmaster101.com/2998-3/
     
    heypacha, bazamu and cristos71 like this.
  3. oddboy Zero to Grail+2998 In Six Months Aug 25, 2015

    Posts
    9,217
    Likes
    23,877
    Bezel is actually a service replacement. Chrono hand too I think.

    Not totally sure about the lume. Looks nice. Too nice?

    Edit: what spacefruit said!
     
  4. kidkimura Aug 25, 2015

    Posts
    602
    Likes
    1,524
    @Spacefruit Dropping the knowledge::popcorn:: Im ashamed that i didnt even notice the incorrect bezel ::facepalm1::
     
  5. gemini4 Hoarder Of Speed et alia Aug 25, 2015

    Posts
    5,855
    Likes
    16,579
    I don't think the dial, which unfortunately in scatched, is relumed. We see many late model 2998s and 105.002 with very nice orange, firm plots. This dial is similar.

    I really like the hour and minute hands on this watch. They are the correct, impossible to find, triangular lume hands in great condition.

    I think the chrono hand, which lume matches the dial, is ok too.
     
  6. micampe Aug 25, 2015

    Posts
    1,626
    Likes
    6,171
    Curious bystander question: why is it less desirable?
     
  7. Spacefruit Prolific Speedmaster Hoarder Aug 25, 2015

    Posts
    5,191
    Likes
    22,933
    My concern with the dial is that the condition of the plots does not match the condition of the body of the dial. Whatever caused the dial to degrade, appears not to have affected the plots.

    As I don't know enough about reluming and degradation, this fact would make me want to examine them first hand to eliminate the admittedly small chance there is some alteration on the dial.
     
  8. gemini4 Hoarder Of Speed et alia Aug 25, 2015

    Posts
    5,855
    Likes
    16,579
    Well they all are really disirable at the present time. As the 2998-62 is the last 2998, it might be considered less in demand than the earlier references. The 62 lacks some of the vintage parts of the earlier 2998s, ie flat dial, base 1000 bezel, leaf sub hands, straight and lollipop chrono hand. But then again, so does the 2998-6 and 2998-61. The 62 also seem to be more plentiful although I have no idea if that is confirmed by the production numbers. In MWO, the 2998-6, 61 and 62 are lumped together on the same pages so I don't think Omega knows either.
     
    persco likes this.
  9. E-diddy Aug 25, 2015

    Posts
    572
    Likes
    418
    Couple of days ago I asked for more pictures because the dial looks in potentially poor condition as @Spacefruit mentioned. They claim it's in excellent condition. Guess I was hoping the scratches are just on the crystal. Will share the response if I get one.

    Will be one of the few WoK watches I will follow.
     
  10. oddboy Zero to Grail+2998 In Six Months Aug 25, 2015

    Posts
    9,217
    Likes
    23,877
    If WoK (and Philips) are anything to go by, this one could be in the upper 20's.. a few key questions notwithstanding..
     
  11. gemini4 Hoarder Of Speed et alia Aug 25, 2015

    Posts
    5,855
    Likes
    16,579
    Upper 20"s ??? As in over $25,000 ??? with the wrong bezel and a scratched dial? Would like to see it but I don't think so. Are you referring to those Neighbor to the North Loonie dollars?
     
  12. oddboy Zero to Grail+2998 In Six Months Aug 25, 2015

    Posts
    9,217
    Likes
    23,877
  13. bazamu wincer, not a bidder Aug 25, 2015

    Posts
    1,678
    Likes
    7,227
    It's funny, because for a while the 105.003's were the "least desirable" straight lugs and since late last year, they've been on a tear (for correct/original pieces). Fact is, all of the straight lug Speedies are immensely popular and have risen in value quite a bit over the last two years. 2998's are going to carry a hefty premium, regardless of the year (IMO).
     
    Spacefruit and oddboy like this.
  14. M'Bob Aug 25, 2015

    Posts
    6,344
    Likes
    17,956
    Flat-link with clearly incorrect end-pieces.
     
  15. E-diddy Aug 26, 2015

    Posts
    572
    Likes
    418
    Here are some pics. In addition to everyone's observations, the crown looks like a service replacement. "There is small amount of dirt on the dial in the sub dial at 6 o’clock. There is also some slight hand drag in the continuous seconds and hours sub dials."

    I'm curious what it will sell for. Won't fetch $20k+ from anyone here.

    236_9.jpg 236_8.jpg 236_7.jpg 236_6.jpg 236_5.jpg 236_4.jpg 236_3.jpg 236_10.jpg 236_11.jpg
     
    Juan likes this.
  16. wsfarrell Aug 26, 2015

    Posts
    2,440
    Likes
    4,129
    "slight hand drag"? Yikes!
     
  17. oddboy Zero to Grail+2998 In Six Months Aug 26, 2015

    Posts
    9,217
    Likes
    23,877
    nice clear pictures though. at least you have a better idea what you're bidding on, if you're bidding.
     
    eeki likes this.