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dsstephens
·Up for discussion. Note that this is not a 'financial sense' related discussion, but a 'what's the more interesting thing to do' discussion. I have a 321 18945xxx serial that is currently being restored by a professional. From my research - speedmaster101, mwo, various other sources - I believe it should be from a 2998-5. I have reached out to Omega for information as well - both directly to customer service as well as through an OB - and will see if either of those sources comes back with information to continue to triangulate. The question is, assuming I'm right, what to do with it.
It will take much patience and even more money to come up with a mid case, dial, bezel, alpha hands, case back etc for a 2998-5. Early searching suggests, if I can even find the parts, it will be into 5 figures to acquire them. I fully understand value will only ever be the sum of parts; whether they are very expensive or just expensive. I'm not necessarily against that over time to get it back on the road and I do not intend to put it together and claim it as anything other than an assembled watch, but at least it would be with 100% genuine, age and reference appropriate parts.
I see no reason not to use the 321 and to do something with it, but also...I could just not worry about trying to get the movement back in a "similar to how it left the factory" home, and use one of 2 later 321 dials that I have (applied logo, stepped, etc, but clearly later). I've got some 321 hands, but would try to find something closer to alpha as I like the look. I do already have a slightly later case and bezel or two...so...I could get it all assembled and it would be just that, a hodge podge of references and a nice 321 back on the road. There were more than 125K 321's made, with 7-8K I guess being for the 2998's, so its not like it is exceptionally rare, I suppose. The rare parts are everything around it that I don't have.
I could hold out, trying to eventually find a 2998-5 mid case or frame (which I suppose really isn't that different from later ones) and case back (specific), a proper bezel, alpha hands, etc. I have not yet asked my trusted watchmaker that is doing the restoration (who has an extranet account) to see what is available, so more of what is needed may be directly available than I think as service parts. But, either way, it will never be anything other than a frank, even if all the parts are genuine and reference correct. So...I guess my question is does it make restorative sense (certainly not financial sense) to try to get it back to an original (but replaced) state, or just go with what I have and can find reasonably and know I've got a 61 year old basically like new movement working away in a later case and dial.
It dawned on me as I typed this out, though, that I could also do both...and thus I almost deleted this entire topic. I could go with what I have and then over time, as and if I find the correct components, put them in place. I am always interested in how far more knowledgeable and experienced folks think of it. One of my other hobbies is older land rovers. I have never and will never be a rivet counter with them (ie 100% accurate restoration) and typically just use copious amounts of zip ties and hope. But many want them factory perfect and with good reason for rare models or just because that's what they desire. Point being, I do not have a predilection towards bolt for bolt restoration, just function and aesthetics, but I know many do and It seems an interesting topic of debate with anything vintage.
It will take much patience and even more money to come up with a mid case, dial, bezel, alpha hands, case back etc for a 2998-5. Early searching suggests, if I can even find the parts, it will be into 5 figures to acquire them. I fully understand value will only ever be the sum of parts; whether they are very expensive or just expensive. I'm not necessarily against that over time to get it back on the road and I do not intend to put it together and claim it as anything other than an assembled watch, but at least it would be with 100% genuine, age and reference appropriate parts.
I see no reason not to use the 321 and to do something with it, but also...I could just not worry about trying to get the movement back in a "similar to how it left the factory" home, and use one of 2 later 321 dials that I have (applied logo, stepped, etc, but clearly later). I've got some 321 hands, but would try to find something closer to alpha as I like the look. I do already have a slightly later case and bezel or two...so...I could get it all assembled and it would be just that, a hodge podge of references and a nice 321 back on the road. There were more than 125K 321's made, with 7-8K I guess being for the 2998's, so its not like it is exceptionally rare, I suppose. The rare parts are everything around it that I don't have.
I could hold out, trying to eventually find a 2998-5 mid case or frame (which I suppose really isn't that different from later ones) and case back (specific), a proper bezel, alpha hands, etc. I have not yet asked my trusted watchmaker that is doing the restoration (who has an extranet account) to see what is available, so more of what is needed may be directly available than I think as service parts. But, either way, it will never be anything other than a frank, even if all the parts are genuine and reference correct. So...I guess my question is does it make restorative sense (certainly not financial sense) to try to get it back to an original (but replaced) state, or just go with what I have and can find reasonably and know I've got a 61 year old basically like new movement working away in a later case and dial.
It dawned on me as I typed this out, though, that I could also do both...and thus I almost deleted this entire topic. I could go with what I have and then over time, as and if I find the correct components, put them in place. I am always interested in how far more knowledgeable and experienced folks think of it. One of my other hobbies is older land rovers. I have never and will never be a rivet counter with them (ie 100% accurate restoration) and typically just use copious amounts of zip ties and hope. But many want them factory perfect and with good reason for rare models or just because that's what they desire. Point being, I do not have a predilection towards bolt for bolt restoration, just function and aesthetics, but I know many do and It seems an interesting topic of debate with anything vintage.
