Hello everybody. Hope you are all well.
When I first joined the forum, and showed you all my late Father's old 1960's Speedmaster, I was kindly advised to get the watch off to Swiss Time Services in Essex, UK.
(Thankyou
@Spacefruit,
@tyrantlizardrex,
@Northernman and
@JACK G)
I've posted all sorts of bits and pieces about Dad's watch over the months I've been on the forum, but here's the whole story brought up to date.
My Dad was a working class bloke but he loved his Omega watches. From the 1960's to 2003 I can't remember seeing him without either his Seamaster, or later his black Speedmaster on his wrist. If he took it off it was sat in the red box by his bed. I think for a couple of years in the 1970's he may even have had both watches.
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As anybody who's read my posts regarding this watch will know, it was a time piece that was always on my Father's wrist from the day he purchased it. He got it in the 1960's, and he kept it until he passed away in 2003.
The fate of the original bracelet is a bit of a mystery. During the 1970's Dad is seen with the Seamaster, then the Speedy on a temporary leather strap and then the 1171/633 appears and is still present.
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Up until his retirement Dad worked at Christies auction storage in South Kensington, London, Uk. If pop super star Madonna decides to auction her underwear for charity, then Dad and his Speedmaster were always on hand to model them.
Anyway... I have owned the watch since 2003. Being more of a guitar geek, and not historically a watch geek, I put it away in a box with his old military service papers and only really took it out last year. As you can see from this pre-STS triple picture frame, the watch needed some love and attention.
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Dad had an incorrect 1171/633 bracelet fitted in the early 1970's. As you can see from the above shots the bezel was dirty and had somehow rotated, the hands and the crown were incorrect and the watch needed a clean and a service.
Well being a bloke of modest means it took me a few months to raise the dosh but I finally drove over to STS, in March 2017 and delivered it by hand to Simon Freese. Simon was very helpful and spent the best part of an hour chatting to me about the watch. The best part was when he opened the case up, gave it a quick wind and showed me the 321 movement ticking away inside. What a beautiful piece of micro-engineering an Omega 321 is! It almost looks alive. I think that moment turned me into an apprentice watch geek.
Anyway after 5 or 6 weeks of anxious waiting I got the call from STS to tell me it was ready for collection. The journey from my home is about 160 miles, so I decided to combine it with a couple of family visits in London before driving on to Southend-on-Sea in Essex, UK.
When I got to STS I was greeted by the friendly reception ladies. A few minutes later Tony Coe, (the boss) appeared with my watch in a red Omega service pouch.
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Tony spent a bit of time explaining the work that had been carried out and presented me with a detailed letter and guarantee. Before I left he invited me on a tour of STS which included the workshop where all the magic takes place. All I can say is that I wish you could all make that visit. It was absolutely fascinating!
(Picture is from the STS website)
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During the tour Tony Coe pointed out the watchmaker who did most of the work (a very experienced chap by the name of Lee) and showed me which machines had been used in the cleaning process and how it had been tested. This included being wirled round for a couple of days on the blue machine that you can see just above this text.
I paid up the £610, shook Tony's hand and thanked the staff before driving back with my newly serviced Speedy.
Anyway it's no good me waffling on without pictures so here it is; Dad's 105.012-65 Omega Speedmaster.
Brown dial wrist shot in the sun.
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Correct vintage 24 tooth Crown fitted. Original pushers cleaned and refitted.
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Original 'Dot over 90' Bezel cleaned and re-positioned correctly.
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Correct aged hands fitted in place of incorrect service hands. Original crystal polished and re-fitted.
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Case and 1171/633 bracelet ultra-sonically cleaned but not polished.
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Omega 321 movement cleaned and serviced. (Dust cover was photographed pre-service but I'm sure it's as clean as the rest of the watch is now.
)
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Well I hope you enjoyed this little story chaps. I wish 'the old man' could see it now. As a light hearted tribute to Dad and his Omega Speedmaster I thought I would take a Father and Son photo... Just for a bit of fun.
I wonder when that dial turned brown?
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The watch looked a lot cooler on Dad back then, than It does on me now. In the picture Dad was in his mid 40's. Born in 1957 with the Omega Speedmaster, I will be 60 this year. The pre-moon 105.012-65 is now over 50 years old but still ticking sweetly thanks to the advice from Omega Forums and the expert care of Swiss Time Services in the UK.
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