A look at a Straight Writing Speedmaster

Following on from my previous post going in depth into one of my watches, here is another. Now this is a watch I picked up sometime in the last year.

Unusual for me at the moment, I am focusing on more weird speedmasters with special dials. This came to me from a single family owner, and these are very few and far between nowadays. So I offered on it and we did a deal. The wonderful Extract service told me within a few days that it went to the USA in 1973. It is always interesting to note that it still has the -69 date in the case back, underlining the error of thinking of a 145.022-69 as being made anywhere close to 1969.

These "Straight Writing" 145.022-69's are not so uncommon in this execution, with the words "Flight Qualified" on the back. There is a much rarer version with the word "Apollo" on it. In my own notes I call these SWQ's and the Apollo backs as SWA. Thus, in my notes I call this reference a 145.022-69SWQ

This one is a fairly honest example. One owner, plenty of wear, and probably serviced. It is an ideal collector watch that can be worn daily without fear of value erosion, while at the same time it is visually pleasing in that it is correct, and each part has aged in step with the others. (With the notable exception of the pushers which I think are new service).


It comes on a 1171 bracelet, and 633 endlinks. The clasp is also marked with an 11 stamped in it - possibly something to do with the delivery to the USA, but I am not certain.



The clasp has the trapezoid logo, indication an early version:



Now lets look at the watch under my harsh lights - I like these lights for buying as the light highlights every scratch and blemish:


First impressions, we see the stepped dial. The body of the dial is black, and without blemish. I always look first at the dial.


The dial body is wonderful. The print is intact. Where the dial is let down slightly is the lume plots. Here we can see that the plots, while thinly coloured with lume, the colour is dirty greenish yellow, and not especially attractive. It is at least consistent, and it is a colour and state commonly seen in this age of speedmaster.


(Please forgive the dust!)

The hands look original, with the lume material colour almost black. This fits with the dial plots, and really like the overall look. It looks correct. It is a far cry from all the matching pumpkin lume we see on some prepared watches. To me this watch looks real.



The bezel is very good. A correct DN90 with tall Tachymetre letters. These bezels are getting harder to find in nice condition, so when I see a watch with a good bezel I am relieved - because finding a replacement now is tough.


Now the case. On this watch, the case shows signs of ownership. Most dealers will polish this, and it will improve the watch if done well. All the lines are there. The case back is good. There are little nibbles on the underside of the lug edges, but minor. The photo above makes it look like a massive gouge out of the top line of the lug, but it is not.


As I said, it will polish out if I wanted too.


The case back:




The endlinks are correct vintage 633's. The bracelet is a little loose.

Its a lovely, almost original watch, one that I wear quite often.

Oh, thanks for this nice sharing. What are the "harsh lights" you're talking about? they give an awesome result!

Lovely watch! Looks perfect with all of its little nicks and swirls. Wear it in good health!

The two steel versions.

Here is a shot in daylight.

Great write up and an awesome watch. Looks like a nice honest one and a good find!

Thanks for sharing. Here’s mine. No box, papers or extract, but it’s a nice example IMO. I sold the incorrect 1479/812 bracelet that came with it and sourced the correct 1175/640 shown in the photo.