A question for Speedmaster purists regarding the different hour/minute hands on a 2998

gemini4 · Mar 6, 2015

Here is my question. Is it an improvement, perhaps even acceptable, to replace short Seamaster hour/minute hands on a Speedmaster 2998-3 thru 105.002 with the earlier 2998 hands found on the 2998-1 and -2?

The correct hands have the triangular shaped lume vs the, somewhat incorrect, straight line lume. The length, I believe, is virtually identical. The straight line lume hands seem to be much easier to source.

Opinions???

dsio · Mar 6, 2015

Straight line lume isn't wrong, its a valid option, but the Seamaster hands are shorter

gemini4 · Mar 6, 2015

dsio
Straight line lume isn't wrong, its a valid option, but the Seamaster hands are shorter

I meant both examples of the 2998 hands are the same length

JohnSteed · Mar 6, 2015

Gemini4
Here is my question.

Is it an improvement, perhaps even acceptable, to replace short Seamaster hour/minute hands on a Speedmaster 2998-3 thru 105.002 with the earlier 2998 hands found on the 2998-1 and -2?

Opinions???

Yes. It'll be an improvement. The shorter SM hands would likely be a substitute (ideally) to be corrected ... when possible

Spacefruit · Mar 6, 2015

I cannot ascertain the times when triangle lume vs straight line lume was fitted to 2998's. I see them on every reference and I do not know if triangle should be on some reference and not on others or were the two executions fitted concurrently. As it is so easy to change hands, there are not enough "untouched" watches to give me data.

I personally value the triangle lume hands more. I accept each lume shape on all 2998's as potentially original.

More on 2998 hands here:
http://www.speedmaster101.com/2998-alpha-hand-length/

ock2915 · Mar 6, 2015

A much better option than the short Seamaster ones👍

dsio · Mar 6, 2015

Spacefruit
I cannot ascertain the times when triangle lume vs straight line lume was fitted to 2998's. I see them on every reference and I do not know if triangle should be on some reference and not on others or were the two executions fitted concurrently. As it is so easy to change hands, there are not enough "untouched" watches to give me data.

I personally value the triangle lume hands more. I accept each lume shape on all 2998's as potentially original.

More on 2998 hands here:
http://www.speedmaster101.com/2998-alpha-hand-length/

I know what you mean, it really seems all over the place throughout all the subreferences. You can see the evolutionary changes in things like dials, chrono second hands, bezels etc but the triangle vs straight doesn't seem to have any real sequence.

gemini4 · Mar 6, 2015

I'm glad you all feel this is a worthwhile improvement. I'm even more pleased that, perhaps, the earlier alpha hands are considered correct across the 2998 spectrum. As always, thanks for the help.

alfanator · Mar 6, 2015

The longer hands look better in any case.