A sad day for my “birth year” Speedy.

Got this lovely specimen on July 16th this year, on the day of the anniversary of the Apollo 11 launch.

I spied it in a dealer’s case on 47th St in NYC. It passed muster condition/correctness wise with flying colors. But I was really looking for a birth year watch, 1968. So I quickly googled the serial range and there was hope it was a ‘68. The dealer thought it was a ‘67, but admitted he didn’t know much about vintage. He sold mostly new stuff.

So I bought it, increasingly hopeful and confident that it was a ‘68, bolstered by more anecdotal confirmation of the serial range in forums, and a search at ilovemyspeedmaster which gave me a 1968 result when I entered my serial.

Then I went to the OB here in Chicago and requested an archive extract. The system was a bit backed up and my schedule got busy so I didn’t get the result until yesterday.

I sat down at the boutique counter. Opening the envelope, nervously, my heart sank. Not 1968. Not 1967.

September 13, 1969. Delivered to the U.S.

1.5 years after my birthday, and after the Apollo launch.

I had spent the past 2 months wearing the watch every day, marveling at how it had been on the planet for every moment of my life, before we went to the moon, and telling anyone who would listen how excited I was to have a birth year Speedmaster, how I got it, yadda yadda.

Now the excitement is dashed. I still love the watch, but now it’s only because of the condition. It feels like finding out some weirdness about your girlfriend of 2 months, like she used to be in a cult or something. Maybe you’ll see how it goes and give her a shot, or maybe that gets you thinking that she’s probably not the one.

I guess one could argue that finding out the watch isn’t what I’d hoped it was is now part of its lore if I decide to keep it.

I’ve been tracking the price and availability of other 145.012-67s since buying this one and ones as nice as this are few and far between. And 1968 examples are even fewer.

What would YOU do? Wear it and get over it, or sell it and move on?

Hmm it wouldn’t let me add this photo to my post.

if your GF had done something in college, before you even met her...?

that watch is a dependable, trustworthy and beautiful. take pride in it, enjoy it!

Nice watch - been looking for a birthdate Speedy myself and thats less than 20 DAYS away from my DOB !

If you decide to move it on, then give me a bell- suspect it might be out of my budget though 🙁

Sorry?

I’d get over it if I were you - but tbh I really don’t get the Birthyear thing.

1.5 years after my birthday. A year after the Apollo launch.
sept 13, 1969

What is your serial number?

This looks like a fabulous watch!! You are lucky to have it. Keep in mind that watches or movements were in Omega inventory, usually for months, sometimes for years before they were either assembled or shipped to dealers. Given the ship date of 1969 when they were already selling 861 mvt. watches, this watch probably does date from 1967 or 68. I would certainly put my dibs in for it. But hope you keep it.

2654xxxx. But does it really matter? Does the archive get it wrong?

The archive says the date of production, not delivery, was 9/69. But I hear you.

Yes.

Duh! Thanks lol.

Well for all intents and purposes, it's a 1969, unless I had a friend in Bienne who would be willing to re-verify it. I mean if Omega can't reliably tell me the year of production, who can?

I have 4 extracts with 2654xxxx ... dates 1968.08 ~ 1968.10.
Then, 13 extracts with 2655xxxx ... those go from 1968.10 ~ 1969.3

almost linearly with lesser significant digits increasing to a date increasing. It would appear at this time, things were quite 'normal'. But this is not an exact science.


I know of at least 3 people (@ICONO is one of them) who had a similar thing ... I looked at extracts, told them what I am telling you (about the extracts the community has been graceful enough to submit) and they spoke to Omega. The archivists looked again. And it was finger trouble. (Not sure if the 'new' way of doing things at the archive means anyone will be willing to double check I am afraid). Anyways, maybe its a movement that stuck in the bottom of the bin for too long. Or maybe that's when it was sold, and not produced (more likely). Either way, I would not sweat it. I also don't get the birth year thing 😉

Companies sometimes have flexible meanings for the term "production". When it was assembled, when the parts were made, when it was put into inventory, etc. You're worrying too much IMHO