A Speedmaster 861 for 2000 bucks?!

Onizuka · 2026-04-25T11:00:11-0500

I recently came across this auction listing, estimated between 2000 and 3000 euros, which went unsold.

The description mentions the watch, several passages to highlight:

This dial should not be found on this reference since it normally equips the Omega Speedmaster "Mark II" under reference 145.014. It may have been fitted to this watch by its distributor for a reason unknown to us.

So, does anyone here have any idea why this dial is here?

pdxleaf · 2026-04-25T11:08:16-0500

Because of the endless ingenuity of the human race.

ErichKeane · 2026-04-25T11:30:16-0500

Likely the original dial was damaged, and a watchmaker along the way swapped it with one he had in stock, which just so happened to be a mk2 dial (and the customer didn't mind).

That said, I would still suspect even a mix-master Speedmaster to get at minimum the lower end of that range (as an 861 is worth about that anyway), so folks were clearly scared away by the crystal being crazed, and how filthy it is. Both of those would be solved during a service (which it clearly already needs!).

Spacefruit · 2026-04-25T11:41:21-0500

No I like a fixer-upper as much as the next guy - but...

Trouble is at low estimate plus fees its starting to get uneconomic. That's before you factor in a potentially expensive movement repair. Also low estimate is 2000 euros, So not "2000 bucks" unfortunately, more like $3,000 - assuming 30% Fees and expenses.

Assuming you have a complete movement that doesn't need parts, you will need a dial - and a glass, before you know it cost will go over $4000 total and will head higher if you start wanting a better bezel,

This can be a real money pit

Ask me how i know, i dare you😀

Ron_W · 2026-04-25T11:45:44-0500

Spacefruit
No I like a fixer-upper as much as the next guy - but...

Trouble is at low estimate plus fees its starting to get uneconomic. That's before you factor in a potentially expensive movement repair. Also low estimate is 2000 euros, So not "2000 bucks" unfortunately, more like $3,000 - assuming 30% Fees and expenses.

Assuming you have a complete movement that doesn't need parts, you will need a dial - and a glass, before you know it cost will go over $4000 total and will head higher if you start wanting a better bezel,

This can be a real money pit

Ask me how i know, i dare you😀

Possible Money pit indeed

ErichKeane · 2026-04-25T11:46:14-0500

Spacefruit
No I like a fixer-upper as much as the next guy - but...

Trouble is at low estimate plus fees its starting to get uneconomic. That's before you factor in a potentially expensive movement repair. Also low estimate is 2000 euros, So not "2000 bucks" unfortunately, more like $3,000 - assuming 30% Fees and expenses.

Assuming you have a complete movement that doesn't need parts, you will need a dial - and a glass, before you know it cost will go over $4000 total and will head higher if you start wanting a better bezel,

This can be a real money pit

Ask me how i know, i dare you😀

I forgot about their fees TBH(so I was thinking 2500 used). I would probably keep the dial, do an aftermarket or cheap crystal, and hope the movement is good enough to be a fun project/beater speedy in the high 2k range, but not at a 30% buyers fee 😀

ErichKeane · 2026-04-25T11:58:21-0500

Ron_W
Possible Money pit indeed

About 20% of my projects end up that way 😁 Fortunately never been burned by something this expensive at least.

Ron_W · 2026-04-25T12:16:20-0500

ErichKeane
About 20% of my projects end up that way 😁 Fortunately never been burned by something this expensive at least.

I had just the one that went 100% over budget, cured for life 😅

ErichKeane · 2026-04-25T12:24:00-0500

Ron_W
I had just the one that went 100% over budget, cured for life 😅

I definitely have projects that are significantly over value invested that I consider successes, but much of the time these end up in the "F-it bucket", as someday parts watches 😁

jffoo · 2026-04-25T13:19:00-0500

At least they disclosed that it's not the right dial 😂

hansaboy · 2026-04-26T03:52:56-0500

Erhhh......
You forgot this info:

A Speedmaster 861 for 2000 bucks?!

Onizuka

pdxleaf

ErichKeane

Spacefruit

Ron_W

ErichKeane

ErichKeane

Ron_W

ErichKeane

jffoo

hansaboy

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