A good friend of mine who knows I collect speedmasters called me last week. He is a jeweler and a woman came in his shop to sell some stuff, her father was a watchmaker. Amongst some jewels there was a speedy, forgotten in a drawer for decades. I didn't open it yet, I suppose it's a -71.
Very nice! Is the lume green because it hasn't seen light much for a long time? Looks like an honest and untouched watch. Can use some cleaning but that is nice to do
Always interested by how the lume on the hands has gone a darker yellow but hour markers have stayed/turned a green shade. Not sure if I like the contrast, but a nice specimen none the less. Seem to be more -71's popping up at the moment.
Nice pickup @Pianist but I still remember a bigger score of yours from 2015. While most North Americans were sound asleep, you hit this awesome 2998-1 dial off of eBay for what was it? 800€ Buy It Now?? The good old days for sure. I gave up sleep for 6 months after missing this one. https://omegaforums.net/threads/i-found-a-2998-dial.28801/
Green lume tends to come with "dark and damp"; while browner/creamier lume tends to come from "hot and dry". That colouration and the surface rust would make me think that it's been wet at least part of its life but ... talented watchmakers are out there. It's fully restorable.
Great find! Congratulations. This is pretty much what we all hope to find. Now cue up "Band of Horses" tribute to all of us watch seekers: