In my mind a Speedmaster collector grade must be in almost mint condition, with all its parts from factory and possibly with original papers tags box etc.

 

Good luck with that request!

 

This 145.022-68 is basically brand new.
http://omegaforums.net/threads/1-more-to-collection.21410/#post-233254

 

Collector grade doesn't exist as defined. You'd need to find a watch that somebody purchased and then put away for 50 years. If I ran into a 2915 or a 2998 in "mint" condition I'd run and hide. Too good to be true. It's all relative. If you were looking at a 1 or 2 year old speedy pro that was in the same condition as one of the nicer 2915s you'd think it had a rough 1 or 2 years with scratches on the case, scratches on the bezel, etc.

 

@OP; would love to see some better scans of that Speedy in your avatar

 

Collector grade also depends on rarity, for example an unboxed 2915 or 2998 but with all original parts and good condition would I would say be collector grade.

 

There shouldn't be many collector grade, by definition.

In fact when I saw MSNWatch's 2998-1, that was what I had in mind when I set the grade. Its a shame its not still on show.....

However I felt I had to start somewhere, and that needs to be a very high pinnacle indeed.The Collector grade is such that if you went to a watch show, or a gathering, and another top one came along, you could not choose between the two in terms of quality.

For me, in my mind collector grade is a D Flawless diamond, or 24 carat gold, a very, very rare object for most of us. That's why the figures are high. Its so we can have a "Good" category, one that most of the better watches I see here fall into.

And almost every watch I am asked to value has a reason to reduce from the posted value.

Most of the Speedmasters on Ebay are "Poor" to "Runnning".

No matter what the description says.....

 

This is the nearest I have, but its not in my opinion Collector Grade as meant by the chart.

Now dont let that stop anyone posting watches that are close, PLEASE!

This could be such a good thread!

Just post your best watch....no matter what?

 

Really can´t compete with you guys ( on the minty Speedmaster front anyway ) but in the spirit of this thread here´s my best specimen. Nowhere near mint, but pretty much untouched

 

Incredible condition on this one!

 

Photos or it never happened.

You had to go and mention that one... just when my heart was finally on the mend.

 

If you do not think your example is collector grade, I guess you are setting the bar ridiculously high as you said. I don't disagree with your thought process per se but then again your definition of "collector" should be changed to "a never worn example" or (New Old Stock) NOT "undamaged" and "all original parts". I know collectors aspire to find that but still consider something a little less than your definition of collectible and cherish it and pass it along as such. Or perhaps you could change the name of your highest category to something stronger than collectible?

The only "collector" 2998 that I/we have seen publicly on this forum the last year plus then is @MSN's 2998-1. That watch demonstrates that it is not impossible but EXTREMELY unlikely to find ever again. (I would love to see a close up of the bevels of that one to get a clearer picture of a "Never polished 2998" from the factory) Please MSN Please?

 

+1
Please

 

Fair point.

Maybe I could come up with a differnt name.......

 

How about:

Complete Rubbish
Winds up and runs
Too Good for Ebay
Unicorn / MSN quality

 

Yes i saw it, but how many others here, i have doubts about its NOS condition. If is possibly show more close-up pics if you want.

 

i would say that NOS condition one's are nearly impossible to find....i wish to have one......, so what is my 105.002-62 ? Not a collectors item for shure, but maybe a good one and thats ok for me.