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Advice please on Flightmaster dial, and perhaps value?

Boojumhunter
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So, a colleague of mine mentions he inherited a Flightmaster from his dad (with original box and instructions), it's been kept in a safe for five years, he hates it (too chunky), and do I want to borrow it? And maybe buy it? He brought it into work and and I've been wearing it all day. I was expecting it to be huge... but it wears really comfortably! Definitely bigger than my usual vintages, even the 37mm Constellations, and I'm very tempted. Case seems great, coloured pushers intact, only trivial issue is the original clasp has been changed out for a crappy safety catch.

My questions for the experts here:
1. Dial is amazing. Too amazing? And I thought it should be T Swiss Made T?
2. This is a good mate. What price should I offer him?

Thanks in advance!

IMG_8079.jpeg IMG_8086.jpeg IMG_8087.jpeg
 
jaegodylan
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Looks very nice from those pictures.. with the rarer first 24 hour movement. Can’t see much of the polish level of the case.

Been a few on eBay lately so maybe look at past sales and then you have something to compare it to and show him. A full set is fairly uncommon.
 
Donn Chambers
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It’s a service dial and hands. Most likely service crowns and pushers as well. Nothing wrong with that, IMO, if you like the watch. But if you are looking for a true vintage piece with all original components, this isn’t it.
 
Fish70
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I just spent a couple of years looking for the right one for me and the prices on flightmasters range from highly aspirational to insulting IMHO. I agree with what the other guys are saying. I imagine it is your photos but I am not seeing the starburst brushing on the case. Also I would need to see the case from the sides to gauge how polished it looks. I paid a bit over $3300 for the one I bought a month ago. I don't think it is polished so here are a few shots of the case to show you what good lines look like (it is the third model flightmaster 145.036 with the 911 movement - it is a lot thicker looking than the case on your 910.)

206.jpg 20230529_103358.jpg 20230529_155429.jpg 20230503_173331.jpg 206.jpg 20230503_171952.jpg
 
Pastorbottle
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That’s a lovely thing, if you like it, I suggest you make an offer, as to how much…. I couldn’t say, how much do you like it?
I imagine your chances of finding another one that nice are pretty slim.
If you do buy it…welcome to the ranks of flighty owners.
 
Boojumhunter
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Another day of wear, and it now seems like a normal size! Hella accurate, as well. And someone asked about the polish level of the case...
IMG_8097.jpeg
 
jaegodylan
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Boojumhunter Boojumhunter
Another day of wear, and it now seems like a normal size! Hella accurate, as well. And someone asked about the polish level of the case...
IMG_8097.jpeg

well that looks nice!

I would assume the dial and hands replaced at service were not retained or their whereabouts are unknown? Some dials turn up occasionally should you wanna return it to the old state but it looks good as is.
 
Fish70
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The edges are sharp but is I am not sure if the 145.013 case is supposed to be wavy around the pushers.

wave.JPG
 
tyrantlizardrex
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Looks like it’s had a full refurb… which is fine… as long as that’s the condition of flightmaster you’d like to own.
 
Boojumhunter
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For me, refurbed or not, it comes with a great story and a direct connection via my colleague. I'm pretty sure I'll pull the trigger. For completeness, I opened the bonnet:
IMG_8100.jpeg
 
Foo2rama
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Looks like Omega did a good job refinishing the case and the new luminova service dial and hands look great.

it’s never going to get a nice tritium patina… but it should pretty much always look the way it is.
If you like it it’s a great piece. If your looking for killer vintage piece to round out your museam collection it’s not.

it’s a great wearing watch that would be great to see at any gtg.
 
Pastorbottle
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The gizzards of these things are a thing of beauty, pity to hide them behind a case back, but that’s how they came.
Hmmmmmmmn!……got me thinking, as my case back is so worn the engraved text and image of the plane has long disappeared, maybe there’s a display case back that would fit. I’d still hang on to the original so as it could be switched back if needed.
Anyone got any ideas? Probably something for a Speedmaster or seamaster
 
Davidt
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Just bear in mind value is no where near that of an original.
Given a WatchCo SM300 sells for around 50-60% of the price of a nice original, I’d apply a similar proportion here
 
Pastorbottle
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Valuations have meaning if you intend to sell it or you’re trying to buy it, otherwise they are irrelevant except perhaps for insurance purposes….even then you’ll be lucky to get the parsimonious bastards to cough up
 
Davidt
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Pastorbottle Pastorbottle
Valuations have meaning if you intend to sell it or you’re trying to buy it, otherwise they are irrelevant except perhaps for insurance purposes….even then you’ll be lucky to get the parsimonious bastards to cough up

The OP is considering buying it, from a friend, so a correct and fair valuation is important here.
 
Pastorbottle
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Davidt Davidt
The OP is considering buying it, from a friend, so a correct and fair valuation is important here.
As I said in the second sentence “or are trying to buy it”
 
Fish70
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Davidt Davidt
Just bear in mind value is no where near that of an original.
Given a WatchCo SM300 sells for around 50-60% of the price of a nice original, I’d apply a similar proportion here
WatchCo SM300s go for over $4000 these days so even those aren't cheap.
 
Davidt
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Fish70 Fish70
WatchCo SM300s go for over $4000 these days so even those aren't cheap.

Exactly my point. A nice original SM300 is $7500+.

I’m saying make sure you pay the WatchCo price, not the price for an original.
 
Fish70
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Davidt Davidt
Exactly my point. A nice original SM300 is $7500+.

I’m saying make sure you pay the WatchCo price, not the price for an original.
Ah true!
 
Fish70
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After shopping for a flightmaster for at least the past two years and seeing how nuts the prices have gone up since just 2018 I saw plenty of 145.013s that looked terrible listed for over $4500.
 
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