Hi all, On the hunt for my first speedy :0) Just after thoughts on this one I’ve come across. No box or papers but seller thinks it’s untouched? Any issues or advise would be greatly appreciated as always.
Chrono hand looks repainted to me (it doesn’t quite match the color of the others, and look at the tip of the lume...not sharp, like paint has congealed making the sharp corner less sharp and dried)...still, this is minor. Case looks quite sharp (can’t say if it’s untouched, but might be). Bezel correct. Bracelet, not sure about clasp logo (might have to be trapezoid, a guru will know), but that style is correct (or a 1175). Dial is stepped...correct. Movement looks ok...screw heads look untouched. Lume is hideous (but some folk like their lume like they like their women...dirty!). This would put me off. Run the SN through ilovemyspeedmaster.com to double check, but that’s all I see from a quick scan. Everything boils down to price...
Agree with above comments. The bracelet should have a trapezoid box; the bracelet on the watch is from later, but this is not a make or break problem. Everything does boil down to price. Unless this was a steal of a deal, I’d pass. The dirty lume makes the dial less attractive to me. -71’s are not so hard to find in nicer condition. Good luck and don’t settle. Something nice will be well worth the extra money.
I'm not quite as keen on this. For me, the bezel is poor and although these are rising in price, they are still reasonably plentiful and you don't need to accept ones in poor condition. The dial is also unattractive, with the dial body looking tired and the plots being horrible. The case also seems fairly polished to my eye, although it's hard to tell from these photos. One often needs to accept examples in poorer condition for the rare references, but I refuse to believe we're at the stage where good examples of these 70's Speedmasters have dried up.
I've been on this forum for a while now and I don't think I've seen such an unattractive Omega Speedmaster.
If you like dark patina and the price is good,why not. Has it a serialnumber between 31xxxxx-32xxxxxx ?
We all have our likes and dislikes, but the watch needs to be visually attractive before anything else, IMHO, regardless of how correct it might be and regardless of price. This watch is far from "attractive."
serial number dates to feb 74 using ilovemyspeedmaster.com lume has aged, not in a good way if its cheap.... otherwise wait for a better example
Is it me, or does the lume look smudged? I also see a sizeable ding in the bezel at 7 oclock. I'd pass.
@Castle4444 I'd pass on this one (based primarily on the condition of the dial) as this particular vintage is fairly plentiful. A few things that would make me reconsider: 1) if the watch has recently been serviced, 2) I simply wanted this timepiece for a daily beater, 3) the asking price is very compelling.
JUST THINKING ALOUD: D'you know this Speedmaster has really made me stop and think about how I respond to the type of imperfections that a watch may have. (And that includes any imperfections on my own vintage Omega Speedmaster) I've looked at dozens of photographs of Omega Speedmasters on this forum. Most of them I like, some more than others. I'm sure that, if we examined them closely, they would all have their faults. It's just a question of degree. Most of the faults on the watches I look at, my eyes hardly notice, I see that the 'vintage beauty' of the whole watch is enhanced by it's blemishes. But what about this one? There is something about the combination of 'grubby' lume, empty hands and numerically, incomplete bezel on this watch that is visually offensive. For God's sake!... Somebody!... Re-lume the bloody thing!
Oh my, that seems like a lot even if dial was attractive. $4,500 USD I have been thinking about selling my beater - 71. Might be a good time if I can get that price point.