Community Stories

Am i wrong or these two are close to be the rarest Speedmaster you can buy?

mancio
Posts
907
Likes
1,294
So, between Instagram and Phillips i got to find out that two very very special Omega that are coming to auction very soon:
One is a this baby https://www.phillips.com/detail/omega/HK080120/896?fromSearch=Omega&searchPage=1
Gemini XI speedmaster, I didn't know existed.
896_001.jpg

When even Philipp Stahl of Rolexpassionreport say something about a speedmaster, well that must be a very special one
https://auctions.watchesofknightsbr...-details/7842d1e1-86a6-44b7-b8b9-abdc0098bca8

235f97c8-cb21-4761-9dea-abe101342262.jpg

I'm sure that this one is going to generate a nice controversy, personally i think is the coolest speedmaster dial i have ever seen. I know that these dial are rare and if i remember correctly (but i could be wrong ) even more rare that the blue dial and this is the first i have seen going to auction at lest in a bit.

Props to the auction house that didn't pretend that this was a watch straight to Omega.
 
tyrantlizardrex
Posts
8,890
Likes
28,370
The top one is uncommon - 10-100 sold individually is the belief/rumour, plus the watches sold in the complete "mission patches" set.

The bottom one is a put together as discussed on another thread here, and as admitted in the auction listing. A sample dial, with feet soldered to it, put into a sad combination of odds and ends.

The fact that Philipp Stahl is talking about it, is not a positive sign.
 
Peter_from_NL
Posts
383
Likes
349
I am puzzled why the second one should cost over 30k euros.... they talk about a prototype. But this is something else. A prototype would be if it was put together at Omega for a specific line and it is recognised as such. As I understand it this one is just “put together”.
 
padders
Posts
10,445
Likes
16,331
I am less positive than the OP.

As above. The bottom one is not a Speedmaster. It is a collection of random parts, certainly assembled by any official Omega facility. It should IMO be valued at nice but damaged rare dial ($10K??) plus 3/4 of a tatty 105.002 plus bracelet ($10K??)

The first is more worthy but there is a reason these mission patches watch aren't more in demand, there are dozens of them and they are pretty boring to look at. That one is refreshing because it is less widely seen. I note the estimate isn't much more than a std watch. On reflection, I'd maybe take this over std but not at a big premium.
Edited:
 
tyrantlizardrex
Posts
8,890
Likes
28,370
Peter_from_NL Arno (NL)
I am puzzled why the second one should cost over 30k euros.... they talk about a prototype. But this is something else. A prototype would be if it was put together at Omega for a specific line and it is recognised as such. As I understand it this one is just “put together”.


It shouldn’t.

The only puzzling thing here is that people continue to listen to auction houses when they use words like “rare” and “important” to describe mass produced watches and put togethers.
 
M'Bob
Posts
7,177
Likes
23,253
tyrantlizardrex tyrantlizardrex
It shouldn’t.

The only puzzling thing here is that people continue to listen to auction houses when they use words like “rare” and “important” to describe mass produced watches and put togethers.

The watch auction copy editor when he arrives home after work: “Honey, I have some rare and important take-out for dinner...”
 
tyrantlizardrex
Posts
8,890
Likes
28,370
M'Bob M'Bob
The watch auction copy editor when he arrives home after work: “Honey, I have some rare and important take-out for dinner...”

If every time a dealer/auctioneer said: "This watch is rare and important". Someone responded with: "so is my Johnson."

I can't help but feel that the phrase would drop out of use...
 
ConElPueblo
Posts
9,596
Likes
27,705
tyrantlizardrex tyrantlizardrex
If every time a dealer/auctioneer said: "This watch is rare and important". Someone responded with: "so is my Johnson."

I can't help but feel that the phrase would drop out of use...

"This particular piece is heavily patinated and its modest size makes it suitable for both men and women alike"

"Oh yeah!? So is my… Uh, wait"
 
MSNWatch
Posts
6,667
Likes
11,570
Not a fan of either. The first is a "manufactured" collectible and the second is a franken sample dial that never made production.
 
pdxleaf
Posts
6,191
Likes
21,195
I admit that I like the second one. Not rare, not worth a premium price, etc. But i don't mind watches with different dials as long as they don't try to be original or something they are not. It makes the investor in me chringe a little bit but it makes the collector in me smile. If it's your watch, go for it. (Just don't lie about it.)
 
tyrantlizardrex
Posts
8,890
Likes
28,370
pdxleaf pdxleaf
It makes the investor in me chringe a little bit...

If there were an investor in me I'd be cringing all the time, and wondering how the hell to get them out of my body.
 
Martin_J_N
Posts
1,396
Likes
2,706
I’m no expert in vintage Speedmasters but if the second watch is simply a bitza then that in itself makes it rare, so it will be sold as a rare example of a Speedmaster.

Those with lots of money and little sense love to show off and be one up on someone else so price it at what ever you like all you need is a couple of chumps with more money than sense to bid against each other and all of a sudden $50k is spent on a watch that shouldn’t exist.
 
t_swiss_t
Posts
603
Likes
2,567
I think Philipp Stahl has the greatest conflict of interest of any collector/dealer on the WoK watch as he has a large number of Rolexes with "prototyped" dials from a dial maker's book that he's put into various Subs and Daytonas. There are many other opinions about him in general, but I am commenting narrowly and as it relates specifically to the WoK Speedmaster. If anyone could be biased on this subject, it is him.
 
rcs914
Posts
2,510
Likes
3,733
So for the second one, all the real value is in the dial. And if those black hands are original and weren't just created for this watch I suppose those would have some value too. But the rest? Pretty mediocre case and an ok at best bezel. So what's the value of the dial alone? $10K to someone? $20K? I guess we will find out when it gets auctioned.

I mean this looks WAY better than some of those stupid Daytona "test dials" that have been mounted to cases and sold at a premium.
 
pdxleaf
Posts
6,191
Likes
21,195
-Break in thread

Damn! There is such background and knowledge here. Constantly impressed. Appreciate everyone who shares.

End of Break-
 
eugeneandresson
Posts
5,071
Likes
15,650
tyrantlizardrex tyrantlizardrex
If there were an investor in me I'd be cringing all the time, and wondering how the hell to get them out of my body.

Erm...very ambiguous statement that has a radically other meaning (and mental image 😲 ) ...
 
harrymai86
Posts
1,258
Likes
2,736
With an unique dial like this even if it is a put together watch, they could have tried to find a better case, bezel, correct crown and what???? 516 endlinks filed down to 19mm??
 
STANDY
Posts
16,863
Likes
47,901
tyrantlizardrex tyrantlizardrex
I take no responsibility for your imagination. 😁

By buying the second watch you Would be investing in imagination 😎
 
16 More Posts...
Sign up or log in to reply...

Similar threads

al128

Am I wrong or the watch industry ?(GMT-related stuff)

al128 Open Discussion
gostang9
gostang9
Posts
7
Views
3K