An interesting Speedmaster

Archer

To be clear, I wasn't accusing him of anything. I'm simply saying that when someone gives a family history that it was only serviced twice and by Omega, there is evidence to suggest that's not the case. Not saying anyone is trying to deceive anyone here, just that as I said above, family history on something like this can be unreliable.

If you look at the inside of the case back, there is evidence that this had more than just 2 interventions in the lifetime of the watch...

I see at least 6 service marks that appear to be unrelated to each other. You are right, no one is buying or selling this watch, but this is just a reminder that when a watch owner tells you something about the history of a vintage watch, they may not remember or be aware of all the things that were done. I get quite a few watches in for servicing where someone has paid a premium because it's "never been touched" and when I open it, it's clear that it's been serviced before.

Not picking on the OP, as I understand this was a tool watch and used as such, and from that standpoint it's a great story. But I'm not sure that story was fully known (or fully recalled) based on what I see.

Cheers, Al

Iceter

Interesting timing for this thread. I was talking with my best friend yesterday and he owns his father’s Speedmaster. It would make a good thread like this except his father sent it to Omega for refurbishment in 1992 and it came back with several new parts. Luckily, they sent the originals back with the watch.

His father bought the watch at the base store while he was in the Air Force in 1963 after reading that an Astronaut wore a Speedmaster. Wore it every day until he had it serviced in ‘92, then gave it to his son when his son graduated from Parris Island. His son wore it every day while in the Corps. He wasn’t aware of its value until a jeweler offered to buy it for what he thought was crazy money.

Some of these histories are pretty interesting.

Concer

Thank you for this great story!
I love to hear / read stories about someone who has a watch that has been with them for a long time and is still totally reliable. Sometimes I am jealous that these people have only worn this watch all their lives and have experienced all the things they have experienced with just this one watch. Sometimes I would also like to simply not keep chasing this light-heartedness for the next "grail", but only to be completely satisfied with one watch and only wear it until the end of my life.

malilis

Dear All,
I would like, today, to present an interesting watch.
Indeed, here is a watch that this friend of mine owns since 1969 .. actually, he is the second owner, but the first owner kept the watch only 3 or 4 months and then traded it to pay for the repair of the gearbox of his car, my friend running a service station, at the time ..!

I have always seen that watch on the wrist of my friend, and I know him since 30 years .. I like the idea of an item that serves since 51 years !

Since day one, this watch was serviced only two times, each time by Omega official .. each time crown and pushers were replaced, the originals were deliverd to the owner and he still has those. Each time the watch was cleaned and lightly polished, the crystal replaced.
The original bracelet weared out (stretched) and he got another bracelet from Omega. He still has the original one though.
The owner is not particularly interested in watches, was happy to have a good product, and just utilized it as a quality tool.

He was amazed when I told him that such watches were valuable, with value increasing.
As you can see, it is a speedmaster reference 145022- 69ST, not sure how to call it .. it is not a 321 movement, it is a 861 movement .. it is pre-moon ofcourse, from 1969 I suppose.
The reference number on the movement is 31314715
The movement is very clean and according to the owner still runs strongly, shifting 3 or 4 second/day .. within COSC !
The watch shows signs of age, but no deep scatches, no overpolishing .. just in need of a thorough cleaning (and ofcourse a complete service), and probably a crystal replacement or polywatched.
The back is weared out .. the engraving is still visible but barely.
The dial is 100% original and in good shape.
The bezel is not a DON bezel and shows signs of age.

One does not meet very often a one owner watch, 51 years old with full past history known, completey original !


The images :

I ‘d love to hear your opinions !
Thank you for your attention,

High Hope

@jaegodylan I concur. It's a cool story, and, to the owner, he probably doesn't care either. @malilis , that is a cool watch and a cool friend you have there.

RonJ-in-VA

Great story. Thanks for posting.

Is the current bracelet an 1171?
Pictures of the clasp would be interesting to see.

Also pictures of the original bracelet and clasp would be interesting.

Note that the serial number 31314715 is estimated to be made in April 1971 (using the ilovemyspeedmaster.com website).
.

High Hope

@jaegodylan I concur. It's a cool story, and, to the owner, he probably doesn't care either. @malilis , that is a cool watch and a cool friend you have there.

Dan S

I see this all the time, where the facts just don't agree with someone's memory. And then they will sometimes get very defensive about it. I recently bought an old Rolex bracelet from someone. He was the original owner, and I believe that part for sure, it's a memorable story. He gave me a spare link with it, and said that he had it removed because the bracelet was too large. The link was for a totally different bracelet. 🤨

malilis

I dont know about the previous bracelet .. I may ask my friend upon his return from holidays .. the serial number is well 313114716 I noted it when I had the watch open in front of me ... and the watch is definitely since 1969 in possession of my friend ..thks for the interest ..

jaegodylan

let’s see this one.. and enlist some help to get those original parts back on!

padders

You might want to ask him about the bracelet too. That also can't be any earlier than 1970 so maybe ask him did he buy it with that fitted. If so then his memory is definitely playing tricks. It is a strange piece alright. The 220 bezel was only AFAIK fitted for a short while on 1970


production*, that serial is from early 1971 and the bracelet has to be newer than 1970.

*of course the bezel and bracelet (and maybe movement too) could have been swapped later at one of the indeterminate number of services.

Iceter

We sent astronauts to the moon six times between 1969 and 1972. Perhaps the original owner was reporting on one of the later missions?