If you're ever enjoying a summer break down here on the South coast in beautiful Dorset, UK, drop into Michael Matthews in Westover Road, just off The Square in Bournemouth.
They welcomed me, showed me the Omega watches I wanted to see, and offered me a coffee. They were very helpful with my enquiries and their Omega chap said he was a regular visitor to this forum and knew Simon Freese (then at STS). Very nice place to visit.
Now you would think Charles Fox in Bournemouth (with their Omega boutique) would be a nice place for me to head for??? WRONG!
I went in to ask them about quality alternative leather straps for my 105.012-65 to replace my 1171/633:
A)They told me I would not find one to fit a Speedmaster properly, but they would fit a correct NASA velcro strap for approx £240
B) They told me that they knew nothing of Swiss Time Services, UK and that I should only send my vintage Speedmaster to Omega for a service.
C) When I told them that I had been advised, by experts on this forum "not to wind my 52 year old watch until it had been inspected and serviced", Their staff told me "That's ridiculous! These Speedmaster watches are supposed to wound! You should take advice from us, not a load of internet weirdos! We are an approved Omega dealer!"
Interestingly a couple of small vintage watch shops on the South Coast of England gave slightly worrying advice on my lovely, brown dial,105.012-65 Speedmaster. (I go in and just ask their advice as a total and complete novice. I don't tell them that I have been 'clued up' a bit by you chaps on this lovely forum. I just let them look at my Watch and listen to what they say. Interesting to test them out and see how honest the basteddz are???)
One 'vintage expert' told me it had a 70's bracelet and so was probably a 145.022 from about 1972. Would I be interested in selling it?
(I thought to myself "You can 'fakk awff' Arthur Daley"!)
Another said my watch would sell for about £2000 in his shop. He said "the dial shouldn't be brown... that's not good"...
and that it needed a service. He then offered me £800, gave me his card incase I wanted to take him up on his offer
(I thought "And you can 'fakk awff' as well Arthur Daley's mate"!).
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I know you can't always judge by appearances, but I grew up in a rough part of London, UK, so I'm not too bad at spotting a 'wrongun'... funny enough,... they both looked a bit 'iffy'
THANK THE LORD FOR THE ADVICE WE GET ON THIS FORUM AND SPEEDMASTER101! CHEERS CHAPS
On a positive note Burrells in the historic town of Winchester, UK, were friendly and helpful. The staff member loved my old Speedmaster and was keen to show me the watches that I was interested in.
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