Hi everyone,

I have done some research regarding this but I am no expert.

So my question is what bits of my watch is original and which has been replaced due to services?

The reason for me asking is that I've just taken this watch to Swiss Time Services for a service. I have a few Omegas and been there before but the chap seemed quite enthusiastic about this watch and he believed it had the original, crown, dial, hands, crystal, no 6 end pieces, 1035 bracelet in good order etc... But he did also say that he was not 100% and it was best to ask on a forum. So here I am.

I've owned the watch for about 5 years or so which I bought off eBay, it seemed genuine to me and the seller was selling it off at a good price due to the bezel being removed for some reason. It also came with original red and white box but no papers sadly. It was the sellers grandfathers watch and it had been laying in the draw for who knows how many years collecting dust so decided to sell it. So I believe I'm the 2nd owner of the watch. Apparently the watch has been serviced at least once as there is a small mark on the inside the of case. STS are about to service the watch without polishing the case or bracelet and the bezel was put back on.

So vintage Speedmaster experts, please, please help me out. Thanks in advance.

 

Before I polished up the crystal:

 

Hello,
From my tiny experience about vintage Speed :
Crown : original
puschers : no original (I guess) too longs
Hands : seem original
Dial : Original with narrow T

 

Wow you owned it for 5 years and just left it in a drawer without bezel like that2 ??

 

No it was left in the draw for years by the original seller.

It was sold without a bezel and I actually spent quite a bit of time trying to find a period one before a friend of mine found it inside the box wrapped in tissue.

 

Cheers, do you think the chrono hands are original too?

 

Yes I think.

 

Haha whoa whoa, please go on. That is so funny. So the seller put the original DON bezel in the box but didn't tell you / marked it at a low price because the bezel wasn't attached (but was still with the watch)? Too good.

 

No kidding. Nothing like finding an extra $2-3K in the box for free ;-)

 

I wouldnt take it to STS, take it to Simon Freese who has gone independent, he is the main man for all things vintage Speedmaster.

http://www.simonfreesewatchmakers.com/

 

FWIW at the time a DON probably was worth a bunch less...

I think the experts here have been careful not to trash the reputation of STS - it still is STS without Simon.

 

And Simon Freese is really cheeper than STS.

 

I agree, nothing wrong with STS and if I was sending a newer watch for service I would probably use STS as they have all the spares etc, but if we are talking pre-moon or pre-professional then I would use Simon.

My 105.003-64 is currently with Simon, due back next week hopefully. It is not about money, it's about finding the right man for the job.

 

Wow that's crazy the bezel was still in the box. Of all the places to take an impact on the DON tho....

 

I don't know how it happened, I'm guessing it came off some how and it was kept in a safe place.

 

They were only around £150 when I was looking for them

 

I've always been to sts, they are only servicing it, no polishing I'm sure it will be fine

 

I'm looking at my Ed White which I have had from new and I think yours looks correct. Certainly all the hands, the dial, bezel and pushers, not 100% sure on the crown, (the picture is a bit fuzzy) it looks like a B2 which mine has and is found on 60's Speedies. The bracelet is from the first quarter of 1967 and is correct (valuable) with No6 ends the same as mine which is from the second quarter. I can't make out the serial number of the watch but think it starts 25*******
Mine starts 2495 and is from June 1967, so if I am right yours is probably from the second half of 1967. Mine has also been serviced by STS, they are excellent and will do exactly what you want as I'm sure you know.
Very nice watch, but then I'm biased!