Another The Parts Might Be Worth It Speedmaster on eBay

Another unusual, not surprising, listing on eBay, an Omega Speedmaster 105.012-66 HF with the wrong pushers, wrong bezel, wrong movement and maybe wrong crown. The movement number is 17302122 which is early for a 66... more likely a 2998 movement. The case looks good, and the caseback, from what can be seen, looks sharp and a nice 1039 bracelet with 516 endlinks dated 3/68. Parts are from all over the map.
Right now the bidding is near 3K. What are your thoughts on this one? Worth paying for the parts to resell? Not me... but, if anyone does... I have dibs on the caseback.

Link: https://www.ebay.com/itm/Omega-Speedmaster-Prof-105-012-Cal-321/383856293796?_trkparms=aid=111001&algo=REC.SEED&ao=1&asc=20160908105057&meid=48e58fd9c12e469481fcb6905dea1523&pid=100675&rk=1&rkt=15&mehot=pp&sd=174548819661&itm=383856293796&pmt=0&noa=1&pg=2380057&brand=OMEGA&_trksid=p2380057.c100675.m4236&_trkparms=pageci:1ef71746-4090-11eb-8a27-72e5d0429ad5|parentrq:71d199231760ad4b226302cefff236b4|iid:1

Every time is see a watch with a mishmash of parts I think of a guy working in the Omega factory building it "One Piece at a Time". Omega wouldn't miss one little piece. Looks like a 66-67-68...

One of the best ever if you haven't heard it before.

Fan of The Man in Black... good song

Be careful of these assembled watches. I wasn’t and picked up an assembled Ed White last year.

https://omegaforums.net/threads/eba...t-what’s-wrong-why-i-grabbed-it-anyway.99150/

I still have it and haven’t changed anything, other than having it serviced. It keeps very good time and I really like the unusual service dial.



I’m happy with it, but as the old thread indicates, I’d have a hard time selling it.

Given how early that movement serial number is, I’d pass on that HF.

Hi Marsimaxam,

IMHO (dare I have one), I believe that the listing (and the bids) are way over! By a tall margin. I am somewhat doubtful of the authenticity of some of the parts....as I said this is just my opinion. I feel the bracelet 'Omega' markings are 'off'. All the bracelets I have demonstrate a 'sharpness' of font and stamping. In my Country, the term 'Bitzer' refers to a Dog (Canine) from many bloodlines....This watch is a Bitzer! Yes the listing makes reference to this but it ain't worth the dough!

Please do your own research...be critical at best....think wisely before sinking large sums into sub-standard examples UNLESS you're after 'that' part and are willing to part with $$$ to get it! 😀

It's interesting how quickly *off* things look (especially re: bracelets) when brushed/polished. The bracelet's legitimate, I'd hazard, but has clearly been brushed (it should have polished sides and a brushed center). I personally actually sort of like strange franken-ish put-together watches with incorrect bits, but if you look at prices of 1039/516s, cal 321s, and hands, this watch is already priced higher than its parts, as far as I can tell.

...agreed Wlcutter. I think having such a valuable forum as this excellent Forum provides the general public with 'some' tools to assist in making a somewhat educated decision on what's reasonable in terms of $$$ and what could be perceived as far fetched.

As a finished Watch - too expensive for what it is...
As for Parts - it really depends on 'what part' a collector may be chasing to finish off their excellent time piece and what they're willing to pay to get it...this is where I was coming from.

I am a collector and I also chase parts from time to time, I am always needing something to complete a project however, I do my homework and always seek best price where I can. I have some originals but I also have bitzers. I collect for my own personal enjoyment and have been doing so for many years.

Wlcutter, what frustrates me are inflated prices and the 'Bay' is no exception. It is, what it is I guess....

I think what needs to be made clear to all those individuals out there who are after a quick-buck is that just because one fine example of a 'Speedie' exists on the 'Bay' for an extraordinarily high price, does not necessarily mean that everyone else 'Speedies' values jumps up by $10K.

Please allow me to explain (open for discussion);
Speedies, by far and away are a highly sought after Watch (probably an understatement)....The question that needs asking is 'why'????
Is it because Wally chose to wear his 2998 during the Mercury program? But he only owned 'One' Speedie at that time. So, today in 2020, his ACTUAL watch that HE OWNED and wore into space is probably priceless. But it doesn't mean that my 2998 is priceless...not all 2998's went into Space! 😀

OR...
Is it because Omega identified a marketing opportunity in the 1960's with Nasa choosing to formalise the 2998 as the 'Chronograph of Choice' for their Astronauts (Refer to Fratello's EXCELLENT site for a thorough history and explanation of how the 'Moon Watch' came to be, link: How the Speedmaster became the Moonwatch (fratellowatches.com) ), thus Omega had an opportunity to showcase the Speedmaster forevermore?

I think the reason Speedies are considered a watch of 'value' is because everyone else thinks theirs hold the same value as everybody else's.....and caution seems to be thrown into the wind when evaluations are conducted and the 'Critical Eye' that is passed over the example. A friend of mine once said...The true value of something (he meant anything), is what people are willing to pay for it...! So, from a collectors point of view this becomes quite broad!

Lets not take away from the fact that the 2998 Movement, IS an Omega Chronograph made in Switzerland...

Hi Padders,
I make no assumption as to whether or not the OP's item is in fact a 2998...it is however a Speedie. Yes there are numerous references agreed with you there.... The OP's serial number 17302122 does refer to a 1960 (321 Cal) 2998-2 (there I said it! 😀)

Rather my mentioning of 2998 was purely about my own complaints (and experiences) of current market prices....there are just so many variables that need to be considered when applying a valuation to any Speedie and my frustrations are based on 'pricing' or better still, the general populous not taking into account these many variables when assuming high prices for such time pieces if it is a Speedie. Not all Speedies are the same, not all Speedies have the same history etc etc. I feel that eBay has everyone in a rash and this has somewhat spoiled the market.

Apologies to all if I seemed misleading....

As a side-note, I have some serial number thoughts to share...Has anyone started a thread for serial number cross-reference? Could you please point me to it if it exists? (Yes I am aware of Roy & Sacha Davidoff's excellent page; OMEGA SPEEDMASTER SERIAL NUMBERS - Roy & Sacha Davidoff SA (db1983.com)), I am just interested in the last four digit changeover periods between references... (I'm somewhat of a purist and have a deep-seeded interest in serial number application between years)

Many thanks...

The OP posted 'the parts might be worth it'...The dial looks like it is a Speedie dial (cannot confirm it is genuine). My reference to 'Speedie' is for the 'dial'. I Clearly stated that the serial 'refers' to the correct range for a Speedie. This does NOT mean that it is from a Speedie as the 321 was cross-fitted to other models.

Yes Padders, agreed with you again, reassuring but definitely NOT definitive. I wanted the OP to be aware of the risks. I think this has been achieved.

For the record, I CANNOT be assured that this is a genuine Speedie throughout. In fact, the entire watch could be nothing more than a restoration built up from all genuine parts (or in fact non-genuine...who's to know without fully understanding the entire provenance which in my experience is very hard if not impossible to do).

..and Padders thanks for editing your post...