Bad box conditions: does this affect value of the set?

Beautiful patina on the box.

😁 LOL

it would be a "sweeter" deal for sure....

See what I did there? I'm sooooooo smart!

Just be careful with this talk of "affecting value" - its great that you like the watch, but it's not uncommon, and the folks that have decided that watches are "investments" aren't going after these.

I can't imagine a world where a Speedmaster Automatic Date buyer is going to pay a premium for a well worn box, and whilst paperwork is nice to have, once the watchmakers warranty has expired, what you have is nothing more than a record of something expensive you once paid for, and an indicator to a buyer that you looked after the watch

I'd suggest that you enjoy wearing it, and not worry about a theoretical future sale price.

Try looking at a close up of the picture, looks like a dried out lake bed?