By jove, I think he got it!

jimmyd13 · Jun 10, 2017

I've known this watch existed for a few months; I saw it for the first (and only time) two weeks ago; and .... I bought it today.

It's sooo fluffy, I'm gonna die!!!!!!! Seriously, I've never been so happy to spend so much money ... I'm smiling as I sit her and type with two Speedmasters next to me. A few months ago, I made the conscious decision that I would never buy a 321. Having a 2998 in my hand made me change my mind in 4.2 seconds (give or take).

Straight to the photos. Please feel free to critique. (by the way, the dial's great but the glass is scratched and cloudy - it will probably clean up - so any imperfections you think might be on the dial are the glass, I promise).

Spacefruit · Jun 10, 2017

How nice to see a freshly caught 2998.

bags1971 · Jun 10, 2017

wow!!!

jimmyd13 · Jun 10, 2017

Spacefruit
How nice to see a freshly caught 2998.

I've got MWO open next to me. It seems the serial number is right at the start of the range and I'm suddenly so much more comfortable with the handset. The owner told me nothing has been changed on it except the bezel which was replaced over 20 years ago. If I hadn't been on my feet since 6am, I could dance.

bgrisso · Jun 10, 2017

Congrats on your purchase! I hope you can round it out with a correct bezel at some point. I would also like to see the lume color under different lighting. The blue/gray color balance on these shots makes it hard to evaluate, I suspect it might look better IRL ?

jimmyd13 · Jun 10, 2017

bgrisso
Congrats on your purchase! I hope you can round it out with a correct bezel at some point. I would also like to see the lume color under different lighting. The blue/gray color balance on these shots makes it hard to evaluate, I suspect it might look better IRL ?

I'll post some photos after I've given the glass a once-over and have it in natural light ... the dial's not the best patina I've ever seen - I prefer the orange/yellow to the green/yellow but it is what it is and that's an honest example that's lived it's life in a damp UK.

sky21 · Jun 10, 2017

Great pickup, so rare to see a good condition 2998 out in the open any more. Congrats.

gemini4 · Jun 10, 2017

Really nice Jimmy, enjoy!

khanmu · Jun 10, 2017

Very nice! Dare I ask how/where you found it?

jimmyd13 · Jun 10, 2017

khanmu
Very nice! Dare I ask how/where you found it?

Word of mouth. I am a regular at some local auctions and have a reputation for "knowing my stuff" when it comes to watches. (Which really means that I own a lot of books and avidly read internet forums). One of the older regulars said he had a "1959 Speedmaster" in his safe and I said I'd love to see if, more than that, if he ever thought of selling it I would be happy to make him an offer. Well, two weeks ago, he brought it to me to assess. Obviously, it's not from '59 but it's just 2 years later so I had to tell him that. It's also missing the correct bezel and I really doubt that pusher. We couldn't open it without a case holder, so there was a question about the handset as well. Anyway, I made him a fair offer allowing for a new bezel and service ... and he said yes. Simple as that.

Dero13 · Jun 10, 2017

Love to hear the backstories on these "barn finds". Congrats!

oddboy · Jun 10, 2017

Glad to see it out of the safe! A Watch like this needs to be worn.

jimmyd13 · Jun 10, 2017

I don't want this to sound like an advert but, damn, Polywatch and Goddards freakin' rock! Two more goes with the Polywatch using a chamois this time and I think we'll be done ...

watchlovr · Jun 10, 2017

Looks much better, great to see a fresh 2998, well done on the purchase.
Crystal might not be Omega anyway, I don't see the symbol.
That colour of Tritium always makes me suspect moisture ingress but the movement looks ok.
Not serviced?
Not so sure about that, hands look like service hands, at least on my phone.
I'd love another 2998, I am jealous.

gemini4 · Jun 10, 2017

Tritium???? 🤮

This 2998-4 should be all radium lume

jimmyd13 · Jun 10, 2017

So, one more application brings us to this:

And then a second gets us here:

Now, to answer the question before - no, there's no Omega logo on the glass, but I don't think they had that back then; the hands, yes - they worry me. The hour hand should have a triangular infill as I understand. I've had comments on here that they're right but not found a real explanation as to why. Finally, it's radium, not tritium. 😀

noelekal · Jun 10, 2017

Yea jimmyd13 for sharing your find with us just as you found it. That is pretty exciting.

gemini4 · Jun 10, 2017

This 2998-4, also movement number 1776xxxx, has radium lume. To me the dial lume patina and texture is very similar to @jimmyd13 new acquisition. I'd be surprised if the OP dial is not radium lume.

jimmyd13 · Jun 10, 2017

gemini4
This 2998-4, also movement number 1776xxxx, has radium lume. To me the dial lume patina and texture is very similar to @jimmyd13 new acquisition. I'd be surprised if the OP dial is not radium lume.

And the same hour, minute and chrono handset! That genuinely makes me smile!!!!

gemini4 · Jun 10, 2017

jimmyd13
And the same hour, minute and chrono handset! That genuinely makes me smile!!!!

Keep that smile on Jimmy but actually the handsets are both correct (I think) for a 2998-4 but they are a bit different.

OP: leaf sub hands, straight lume hour hand
Mine: straight sub hands, triangle lume hour hand

😀

By jove, I think he got it!

jimmyd13

Spacefruit

bags1971

jimmyd13

bgrisso

jimmyd13

sky21

gemini4

khanmu

jimmyd13

Dero13

oddboy

jimmyd13

watchlovr

gemini4

jimmyd13

noelekal

gemini4

jimmyd13

gemini4

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