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Considering a 3590.50

G
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Hey everyone, I have the chance to buy a 3590.50 for around $4500. It's supposed to have the 1861 movement, so I assume it's from 1996. It was serviced 2 years ago.
Do you think it would be a good watch for everyday use?
The serial number starts with 4828
I'd really appreciate your thoughts on this piece.

IMG_2514.jpeg IMG_2516.png IMG_2515.jpeg IMG_2514.jpeg
 
Scarecrow Boat
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G Gal
have the chance to buy a 3590.50 for around $4500. It's supposed to have the 1861 movement, so I assume it's from 1996
Did you mean 861? It wouldn’t have an 1861. Do you have more pics? I have a sneaking suspicion the case has been polished, but would need more pics. I personally don’t find this particular example too attractive.

G Gal
Do you think it would be a good watch for everyday use?
Of course it would.

For a while I wore my serviced 80’s 145.022 every single day. Wore it through regular tasks such as cooking, yard work, worked on airplane & car engines while wearing it, and more 👍

IMG_2754.jpeg



There are members on this forum that daily their 321 Speedmaster. You’ll be fine to daily this one.
 
Dan S
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It should be fine as a daily watch if it was truly serviced recently and passed a pressure test.
 
ibis888
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The serial and bezel type place that watch from the early 90s. It's a great watch for everyday wear and having it serviced is nice (I'm assuming proof of a full service can be provided?).

Having all of the black enamel still present on the backside is a good sign - the watch perhaps hasn't been heavily worn.

$4,500 isn't unreasonable given that the watch has been serviced, assuming that the watch hasn't been polished. Some photos of the sides of the case would be nice.
 
Scarecrow Boat
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ibis888 ibis888
$4,500 isn't unreasonable given that the watch has been serviced, assuming that the watch hasn't been polished. Some photos of the sides of the case would be nice.
Honestly, given the condition we see in the limited pics, I would have a hard time paying $4,500 even if it was serviced.

My first example is this, which is in better condition than the OP’s. Sold May this year for $3,600
https://omegaforums.net/threads/omega-speedmaster-ref-3590-50.171661/ Cover Image
Thread 'Omega Speedmaster - ref. 3590.50' ·
Update 4/30/2024: a fellow OF member has made a substantial deposit on this Speedy and will send the balance due by May 15th. Glad to see this one stay in the OF family 😀


Omega Speedmaster...
SOLD
blueteg ·

My second example is this, which is in better condition than the watch linked above, and far better condition than the OP’s. Sold May this year for $4,195
https://omegaforums.net/threads/1993-speedmaster-professional-3590-50-in-beautiful-condition-4-195-shipped-and-insured.172588/ Cover Image
Thread '1993 Speedmaster Professional 3590.50 In Beautiful Condition - $4,195 Shipped and Insured' ·
IMG_7075.jpeg


Continuing with the process of thinning my collection a bit to make room for a few recent purchases, here's one of the last -- and definitely one of the best -- of my watches that...
SOLD
gbesq ·

A 3590.50 is such a good neo-vintage reference for the Speedmaster that often has attractive and characterful patina. IMHO, I think the OP should wait and find a better example. Specially at that price point.
 
Laneside
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Scarecrow Boat Scarecrow Boat
Did you mean 861? It wouldn’t have an 1861. Do you have more pics? I have a sneaking suspicion the case has been polished, but would need more pics. I personally don’t find this particular example too attractive.


Of course it would.

For a while I wore my serviced 80’s 145.022 every single day. Wore it through regular tasks such as cooking, yard work, worked on airplane & car engines while wearing it, and more 👍

IMG_2754.jpeg



There are members on this forum that daily their 321 Speedmaster. You’ll be fine to daily this one.
I was in a panic last week. I couldn't find my 105.003-65 but I was sure it was in the house. Had to call on my wife to help and we found it in the washing basket! It nearly went for a swim.
I wear it most days but take it off if using diy/gardening/woodworking tools. I figure...... if it's good enough for a space walk?
 
Scarecrow Boat
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Harbormaster Harbormaster
There is a better one for sale right here on the Forum IMHO. Unpolished and full set!!
The only reason I didn’t link that one is the OP mentioned $ and the one for sale is in €. Converting that to $ would make it to ~$1,000 more than the price mentioned in the OP. Also, if they are in the US, they would likely be responsible for import and possibly Use Tax, which would only add to that number.

But I do agree that that one is in excellent piece with full set.
 
gbesq
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Agree that this example looks to have been polished. The mismatched lume color between the dial and hands would also bother me. $4,500 is not unreasonable for a 3590.50, but not for this particular watch.
 
ibis888
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gbesq gbesq
Agree that this example looks to have been polished. The mismatched lume color between the dial and hands would also bother me. $4,500 is not unreasonable for a 3590.50, but not for this particular watch.
For my own learnings - how can you tell it's polished from the photos? Kind of seems indeterminate to me...
 
gbesq
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ibis888 ibis888
For my own learnings - how can you tell it's polished from the photos? Kind of seems indeterminate to me...
Compare photos of many examples side by side and you will eventually be able to see it. Look especially at the transition edges between the brushed and polished surfaces on the case sides. On unpolished examples, the edges will be well defined and sharp. On polished examples, the edges will look more rounded and not as distinct.
 
ibis888
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gbesq gbesq
Compare photos of many examples side by side and you will eventually be able to see it. Look especially at the transition edges between the brushed and polished surfaces on the case sides. On unpolished examples, the edges will be well defined and sharp. On polished examples, the edges will look more rounded and not as distinct.
Thanks, I do that a lot.. and heavily polished examples are really obvious... I just thought that the OPs photos were maybe inconclusive.. any lack of sharpness might be due to the way the photos were taken.

I currently own a 3590.50 and had a 145.022-69.. nothing beats seeing them in real life.

I've found that judging Rolex Subs is even harder! Particularly unpolished vs. refinished.
 
JwRosenthal
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ibis888 ibis888
Thanks, I do that a lot.. and heavily polished examples are really obvious... I just thought that the OPs photos were maybe inconclusive.. any lack of sharpness might be due to the way the photos were taken.

I currently own a 3590.50 and had a 145.022-69.. nothing beats seeing them in real life.

I've found that judging Rolex Subs is even harder! Particularly unpolished vs. refinished.
Once you see enough of what unpolished one’s look like, you can’t unsee polished examples- you begin to spot them immediately. That’s not to say that if a watch has been polished during its lifetime (which was SOP for any watchmaker 20+ years ago and many still do), its total trash, I have many in my collection that for hit with a buffing wheel once or twice- but if it was done with a heavy hand the case loses enough definition that it becomes soft and the factory brushing/polish loses it ability to play the light the same way.
 
G
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Thank you, everyone, for your feedback; I will add more pictures. The seller was kind enough to send me them.
Please note that I cannot buy watches outside of my country, so buying from the forum is impossible. Again, thank you all very much; your input is very much appreciated.

IMG_2536.jpeg 7d4593ed-2b01-42d1-a73e-05575119c441.jpeg 3a24810c-52ba-492b-93c8-7638c67c2dc1.jpeg
 
ibis888
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I'm curious as to what the experts think with the new pictures... certainly doesn't look heavily polished.
 
gbesq
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ibis888 ibis888
I'm curious as to what the experts think with the new pictures... certainly doesn't look heavily polished.
Agreed. Better case than I originally thought, but the mismatched lume between the hands and dial would still keep me from buying it.
 
JwRosenthal
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Hey @Gal
Where are you in the world?

The watch isn’t “bad” I think most are just balking at the asking price vs condition. It’s priced about $500-1k too high for the shape that that it’s in. If it were $3.5k people would be asking why you hadn’t bought it yet.

Unlike every Rolex ever made (sarcasm coming) Speedmasters aren’t rare- they are abundant, so you can be picky. That said, if you are limited by trade restrictions- then that does add a premium to something available near you- and that can’t really be quantified. But still, if you find the color of the hands or the clumsy polish on the case objectionable at all, patience is always rewarded.
 
gbesq
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James forgot to add that, in his opinion, a Speedmaster wears like a dinner plate on the wrist, but he still owns one. 😁
 
G
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The seller is sure the watch has an 1861 movement (not 861), I will add below what ChatGPT tells me. Does it make sense? Does it affect the value?

ChatGPT:
The Omega Speedmaster Professional reference 3590.50 initially used the Caliber 861 movement. However, in some later models of the 3590.50, Omega transitioned to utilizing the Caliber 1861 movement. This change occurred around 1996 when Omega updated the movement to 1861, which included a rhodium-plated finish but retained the same basic architecture as the 861.
So, while the majority of 3590.50 models feature the Caliber 861, there are some produced towards the end of its run that include the Caliber 1861
 
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