i have recently bought at an auction, based on the photographs that did not include pictures of the movement, a speedmaster 145.022-st71 with stepped dial. The stepped dial was not visible in the auction pictures, so it came as a pleasant surprise when I noticed the stepped dial and the st71 inscription.
The serial number is 32855xxx and seem to match the st 71. However, the watch seems to be very untouched and the markers have not aged at all and still seem to be very white for a speedmater of this time. This made me wonder. I would very much appreciate any feedback on the originality of this watch.
Thanks in advance!

 

Looks nice and clean, congrats ! In focus pictures would be awesome

 

Welcome to the OF!
Congrats for the purchase.
The pictures are awful, especially dial and movement pics, which are the most important ones. It looks very correct and the patina looks great and coherent.

 

Could you please provide better pictures of the movement and dial ?

Thanks.

Cheers

 

As others said, these photos can’t tell us much. But there’s enough for me to want to see more!

 

I have posted some more pictures of the dial. do not have more pictures of the movement.

 

I am having doubts about the patina. This seems to be very white for a st 71, dont you think? I have photographed it next to a st 71 in the famous speedmaster only book and that one seems to be a lot more yellow collored. I have seen many speedmasters from this age and all of them more yellow/with more Patina (which I like by the way!)..

 

Nice pick up. Looks solid so far!

 

It's fine, 45 year-old watches don't all age the same way. Especially this one, which looks mint and might have spent a lot of time locked away ?
Plus, greenish lume colour is known on 71s. I think it's a very fine example

 

Looks great and correct! Here is mine!

 

If one actually edits the image correctly, and raises the contrast, & sharpness levels .......the dial looks fine to me

 

My -76 has aged the same way. No flags from your pictures.

72-76 seem to age the same way.

 

Well done! However, the markers are much more yellow than they are in real..... What about the dent on 275? I was so surprised that the Watch looks great but does in fact has such a serious dent on a place that schould be protected...

 

A bezel dent isn't uncommon. Usually, I wouldn't even bat an eye at a bezel dent on a vintage piece unless it were a big ticket collectable perhaps. But I applaud your caution. Most seem to be the exact opposite! I've actually heard of people repairing these bezel dents successfully, but don't have any such experience personally. Maybe something you'd like to look into, though.

Like the others have said, this looks like an exceptionally stunning piece. I see your concern, because the thing looks damn near new.

 

The original image was very pale and washed out…I may have overcompensated on the contrast, to bring out the colour clearer…as I was trying to determine if it was ‘period’

Colour in an image....is all dependent on the original lighting conditions, & ‘temperature’ of the light …daylight / artificial ? …morning / afternoon ?…and the cameras ability to ‘read’ & interpret that digital data……and finally it’s affected by the quality / neutrality of the screen ?, you are viewing it on

On my screen it’s less yellow, and more green ?

The watch also needs servicing as there appears to be ‘chrono creep’, in the third lower sub dial…the hand is not vertical, but slightly offset

The mild dent is nothing really……part of its historic ‘battle scars’

 

I’m pretty sure the -71 and -74 dials ( with most -76) usedthe same lume as they tend to age identically. My -76 looks green or tan depending on lighting.

You have a great piece!

 

Looks like a great example from the pics. Lume colouring is typical for that period.

 

Thanks for a great picture!

 

Is there chrono-creep or does the hour chrono-hour-hand just not reset perfectly to zero? Nice watch!!

 

The only oddity I see is the Delrin brake, but the apparent 32XXXXX serial number should be the right range, so I'm guessing it was replaced during a service at some point.