This watch was given to me back in 1987 by my dad. He stopped wearing it in the mid 80s and I saw it in the drawer and started wearing it in high school, and has been mine ever since. He bought it new at either a BX or PX in England I think. he's retired Air Force, but get this...for $100 is what he told me. I don't think he ever had it serviced but I did in 1990 by an Omega dealer in Kaiserslautern Germany. I believe they replaced the crown and I remember them giving me the old one back, but if I still have that it would be a miracle. Anyway I have a couple of questions of value and a couple concerns. Number one concern is the minute hand. I was looking for the same hand set in online pictures with a half lumed minute hand and couldn't find any, well I got my loupe out and it appears that half the hand was painted over, had to have been during the 90 service but wondered how that affected the value. also with the loupe looking at the tritium hour marks, were those hand painted new? I was also wondering about the case back as being the original. just wondering because I saw other 145.012 examples that seemed to have a different cover. Anyway, here's my watch, and I would love to have some feedback if you all have the time. No interior photos yet since i dont have an opening tool. Thanks for letting me join your forum. Chuck
Beautiful watch and a really special meaning that it was your dad's watch. Yes, a case tool with help the forum to provide you with all the details (inside case back reference number and movement serial number). From the outside most parts look correct for 145.012, except for the case back. The double step is from a 105.012 but I don't think it is out of the question that it naturally found its way to your watch. I wouldn't sweat a couple of replaced parts. This is a really nice watch. The minute hand is certainly strange but looks ok to me. I'd be mostly concerned with any loose tritium or paint falling off and getting into the watch. Check out speedmaster101.com for ideas regarding value and plenty of info about model details. Welcome to the forum!! Thank you for sharing with us.
I think this watch is a 105.012-65 HF because of the double bevel caseback and it appears to have the low rise 5mm pushers indicative of a 105.012. Great looking example btw!
Thank you. I guess I just assumed it was a 145.012 simply by the band being stamped 4/67. I have my dad looking for the box which I know he has. hopefully papers/receipt too. Guess maybe it's time to open her up and get some pictures. Or should I hold off on that being it hasn't been opened in 25 plus years. Thanks again, Chuck
That's irony, right? Chuck, very nice watch, and all the more special for the connection to your father. Wear it and enjoy it!
And here's where I am on pretty much getting anything done, and even just opening it. if you have a watch that is functioning flawlessly keeping time, chrono works as it should, all hands reset perfect, buttons start stop restart, and reset perfect. and you know almost for a fact that it's only been opened once for a $100 service in 1990. and it's not something that is going up for sale, would you still open her up to get pictures, and dad could call today saying he found the box and paperwork. is the service more important than the Virgin state of the watch? Thanks Chuck
Watches need to be serviced, oils dry up and this leads to wearing out parts that need the lubricants
It needs a service. Oils/seals dry out ect. ...Will benefit from regulation. If you plan to wear it this is well worth doing. BTW if you are worried about If cost of service is worth it just visit Speedmaster 101.
Beautiful watch. Congrats. Wear it with pride, when serviced[emoji4] Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Well, let me just say that someone bought a Speedmaster caseback tool from me and took it to China asking them to do 1000 exact copies to sell from his own watch site..... And while we're there, let me use the opportunity to bring a big thanks for the massive support from many many OF’ers And a special thanks goes to @Spacefruit, who launched this on his site the other day: http://speedmaster101.com/pahawis-opener-the-only-one-to-have/ I’ve not been able to persuade William to let me pay for his time or anything else – just amazing – thanks again, William Paul
So Dad found the box, tags and booklet. He didn't have the outer box. I thought it interesting to see the tag read ST 105.003/012 B could that be because of the double step case back? I was also trying to find out the differences between the 105.012 and the 145.012 other than the shorter push buttons and the later square ended chrono second hand. Anyone? He did confirm he never had it serviced so when I had it serviced in 1990 which I did because the chrono hand didn't sweep nicely and the hands didn't reset exactly, it would be the only time it's been opened. I do wear it, and it works perfectly, but most of the time I don't even wind or set it.