eBay Ed White grab - what’s right, what’s wrong & why I grabbed it anyway

airansun · Jul 25, 2019

eugeneandresson
Totally fun stuff...thanks for the pics!

So, just for my own sake:

Pic 1: 'new' one on the left. Wrong
Pic 2: 'new' one on the bottom. Correct
Pic 3: 'new' one left. Wrong
Pic 4: 'new' one on the bottom. Wrong
Pic 5: 'new' one on the left. Wrong
Pic 6: 'new' one on the top. Correct

?

Very amusing!

There’s a slight difference in how the hippocampus looks between the two. And the ‘new’ one has virtually no dirt on its plunger necks.

airansun · Jul 25, 2019

padders
Hold the phone. I just realised you have a unicorn dial! That is a circa 1970 long index, stepped, non AML, 321 movement, wide T, Professional service dial described in MWO but not ever seen. Other than mine that is. Which I have fitted to a 145.012-68.

@padders :So, maybe I ought to leave the dial and bezel on the watch and just replace the hands, leaving it as a true period artifact.

chronoboy64 · Jul 25, 2019

great catch and thread, thanks for sharing 👍

Caliber561 · Jul 25, 2019

airansun
@padders :So, maybe I ought to leave the dial and bezel on the watch and just replace the hands, leaving it as a true period artifact.

That was what I was going to do if I won the auction😉
Also, dibs!

airansun · Jul 25, 2019

1 - So, someone have a modern straight lug Speedmaster that can post some good closeups? Take the bracelet/strap off of one side - it helps a lot.

2 - Any photos of known early 70’s service cases for straight lugged Speedmasters?

3 - FYI, The chrono is interfering with the movement’s forward progress and the stop/start upper pusher is also resetting it. Common problem, my watchmaker has fixed four or five like this for me already. So the watch is a little less of a deal, assuming there’s nothing else.

4 - I am leaning toward only replacing the hands, depending on whether I really conclude it was a early 70’s repair of major damage to the case, bezel and dial. The dial makes me think that that scenario is more likely, but I’d love to see responses to numbers 1 and 2, above.

🍿

Love you guys!

Davidt · Jul 25, 2019

Obviously I'm late to the party now but my first thoughts on seeing your OP was that the dial was very interesting but the case was certainly not factory original. I don't think it's a service case, just a refinished 60's case

airansun · Jul 25, 2019

Davidt
Obviously I'm late to the party now but my first thoughts on seeing your OP was that the dial was very interesting but the case was certainly not factory original. I don't think it's a service case, just a refinished 60's case

What about as a 70’s service case for all the straight lugs?

Davidt · Jul 25, 2019

airansun
What about as a 70’s service case for all the straight lugs?

Have you got any evidence there ever was a 70's straight lug, service case?
Not a loaded question. I've never seen anything to suggest Omega ever produced one so assume it's very unlikely.

airansun · Jul 25, 2019

Wouldn’t they have been producing service cases for them right along, before Professionals came out?

I suppose the mid band service replacements for many straight lugs could have been produced in 2998 days and sat on a parts shelf for five to ten years before someone pulled it down to use. That might explain the fluting?

Davidt · Jul 25, 2019

I just go on what's more likely.

I've never seen nor heard of any straight lug service cases from the 70's/80's but I do know Omega like to put these thick facets on when they polish straight lugs. That's where I'd put my money.

oddboy · Jul 25, 2019

Not all straight lug speedy cases are the same. 2998 cases won't do for a 105.003

airansun · Jul 25, 2019

Davidt
I just go on what's more likely.

I've never seen nor heard of any straight lug service cases from the 70's/80's but I do know Omega like to put these thick facets on when they polish straight lugs. That's where I'd put my money.

Point taken. Occam’s razor

But, wouldn’t Omega have stocked extra mid bands as service replacements?

oddboy
Not all straight lug speedy cases are the same. 2998 cases won't do for a 105.003

Say more, por favor

oddboy · Jul 25, 2019

Press fit vs screw in pushers as well as differences in the bevels, and the flat part on the bottom of the lugs.

https://omegaforums.net/threads/straight-lugs-need-a-lesson.26229/

https://omegaforums.net/threads/nice-crisp-straight-lugs-got-some.34079/

gemini4 · Jul 25, 2019

If an Ed White needed a replacement case during a 70’s service, I think Omega would have swapped in a Professional case.

Edit: Of course midcases don’t need to be changed very often. I also think the OP case edge was enhanced.

airansun · Jul 25, 2019

bags1971
sorry forgot to add a pic done by omega when the previous owner sent it for a service

@bags1971 Do you recall any of the specifics of what the previous owner told you about that service? When, what condition the case was in before service etc?

ndgal · Jul 25, 2019

Case & caseback 1000% repolished by Omega during service.

gemini4 · Jul 25, 2019

OP case bevel is very similar to another, infamous, case example.
Lot 3, 2915-1, Christie’s Omega Speedmaster 50 Auction
December 15, 2015 New York

Due to the case irregularity, the watch did not sell

airansun · Jul 25, 2019

Fair enough. The combined experience of all of you dwarfs mine for sure.

I really appreciate the feedback and insights!

📖

OmegaFan503 · Jul 25, 2019

Good thread! I remembered seeing that auction. Very glad that I learned a few more things today 😀

bags1971 · Jul 25, 2019

airansun
@bags1971 Do you recall any of the specifics of what the previous owner told you about that service? When, what condition the case was in before service etc?

yes he showed me a pic before he sent it off was a nice 105.003 - 65 case the service was done in late 2017

eBay Ed White grab - what’s right, what’s wrong & why I grabbed it anyway

airansun

airansun

chronoboy64

Caliber561

airansun

Davidt

airansun

Davidt

airansun

Davidt

oddboy

airansun

oddboy

gemini4

airansun

ndgal

gemini4

airansun

OmegaFan503

bags1971

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