Extract of the Archives - worth it?

nonuffinkbloke

"I am aware that during assembly there can be some overlap with regard to end of year- start of year parts. Also I'm being told it is not unusual by the senior technician at Swiss Time Services. Apart from hands and crown, he said the watch is totally in order.

ewand

Of course, record keeping in the 1960s/70s isn't what it is now, and it's quite possible mistooks were mode and that's what you'll get from your extract...

I asked Heuer once, if they thought the watch I had at the time checked out. "Yes, we think that seems to be about correct" was the tone of their response - I think they lost all the books of serial numbers in a fire, so all they have to go on is guesswork.

Taddyangle

How cool would it be to have an extract from a Speedmaster that was your actual birth date?

oddboy

I get 'em for any of my watches they're available for. Every now and then, I put in for one for a 2998 hoping that the records have magically materialized. Alas, no luck yet.

nonuffinkbloke

That must be frustrating Oddboy!... I presume they refund the search fee??? In an industry that is all about precision and with the Speedmaster only going back to 1957???😕 I would understand if you were asking them for a record going back a 160 years!

Regarding the 2998 (according to Speedmaster101's serial number chart) Omega seemed to have made a decent job of recording them from the 2998-1 up to the 2998-62 OK, but then had this uncertainty about the top end of the 2998-6 range. I don't have access to MWO so I can't check what William's ** refers to. I'm just wondering what would account for this bit of inconsistent record keeping?

oddboy

I believe the issue is that many of the batches of Speedies were assembled by Lemania for Omega and Lemania didn't keep the same level of detail. So, because Omega can't confirm details, they cancel the request and refund the money.

jurisevac@

Some time when you ask, answer will come.

nonuffinkbloke

Ahhh that answers that one.
I've been trying to check my serial number against known records because when Simon, at STS UK opened the case up last week. He said the movement number was very late for a 105.012-65. 24531XXX but thought the watch looked correct to him apart from the hands and crown which are old but incorrect service items) I would think he has seen more Speedmasters opened up than most people so I am reassured by his comments which were based on close scrutiny.

Speedmaster101 places it early in the 1966 range and other serial number lists I've checked out on line seem so vague. I'm hoping the extract of archives will link the two together. I would be interested to know your thoughts on this or if the information on the extract document is likely to be helpful in that respect.
Thanks.
Jonathan.

oddboy

How much do I need to pay for an extract for a 2998 in the "missing ranges" ?

Spacefruit

In the future, there will be two levels of speedmaster.

Those with extracts, and those without.

flyingout

Did that response provide the country it was delivered to or just the date? Thanks.