Been searching for my first Speedy for a long time. Paid an arm and leg but extremely happy with this watch. Purchased from the Davidoff Brothers and "Tropical" in every lighting condition. Now if I could only pop that bezel off to clean the dirt underneath.... (wishing these things were as easy to pop off as the bezels on my old submariners).
Awesome...! You say you purchased from the Davidoff Brothers. I can't find the watch on their website. Can you post a link to the description?
They never had a chance to post it! Early bird gets the worm as the saying goes. I pestered them via email as a willing buyer if something came up and this one came up!
I think they gave me their view that all is original and no signs of refinishing aside from relumed hands and bracelet (I added the 1039 on my own). I’m no expert so I bought the seller .
I’d be happy to. For my own knowledge as a speedmaster noob, what do the first digits help to ascertain? Whether it’s in the range of being period correct for a tropical watch?
I find it aesthetically pleasing .... but happy to hear folks speculate as to whether it’s been relumed It looks to me as if some combination humidity/sun has caused it to “dry up” which I see on older submariners (which I’m more familiar with). I understand that this watch has spent the majority of its life in Spain. Would be amazed to see any refinishers draw so well within the lines of each marker and hash. But crazier things have happened! In any case, what I draw most peace of mind from are the sellers who have a reputation for being honest and for having seen more of these then most. They also have had a chance to handle the watch under a loupe and whatever other tool they have on hand to form a view on this. In other words I’m perfectly happy at ease but glad that the watch is worthy of discussion!
It’s a nice watch but the lume does seem a bit off. In comparing to mine where the edges are neat and straight, the OPs looks more sloppy and freestyle.
There are two serial sequences known for turning tropical for the Speedmaster 145.022 -69, 29.11x.xxx and 29.6xx.xxx. It’s not common to see tropical dials anymore after these serials. But I found this write up where there’s also a Straight Writing mentioned. Some one more knowledgeable in tropicals can chime in on the feasibility on later SW’s having a tropical dial here also. https://www.fratellowatches.com/speedmaster-tropical-dial-parade/ And here’s a thread for a later 30.58x.xxx in tropical: https://omegaforums.net/threads/tropical-omega-speedmaster-145-022-69.65223/
To be frank, I’m not sure I give much credibility to the speculation that it’s been relumed. Beauty of the internet is that it can bring a wide range of opinions. I certainly can’t prove a negative but I’m not sure what credible evidence there is to say it’s a relumed watch.
