Community Stories

Flea market moon watch find

Archer
Posts
29,246
Likes
75,639
a43c59f1-bf32-4937-99fb-6856fef20686-jpeg.1045373

This is unusual matking inside a Speedmaster case back. The Mk. II dial is flat, compared to the curved dial on a Speedmaster Pro, the flat dial causes the movement (and the spacer, and the inner anti-magnetic cover) to sit further back in the case. When you crank down on the case back, instead of just contacting the inner cover by the dimple in the middle, it's compressing it to the point that the case back is running on the larger diameter of the inner cover. This puts a fair amount of pressure on everything.

I vote for proper dial and hands...based on this alone.

Cheers, Al
 
palatine
Posts
285
Likes
276
you could always go for a Racing dial and hand set or customise it in any way you fancy?
at £20 so far, your cost for a custom watch is gonna be minimal
 
rcs914
Posts
2,510
Likes
3,732
I will happily offer you 25 times what you paid for it! 😁

Amazing score!
 
N
Posts
128
Likes
157
Last year at the same market I found a ladies bi metal Rolex £10
And my best find was a Rolex submariner 5513 at the Kempton antique fair £20
Archer Archer
a43c59f1-bf32-4937-99fb-6856fef20686-jpeg.1045373

This is unusual matking inside a Speedmaster case back. The Mk. II dial is flat, compared to the curved dial on a Speedmaster Pro, the flat dial causes the movement (and the spacer, and the inner anti-magnetic cover) to sit further back in the case. When you crank down on the case back, instead of just contacting the inner cover by the dimple in the middle, it's compressing it to the point that the case back is running on the larger diameter of the inner cover. This puts a fair amount of pressure on everything.

I vote for proper dial and hands...based on this alone.

Cheers, Al
hello al
I agree
Nick
 
Shabbaz
Posts
4,991
Likes
18,535
DaveK DaveK
Last year someone pulled a sweet Seiko out of a shop for a buck or two, and I am still envious of that. This might be the best deal though
I think we had a original SM 300 165.024 last year for a couple of bucks on a flea market. Not sure though
 
OmegaP99
Posts
521
Likes
789
ConElPueblo ConElPueblo
😗

Relative to value percentage-wise, my $3 Seiko was one of the better, but in terms of sheer bargainhunt extravaganza this is a clear winner.

Let's not talk about members finding LeCoultres though...
That thread led to a $2 Patek also! Sadly the pics were no longer available for that one. All my decades of collecting and also treasure hunting the flea markets and estate sales has never paid off like this. Congrats to everybody who lands these prizes! May we all be so fortunate.
 
janice&fred
Posts
4,593
Likes
10,806
I have stories of my own and can share them as well as stories of my fellow watch hunters in NYC and the Philippine islands so maybe we should start another fun thread on that topic at some point. We already have the "under $50" thread and "under $500" threads which are close. 😀
 
Iceter
Posts
152
Likes
411
On another forum I frequent, we would tell the OP:

"You suck."

But it would truly be meant as a compliment. Guys post their bargain finds all the time, hoping that they get that response.

Well-bought, sir!
 
JACK G
Posts
359
Likes
648
Archer Archer
This is unusual marking inside a Speedmaster case back. The Mk. II dial is flat, compared to the curved dial on a Speedmaster Pro, the flat dial causes the movement (and the spacer, and the inner anti-magnetic cover) to sit further back in the case. When you crank down on the case back, instead of just contacting the inner cover by the dimple in the middle, it's compressing it to the point that the case back is running on the larger diameter of the inner cover. This puts a fair amount of pressure on everything.

I vote for proper dial and hands...based on this alone.

Cheers, Al

Could you get over this problem by obtaining another dust cover and filing the dimple down to relieve the additional pressure?
 
Marsimaxam
Posts
1,430
Likes
2,955
Another story for American Roadshow if in England.

Great find! Now, did you haggle over the price?
LOL... so envious. Love these stories.
 
Tet
Posts
1,689
Likes
5,127
Incredible! Almost makes me want to start visiting car boots again, before realising it will be the same old tat that is on display every time I go. Only watches I ever see are the odd knackered Timex/Avon/Lorus etc. and even then there are usually chancers gorping at them wondering if they could be something of value.

Huge congratulations. Highly recommended at least fitting a 20mm wide NATO though, that narrow one you have currently could easily cause the spring bars to snag and flick out. For a couple of quid that's never worth the risk.
 
N
Posts
128
Likes
157
It’s an antique/flea market that a few house clearance People do
If he had asked I would have told him it was genuine
As it was he said do you want this copy for £20 I said yes
You cannot be the buyer and the seller
I have bought an early 1171 of roughly the day date
 
bags1971
Posts
1,846
Likes
3,845
You cannot be the buyer and the seller

I agree with you on this

This years best find for me so far is this just before lock down

18k and 10ct sapphire brooch
 
IMG_0279[1].JPG
42 More Posts...
Sign up or log in to reply...

Similar threads

F

A watch I found at a flea market a while ago

fleamarketomega Open Discussion
big case
big case
Posts
2
Views
192
30T2

Italy flea market

30T2 Open Discussion
gilb12
gilb12
Posts
3
Views
329
E

Vintage Seamaster from flea market

emersonwatches Vintage Omega Watches Help, Discussion and Advice
Spruce
Spruce
Posts
4
Views
1K
redpcar

Flea market find - Fun with watches

redpcar Open Discussion
H
Hellkin17
Posts
7
Views
1K
A

Help Identify watch & find similar

anne108 Vintage Omega Watches Help, Discussion and Advice
Dan S
Dan S
Posts
1
Views
311
M

Anyone able to shed some light on this flea market find?

MrsHVC Vintage Omega Watches Help, Discussion and Advice
M
MrsHVC
Posts
10
Views
2K