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Found a Speedmaster professional MarkII, not keeping time, best path forward..
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Jon Heron
·Am I the only one wondering why you’re not contacting the previous owners?
Cheers,
Jon
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JwRosenthal
·Jon, as said before- this is a nice watch and real find. If you intend to wear it, then a proper service (movement only) by a factory authorized independent watchmaker is the only way to go- and it will cost, but is totally worth it. If you intend to sell it, don’t do ANYTHING to it, don’t even attempt to remove the bracelet or clean it. The value is in the originality of the watch- anything you do other than a proper service will devalue it.
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Jon Heron
·That looks pretty cool but it would remove the patina, at least in my uneducated opinion.
Cheers,
Jon
Cheers,
Jon
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JwRosenthal
·That looks pretty cool but it would remove the patina, at least in my uneducated opinion.
Cheers,
Jon
On a watch like this, where the factory applied finish has been polished off previously, it can go either way. Some would opt to keep it as- is and keep the “patina” or some would opt to have a skilled watchmaker, who knows these watches, reapply the factory finishes (the brushing, sharp contrasting polished chamfers- etc). The problem is that every time a watch is polished or refinished, it loses more material- they are literally shaving metal off the case. This can be compensated with laser welding as is done with some very $$$ watches that have been beaten to death, but is an extreme and very expensive (on a $40k Rolex or Speedmaster it may be worth it to some).
It looks like you are getting it quickly- minimally invasive is the best approach and will “do not harm”.
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ConElPueblo
·The MK II case is one of those that can look extremely good with the right refinish.
On the other hand, it is probably the watch most often found in this thread 😁
On the other hand, it is probably the watch most often found in this thread 😁
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SkunkPrince
·The previous owner is dead, we got the cottage with all of his belongings, he had no family to claim them.
Cheers,
Jon
Congratulations on your unexpected bonus, then!
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tikkathree
·G'Day,
We were moving around some furniture in our new to us cottage and found this watch along with a couple other's and some jewellery and coins stashed under a cabinet. 👍
Cheers,
Jon
So this is a watch you forgot you owned or you found it when you moved in somewhere new?
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tikkathree
·Jon, as said before- this is a nice watch and real find. If you intend to wear it, then a proper service (movement only) by a factory authorized independent watchmaker is the only way to go- and it will cost, but is totally worth it. If you intend to sell it, don’t do ANYTHING to it, don’t even attempt to remove the bracelet or clean it. The value is in the originality of the watch- anything you do other than a proper service will devalue it.
What this good fellow said takes away the need for me to add any advice. The MKII is a lovely watch and maybe someone here would be interested in buying it from you - you probably only have to drop the smallest of hints......
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Jon Heron
·So this is a watch you forgot you owned or you found it when you moved in somewhere new?
Cheers,
Jon
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JwRosenthal
·We found it with a couple of other watches, some coins and other small treasures under a corner cabinet in our new cottage. The previous owner passed on.
Cheers,
Jon
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Jon Heron
·The old automatic is actually running! The dial states:
Monarch
30 jewel
Super-Automatic
Then on the bottom of the dial:
Unbreakable main spring
incabloc
It looks pretty old and beat up. Its interesting that to set the hands you have to remove the case.
Photos are crap, long day...😀
Cheers,
Jon
Monarch
30 jewel
Super-Automatic
Then on the bottom of the dial:
Unbreakable main spring
incabloc
It looks pretty old and beat up. Its interesting that to set the hands you have to remove the case.
Photos are crap, long day...😀
Cheers,
Jon
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krogerfoot
·I imagine at this point you’ve done your research and you’re beginning to understand the near-uniformity of the advice you’re receiving, but to nutshell it all:
The watch is an uncommon variant of a model that has become legendary and sought after over the past decade or so. Watches of this vintage were very commonly serviced by having major components replaced with more mundane newer parts, being inexpertly reprinted/repainted, and/or polished to the point that the original lines and shape of the case were altered. So, unmolested examples even in poor condition are highly prized just because they’re rare—people who shelled out the retail price of these items back in the day were not screwing around, and they generally treated them as tools and modified and updated them as needed*. One reason that they’re so sought after now is that they were brilliantly designed and constructed and, in the right hands, can be put back in nearly original working order and kept that way with regular maintenance to the point that your great-great-grandchildren will own a piece of equipment that met NASA’s specifications for space flight.
If you want to sell it, leave it as it is and collectors will fight amongst themselves for it. If you want to use and enjoy it, it will be very much worth the steep cost of servicing it properly. Nice watch.
* Edit: As others have explained, the actual Omega company does NOT share the collector mindset and will put the watch in working order according to criteria that will lower its market value to a small fraction of what an enthusiast would pay to take it off your hands. Don’t send it to Omega.
The watch is an uncommon variant of a model that has become legendary and sought after over the past decade or so. Watches of this vintage were very commonly serviced by having major components replaced with more mundane newer parts, being inexpertly reprinted/repainted, and/or polished to the point that the original lines and shape of the case were altered. So, unmolested examples even in poor condition are highly prized just because they’re rare—people who shelled out the retail price of these items back in the day were not screwing around, and they generally treated them as tools and modified and updated them as needed*. One reason that they’re so sought after now is that they were brilliantly designed and constructed and, in the right hands, can be put back in nearly original working order and kept that way with regular maintenance to the point that your great-great-grandchildren will own a piece of equipment that met NASA’s specifications for space flight.
If you want to sell it, leave it as it is and collectors will fight amongst themselves for it. If you want to use and enjoy it, it will be very much worth the steep cost of servicing it properly. Nice watch.
* Edit: As others have explained, the actual Omega company does NOT share the collector mindset and will put the watch in working order according to criteria that will lower its market value to a small fraction of what an enthusiast would pay to take it off your hands. Don’t send it to Omega.
Edited:
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eduk
·Looks like you have already got it 👍
On a watch like this, where the factory applied finish has been polished off previously, it can go either way. Some would opt to keep it as- is and keep the “patina” or some would opt to have a skilled watchmaker, who knows these watches, reapply the factory finishes (the brushing, sharp contrasting polished chamfers- etc). The problem is that every time a watch is polished or refinished, it loses more material- they are literally shaving metal off the case. This can be compensated with laser welding as is done with some very $$$ watches that have been beaten to death, but is an extreme and very expensive (on a $40k Rolex or Speedmaster it may be worth it to some).
It looks like you are getting it quickly- minimally invasive is the best approach and will “do not harm”.
I'd probably consider patina as a more natural change of appearance; weathering, bumps, dinks etc. If the case finish was original, with these, I'd leave it. An 'enthusiastic' polish isn't, IMO, patina and I certainly don't think that a refinish would devalue it (it might to a certain small demographic who frequent forums like this - BTW, I include myself in that), but as a wider market appeal, the sharper finish would be more saleable (if the OP were to be considering that).
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robocaspar
·Im going to side with a properly refinished case looks 100% better than a weathered one in this case. A good chunk of the appeal of this particular reference is in the case design, including the refinishing.
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