Is this original lume on this -71? Looks really green or is that a relume? Hands and plots are so different.
I would be patient and wait for some more experienced Speedy eyes, but I would ask the seller to take another pic under daylight conditions, and in the shade outside- lighting can change the way these dials look. Dial and hand lume can commonly age differently.
These early dials often have lume with a slight green tint, but this is too much in my non-expert opinion. The lume looks unnaturally clean and new. From my limited experience, I would bet that it has been relumed. However, you should wait for an expert to weigh in. I have been known to be wrong on more than one occasion.
You should be fine, and that looks like original lume on both dial and hands - and in excellent condition! The slight pink-orange color (particularly the chronograph seconds hand) is very consistent for hands from that time period, and I have a 145.022-69 with exactly the same color of dial and hand lume.
Could have sworn I read somewhere that the lume on the -69s sometimes go mint (the color, not the condition).
Its original, and the dial and hands are in great condition. Case looks polished, but not bad. Common knowledge these parts is that lume was green from -74 onwards (they changed the mix)...but IMHO that doesnt exclude some -71's from getting that mix (it might have been an end-run) ... and also doesn't exclude some -74s with domed dials getting stepped dials like this (also documented). Transition of parts back in the day wasn't an exact science, and was staggered all over the place. Hands lume not matching is also fine...dial and hands were most likely made (and lumed) by different companies, and potentially at different times. Heck, on both of my modern Oris's the dial and hand lume does not match...
My 71T is mint green too, apparently it was a mix of lume that was used for a short time period, not sure which image shows it off best, I also have an earlier 71T with really nice caramel lume so def different mixes over the same reference.
Personally, I don’t know why everyone obsesses about the yellow, Carmel, custard, sunset, pumpkin, latte-mocha-frappe- enema colors- I think the green is cool as hell!
There is definitely a run of -69s and -71s that have green lume. I’ve owned one of each that resembles the watch in the OP. I think there is more of a marker for pumpkin spice, but I actually think the mint lume looks “fresh” You can check out some variations in this post: https://omegaforums.net/threads/speedmaster-hand-lume-color-variation-picture-database.91764/
Yup it’s not uncommon especially in late 145.022-71 watches. It’s seen through early dial -76 watches.
I thought I'd take some comparison pics on a sunny windowsill. On the left is a 145.022-71 with extract showing June 71 production and delivery to the US. On the right, a -71 from August 71, delivered to the UK. June 71: August 71:
There's green and green though. The nice mint green you find on some -69's and early 70's Speedmasters can look lovely but it's important for new collectors not to confuse that with the mouldy looking shitty lume we see on some knackered dials.
Totally agree, I won’t go near a watch where the lume has gone moldy- although I’m sure one the collectors retailers that shall not be mentioned will grossly embellish the water damaged moldy lume color as ultra rare “Mil Spec OD”...then we know what happens from there....