Help assessing Speedmaster 145.022-69 ?

Posts

6

Likes

27

ezotanuki

·Apr 16, 2023

Hi all,

First time poster here, apologies in advance if this question has already been asked and answered elsewhere. I'm looking at acquiring my first vintage Speedy (I have a much-loved 3572.50 already) and following much studying of the fantastic Speedmaster 101 I'm zeroing in on the 145.022-69 to start my collection.

What are your opinions of the following, listed on Ebay? Do you see anything that seems worth double checking? Though I'm a total novice I think the movement serial number seems appropriate; I can't tell if there as an Omega logo on the crystal so wonder if it may be aftermarket. The DON bezel makes me look twice (and more) - from reading about the complex world of reproductions here I understand that the bezel can have a major impact on valuation, and I'm finding it really hard to determine what I think about this one.

Thank you in advance for any tips, advice or opinions!

 

Posts

25

Likes

14

BSUdude

·Apr 16, 2023

Nothing is immediately jumping to my eye of concern. Looks well preserved. So, comes down to price.

 

Posts

1,719

Likes

3,545

SOG53

·Apr 16, 2023

I think it is a very attractive watch. Looks original early 145.022-69 from first part 1970, serial number checks out, bezel is appropriate for date of watch and looks lightly dinged consistent with rest of watch. Bezel loooks good to me but need the experts to confirm. Case worn from use not damaged, does not look polished to me. Dial and handset look good condition does not looked relumed to my eye, hand lume is good, hard for me to tell if hands are relumed sometimes. Original 24 tooth crown I think. Cant see the etched Omega crystal logo but not a big deal if replaced.
Looks like well cared for example the parts all seem appropriate. Lets see what the experts think.

see the link to the Speedmaster101 price guide
https://speedmaster101.com/price-chart-2/

I would grade this as a Good example for 145.022-69 DON, not sure if I would go to Very Good- according to price chart Good examples selling in 5000 range (watch head only) and Very good 6500. Excellent up to 12,500 but that is esentially museum quality and this watch is not near that condition.

 

Posts

1,856

Likes

2,537

Passover

·Apr 17, 2023

Some thoughts:

"good example" IMO: Nice looking case, bezel looks original. Very hard to assess the dial and hand lume from this pictures. If you should decide to buy this watch get a picture of the dial in better lighting before finalizing.

Movement looks good but not pristine.The hour subdial hand is not resetting as it should. Any information on the service history?

You will have discovered that dial has started to change it's colour to brown, for example in the center of the minute and hour subdial.

Asking price is?

 

Posts

6

Likes

27

ezotanuki

·Apr 17, 2023

Thanks all for the replies and suggestions! Embarrassingly I'd spent I don't know how long staring at the face and hadn't noticed the hour subdial wasn't resetting correctly.. I've asked the seller for information on that, as well as better photos of the face and hand lume, and crystal.

Seller is asking $8.55k. From the Speedmaster101 tables this looks roughly midway between 'very good' and 'excellent'. I don't have a good sense of how to value the dial beginning to change color to brown (though I do find it attractive) - I've seen other (more pronounced) examples selling for what seems like a substantial premium.

 

Posts

1,691

Likes

3,441

hansaboy

·Apr 17, 2023

Why don't you check the private watch sales here on the Forum?
You can do a search, or just scroll down, you will find those that have been sold, but then you can start to get the "feeling"?

The good thing here is that most of the watches have honest descriptions and very nice pictures!

Ebay might be a bit too tough sometimes?😉

 

Posts

6

Likes

27

ezotanuki

·Apr 17, 2023

hansaboy

Why don't you check the private watch sales here on the Forum?
You can do a search, or just scroll down, you will find those that have been sold, but then you can start to get the "feeling"?

The good thing here is that most of the watches have honest descriptions and very nice pictures!

Ebay might be a bit too tough sometimes?😉

Great idea, thanks!

 

Posts

1,719

Likes

3,545

SOG53

·Apr 17, 2023

ezotanuki

Thanks all for the replies and suggestions! Embarrassingly I'd spent I don't know how long staring at the face and hadn't noticed the hour subdial wasn't resetting correctly.. I've asked the seller for information on that, as well as better photos of the face and hand lume, and crystal.

Seller is asking $8.55k. From the Speedmaster101 tables this looks roughly midway between 'very good' and 'excellent'. I don't have a good sense of how to value the dial beginning to change color to brown (though I do find it attractive) - I've seen other (more pronounced) examples selling for what seems like a substantial premium.

the seller has a website where the watch is listed for less than 8k. remember everything is negotiable.

 

Posts

6

Likes

27

ezotanuki

·Apr 17, 2023

(update fyi) The seller responded with the additional photos of the dial and crystal below. They also stated that during a pre-sale service the hour subdial has now been corrected to reset to 12.

Thanks all for continuing to share your wisdom as I think through this!

 

Posts

142

Likes

307

SpdMastr

·Apr 17, 2023

Another plus…69ST Speedmasters with movements in the 2911xxxx serial range have been known to develop a desirable chocolate-y patina on their dials.

 

Posts

481

Likes

711

Om3ga321

·Apr 18, 2023

SpdMastr

Another plus…69ST Speedmasters with movements in the 2911xxxx serial range have been known to develop a desirable chocolate-y patina on their dials.

This is already turning brown .
Look at the sub dials.
Great watch.

 

Posts

142

Likes

307

SpdMastr

·Apr 18, 2023

Om3ga321

This is already turning brown .
Look at the sub dials.
Great watch.

Yes…I had noticed…I was pointing out this was a desirable characteristic which dials in this range possess and that the rest of the dial may one day resemble the chocolate-y goodness of the sub dials.

 

Posts

25

Likes

14

BSUdude

·Apr 18, 2023

The ebay seller has a web store external to ebay. If you decide to pursue, I'd recommend engaging via their website so you can negotiate a better price by keeping ebay and their high fees out of the transaction.

 

J

Posts

520

Likes

410

joe band

·Apr 19, 2023

from the last pic, the hands look like original lume, with an even, beautiful yellow.

bummer they can't give you a better pic of the dial, in natural or neutral light, rather than those washed out shots.

 

Posts

6

Likes

27

ezotanuki

·Apr 19, 2023

Thank you everyone on this forum for sharing your thoughts and feedback - I landed on a price with the seller and pulled the trigger this morning! Very excited...!

 

Posts

1,418

Likes

8,686

befobe

·Apr 19, 2023

ezotanuki

I landed on a price with the seller and pulled the trigger this morning! Very excited...!

Well done!👍

 

Posts

1,719

Likes

3,545

SOG53

·Apr 19, 2023

Great! Sent pics when it lands!!

 

Posts

142

Likes

307

SpdMastr

·Apr 19, 2023

ezotanuki

Thank you everyone on this forum for sharing your thoughts and feedback - I landed on a price with the seller and pulled the trigger this morning! Very excited...!

Congrats…enjoy the watch and wear it in good health!

 

Posts

20,236

Likes

46,916

Dan S

·Apr 19, 2023

The watch looks fine, but IMO the very minor color change of this particular dial would not command a premium.

 

Posts

248

Likes

3,526

Heinz83

·Apr 20, 2023

Congrats, that's a nice piece!

For my understanding. If the dial was to turn brown, wouldn't it have done so by now?