Help me identify parts from my Franken watch

Retlas · Jan 12, 2020

Picked this watch up this week, more of a curiosity than anything.

This is what I have been able to ascertain

Dial - 2998 or 105 service dial, unknown age
Hands - newer service part, unknown age
Case - 145.012
Caseback - 145.0012 (service part?)
Bezel - service part, DNN
Pushers - 2988 or 105
Crown - unknown
Bracelet - 1171/1 +633 70s-90s
Movement - 1983xxxx 105.002-62 ?

Would really appreciate input and feedback.

On the fence whether to keep this monstrosity or part it out. Thoughts?

joe band · Jan 12, 2020

what are your needs?
does it keep time?

Retlas · Jan 12, 2020

J joe band
what are your needs?
does it keep time?

Hi Joe, yes it runs well. Just looking for the experts to confirm my parts identification. Especially that dial.

padders · Jan 12, 2020

R Retlas
Hi Joe, yes it runs well. Just looking for the experts to confirm my parts identification. Especially that dial.

My take:

The dial looks to be a modern SL replacement for the EW as you thought (see the lack of T marks) with no step.

Hands might be aftermarket but are certainly not for the Moonwatch (well maybe the chrono is) and also look to have SL lume.

Not sure about the case, might be 60s or it might be later, you can't depend on the caseback if that is clearly a replacement though you don't show a pic of the interior so its hard to form an opinion. An original one will have a year iteration, -67 or -68.

Bezel looks 1990s

The pushers are current so post 1967, they are not the shorter 105.012 model.

The crown looks current. EDIT, it does indeed look like a 32 tooth as stated by Luca below, I would still prefer to see a 24 tooth flat foot on an untouched 60s watch.

The end links look modern, that is laser engraving I think. The 1171/1 bracelet was current in the 1980s so is older.

The movement might be from a 2998-62 or 105.002-62 but might also be from a Seamaster or DeVille I guess.

On balance, it could be either a very heavily modified 145.012-6X or just as likely a recent put together using a mix of modern service parts and some from the spares draw.

Luca.P · Jan 12, 2020

Crown looks like a B2 32 wide logo. These came out in 1967, so they should be correct for a 145012

Dan S · Jan 12, 2020

Agree with @padders that this is likely a put-together. The the case-band, crown, pushers, and hands (although not Speedmaster Pro hands) look brand new.

Spacefruit · Jan 12, 2020

Part it out?

Depends on your cost, but there isnt a lot there, a movement that might be a seamster/deville, and a case that might be a service case.

Now that you have to submit photos, and you dont get a refund, its no fun playing roulette with the museum.

If you get an extract on the movement for an early straight lug then that is worth some serious cash.

I wonder if the case is a 145.0012 service case? Lets see inside, and the left side profile.

Retlas · Jan 12, 2020

Spacefruit
Part it out?

Depends on your cost, but there isnt a lot there, a movement that might be a seamster/deville, and a case that might be a service case.

Now that you have to submit photos, and you dont get a refund, its no fun playing roulette with the museum.

If you get an extract on the movement for an early straight lug then that is worth some serious cash.

I wonder if the case is a 145.0012 service case? Lets see inside, and the left side profile.

Photos added, thanks! I checked the omega website and they won’t provide an extract unless an image of the watch, description and serial all match.
Makes verifying the serial difficult.

Retlas · Jan 12, 2020

I have added a few more pics. Thanks all for your input.

padders · Jan 12, 2020

I would have expected a symmetrical clutch bridge on a 19m serial 321, maybe that has seen a bit of monkeying too.

Do you have a photo of the inside of the caseback? That will help to identify if it is original or not.

Spacefruit · Jan 12, 2020

Having seen the movement it’s not worth much except as donor for parts that can’t be sourced.

case looks more and more like a service, but let’s see inside the case back.

service case backs still fetch good money on eBay and the movement will be useful for parts.

OMEGuy · Jan 12, 2020

padders
Do you have a photo of the inside of the caseback? That will help to identify if it is original or not.

Based on the shape of the key notches, i'd vote for a 145.0012 service caseback of newer production.

Edit: As mentioned by the OP.

Dan S · Jan 12, 2020

I'm not sure it will be worth the time and energy to part-out the watch since no single part has really substantial value. As @Spacefruit mentioned, some of the parts will sell, but it will take a lot of time and energy. Someone out there would also buy the watch from you, just to wear a "pre-moon Speedmaster". Not everyone is a collector. Hopefully you don't have too much into it.

Railmaster1957 · Jan 12, 2020

The hands are current 321 service hands. The watch smells like factory overhaul with new 145.0012 case.

Retlas · Jan 12, 2020

Spacefruit
Having seen the movement it’s not worth much except as donor for parts that can’t be sourced.

case looks more and more like a service, but let’s see inside the case back.

service case backs still fetch good money on eBay and the movement will be useful for parts.

Hi Dan, I’m curious why the movement isn’t valuable, would you please take the time to explain? Thanks.

Spacefruit · Jan 12, 2020

Railmaster1957
The hands are current 321 service hands. The watch smells like factory overhaul with new 145.0012 case.

Well not really. I don’t think even the factory won’t put those hands on, nor will they change the movement bridge. I think it was assembled by someone who got hold of what he could.

The movement is clearly not original because of the asymmetric bridge which is not commensurate with the number, so either the bridge or the number is added - thus not original

So the movement can not be used as a replacement as it is incorrect for the number, and unless you can get an extract, it can’t be used to replace a bad movement once you change the bridge....see where I’m going?

The movement is only valuable as an original documented speedmaster movement.

Dan S · Jan 12, 2020

R Retlas
Hi Dan, I’m curious why the movement isn’t valuable, would you please take the time to explain? Thanks.

If it were a complete and documented Ed White movement, it would be valuable, but in its current form, with replacement parts and undocumented, it's a parts movement. Again, that's not to say it has no value, but the value is limited.

kingsrider · Jan 12, 2020

To me, what you paid for it may have some bearing on where to go next. You paid a lot, don't throw good money after bad. You paid very little (less than the parts value) you may want to replace the hands and do a sympathetic relume. Now you would have what amounts to a Watchco.
Third option if you paid less than the parts value. Part it out and run.

Patrik83 · Jan 12, 2020

Can you give/send it back?