1st post on this great forum. While I am new here I've been a long term Rolex collector. I recently picked up this tropical speedmaster this summer for my personal collection.The previous owner had Omega install a new caseback. I am a bit confused as to what ref this is can anybody help with whats correct or not? One pusher is longer than the other i noticed and i was able to get the original bezel from the seller also. Thanks for your help. Nick
Hi Nick, Welcome! Looks like it could be a 145.012 or a 105.012 judging from the serial numbers. It's unfortunate that the case back is not original. The pics show two different bezels. You said you were able to get the original? Do you have a picture of it? The tachy at the 90 mark should have a dot up and to the right of the 90. The bezel in the first picture shows the dot beside the 90 a that would not be correct for this vintage. Here's an indispensable resource for speedmaster info, pointed at the models noted above for you. http://speedmaster101.com/145-012/ http://speedmaster101.com/105-012/ The publisher of that blog is a member here known as @Spacefruit It is a nice looking watch. I hope you get your questions answered!
Looks to me like a 105.012-66 HF You will need a correct caseback and a couple of pushers to get it right again
The pusher screw on the inside of the case appears to have loosened, the screw holds the pusher in place from the inside of the case, if it disengages fully the pusher will fall off. I would suggest that you do something to hold the pusher in place, so that it doesn't fall off and get lost. A piece of tape over the pusher and a visit to a watchmaker to sort it out would be my suggestion, you also don't want the screw inside the case to fall out and get jammed into the workings of the movement, so at this stage I would not wind or use the watch till it was looked at. www.roberthoran.eu
Nikko, welcome, hope all is well with you. The color of the dial on that one is excellent - I'd have grabbed it too. The rest can be fixed, and the case looks pretty good The bezel is not correct, it is a later service replacement - is the original one in good shape? A very good DON bezel is fetching at or above $1k these days. The caseback is also a service replacement (it has an extra "zero" in the reference number). The pusher looks loose, not longer. I'm sure it felt like a huge bargain relative to a "tropical" Rolex Sub. Don't spread the word.
As I hinted at in my previous post, the colours of the photo have been altered, look at how pink the hand is - the dial is most likely a less smooth, brown colour in real life.
Gosh, nice watch. I think this reference could be a good hunting target! ;-) (or Seamaster 300.... so many beautiful watch, so little funds...)
I think ConEPueblo I suggesting that this watch may have come from a well known, though not well loved dealer who always has excellent though often touched up sales listings.. I thought the same too, given some of the inconsistencies. Not insurmountable ones, but not a 100% watch either.
The photos have not been altered. The top photo was taken the day i bought the watch in direct sunlight on my iPhone. The other photos were taken in my light box last night. There is no trickery here I just came here to this good forum for some advise as to what ref# this maybe and if everything looks ok on the watch. I know vintage Rolex well and offer my knowledge on those to all that ask and was looking for some help on this here. The watch was bought in a coffee shop in Athens, Greece this summer. Thanks to all who have already made suggestions. I am going to take it to my watchmaker soon to see about the screw. Would Omega if given the serial number be able to tell what ref# this was? based on my little knowledge of these it can be one of 2. Thanks again for everybody opinions please keep them coming.
The serial and the close T's on the dial would indicate pre-145.012, something around a 105.012-65 or 66HF at a best guess. You can get an extract on this serial range of 321 so that'll say for sure though it won't specify the year like a caseback would. Well done on scoring the original bezel from the owner btw
Welcome Nick. The scans are not altered, I saw the watch in person yesterday and it is a beauty, lovely brown all over and still some gloss left to it. I told Nick to check here are as "most" are knowledgeable and helpf PS. look at the last scan where bezel is replaced with dot over 90.
Stunning dial, congrats. Some of the confusion may be down to the fact that the first pic looks similar to ones used by a well known seller, and perhaps some posters thought you were reusing his picture, prior to receiving the watch.
The pink hand touched me too, once. (Although a bit more orange than pink) Luckily sent it back http://speedmaster101.com/blog/brown-dial-ebay-photos-vs-reality/
Thanks Michael for telling me about the forum and your help. Brown dials are hard to photograph and in different light look way different imho. I love the watch and plan n keeping it in my collection. I just took these outside today.
I've done business with Nik, and have no reason whatsoever to believe he'd misrepresent the watch in any way - a stand-up guy all around. Looks like a really nice example to me, one I'd be happy to own. To that end..... @greekbum, there is an OF tradition around here called "DIBS", wherein the member who calls "DIBS" has first crack at the other member's watch should the owner decide to move it on. This DIBS process is enforceable by law, as far as you know. I'm calling DIBS on this one.