Good Afternoon, I'm new to this forum, and found it via the Speedmaster101 website. I've been doing some research, and the more I've looked into the history of the Speedmaster, and all of the variations, the more I realize I need some help. My Great-Uncle bought this watch new when he worked for Sears in Chicago after he found out it was the watch that was going to space. When he died at an early age due to cancer, he passed the watch to his brother (my grandfather). I'm not sure how long my grandfather had it (he died of cancer when I was 17 and I can't ask it's history), but I know he gave it to my father long before his death. My father is unsure of its service history. I do remember him wearing it when I was was a young boy in the 80's, and playing with the chronometer. I was ecstatic when he handed the watch to me 5-6 years ago.

I wore it for a couple of months, and then took it to a local jeweler to check it out. At first he told me it was a fake, because there wasn't a moon watch stamp on the back. But after I insisted I knew the history, he told me I shouldn't wear it because the gasket was degrading and would eventually corrupt the movement. It sat in a drawer for a couple of years, and I took it to a different jeweler to have the gasket changed so I could wear it. He offered to buy it, but I didn't even let him mention a number, but he said it would be foolish to wear the watch. So now it's been sitting in a drawer for a few more years mostly unused except for very special occasions. I don't know if it has ever been serviced, other than the gasket change I had done to it.

I'm hoping that those of you with some more experience can let me know if it is all "original" or if it was serviced and swapped some parts. My desire is to wear this watch, to enjoy the family and national history. If it has already been serviced, and the original value lost, I will probably send it in to Omega for another service. If it is original, I might get the movement serviced, insure it, and wear it. Any help, suggestions for service (in U.S.A.) or ideas on its value would be appreciated.

145.012 -67. 321 Caliber, Serial 2607xxxx, the only numbers I found on the bracelet were 1171 and 47.

Please... and thank you in advance.

 

Very nice honest piece, mostly original with the possible exceptions of the crown and crystal, which are minor. Bracelet looks like an 1175, is there anything else on it? Can you show the emblem on the clasp and any other numbers?

Edit: On closer inspection, I think the hour hand is not original.

 

Welcome to the forum, you are in the right place. I have this model as well, it's a beautiful watch and with your family history, an important heirloom. The people telling you it's fake because it doesn't have the moonwatch writing on the back are either very misinformed, or potentially trying to lowball you, or both.

Not wearing the watch was probably OK advice, not because of the gasket, but if you wear a watch that has not been serviced in a very long time, you can cause wear on the components, which will not be properly lubricated.

The good column on the speedmaster site should give you an idea on value, that's head only, I'm not sure how much the bracelet/endlinks might add as I'm not very familiar with those.

You should get it serviced by a vintage specialist, you can get recommendations here based on where you live.

You should not send it to Omega as they will potentially replace many parts and lower the value of the watch.

Get it serviced soon and enjoy it !

 

You have a very nice watch there. I agree with what @bgrisso said, maybe a little less harsh on the ignorance of your first jeweler.

Give your general location and suggestions on a competent vintage watchmaker can be made.

 

BTW, it appears to have been serviced at least once based on the scratching in the caseback. Do Not Even Consider Sending It To Omega.

 

edited and now slightly less judgemental

 

Thank you for the quick replies, I'm in the midwest area of the United States.

 

I agree...hour hand is not correct.

 

With that level of detail, I assume you are indicating that you don't mind shipping your watch to a watchmaker, or else you don't mind driving up to 1,000 miles to deliver it.

 

yours does not have the "moonwatch" back, because yours is 1967 "premoon." your 145.012 is more collectable and more valuable than most any regular "post moon" speedmasters.

what you should consider is not having anyone touch the case or dial, those are the $$ and true heritage of your watch, changes to those would harm the collector and dollar value of your watch and you would probably end up regretting that. find a watchmaker that is skilled and sympathetic to a 53+ yr old watch.

that's a beauty of a watch, no reason you can't wear it everyday... after having it serviced.

enjoy!

 

I'd have it serviced by a good watchmaker, not Omega. As said before, leave the case as it is. Those scratches and dings just add character. I'd wear it daily without a doubt (I am doing that with my 69 Speedy).

 

Correct, I'm looking for suggestions on the best options, and if they are trustworthy enough with good reviews, I'd insure the watch first and then send it off. But to narrow it down a bit, Driving within Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, or Wisconsin are possibilities.

 

if you're leaning towards sending it off then try researching Eric Ku's "LA Watchworks" in Pasadena Calif. He's a nice guy and collector as well, and his techs are pros with many satisfied customers.

 

May I ask why and how you got to that conclusion?

 

Lume on the hour hand should start closer from the center of the dial. Plus it is more white than the seconds hand with hardly if any aging. But clearly not a speedmaster hour hand for that reference.

 

Beauty. Enjoy

 

Yes, that's what I noticed as well. The lume plot in the hour hand is totally wrong. The hand may also be too wide, but that's harder to tell by eye. See below for a side-by-side comparison. It could be an Omega hand from a different reference, or maybe a non-Omega part. Someone may recognize it to solve the mystery, but it doesn't really matter which watch it actually belongs to. Your only decision is whether to keep it, or to replace it with a correct hand.

 

Thanks. Now I can see that looks shorter and bit fattier than what it should be!!

 

The most obvious difference is the shape of the lume plot within the hour hand, i.e. the rectangle of luminous material in the correct hand extends nearly the entire length of the hand, whereas in the hour hand on your watch it only extends slightly more than half the length of the hand.