Help with potential Speedmaster purchase

NDLaw2009 · Jul 3, 2020

Hi all,

I am potentially looking at buying a used Speedmaster. I only have the following pictures from the seller. He says it was given to him as a gift a few years ago and he never wears it. Says he threw the box/papers out.

I am thinking of meeting with him at a watchmaker to get a shot of the movement before actually buying it, but before I even get that far I was wondering if anyone sees any red flags with the admittedly low resolution photos of the dial and case back. Thanks!

ChiefMark · Jul 3, 2020

I don’t see anything wrong in those two photos. Remember to buy the seller, not the watch.

EDIT: Attention to detail was lacking on my part. As others indicated, the indices are truncated, and that’s not right.
Please forgive my error.

Dan S · Jul 3, 2020

This doesn't look vintage to me.

Evitzee · Jul 3, 2020

I always question the story of "l got this as a gift but threw the box and papers away", especially if asking top dollar. What is the price?

Scarecrow Boat · Jul 3, 2020

@ChiefMark @Dan S - I am still learning the whole world of the Speedmaster so forgive the potential ignorance of this question- what Speedmaster Pro’s had their 3, 6, and 9 indices cut into by sub dials? I thought it was just the reduced that had that outside of any other non traditional speedy (ie date, racing, and so on).

eugeneandresson · Jul 3, 2020

Dan S
This doesn't look like a Speedmaster to me.

FIFY

Faz · Jul 3, 2020

A gift huh? Run....Truncated indices are a dead giveaway....fake. Here's a real one.

NDLaw2009 · Jul 4, 2020

Oh, interesting. That def. looks different. This just confirms my suspicion after the sudden radio silence after I suggested meeting up at a watchmaker to effectuate any sale. Thanks for the help!

cvrle1 · Jul 4, 2020

C ChiefMark
I don’t see anything wrong in those two photos. Remember to buy the seller, not the watch.

Other than it being completely fake, nothing else wrong with it 😉

OP: Take some time and look through here: https://speedmaster101.com/

Read, read and then read it more.

Davidt · Jul 4, 2020

Unfortunately its fake.

Badwolf · Jul 4, 2020

Thankfully there has never been an accurate fake of the pro. The sub dial spacing has always been way off (big gaps between). They don’t have a movement close enough to the 1861.

Good luck with the hunt.

ChiefMark · Jul 4, 2020

cvrle1
Other than it being completely fake, nothing else wrong with it 😉

OP: Take some time and look through here: https://speedmaster101.com/

Read, read and then read it more.

You are so right. I’m embarrassed to say I initially thought it was fake because it was missing bracelet number stampings, then checked out photos of the new Speedmasters and they also lacked a stamping on the ends. I utterly missed the subdials and truncated indices.

I should have gone with my initial instinct, which was that the story sounded like utter crap to begin with.

I’m really embarrassed.

GordonL · Jul 4, 2020

Much better to be embarrassed than be the owner of an expensive fake! You did everything just right.

rob#1 · Jul 4, 2020

The bezel was the giveaway for me - then I saw that the sub dials were trying to escape the watch 😉

ChiefMark · Jul 4, 2020

GordonL
Much better to be embarrassed than be the owner of an expensive fake! You did everything just right.

Thanks, but it was @NDLaw2009 who was considering this piece. My embarrassment was over missing a key problem. I own a Speedmaster, definitely would have thought I’d have caught this. Should take more time looking before replying.

Walrus · Jul 4, 2020

C ChiefMark
Thanks, but it was @NDLaw2009 who was considering this piece. My embarrassment was over missing a key problem. I own a Speedmaster, definitely would have thought I’d have caught this. Should take more time looking before replying.

Don’t worry I’ve said all kinds of stupid things here some people still talk to me.

WatchTimes · Jul 4, 2020

Evitzee
I always question the story of "l got this as a gift but threw the box and papers away", especially if asking top dollar. What is the price?

LOL it truly shocks me how many people toss their boxes, especially when buying in Vegas. A friend of mine used to work at one of the watch stores and the stores owner made a small fortune selling all the boxes left behind to gray market dealers. Rolex boxes usually sell for about $300 but I have seen vintage ones go for thousands.

STANDY · Jul 4, 2020

WatchTimes
LOL it truly shocks me how many people toss their boxes, especially when buying in Vegas. A friend of mine used to work at one of the watch stores and the stores owner made a small fortune selling all the boxes left behind to gray market dealers. Rolex boxes usually sell for about $300 but I have seen vintage ones go for thousands.

Know someone that had a draw full of Rolex anchors that get left along with boxes at a airport boutique

Max-pulses · Jul 5, 2020

Faz
A gift huh? Run....Truncated indices are a dead giveaway....fake. Here's a real one.

Totally agree !
The spacing between the two subdials is wrong, as are the 3 and 9 hour indexes (too short)

Max-pulses · Jul 5, 2020

Even the bezel looks fake BTW

Help with potential Speedmaster purchase

NDLaw2009

ChiefMark

Dan S

Evitzee

Scarecrow Boat

eugeneandresson

Faz

NDLaw2009

cvrle1

Davidt

Badwolf

ChiefMark

GordonL

rob#1

ChiefMark

Walrus

WatchTimes

STANDY

Max-pulses

Max-pulses

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