Hello all,

Looking to take my first plunge into the murky world of vintage Speedmasters. I'm aware of Speedmaster101 and other resources but wanted to tap into the expertise available here to ensure that, when the time does come, I'm a reasonably educated buyer.

So, what do we think to this:

https://www.vintagespeedmaster.com/product-page/omega-speedmaster-145-022-69-tropical

Cheers

 

I'm not going to comment on the watch itself (because I haven't looked at it), but I will say that Darren @ vintagespeedmaster.com is an honest and trustworthy seller, a moderator here on the forum, and there are dozens and dozens of us who have done business with him for years without any issues, myself included.

 

Okay, many thanks for that.

 

For what you are going to be asked to pay you will want to see a movement shot and verify that SN... looks ok ... I don’t like the rust on the chrono hand for this reference.

 

Looks like all the answers you need are in the listing!

And Darren is one of the good guys.

If you're able to, it very much helps to have a few of these in your hands to get an idea of how the points in speedmaster101 actually apply in the real world.

 

Looks like a very nice example. Here’s another attractive example offered by an OF member I can vouch for, for you to compare with:

https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https://www.ebay.com/ulk/itm/163327504401

 

Also you'll be better off posting pictures rather than just links.

Frequently if someone just posts a link I don't bother looking at it as it's irritating having to flick between several windows/eBay to check out a watch and post a response.

 

Can't see a price on the link, So how much is this particular watch?

How much do we think that this particular "tropical dial" should add to the price of an equivalent black dial145.022-69 ($7000 on SM101)?

 

These are north of 10k USD. So caveat emptor.

 

If you go to his general Speedmaster page, you'll see the price is "POA" (price on arrangement" for this watch. I've never been fond of this "please inquire" pricing.

 

I'm assuming he'll provide a receipt from the Feb. 2017 STS service, which should be sufficient proof of serial. Agree that rusty chrono hand is not good.

 

No offens to anyone, but personally i would go for the one on the ebay link. Has nicer and lighter tone of brown.

 

Same watch from ebay link is here and for less then the BIN
https://omegaforums.net/threads/1969-chocolate-brown-omega-speedmaster-145-022-69.84064/

 

I believe it's price on application, not arrangement. Regardless, it's £9,995 or just under $13k.

Thanks to all who have contributed with information, observations and suggestions.

 

So that's an extra $6000 above the Speedmaster 101 (edit:145.022-69, $7000 "good" category) price. Presumably the extra dosh is for that "tropical dial". 'Fakk my old boots'!... That's cheered me up!

A question comes to mind:
Does the amount that a nice "tropical dial" adds to a 861 Speedmaster increase when applied to a more valuable watch with a 321 movement?

Or do we just chuck 6 grand on top, if the dial looks a bit brown, regardless of reference

 

The first prototype

 

Sorry Eugene. I dropped a bollock there. Should Be 145.022-69. (I've corrected it. Many thanks)

 

I'd say it does to a degree.

However, I'd preface that by saying that tropical dials are extremely subjective and just because one tropical dial adds x to one watch it doesn't necessarily follow that another tropical dial would also add x (or multiples) to another.

A good tropical dial can literally almost double the value. A poor tropical dial can half it, along with various stages in between.

 

Oh no Sir No need to apologize or thank! I drop a bollock most days, shits and giggles and that. Thanks for putting up with me. Cheers!

 

Yes I read a similar quote on Speedmaster101 David. Problem with these dials is that they tend to look a different shade every time they are photographed. Unless a buyer is able to hold the watch and compare the colour inside (under artificial light) to outside (in sun light), it mustbe difficult for them to judge what they are getting, and value it accordingly.

On price:
If we note that a "good" (correct and serviced) 105.012-65 sits on Speedmaster101 (at the moment) at $12,500, How much value should be added for the brown dial on my Dad's old, STS serviced, watch that we've owned for over 50 years? After all. It was a working watch in London up until 2003. It weren't no "safe queen"!

Are the darker, more subtle, ones, (as pictured in the sales link at the top of this thread) more desirable (and more valuable) than a dial that is a lighter and more definite brown? This photograph was taken outside on a sunny day. Every time I photograph it the brown dial looks different and so do the lume and the hands. The annoying thing is that the watch looks better in real life, and that's not a lot of help on a global website.