How overpolished is this Omega Speedmaster 2998/105.002 case?

lucreative · Dec 2, 2024

Hi again OF. Learning a lot from you all and OF folks have been very generous with their time and advice. I promise, a Moonwatch Only book is coming in the mail (got it on a Black Friday sale).

For now, I'm really trying to hone my eye for good/great example of vintage Speedies. I feel like I can get a good feel for 105.003 and above with the twisted lugs and sharp facets. However, the 2998/105.002 straight lug cases are a different story. I know most examples are somewhat polished, however how much is overpolished. Here is one I am trying to figure out and assess. I know the sides of the case is polished to shiny, but is there enough lug and facet edge that it's overpolished? I know the double beveled case back has been rounded quite a bit, but luckily the Omega Hippocampus is kinda sharp. What is an acceptable polish for a 2998/105.002 case of that era. I know there was someone offering a 105.002 that had the case refinished completely. To me that was unacceptable. How about the one below.

Thanks again for your collective eyes. You already won me over to getting a couple A1 crowns to complete my other examples.

1963_Omega_Speedmaster_105.002-62_Baton_Hands_1512x.webp

lucreative · Dec 2, 2024

Some shots in the sun and on the wrist.

M'Bob · Dec 3, 2024

Should not have the satin finish on the lug tops.

Vercingetorix · Dec 3, 2024

It’s like buttah.

pdxleaf · Dec 3, 2024

lucreative
Hi again OF. Learning a lot from you all and OF folks have been very generous with their time and advice. I promise, a Moonwatch Only book is coming in the mail (got it on a Black Friday sale).

For now, I'm really trying to hone my eye for good/great example of vintage Speedies.

I feel like I can get a good feel for 105.003 and above with the twisted lugs and sharp facets. However, the 2998/105.002 straight lug cases are a different story....

Excellent pick up. MWO is such a great book.

I think similarly to you. The 105.012 and 105.003 types came with fairly sharp edges on the lugs, which makes worn ones easier to identify. The 2998s as you noted, are tougher because even when new they hard rounder lug edges. So it's harder to gauge what is wear until you see a nice example.

Your example watch is very worn and polished, so much so the original lugs have been retapered/reshaped. It's one thing to have rounded edges but it's worse to have lost the original shape.

Compare yours to this example of a 105.002, which I believe is close to original.

Your test: