.... Or, if certain Squirrels are to be believed, another load of pointless drivel - but with PICTURES!

Backstory: yesterday, I had the opportunity to put three 145.022-69s next to each other. Three watches that were made in 1969 and 1970; three watches that I still believe offer some of the best bang for your buck in vintage chronographs; three watches that have aged so very differently; and, three watches that are each uniquely good looking.

So here they are (bear in mind photos were taken under artificial light in a (very nice) cellar):

Left to right we have a ghosted 220 on a 1039

A straight writing almost unaged example with a very good DON

And finally, a true tropical chocolate brown dialed example that also wears an excellent DON


On the train home I was mulling over the differences of these three watches. None have been polished; none treated; all three so very different. So, here's the fun bit: you can buy one. Which would you buy and what do you think you'd be prepared to pony up to put it on your wrist?

I'd love to hear everyone's thoughts because I'm going to come back to this thread every 12 months and laugh at what I'm sure will seem to be ridiculously low numbers in the years to come.

 

I would go for number one, I like the even fading of the bezel, the lume plots have faded with an even colour and I like the bracelet. I do not know what price range these come in but I would be happy to pay whatever the market price is for one of these. As you say, they are all nice watches in their own way but the first one is the nicest on my opinion.

 

I don’t think SW’s came with a DON bezel. Mine has a Dot Close to 70, which I think they all had.

 

The Straight Writing with a DON has definitely been treated

 

I'd go for the tropical, myself.

 

I really like the one with ghost bezel Jimmy. All of them are lovely but of the 3, it holds my eye.

Value??? Despite a lot of Speedmaster study I still find valuation of those 'additional attractive qualities', over and above the SM101 prices a bit tricky to pin down. I think I'll pass on that one for now mate, but I'm interested to know what they come up with.

 

You're right - they didn't.

Well, that's not one of mine and I can't answer for any thoughts so, just for argument's sake, let's say it is correct. For the sake of my "little game" here, let's take all as absolutely correct.

 

The tropical one doesn't look that tropical but maybe that's just me.

In general, the SW doesn't really appeal to me because only the caseback is different and that's never visible when worn.

The combination of a rare 220 + ghost bezel makes the left one extra special to me.

 

The ghost 220 was spectacular but the lighting doesn’t do the tropical justice.
It really was very special and as brown as a chocolate button.
(And this coming from someone who doesn’t follow Speedies at all)

 

It really, really was

 

How many 69s were made?

 

Not sure. The serial numbers range fromm the mid 28m to the mid-low 31's so the production run spans almost 3 million movements .... of course, not all the movements made ended up in Speedmasters. It's certainly not a rare vintage watch and I'd even say they're readily available.

 

Thanks Jimmyd I researched your query and it expanded my knowledge of speedmaster values and variations. I like the paint on #1 but not the bezel. I'd pick number 3 because of the way the hands and dial blend and the novelty of brown.

 

And what did your research tell you?

 

I would go for the tropical myself (possibly with the original strap or a JB ) but i have to say that the first one with ghosted bazel is stunning

 

That's a can of worms I don't want to open. but it was fun to reflect on.

 

Ghost on bracelet. Wow.