I'm never going to buy a 321 Speedmaster

dsio

saying Submariners cost crazy money because a 5510 does, there will always be cheaper ones too like the 1680 white

Taddyangle

I am also adding a pic as there are none in this thread. I think I read in the sticky that all threads need to have a picture of a watch. 😀

BASE1000

Here are some of the Speedies that I bought when it was already an expensive hobby but still possible to buy one every 6 monthes or so.

jimmyd13

It's not that I don't want to but the realisation has just hit me that, in all truth, I'm never going to buy a 321.

What's made me come to this conclusion is the 2998-62 that came up on my ebay page under the "other items" tab: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1962-Omega-Speedmaster-Straight-Lug-Pre-Moon-2998-62-CK2998-Vintage/201792510628?_trksid=p2047675.c100009.m1982&_trkparms=aid=888007&algo=DISC.MBE&ao=1&asc=40813&meid=337466cf2fc64d19b65e34a062bd84bf&pid=100009&rk=1&rkt=2&sd=282336091504

I like this. There are a few issues but, still, I like it. The thing is, in order to put it on my wrist I reckon that I would have to part with something close to £31,000 ... purchase price, import, VAT, weak £ .. thirty ... one ... thousand ... pounds.

That would get me three vintage submariners. More than thirty good Seamasters. Half a dozen or so 861 Speedys ... and in great condition.

Even if I won the lottery tonight, which the little screen in Tesco's petrol station just told me was worth £76 millions .... would I really want to put over £30,000 on my left wrist?

It's a sad thought ... but there it is. I'm never going to own one.

nonuffinkbloke

Never say never Jim!
OK, maybe a £30k 2998 is a bit out of reach for most of us but you may still be able to find a 321 with a genuine history attached to it.
Here are six pictures that show my dear old Dad going from an 'Omega-less' trainee mechanic in the late 40's to a Seamaster owner in the 1960's. Then came the Speedmaster Professional 105.012.

As a kid, I remember that the 'Omegas' were out of bounds. You could look but not touch. I can't recall at what point the Speedy arrived to replace the older watch. I do remember watching the moon landing with Dad and you can see from the photos that Dad changed watches some time between the mid 60's and the early 70's.

The Seamaster and Speedy were everyday watches. He wore them working, drinking, and singing. Sadly, (about 30 seconds after an impromptu session of DIY keep fit) Dad 'popped his clogs' in 2003... I found the Speedmaster in a bedside draw with his wallet, lighter and a Pete & Dud tape. I took the watch home, put it in a guitar case pocket and then dug it out last October just after (what would have been) Dad's 87th birthday.

The 4 pictures in the other group show the watch as it is now. I don't know why one side of the engraving on the case back has worn more the other, when or why the 1171/633 bracelet was fitted, when the chrono hand and crown were changed, when or why the bezel rotated or when the dial turned brown. It's a mystery, but all part of the story of this watch.

I am currently saving up the price of the STS service, and looking forward to taking the watch over to Essex and seeing how they do things. The question for me is will I be able to afford to keep this watch safe and serviced? If I decide I can't it may, at some point, be offered to someone who will treasure it.

The good news is Jim... It's the genuine article and whoever becomes the new owner won't be forking out anywhere near £30 grand to take it home! 😀