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  1. dsio Ash @ ΩF Staff Member Aug 18, 2012

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    Watched this video of a Cal 321 CK2998 with a displayback doing its thing in full 720P on loop like 50 times without getting bored, even though the finishing of the Cal 321 isn't to the same standard as the Patek Philippe CHR 27 series movements, but in its own way, the less decorated but none the less elegant movement in the Speedmaster looks the part.



    So I'd decided on a 145.012-67 some time ago, I like the CK2998 and 105.0x references but for me the twisted lug, straight baton hands, "professional" script on the dial, and applied Omega symbol serves as both the swan-song of the Cal 321, and the final iteration of the column-wheel Speedmasters, that every Speedmaster from 1968 through to 2012 today is modeled on, and being the most common of vintage references gives a great deal more choice of examples.

    So I've been looking a long time, since this website was started in early 2011 in fact, I've been looking for my ideal 145.012-67 Speedmaster, I NEARLY bought one six months ago, which had a nice hand set, an ok case, no bracelet, a fair bezel, but a dial with the tritium lume all scraped off and re-lumed, for $3,000, which I thankfully passed on. Perfection wasn't quite what I was after, I don't mind being the first restorer of a piece as long as a dealer or as Hoi calls them an "eBay doctor" hasn't beaten me to it. So after consulting a couple of our resident Speedmaster experts I went and picked up this on off eBay for $2,200 USD (Around $2,100 AUD):

    $(KGrHqFHJE!E92D-PCmdBQEJBGH!W!~~60_3.JPG $(KGrHqJHJE8E+h+jcCgrBQEJ!z!wl!~~60_57.JPG $T2eC16d,!y8E9s2fk3wEBQEJ!hrDe!~~60_57.JPG $T2eC16hHJHIE9nysfqDLBQEI+W30ZQ~~60_57.JPG $T2eC16JHJIkE9qU3iy4YBQEJ!7QOUQ~~60_3.JPG $T2eC16JHJIYE9qUcN,9JBQEI+py2fg~~60_57.JPG $T2eC16RHJGoE9nuQfSlTBQEJ!20BMg~~60_3.JPG $T2eC16RHJHgE9n0yFmj)BQEI+GFl2!~~60_57.JPG $T2eC16VHJG8E9nyfnf5nBQEJ!+Ldr!~~60_3.JPG $T2eC16VHJGYE9nooiLgbBQEJ!R!lMg~~60_57.JPG $T2eC16VHJGYE9nooiLgbBQEJBChUHQ~~60_3.JPG $T2eC16VHJH8E9qSEWJ,iBQEI+-vcrg~~60_57.JPG
     
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  2. cicindela Steve @ ΩF Staff Member Aug 18, 2012

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    Cool watch. Something tells me you're going to love it:D.

    It's going to be a lot of obsessive fun getting all the way you want it. :thumbsup:
     
  3. dsio Ash @ ΩF Staff Member Aug 18, 2012

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    I think I've got a hand set lined up ;)

    Next decision is... for the displayback, do I want polished... or brushed finish?

    Screen Shot 2012-08-19 at 3.03.13 AM.png Screen Shot 2012-08-19 at 3.03.23 AM.png
     
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  4. dsio Ash @ ΩF Staff Member Aug 18, 2012

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    At $185 these are pretty good value, the OEM Omega ones are almost $500 on eBay, and the writing around the edge about it being the first and only watch worn on the moon looks stupid on a pre-moon Speedmaster, which is why Fr John had the engraving polished off of his

    http://www.thomas-preik.de/epages/m...diaprodukte/Products/005/SubProducts/005-0002

    The caseback also includes the correct spacer to fit against the movement
     
  5. bob martian Aug 18, 2012

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    I like the idea of the crystal displayback. I would go with brushed
     
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  6. dsio Ash @ ΩF Staff Member Aug 18, 2012

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    At some point someone's going to ask you to explain what makes a manual wind Speedmaster cool, being able to take it off and show them how a chronograph movement works while they watch it activate and deactivate is pretty cool, and would help people that don't really get why mechanical watches are so significant understand.
     
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  7. cicindela Steve @ ΩF Staff Member Aug 18, 2012

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    Brushed only, it goes with the vintage nature of the watch.
     
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  8. dsio Ash @ ΩF Staff Member Aug 18, 2012

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    Only reason I'd considered polished was that the underside of the lugs is already polished but I don't even know if the normal Omega casebacks are polished or brushed, they're more concentric than anything else
     
  9. bob martian Aug 18, 2012

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    I was thinking the brushed matched the movement
     
  10. bob martian Aug 18, 2012

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    are there any authentic Speedmasters with a skeleton dial?
     
  11. dsio Ash @ ΩF Staff Member Aug 18, 2012

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    There are, off the top of my head a platinum limited edition was made not that long ago with a skeleton dial and caseback
     
  12. cicindela Steve @ ΩF Staff Member Aug 18, 2012

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    I see your point, but the lugs are semi shinny, with striations. That back is just too ultra bright. I would get the brushed back and then hand polish a little with a cloth until you got it just right. :thumbsup:
     
  13. dsio Ash @ ΩF Staff Member Aug 18, 2012

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    I like your thinking, great idea!
     
  14. dsio Ash @ ΩF Staff Member Aug 18, 2012

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    Also got to find some black and brown leather straps that fit the OEM Omega deployant clasp... its one of the ones where the tang buckle end goes on TOP and the holed length goes under, so you need it to have no fixed keepers on the tang side which makes it slightly trickier. The OEM deployant is brilliant btw
     
  15. cicindela Steve @ ΩF Staff Member Aug 18, 2012

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    Not if you get the Titanium one :D
     
  16. dsio Ash @ ΩF Staff Member Aug 18, 2012

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    Hmm? Which one's that
     
  17. bob martian Aug 18, 2012

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    I know a seller out of Houston on Ebay that has those for around $18
     
  18. dsio Ash @ ΩF Staff Member Aug 18, 2012

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    How's the quality and feel like?
     
  19. cicindela Steve @ ΩF Staff Member Aug 18, 2012

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    Well it is just like the regular deployant except it is made of Titanium :rolleyes:
     
  20. bob martian Aug 18, 2012

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