Inherited Speedmaster. Will I repair?

Kathy · Feb 19, 2015

Taddyangle
Kathy, these are my most favorite posts to read on this message board. I love to see watches being passed down and hearing the stories associated with each watch. I also love to see the before and after pics of the watches...

Keep us posted and welcome to OF.

Hi Taddyangle, That's a lovely comment. I agree a watch is special. Shame I can't wear it too big and heavy for me but I have two sons...but only one watch!

Taddyangle · Feb 19, 2015

One watch and two sons make it tough. You can buy a second birth year speedy for one of the boys. And maybe gift your fathers watch to the son that is more sentimental. There are others on this board that are in a similar situation so maybe they will chime in.

Were are also here to enable Omega watch buying 😀

flame · Feb 19, 2015

Hi Kathy

Great looking Watch !

I would highly recommend using STS - see: http://www.swisstimeservices.co.uk/

and if you need any help drop me a PM.

Best - Neil

iflyem1 · Feb 19, 2015

I love your watch and say you get it serviced and keep it!

Kathy · Feb 19, 2015

flame
Hi Kathy

Great looking Watch !

I would highly recommend using STS - see: http://www.swisstimeservices.co.uk/

and if you need any help drop me a PM.

Best - Neil

Thanks Neil, Great to find out about STS...i'd never have known except for this forum. Thank you.

Alpha · Feb 19, 2015

Kathy
Thanks Neil, Great to find out about STS...i'd never have known except for this forum. Thank you.

@flame is a great guy and will provide excellent advice should you wish to contact him.

imexian · Feb 19, 2015

Great to see a woman interested instead of saddo blokes...🙄

Tom Dick · Feb 19, 2015

Kathy

I would second Neils comments, if you speak with STS ask for Simon and explain you have been referred from the Omega Forum, Simon is the service manager and will be able to very sympathetically restore your watch without killing the value with replacement dials and bezels. A lot of the chaps on the forum (including myself) use STS for a lot of their Omega work if they are UK based ( and abroad), their results are superb.

Lovely original example

Best wishes Tom

imexian · Feb 19, 2015

I can second that. But also mark Lovett from Spalding area is a great guy too. Tap in his name in Google.

Kathy · Feb 19, 2015

$

Tom Dick
Kathy

I would second Neils comments, if you speak with STS ask for Simon and explain you have been referred from the Omega Forum, Simon is the service manager and will be able to very sympathetically restore your watch without killing the value with replacement dials and bezels. A lot of the chaps on the forum (including myself) use STS for a lot of their Omega work if they are UK based ( and abroad), their results are superb.

Lovely original example

Best wishes Tom

Thanks Tom, Going to follow this advice to use STS.

Davidt · Feb 19, 2015

I completely agree about STS. They will do as much or as little as you want them to.

I'd recommend keeping the dial, hands and bezel as they are.

Give the case a jolly good clean but not a polish.

Full service if the movenent, inc new pushers (and maybe a new crown).

New crystal.

Then one of your sons is going to be extremely happy!!

Kathy · Feb 19, 2015

Davidt3449
I completely agree about STS. They will do as much or as little as you want them to.

I'd recommend keeping the dial, hands and bezel as they are.

Give the case a jolly good clean but not a polish.

Full service if the movenent, inc new pushers (and maybe a new crown).

New crystal.

Then one of your sons is going to be extremely happy!!

Thanks David, You guys are really helpful. One point the watch has no luminosity any more should this be restored? I plan to give it to the one who pays for the nursing home in my old age!!!

Davidt · Feb 19, 2015

No original dial from this period will be luminous any longer as the tritium has a half life of around 15 years I think.

Getting it reapplied is a big 'no-no' for collectors and will negatively affect the value. However, it sounds like resale value isn't a big influence here. I'd advise against it but it's your call.

Incidentally, a good way to tell if the lume is original is to light it with a camera flash. It will then glow for a minute or so, with the indicted fading evenly. Any dead spots suggest the markets have been touched up with paint but I don't think that's occured here.

Kathy · Feb 19, 2015

Davidt3449
No original dial from this period will be luminous any longer as the tritium has a half life of around 15 years I think.

Getting it reapplied is a big 'no-no' for collectors and will negatively affect the value. However, it sounds like resale value isn't a big influence here. I'd advise against it but it's your call.

Incidentally, a good way to tell if the lume is original is to light it with a camera flash. It will then glow for a minute or so, with the indicted fading evenly. Any dead spots suggest the markets have been touched up with paint but I don't think that's occured here.

This is all so interesting! I'll try the camera flash tomorrow but am almost positive Dad never did anything like that with the watch. I won't get that done. Even if it is never sold better to keep it in "collectors condition" Thanks!

dundee64 · Feb 19, 2015

Hi,
I confirm, it's a 145.002-69 produced between 1970 and 1973, but it's not a "pre-moon".
Omega produced 2 models of "Straight Writing".
Your one, also call "Flight-Qualified by NASA" with the case back B1 (1970/1973)
and the type B2 call "ApolloXI-1969 (1971-1972)

Your brand is the original one.
You have to restore it 👍

On this picture you can see the two different back. (personal watches)

Case Back B1

Case Back B2

Kathy · Feb 20, 2015

dundee64
Hi,
I confirm, it's a 145.002-69 produced between 1970 and 1973, but it's not a "pre-moon".
Omega produced 2 models of "Straight Writing".
Your one, also call "Flight-Qualified by NASA" with the case back B1 (1970/1973)
and the type B2 call "ApolloXI-1969 (1971-1972)

Your brand is the original one.
You have to restore it 👍

On this picture you can see the two different back. (personal watches)

Case Back B1

Case Back B2

Hi Dundee64 Wow your watches look amazing! Am definitely going to restore. Can't wait to get going now. Probably have to sit down when they quote a price though!!!!!

marturx · Feb 20, 2015

I´m sure it´ll be worth it, though! 👍

tyrantlizardrex · Feb 21, 2015

Hey Kathy,

Welcome! And what a lovely watch! I wear a mid 1960's Omega Geneve, that my Dad wore every day when I was growing up - being able to wear it yourself is a wonderful feeling.

I highly recommend Simon at Swiss Time Services - lovely chap, and fantastic work from the team there.

Can't wait to see it back up and running. 😀

Sherbie · Feb 21, 2015

Hi Kathy

Once serviced, i,d suggest that you wear it for a few weeks anyway - lots of ladies are now wearing small to medium vintage mens watches - very trendy indeed. Your Speedmaster is not too large by modern standards, and would look great ( maybe on a leather strap instead of the bracelet? But never throw the bracelet away)

If you find that it really isnt suitable, then why not let your sons alternate - each one wear it for a year - and you could have some kind of handover "ceremony" each christmas when you all get together to celebrate the season and to remember absent friends

Just a thought?

Enjoy regardless, cheers paul

Edited for grammar!

Inherited Speedmaster. Will I repair?

Kathy

Taddyangle

flame

iflyem1

Kathy

Alpha

imexian

Tom Dick

imexian

Kathy

Davidt

Kathy

Davidt

Kathy

dundee64

Kathy

marturx

tyrantlizardrex

Sherbie

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