Hello,
This is my first post here so please bear with me. I received an omega Speedmaster from my Father's possessions after he died last year (Photo's attached) that is in pretty rough shape. The only thing I remember he ever said to me about it was that it was pre moonwalk era watch. It didn't have a strap so I placed it in a box and hadn't thought much about it. To me my Movado is a nice watch. I knew Omega's were nice but not much more than that. Anyway,
I have done some research of this and concluded it to be a 1962 105.002. However, the bezel and crystal are in poor shape and the most damaging thing of all I found out out be is that someone relumed the dial. I had never heard of that before but I guess its was done. I guess what I'm looking for is some advise of what if anything can be done to fix this. I reached out to a few nationwide places specializing in watch restoration and both said that they quit doing restros on the 321 caliber do to the lack of parts. I'm still not sure what that is but I'm sure it has to do with how the watch runs. I have heard it can be fixed with correct time era parts and others have said that isn't a good idea. The only thing I do know that a nice one is pretty valuable but super hard to find. This one runs good but is about 30 secs fast so I'm sure it needs servicing. I wouldn't think i can take it to the guy in the mall for that though. ha
Anyway, any advice on how to treat this watch in terms of value,servicing and restoration etc would be greatly appreciated.
Chad

 

Welcome to OF, it's always nice to see a desirable old watch that has remained in the family, and you've done some good preliminary research. Don't worry too much about the condition at this point. It is what it is, and it's a desirable watch regardless. Anything can be restored when it comes to Speedmasters (at a price, of course), and there are some good shops who will work on them.

People will probably jump in with a lot of detailed information about the condition of the watch, but I think it's important for us to know your plans for it. Different advice will apply if you are planning to sell it vs. keeping it. Also, if you are planning to keep it (and wear it), but are not a hard-core collector, the movement should be serviced, but it may not be necessary to do a major restoration otherwise. So maybe just give us a bit more perspective on your plans.

 

Hello,
Thank you for the welcome. At this point I'm still pretty torn over what the long terms for it would be. It was my fathers but I really don't remember him wearing it or when he got it. He was a firearms collector so I'm sure it came form of trade. He loved to get new things. ha
I wouldn't be opposed to selling it either to someone who would value it. However, I have no idea how much it is worth. The first guy I showed it to quoted me 2500 dollars. I have also been offered 4k and 7K. I almost feel I should have jumped on the 7k but I haven't taken it to get appraised or even know of a place to get accurate one. It was refreshing to discover OF because advice I might receive without being taken to the cleaners.
I do know that I would not plan to wear it. I have my gshock work watch and I like my Movado for when I go out.
So I guess I more interested in selling it. I think it might be out of my budget to proper restoration work to it.

 

http://speedmaster101.com/price-chart-2/

Look at running column for 105.002-62 Alpha. That will give you ball park price. Cue all the vultures PMing you lol

 

Thank you for the link. That was very helpful. I had been on the Speedmaster 101 site but hadn't saw that page.

 

What, no dibs yet?

 

If you are going to sell it, I'm going to advise you to stop thinking about a restoration. It's in running condition, and that's how you received it. Don't mess around with it or invest anything that you might not recoup. You should sell it to a collector in its current condition, and let the buyer decide how he wants to proceed. The one thing you may need to do to get top dollar is to take some good photos, inside and out. And since the crystal is badly scratched, you might consider getting some photos of the dial without being obscured by the crystal. You will need a watchmaker to help you with this, but any fee would be minimal, and well worth it.

 

Dan S,
Thank you very much for the advise. Those were the type things I was wondering about. I appreciate it very much. I was under the impression that it would require restoration before it would be marketable. I will take it to a watchmaker early next week and let him know what kinda pictures I need to take. But I wont use the guy at the mall. ha

 

You are gonna get some nice offers and, barring global economic meltdown, those offers will be there in a few months as well. So, my only advice is this: take your time.

 

I agree with @Dan S' comments - hold onto it, ask a trusted and honest vintage watchmaker to open the caseback, and allow you to take good photos of:

- The front of the watch
- The watch from the side and crown side
- The back of the watch
- The inside caseback and associated markings
- The movement with the serial number clearly showing (you can obscure this in a photo editor if you wish,) and
- A photo of the dial (which will require the watchmaker take the movement out.)

Any more photos are a plus and will assist in valuation by a prospective buyer.

Best of luck!
E

 

No, it's valuable as it sits. And some of the top Speedmaster collectors in the world will be reading your posts over the next 12 hours. You will get expert advice, and there's no need to jump on a lowball offer.

 

Not to be a party pooper, but this thread does skirt sale rules of the forum. Instead of talking about value of the watch, and irk the mods, use it to find out more info about your watch. Post more pics when you have them, ask questions and so on. This way not only will you follow the forum rules, but also get proper knowledge to make a decision on what you think fair price is. Who knows, maybe once all is said and done you decide to keep it and not sell it.

 

What a great find this forum is. Thank you all very much for the advise. I can usually tell when I an getting the runaround and I was. Something just told me to hold onto it.

 

Absolutely my apologizes. I will update the post when I have pictures of the inside and the dial without the crystal. again. Hopefully all is in good order in there.
thank yall.

 

2 in 2 days now?

Oh and For the Horde!

 

Ha! Yes, For The Horde! lol

 

Nice heirloom piece!
If you let us know where you are located, we could help direct you to a vintage watch restoration shop/specialist that is local/closer to you.

 

Thank you, Absolutely, I am in the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex. Go Cowboys!

 

Bob Ridley is Arlington is one of the best (in case you want to stay local)

http://www.watchmakers.com/www/servicesRolex.html

LA Watchworks in... L.A. are also one of the best shops in the biz. I use them exclusively for all of my Speedy services.
They also got a new watchmaker in who specializes in complications and chronos so they are cranking out those 321s! (where before they didn't really want to touch them...).

http://www.lawatchworks.com

 

I am curious. Without taking the back off, what is the tell for an alpha hand 105.002 vs a late 2998 variant like a -6, -61 or 62?

First thing I would do is get the back professionally removed and confirm what you actually have. You will notice the price chart varies significantly in the range I mention above.

Are you sure it has been relumed? What makes you think this, irregular lume it just that it still glows under UV?