Now this is probably the most interesting and sensible thread YET. I agree that the number of hits and watchers on those watches is a very good sign in terms of demand/interest...and future value. 1k hits is a very healthy number. I buy and sell a variety of collectible items, and nothing else comes close to that, generally. Mike, I thought this would be the chance to see your impressive group of cal. 321 Speedmasters, but you didn't post any photos. Lets see them. I'll get a shot of my meager 321 group...I think there are 4. Now...as to condition...there is no doubt with nearly any collectible that one is safest buying the best he can afford when looking to the future value/demand; however, I have collected a lot of things...including old cars....and I have always preferred a solid driver that I can enjoy every day to a trailer queen that sits in the garage and never sees the road...except at shows. The same can be said of vintage watches....or classic jukeboxes...or round top Coke machines from the 50s. If they are too clean, I am afraid to wear them and harm their original cond. A good example of a watch in the driver category is the chocolate dial 105.003 I posted a week ago, since it was just finished. The orig. dial had been removed by Omega and was worthless to them due to the slight staining around the markers, but I love that dial and it's imperfection. I will wear that watch regularly for years and never worry about getting a scratch on the bezel or case. That is worth more to me than an ideal increase in value. There is no "right" way to collect. I'll post a photo or two of my imperfect, thrashed watches later. Some even have new hands and crowns...GASP. And please don't itemize each thing you notice that isn't perfect. I'm well aware of the new parts...and the wrong sweep seconds hand on the 145.012...though I will say it was added a long time ago, given its cond. The thing that makes me saddest about the 145.012 is the fact that the markers have been cleaned...too much. The price was very good.

 

Really.

 

There...I edited my last post and added a photo. My nine year old is more patient. (He had a birthday two days ago....I found him a quartz Speedmaster Pro knockoff) Please spare me any moral declarations about fakes. I was not going to buy him a real one, and I have done my part to support Omega/Swatch.

 

These are mine:

105.002-62


105.012-66

145.012-67


The speedy box

 

I like that group, pmontoyap. The 105.002 is esp. to my liking. I'm sure you could find a buyer or two for it if you decided to sell.

 

+1. Nice bunch.

Is that the pre-Professional model on the top left?

 

Dennis, yes, that would be the straight-lugged watch in his group. As Mike will tell you, the 105.002 is very tough to find. I think I've seen one or two on Ebay in the last year. Of course, if that crown isn't original, I wouldn't want it...heh. I believe the hands should be the dauphine type like those on my 2998, but maybe there was a variant. I think Mike is concerned the IRS is watching his collection. I'm not sure I've seen any of his yet, but I have a feeling he has a dozen or more. I just realized my 105.012 isn't in my photo. It's stashed in a special low tech hiding place in the master bedroom. I'll try to get a shot of it later. I'll warn you now....it has a non-original crown.

 

I know all about that. My hiding place is the oven since Windy never uses that.

 

rim shot

 

We have that:

 

Mike, I think I might have the perfect strap for your chocolate dialed Speedmaster.

That 105.012 is perfect. I could live with that!

 

Those are some pretty watches...especially the dials. I love the dial on that 2998. I know the bezel on that is a tough one to find, but it has to be killing you to not swap it for a cleaner one. That bezel appears to have spent its life on a watch that saw A LOT of wear. Is it orig. to that watch?
The more I look at that dial, it has an almost sunburst effect....like a Fender Stratocaster...but not so obvious.

 

105.012 66

Yes, the dial is original to the watch and untouched.