Hey, Thanks for any input you can give me here on the pros & cons of these two watches on offer. I am in the market for my first 'proper' Moonwatch. I have a couple of prerequisites. 1. If buying used, I would like a Tritium dial and hands. 2. I hope to give it plenty of wrist time - so I am not looking for a museum piece. I came across a local seller who seems an honest soul (and a regular here), and he is offering a couple of Speedies which I will picture below. The first is a circa '90 Speedy that comes with box, papers, and original bracelet, ref. 1479/812 (the bracelet is currently being repaired after damage). It has a large ding in the bazel at just after midnight. But it looks like an honest, unpolished watch, and to me has attractive lume plots that are exactly the kind of look I was looking for. The ding is a bit ugly in this case, but it is being offered at approx €4,500. Which I think is a decent price tbh. My intention if I buy this is to put a display case-back on it. The bazel ding is very visible in this next photo. But as is the evenly aged lume, and attractive hand-set. The next watch on the block is a 145.022-74 (with extract). It seems to my eye to have the dial with a short “S”. The case is in excellent condition, but the lume plots are degraded or missing in a few instances. This, to me, makes this watch less attractive from my POV. And, is on offer at approx. €5,000 (head only): (Ignore last pic. Editing suite failing me).
You want to wear it , as it should be ? The first one. Forget the ding. Others will follow. Or buy a used bezel on the bay. Enough coming up. Euro 200 will get you a good one.....
I agree. Both watches have significant visible flaws, and they don't seem like bargains. Anyway, if you're determined to buy one of them, it should be easy to research actual selling prices on the modern one, and perhaps you could also price out a correct replacement bezel. Of course, that's a lot of work for a watch that isn't too hard to find.
Outside of the ding/lume flaws I mention, anything else stand out do you think? With regard to price - bargains not withstanding, are they fair?
Neither are great and the prospect of a repaired bracelet on the 90s one doesn't fill me with confidence since it isn't trivial to repair them. The ding would annoy me personally. The second has lost a lot of lume so is also not going to look wonderful. I'd keep looking personally.
Assuming the 1171 bracelet is on the -74 which you say is offered head only which is a little confusing. If the loss of lume and the service bezel is not putting you off, the bracelet does not have the correct vintage endlinks with it so would assume it did not start life originally on that head. Would need to see the clasp to see the age of the bracelet, just be cautious if the seller wanted to throw in the bracelet to get a sale.
I would keep looking for a better condition version of the late 80s to early 90s version. I thin that would check all the boxes for you. That would’ve been my target if I hadn’t found a new in box 1861 instead.
Another has crossed my path. Or rather I walked into a brick 'n mortar dealer. Local, with a service, 1980. €5,500 with bracelet. The photos below really don't do it justice, it's very attractive in person. A new 3861 (sapphire sandwich) is €7,500 in Dublin by comparison.
Price is high for todays market, especially with that bezel wear. I would also want to see it with the chrono reset to zeros. If you are patient you will find similar for high $3s and low $4s at auction. Brick and mortar will always carry a premium, sometimes worth it for in person viewing and the instant gratification of buying and wearing. How much that is worth is your call.
I agonized over it. God-damnit the vintage stuff is a minefield. So I decided to go new hesalite 3861 on the bracelet. My reasoning: An advantage being it keeps my oar in at the OB for the Snoopy 50th that way too. Decided to go with hesalite over sapphire (another agonizing decision) as I have a FOIS that has the applied logo and the sapphire. If I get bored I can swap the caseback for an aftermarket display caseback. And as is my custom here is a picture of the pint I'm having to celebrate my purchase not ten minutes ago: Happy days.