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Looking for info on a vintage Speedmaster

D
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New here and looking for some insight on a Speedmaster I have purchased from a reputable Rolex dealer in my area. I am new to vintage watches and this is my first Omega. I’ve noticed a few oddities about this watch since purchase a day ago. The watch was listed as a 145.0022, but I’ve dated the movement (serial obscured in pictures but you can see the first 4 digits) to a 1970 145.022. The movement engraving "861" does not have the Omega symbol before it like I've seen in other images online. The chronograph bridge also looks different than other images I’ve seen online with the “Swiss” engraving to the side of the Omega engraving instead of below it and seems to be gold instead of the copper color. The case back also appears to be non original but I am less sure about that. It is a moon watch case back as one might see on a 145.0022 and current. Lastly, the dial and lume are in impeccable condition. I feel I got a great deal on a watch I’ve really wanted but want to make sure I know really what it is. I am also aware that a watch of this age is sure to have seen service and not sure if that would explain any of these oddities. Any thoughts or insights would be greatly appreciated!

489C497B-1037-4BF0-BBC4-BCEA38BFB5DF.jpeg 213143F6-E732-44D8-9D7F-11251BAFE5C6.jpeg C12E7245-3D5A-4A67-95EC-90CE54CB38AC.jpeg 5087740A-8C8A-44D4-AB3C-C431B98A287C.jpeg 9D54E19A-8668-4C1F-978A-22A25FE2A4F5.jpeg
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Donn Chambers
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It has a service dial, hands, and caseback. That would explain why the movement is from 1970, but those parts are all newer.
 
D
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Donn Chambers Donn Chambers
It has a service dial, hands, and caseback. That would explain why the movement is from 1970, but those parts are all newer.


Thanks for the input. It was one of my first thoughts but being new to the vintage world I really wasn’t sure. If it is indeed a 145.022 I think I got a pretty killer deal on it and I’m ok with that.
 
Monobike
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If you look for a price, go for it.
If you look for an original 145.022, there are plenty on the market so you can skip this one.
 
padders
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The reason why the dial and hands are impeccable is that they are modern Superluminova replacements. This is a bitsa watch with lots of mismatched replacement parts. It may have been a 145.022-69 at some point but now it is a mashup of 1970 movement and bezel with a modern dial, hands, bracelet and caseback. Or is is a modern 2000s Speedy into which someone has dropped an older 861 movement and swapped on an older DNN bezel, both are possible though the latter is less likely. If it was truly cheap then all is well, but if it was more than, say, a 10 year old model then it was overpriced.

Looking again I think the movement has been messed about too. The 1970 era 861 was a 17 jewel count movement, it went over to 18 jewels in the 1990s AFAIK. Maybe some of the bridges have been changed, that would explain the colour mismatch.

In summary, I hope it was cheap!
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D
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padders padders
The reason why the dial and hands are impeccable is that they are modern Superluminova replacements. This is a bitsa watch with lots of mismatched replacement parts. It may have been a 145.022-69 at some point but now it is a mashup of 1970 movement and bezel with a modern dial, hands, bracelet and caseback. Or is is a modern 2000s Speedy into which someone has dropped an older 861 movement and swapped on an older DNN bezel, both are possible though the latter is less likely. If it was truly cheap then all is well, but if it was more than, say, a 10 year old model then it was overpriced.

Looking again I think the movement has been messed about too. The 1970 era 861 was a 17 jewel count movement, it went over to 18 jewels in the 1990s AFAIK. Maybe some of the bridges have been changed, that would explain the colour mismatch.

In summary, I hope it was cheap!


Thanks for the feedback. I paid 3900 usd and I bought it to wear not to sell. I have aired my concerns with the dealer and they have made it clear that they will do whatever is necessary to keep me happy including returning the watch at really any point in the next month.

I’m wondering if it wasn’t serviced in the 90s as I’ve seen many suggesting that omega will simply replace anything and everything that needs replacing. If it was indeed serviced and not just put all together from parts I’m inclined to keep it. If it truly is a parts watch I can simply return it. The vp of the store is calling me this week to discuss as he took it in on trade.
 
D
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Also, the bracelet is an 1171 that shows considerable age so I’m thinking that is original
 
padders
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D Drucial
Also, the bracelet is an 1171 that shows considerable age so I’m thinking that is original
The square logo and 633 end link slot design says it is not a 1970s 1171, those had trapezoid logs and screw links. The clasp engraving will tell you more but I bet it is a 1171/1 or later 1171/633 from within the past decade. This is why I called it modern above.
 
Omega D
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When buying vintage do homework. But even the most experienced run into issues.
 
D
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padders padders
The square logo and 633 end link slot design says it is not a 1970s 1171, those had trapezoid logs and screw links. The clasp engraving will tell you more but I bet it is a 1171/1 or later 1171/633 from within the past decade. This is why I called it modern above.

clasp does indeed say 1171/1.

I think there are already too many asterisks here for me. It’s a shame as I’ve not been able to take the watch off since I bought it.
 
Wryfox
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IMHO, 3900 for a parts speedy is a bit strong. You can definitely find an unmolested example for that, though it won't look as clean. All depends on what you're going for.
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D
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Wryfox Wryfox
IMHO, 3900 for a parts speedy is a bit strong. You can definitely find an unmolested example for that, though it won't look as clean. All depends on what your going for.

For me, I fell in love with the watch. Went in to pick up another for service and it was just sitting there looking rather old and ideal for what I have been looking for in a Speedmaster, age but in good condition, a wearer not a collector. At this point I worry about all the various inaccuracies. In no way do I believe I was duped per se (they do not sell Omegas and were honest about knowing little to nothing about the vintage varieties), and they have been clear that if it is not what I expected, they have no problem taking it back. It just pains me a bit because I do like this particular watch and all of its peculiarities, scratches, dings etc. I’ll be returning it this week I believe.
 
Wryfox
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D Drucial
For me, I fell in love with the watch. Went in to pick up another for service and it was just sitting there looking rather old and ideal for what I have been looking for in a Speedmaster, age but in good condition, a wearer not a collector. At this point I worry about all the various inaccuracies. In no way do I believe I was duped per se (they do not sell Omegas and were honest about knowing little to nothing about the vintage varieties), and they have been clear that if it is not what I expected, they have no problem taking it back. It just pains me a bit because I do like this particular watch and all of its peculiarities, scratches, dings etc. I’ll be returning it this week I believe.

Trust me, we've ALL been there. I have a drawer full of watches for no other reason than I just liked them.

The advantage to you is that you asked about it while you still have recourse, got good advice, and now you know what you're dealing with.

If you happen to decide to keep it, I'd strongly suggest a clear case back to show off the movement, which looks great.
 
Davidt
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I think people are being a bit polite.

it’s a hodge podge of parts and is definitely not worth $3900.

I can see no argument for keeping it.
 
D
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Davidt Davidt
I think people are being a bit polite.

it’s a hodge podge of parts and is definitely not worth $3900.

I can see no argument for keeping it.


That’s been the consensus from the polite comments. It’s going back tomorrow
 
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