Community Stories

My father's 1959 Speedmaster

Martin_J_N
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Great story about a wonderful heirloom, delighted that you have had the watch sensitively serviced, it looks just great.

Many congratulations on reviving your fathers watch, I am sure that he is looking down with a big grin on his face seeing you enjoying his watch.

I hope my kids will do the same with my small collection of watches when they get passed on.

Oh, nearly forgot, welcome to the forum.
 
Edward53
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Please convey all our thanks to your two co-workers....馃憤
 
JimJupiter
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Great story and such a cool watch you got from your father. Please let us know what the extract says to solve the last piece of the puzzle.

Nico
 
Eric304
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Great watch from your father! I bet you enjoy just looking at it.
 
rfortson
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Great story and a beautiful watch! Wear it in good health and take good care of it. 馃榾
 
B
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mickygee mickygee
beautiful watch and a great story, you should probably get it insured if you plan to wear it. congrats
That hadn't even occurred to me. Would you or anyone on the forum have any idea of what its approximate value would be?
 
JwRosenthal
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zrleopold zrleopold
You're in for a surprise.

https://speedmaster101.com/price-chart-2/
Don鈥檛 do that to him!! Now he鈥檒l be afraid to wear it!
Although I don鈥檛 own anything nearly this valuable financially in my collection, I do wear my more valuable watches regularly and do not give them a second thought. I have a rider on my homeowners insurance for them and the most valuable were appraised by a local AD/jeweler many years ago (need to update those) with whom I had a relationship (it was a small fee for each watch and they provided a document on letterhead.
I鈥檓 sure some of the more astute collectors here can advise you on an appraiser near you and the logistics of getting it properly insured.
 
zrleopold
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JwRosenthal JwRosenthal
Don鈥檛 do that to him!! Now he鈥檒l be afraid to wear it!
Although I don鈥檛 own anything nearly this valuable financially in my collection, I do wear my more valuable watches regularly and do not give them a second thought. I have a rider on my homeowners insurance for them and the most valuable were appraised by a local AD/jeweler many years ago (need to update those) with whom I had a relationship (it was a small fee for each watch and they provided a document on letterhead.
I鈥檓 sure some of the more astute collectors here can advise you on an appraiser near you and the logistics of getting it properly insured.

Haha totally not my intention 馃榾 I think he should wear the hell out of it and use it as a wonderful heirloom. Doesn't hurt to have things insured simply for piece of mind though!
 
B
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zrleopold zrleopold
You're in for a surprise.

https://speedmaster101.com/price-chart-2/
I'm not sure if it would be considered fair or good condition being a total newbie. The bezel is fairly worn and when I asked William if it would be worth finding a era-proper replacement he said he hadn't seen one in 10 years and it sold for $10k USD so that's out. Also one of the original pushers had gone missing and was replaced during the servicing. In all honesty I had considered the possibility of selling it. While it would have been a good quality watch when my father bought it, in the pre-Quartz Crisis era it would have been a tool and not a luxury item. My preferred style of watch aside from the work G-Shock tends towards rugged divers. Also my dad was enough of a pragmatist that I think he'd be appalled at the idea of it being unused for 99% of the time because of it's value and my fear of scratching the relatively soft acrylic crystal. I am really in love with the Seamaster and occurred to me that my dad would approve of my selling his beautiful though impractical watch and replacing it with a far more rugged Seamaster and having enough left over to visit our family in Denmark. In any event I have no immediate plans to sell it, in fact my practicality is currently getting its butt kicked by my heart.
 
B
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JwRosenthal JwRosenthal
Don鈥檛 do that to him!! Now he鈥檒l be afraid to wear it!
Although I don鈥檛 own anything nearly this valuable financially in my collection, I do wear my more valuable watches regularly and do not give them a second thought. I have a rider on my homeowners insurance for them and the most valuable were appraised by a local AD/jeweler many years ago (need to update those) with whom I had a relationship (it was a small fee for each watch and they provided a document on letterhead.
I鈥檓 sure some of the more astute collectors here can advise you on an appraiser near you and the logistics of getting it properly insured.
Why would I be afraid to wear an incredibly rare vintage watch with no water resistance, an easily scratched crystal, and worth more than my car and motorcycle combined? 馃槈
 
split-time
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Great watch but an even better story! What a treasure that it was worn and wound everyday by your father. Congratulations and enjoy!
 
ConElPueblo
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B Bud_Viking
...a far more rugged Seamaster and having enough left over to visit our family in Denmark. In any event I have no immediate plans to sell it, in fact my practicality is currently getting its butt kicked by my heart.

Selling or not, you should definitely come to Denmark, we're a friendly bunch here 馃憤
 
watchyouwant
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If everything checkes out like correct crown and small pushers , back and case without pitting, in the moment the value in a private sale might be: with omega excerpt: US$ 45.000. without the paper: minus 5000. Kind regards. Achim
 
K
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A proper one owner watch from your dad keep it and don鈥檛 look back
 
w@tcher
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Wish you to enjoy it in good health!
Fantastic watch, great story!

Being honest... by reading your article and watching the beauty of this watch, i want the FOIS more and more...
 
izydor
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B Bud_Viking
Why would I be afraid to wear an incredibly rare vintage watch with no water resistance, an easily scratched crystal, and worth more than my car and motorcycle combined? 馃槈
I think most vintage watches have less WR than it is stated on the dial (if any).
Unless you hit door frames frequently, crystal should be fine.
And maybe buy/lease new car, so that last point would not be a concern anymore? 馃榿

Lots of good advices given, but here's another one - take your time. Oh well, you already did! But take more before you decide to sell. Maybe, over time, you'll find yourself more attracted with Speedmaster than Seamaster. 馃槈
 
loniscup
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Scary prologue with the best possible twist in the plot!! She is a beauty my friend, congratulations
 
chipsotoole
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great watch...Great story..Geological survey in the 50's...adventurous stuff!! Hope it stays in the family..
 
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