Need advice on a 105.003

cqing · Jan 10, 2023

Hello my fellow Omega enthusiasts,

Today I was offered an 105.003 for $9000. Need your advice on whether it worth the money.

I was told everything is period correct except for the service crown and the end links.

The condition looks good to me, as there is no major dents on the case and bezel.

The case back also looks in quite good shape as the hippocampus still looks very visible.

I'm looking for advice on whether this is a good deal considering the current market.

Thank you for your advice.

M'Bob · Jan 10, 2023

Have you seen the movement?

cqing · Jan 10, 2023

M'Bob
Have you seen the movement?

Yes.

padders · Jan 10, 2023

It's a -64 model, right? Does it say that in the caseback?

It's not mega money but you need to ask yourself do you like it? The lume is a bit of a muddy green colour (mouldy even) so not all that appealing to me, but it is your opinion that counts.

Davidt · Jan 10, 2023

OP what are your thoughts on the dial condition?

cqing · Jan 10, 2023

padders
It's a -64 model, right? Does it say that in the caseback?

It's not mega money but you need to ask yourself do you like it? The lume is a bit of a muddy green colour (mouldy even) so not all that appealing to me, but it is your opinion that counts.

Yes it is a 64 model. The color isn't appealing to me either. I feel the price is reasonable and it is quite hard to come by one, so it is tempting me. Maybe leave the color to the next level thing and try to own one first?

cqing · Jan 10, 2023

Davidt
OP what are your thoughts on the dial condition?

The dial condition looks good to me.

Davidt · Jan 10, 2023

Are the bracelets and box included?

Personally I find the lume a real negative and would try and get one with a better dial. These aren’t so uncommon that you need to pounce on the first one you see

bgrisso · Jan 10, 2023

cqing
Hello my fellow Omega enthusiasts,

Today I was offered an 105.003 for $9000. Need your advice on whether it worth the money.

I was told everything is period correct except for the service crown and the end links.

The condition looks good to me, as there is no major dents on the case and bezel.

The case back also looks in quite good shape as the hippocampus still looks very visible.

I'm looking for advice on whether this is a good deal considering the current market.

Thank you for your advice.

my first thought when I look at this watch is, wow, that is really ugly (mostly because of the lume). not trying to rain on your parade at all, if you love it, that's great, but you might find yourself in the situation needing to sell it down the road, and it's expensive, and at that point other people's opinion matters more than your own. just something to keep in mind. I think it could look nice with a very high quality relume, but then you get into a whole "value" can of worms, and I don't know this ref well enough to factor those details in.

Marsimaxam · Jan 10, 2023

Hmm... consider the latest price guide from Speedmaster 101

The dial is not all that pleasant to look at and personally I'd pass solely on the dial appearance alone. Poor Condition. Value 5K
The bezel insert is a bit beat up and has a few rather large missing areas and I'd judge between poor and fair condition. Value 5.75K
The case isn't bad, yes the caseback looks good, but it does show marks and the lines are not sharp. Condition between fair and good.
Value 11.25.

I'm not being an easy judge

Let's take the average... 7.33K. If you add the bracelet value plus box and abstract, subtract end links and crown, maybe you are looking at 8.5 - 9K

So in my humble opinion, it's not a great deal and I'd find a better example. If you want this particular model and paying 16k plus for a good example is not realistic and your crazy about this reference... it's your call, but, remember, you are buying this watch because you love it as most collectors would not find it appealing. PASS!

Spacefruit · Jan 10, 2023

This is exactly the kind of watch that fooled many FOMO / "Investor" buyers in the last two years. It ticks all the boxes, except the one I am always telling people about, the attractiveness box. It also has been presented in a way that might confuse the naive, with the probably added box, the definitely added two bracelets and the extract. (Of course the extract is a good thing, but its not "papers")

What I do when assessing a watch like this, is to ignore the box, the extract and the bracelet.

Let's just look at the head.

The heart of any watch is the dial, and this dial is poor. That said, I have a feeling this dial will respond very well to re-luming by an expert, and will look amazing - this is depending on the dial surface being good. I cannot see because the photos are poor.

The bezel is also poor. We can kid ourselves and talk it up into Fair, but honestly look at it. Unless you fathered it you know its ugly. All that missing paint.

The case looks ok, but the case back is I think polished. The plastic case back sticker doesn't help, but I think the profile on the bevel has deviated from factory.

All this said doesn't mean it is a bad watch - it just means it is a watch to wonder how much would I pay for it in order to get pleasure?

If I bought it for $5,000 I would love it, and I would say its a bargain. I am not sure how far towards the $9,000 asking I could go to keep that feeling. This quality watch you often get a good valuation if you assess the parts, which for me comes out around $5,000 - 6,000

For me this watch is FAIR, to GOOD.

A very hard watch to sell today, unless it is obviously a bargain.

M'Bob · Jan 10, 2023

Spacefruit
This is exactly the kind of watch that fooled many FOMO / "Investor" buyers in the last two years. It ticks all the boxes, except the one I am always telling people about, the attractiveness box. It also has been presented in a way that might confuse the naive, with the probably added box, the definitely added two bracelets and the extract. (Of course the extract is a good thing, but its not "papers")

What I do when assessing a watch like this, is to ignore the box, the extract and the bracelet.

Let's just look at the head.

The heart of any watch is the dial, and this dial is poor. That said, I have a feeling this dial will respond very well to re-luming by an expert, and will look amazing - this is depending on the dial surface being good. I cannot see because the photos are poor.

The bezel is also poor. We can kid ourselves and talk it up into Fair, but honestly look at it. Unless you fathered it you know its ugly. All that missing paint.

The case looks ok, but the case back is I think polished. The plastic case back sticker doesn't help, but I think the profile on the bevel has deviated from factory.

All this said doesn't mean it is a bad watch - it just means it is a watch to wonder how much would I pay for it in order to get pleasure?

If I bought it for $5,000 I would love it, and I would say its a bargain. I am not sure how far towards the $9,000 asking I could go to keep that feeling. This quality watch you often get a good valuation if you assess the parts, which for me comes out around $5,000 - 6,000

For me this watch is FAIR, to GOOD.

A very hard watch to sell today, unless it is obviously a bargain.

OP: This is the best advice you’re going to get on this….

JohnSteed · Jan 10, 2023

Dial condition would make me leave it alone

calalum · Jan 10, 2023

Read and consider all of the knowing comments above, and note your own statement that the dial is not attractive to you. What more is there to consider (bearing in mind that it is not a steal at that price)?

bgrisso · Jan 10, 2023

Spacefruit
This is exactly the kind of watch that fooled many FOMO / "Investor" buyers in the last two years. It ticks all the boxes, except the one I am always telling people about, the attractiveness box. It also has been presented in a way that might confuse the naive, with the probably added box, the definitely added two bracelets and the extract. (Of course the extract is a good thing, but its not "papers")

What I do when assessing a watch like this, is to ignore the box, the extract and the bracelet.

Let's just look at the head.

The heart of any watch is the dial, and this dial is poor. That said, I have a feeling this dial will respond very well to re-luming by an expert, and will look amazing - this is depending on the dial surface being good. I cannot see because the photos are poor.

The bezel is also poor. We can kid ourselves and talk it up into Fair, but honestly look at it. Unless you fathered it you know its ugly. All that missing paint.

The case looks ok, but the case back is I think polished. The plastic case back sticker doesn't help, but I think the profile on the bevel has deviated from factory.

All this said doesn't mean it is a bad watch - it just means it is a watch to wonder how much would I pay for it in order to get pleasure?

If I bought it for $5,000 I would love it, and I would say its a bargain. I am not sure how far towards the $9,000 asking I could go to keep that feeling. This quality watch you often get a good valuation if you assess the parts, which for me comes out around $5,000 - 6,000

For me this watch is FAIR, to GOOD.

A very hard watch to sell today, unless it is obviously a bargain.

great assessment. There is hardly any place for a watch like this today from a financial point of view. Even though I agree with you I think it would probably look great with a sympathetic relume, this is so frowned upon in terms of $$$ value that the watch would have to be really cheap to justify, which no seller is going to want to come to terms with, especially if they paid a lot themselves.

the more valuable $$$ these things become, the more the market gets stratified and prices fall of a cliff between high grade / original and everything else. I assume it happens everywhere with all collectables and goods in general.

anyhow maybe it's true what they say, money really does ruin everything. or at least suck the FUN out of it.

too bad someone can't pick up a watch like this for under a grand, make it look beautiful again with a relume, and enjoy the heck out of it !!

and no, i'm not 80 griping about the good ol days, I'm relatively late to the vintage watch scene myself 😉

Dan S · Jan 10, 2023

bgrisso
my first thought when I look at this watch is, wow, that is really ugly ...

Haha, you took the words right out of my mouth.

Noles_88 · Jan 10, 2023

Everyone will always have different opinions. As an example There are people that love tropical dials while others don’t.
with that being said. If you love the dial condition on the watch and you love the watch. Then it is worth it.
But to answer your final question. This watch would be a pass for me at that price.

cqing · Jan 10, 2023

Thanks a lot to all these great comments. I really learned a lot from them. I decide to pass it and waiting for a better one.

fizz · Jan 10, 2023

Spacefruit
This is exactly the kind of watch that fooled many FOMO / "Investor" buyers in the last two years. It ticks all the boxes, except the one I am always telling people about, the attractiveness box. It also has been presented in a way that might confuse the naive, with the probably added box, the definitely added two bracelets and the extract. (Of course the extract is a good thing, but its not "papers")

What I do when assessing a watch like this, is to ignore the box, the extract and the bracelet.

Let's just look at the head.

The heart of any watch is the dial, and this dial is poor. That said, I have a feeling this dial will respond very well to re-luming by an expert, and will look amazing - this is depending on the dial surface being good. I cannot see because the photos are poor.

The bezel is also poor. We can kid ourselves and talk it up into Fair, but honestly look at it. Unless you fathered it you know its ugly. All that missing paint.

The case looks ok, but the case back is I think polished. The plastic case back sticker doesn't help, but I think the profile on the bevel has deviated from factory.

All this said doesn't mean it is a bad watch - it just means it is a watch to wonder how much would I pay for it in order to get pleasure?

If I bought it for $5,000 I would love it, and I would say its a bargain. I am not sure how far towards the $9,000 asking I could go to keep that feeling. This quality watch you often get a good valuation if you assess the parts, which for me comes out around $5,000 - 6,000

For me this watch is FAIR, to GOOD.

A very hard watch to sell today, unless it is obviously a bargain.

Harsh, dispassionate but honest. As all good, objective advice should be.

cqing · Jan 11, 2023

fizz
Harsh, dispassionate but honest. As all good, objective advice should be.

Haha, actually I don't feel it is harsh at all. Very objective advice and I really appreciate it.

Need advice on a 105.003

cqing

M'Bob

cqing

padders

Davidt

cqing

cqing

Davidt

bgrisso

Marsimaxam

Spacefruit

M'Bob

JohnSteed

calalum

bgrisso

Dan S

Noles_88

cqing

fizz

cqing

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