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Need Bracelet and Lume Advice for a Speedmaster 105.012-66

  1. kingsrider Thank you Sir! May I have another? Jun 29, 2018

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    I would love some opinions on how to proceed with the restoration of my 105.012-66 CB.
    I'll start with the obvious. It will need a correct bezel.
    The two areas I really need feedback are, the bracelet and a potential relume of the H/M hands.
    The watch has a ser# 24xxxxxx so 1966-67.
    Bracelet. MWO gives three bracelets for this date range. 1506/16 1035/56 1039/516
    My question is, does it matter which bracelet and is it important that the date on the bracelet fall in that range also (for the appearance of originality)?.

    Lume. The lume is so thin it is actually transparent. It is also an unappealing, kind of charcoal color.
    Would you relume or live with it?

    All comments welcome!! :thumbsup:
     
    D97F6FF8-DA3C-4C3B-A6C1-D77E16ACF9EF.jpeg
    Edited Jun 29, 2018
    Etp095 likes this.
  2. kingsrider Thank you Sir! May I have another? Jun 30, 2018

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    Bump it
     
  3. Vintagewtchzilla Jun 30, 2018

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    original hands should be available on the interwebs

    about the bracelet .... those were fitted in most cases at the dealer as an option so you can choose any from 66-67
     
  4. ndgal Jun 30, 2018

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    If you want to find a set of original hands with nice original lume, 1039/516 bracelet, and a nice DON bezel, you'll be looking at about 7K in parts.
    Question is, is it worth it for you? And how much did you pay for the whole watch?
     
    Seaborg, marco, kingsrider and 2 others like this.
  5. Screwbacks Jun 30, 2018

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    you will be hardpressed for a longwhile to look for matching original bracelet. meanwhile, you can dress it with a JB champion or similar jb bracelet like mine while my 1506/16 are being kept in a safe.

    IMG_20180613_160501_BURST001_COVER.jpg
     
  6. onthedial Jun 30, 2018

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    @kingsrider
    If I were you I'd look for a 1506. If you're diligent you'll land one. Be patient and enjoy wearing your timepiece while you're in hunting mode. :thumbsup:
     
  7. boogedyboo Jul 1, 2018

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    It really depends on how OCD you are. Many people wear their Speedmasters on a leather strap and you might argue it even looks better on a strap.

    With regards to the lume, if it is original to the hands and not cracked, I would keep them as they are. With that said, reluming would be the cheapest compared to getting new hands, new bracelet and the DON bezel.
     
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  8. nonuffinkbloke #1 Nigel Mansell Fan Jul 1, 2018

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  9. bags1971 Jul 1, 2018

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    I wear mine on a 1039/516 endlinks its a lot later (1970) but looks the part.

    Found a nice DON from a member here

    The hands I wouldn’t bother mine are exactly the same with dark lume
     
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  10. kingsrider Thank you Sir! May I have another? Jul 1, 2018

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    I am familiar with it. I guess ideally the 1506 bracelet would be the one to have, but if a 1039 or 1035 came up with a proper date would the ultimate value/originality be the same?
    Originality of the total package is what I am shooting for. With that said, doing a lume restoration is another consideration. Will I compromise originality/value if I have a competent restoration of the hands. Personally, a good lume restoration of the hands would not bother me if I was buying this watch, but I am not knowledgeable enough in this area to know if I would be making an error in judgement in doing so.
     
    nonuffinkbloke likes this.
  11. mancio Jul 10, 2018

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    Jb Champion for now, menawhile you can look around for the right bracelet.
     
  12. Mateustosatti Jul 12, 2018

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    Nice bracelet. Do you mind to share where is it from ? Thanks
     
  13. Foo2rama Keeps his worms in a ball instead of a can. Jul 12, 2018

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    Bracelet dates are fuzzy as they where sold by the dealer so you can have earlier or later dates. I’d call plus minus 3 years to have no question.

    I’d leave the hands or find a trashed set on eBay and get them color matched.
     
    Interstellar and kingsrider like this.
  14. Screwbacks Jul 14, 2018

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    hi thanks. i just saw it and bought it for $12 from a local shop (im from southeast asia). it's a spare old bracelet. unfortunately, no other stocks available.
     
    Edited Jul 14, 2018
  15. mancio Jul 15, 2018

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  16. ndgal Jul 15, 2018

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  17. watchcollect Jul 15, 2018

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    That statement is so pretentious.
    We like what we like, no reason to shit on the guy.::confused2::
     
  18. BenBagbag Jul 15, 2018

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    +1

    FYI JB champion bracelets cost $10 new back in the day.
     
  19. mancio Jul 15, 2018

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    I know a watch collector who wear cheap strap on six figure Daytona, sooo?

    Personaly, considering how much can cost the correct bracelet in good condition, it is better save the money for the right one and put few money on something that he can use in the meantime.
     
  20. sjg22 Jul 15, 2018

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    I would have the hands relumed by an expert - lots of recommendations on here in terms of watchmakers to use for that job. It is fairly inexpensive. If the watch needs a service, than that would be the ideal time given how long you might have to wait for the top guys to slot you in, even once they have the watch.

    I’d get a middle-of-the-road DON if you plan on wearing it. A mint example will make you hesitant to damage it.

    If you’re restoring the watch with a thought towards potentially selling it down the road, in my experience the bracelet doesn’t add as much value to the sale as what you’re likely going to have to pay to get a correct one. If you want one to wear, I’d slap on a 1039 with endlinks to fit and sell it separately from the watch down the road If you take that route. I took the original bracelet off my -69 SW and always wore it on a strap - the old bracelets are slightly jangly and I think the watch looks great on a nice strap.
     
    mancio likes this.