Need help on this 145.022-69 Speedy

Hi lovely OF!

For quite some time, I have been looking for a vintage Speedy, preferably a pre-moon. I have been looking through many examples but I often find that the 145.022-69's (which are in my price range) are either priced too high or too bad examples for my liking.

I have now come across another 145.022-69 which really pleases my eye. I have met with the seller - initially because he wanted some details/help on the watch and where to get it serviced - but now he has asked me if I wish to purchase the watch, probably because of my huge excitement when I saw the watch. He is the only owner of the watch and it has a wonderful story to tell. It has spent approximately 30-35 years in a drawer.

I am hoping to get your opinion on the market value for this watch. He has been asking around for a value of the watch and he has been offered up to the equivalent of USD$10.900, which is too much. He has offered it to me at USD$9.500.

Let's get on with the pictures which are taken by the seller. I understand that more images or a higher quality would be ideal, but I didn't get to shoot some myself when I saw the watch in person 🙁









My key takes on this piece are the following:
- Excellent DON bezel
- Top dial with beautiful even patina
- Fantastic hands with all lume intact and matching patina
- Unpolished condition and generally a very nice looking case
- 1039 bracelet with 516 end links in good condition
- Recently serviced by my suggested watchmaker who takes good care of vintage pieces. All factory original parts such as pushers, crown and crystal come with the watch
- I would have liked an EoA, however I have full confidence in the seller
- It is not a full set. Watch and bracelet only, unfortunately

Let me know what you think of the watch! Furthermore, would you pay $9.500'ish for this piece of history?

Thank you very much for your time, OF! 😀

Best
Soren

These 1039/ 516 bracelets with end links are very expensive and it’s just been serviced. Beautiful bezel and the dial is stunning. I’d jump at it (if the euro hadn’t lost so much against the US$).

I really agree with @Aludic and @gbesq - even if the market now is soft, these pieces don't come by often so they will keep their value in the long run. I think there are many examples of collectors here at the forum that overpaid for a piece in great condition. Especially if you intend on wearing it yourself, you'll have no regrets

Thank you so much everyone for your time and thoughts. It is very appreciated! Additional thoughts are more than welcome, but I think this piece is sold 😀

I am amazed by the amount of valuable input you have provided.

@pdxleaf: I should indeed ask if he has an old photo of him wearing the watch. A new picture with him, me and the watch would definitely be possible - after all I’ve had lunch with the man twice 😉
Furthermore, he did indeed pay for a full service December 2021 (a couple of months after he and I first spoke) at a cost of $750 which does make the price more reasonable.

@Larry S: Thankfully, this 1039 fits my wrist. I do however own another 1039 original to my 165.024 that is simply too short. Let me know if you end up with spare links! 👍

The watch looks correct and original in exceptional condition. I had probably been in a similar position to you. I was looking if an exceptional 145.022-69 (in my case I really love the straight writing). Just found they do not come up very often in exceptional condition and if they did they were expensive. In the end was offered an exceptional piece from a well known collector but the price was higher than most other examples. The quality however was better than anything I had seen. A couple of years in I never seen another offered at the same quality and have no regrets.

The watch offered to you is excellent especially with the 1039. You will not see many more offered at this quality frequently. The 9500 price does not seem too steep to me and looks in line with Speedmaster 101 charts and recent sales I have seen with top quality dealers. If you want a pre moon 69 at the top draw it is a good example.

That’s a beauty. Well done!

Very nice example.

Thank you, gents/ladies!

Although the watch has not physically been bought yet, it is mentally a done deal. I can come to terms with the price for a top notch watch, which it seems OF agrees it is. I have previous examples of purchases where the price is very attractive but the watch less so. In result, I don’t wear these watches as much. Hopefully this won’t be the case.

Best
Soren

Go for it and enjoy it!!