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  1. blackbayjonesy Apr 17, 2018

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    I've been trying to ascertain which Speedmaster 145.022 I have. I have what I believe is a 69-ST (as it is stamped on the caseback). The serial number is in the #316XXXXX range. However the rear case does not have the NASA stamp it has the pre-moon hippocampus. I know the bezel is a DN90, but the case back is what is throwing me.

    I've been looking at http://speedmaster101.com/price-chart-2/ and I see that there are several categories, but I have no idea where this one would fall. I see that there is a 145.022-71NoNasa but nothing for a 69-ST NoNasa.

    There is a big price gap... any thoughts?
     
    Speedmaster_caseback.jpg Speedmaster_dial.jpg Speedmaster_stepped_dial.jpg
    Edited Apr 17, 2018
  2. Toishome Apr 17, 2018

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    Its all a 69. Nothing wrong with it.
     
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  3. Andy K Dreaming about winning an OFfie one day. Apr 17, 2018

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  4. Dash1 Apr 17, 2018

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    Nice watch! It is a Pre Moon 145.022-69.
     
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  5. gdupree Apr 17, 2018

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    As the above mentioned, the -71 has a "No nasa" variant that is denoted because the most common case back includes the "flight-qualified by nasa," implemented following the moon landing in 1969. You don't see that mentioned on -69's because the reference was usually "No nasa," (there was a "straight writing" case back for -69's that mentioned the moon landing, but in a different format than the standard flight-qualified with hippo-campus case back, and is generally less common than the pre-moon case back).

    You're looks like a rather nice example of a pre-moon 145.022-69 for that matter. Would you mind sharing a few more digits of your serial number? Mine is 31620XXX.
     
  6. blackbayjonesy Apr 17, 2018

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    Mine is 31611XXX
     
  7. gdupree Apr 17, 2018

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    ilovemyspeedmaster.com estimates the production of that S/N to around May/June 1971 - which is on the later end of the production for that reference, but certainly acceptable. Price would probably fall in the running - good range for a 145.022-69/DN90. Mind you the price charts there are for motivated collectors (street price is often more than this, especially for nice looking examples), and those prices are for the head only.

    Your 640 end-links (and 1175 clasp?) are not typically found on pre-moon -69's from what I know, but it's certainly possible, and would probably add around $400-700 to the value.
     
  8. Davidt Apr 17, 2018

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    Bog standard (but very nice), late -69 pre moon.
     
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  9. esspee1200 Apr 19, 2018

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    Correct, 69 pre moon. Not a DON bezel so late production pre moon.
     
  10. swish77 Apr 19, 2018

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    I see that 31m serial numbers on some charts, including LunarOyster.com, put production at 1972-73. Is that too late for a “69” caseback or is a difference of about three years acceptable for correctness?
     
  11. 77deluxe Apr 19, 2018

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    Great 69 pre moon. Like the dial patina.
     
  12. stefman Apr 19, 2018

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    Very nice!
     
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  13. roadsternet Apr 20, 2018

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    gratulations a perfect watch :)
     
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  14. Foo2rama Keeps his worms in a ball instead of a can. Apr 20, 2018

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    just to clear this up just a bit... And OP great piece... whats your location we can recommend a good watch maker to service it to retain value and protect the original appearence.

    Hippocampus on most 69's and all earlier watches aka -69 "Pre moons"

    -69's could have straight writing "flight qualified" "first watch etc". no medallion aka "Straight writing"

    then in -71 you could have no NASA ie medallion only on very early watches, then the flight qualified with medallion. "aka rarer then hens teeth"

    After 71 all had the flight qualified with medallion. aka "Not really changed in 48 years"
     
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  15. swish77 Apr 20, 2018

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    Reposting this for understanding about the difference in the years of movement serial numbers and the case-back date stamp ...

    I see that 31m serial numbers on some charts, including LunarOyster.com, put production at 1972-73. Is that too late for a “69” caseback or is a difference of about three years acceptable for correctness?
     
  16. Foo2rama Keeps his worms in a ball instead of a can. Apr 20, 2018

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    Ignore those charts they are out dated.
     
  17. swish77 Apr 20, 2018

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    It's not just that chart. It seems all of the charts would put a 31M serial Speedmaster in the '72-73 range. So, my question is ...

    Is it "correct" to have a "69" case-back on a watch with a movement serial number that late. I recently saw another example ... a straight-writing"First Watch On Moon" case-back that was stamped inside "145.022-69" but had a 32M movement serial, which would put it at about 1974. Would that also be correct? It just seems that's quite a large gap between the case-back and year of the movement serial number.
     
  18. gdupree Apr 20, 2018

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    Which charts are you referring to?

    The reason we're not giving much of an answer to your question is because it's tough to say based on that info. The only real way to know when a particular serial number was produced is to get an extract of the archives from omega, and then use knowledge and critical thinking to determine if that movement would be appropriate for that reference/sub-reference. Not all -69's are created equal either - a pre-moon -69 would typically have an earlier serial than either of the two variants of "straight writing" -69's. But to over simplify with too little information, I would expect a 31m serial to be produced in 1971, or maybe into early 1972, and would be an appropriate movement for either a -69 or -71 (perhaps in rare cases, even a -74, but lets not go there...)
     
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  19. abrod520 Apr 20, 2018

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    The chart on LunarOyster is the same chart you're seeing everywhere else, not multiple charts - it was compiled a long time ago before recent research had been done. That chart is outdated and really can't be used to determine your watch's production date.

    145.022-69s were produced through 1971 with a few stragglers probably even leaving the factory in early 1972, and a 31m serial number fits perfectly well into the later end of that range.
     
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  20. swish77 Apr 20, 2018

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    I'm looking at this chart too: http://speedmaster101.com/serial-quick-reference-to-78/

    I get it, none of this is exact, just estimates, but it needs to fit roughly into the range, I'd imagine. The reason I'm asking is because I'm looking at a straight-writing case-back Speedy with a "69" stamp and a 328XXXXX movement serial (see photos). I want to make sure the straight-writing case-back, for which you pay a premium, originally came on a watch with a movement serial number that is at least a couple of years later. Would this combination of 328XXXXX serial movement and straight-writing "69" case-back be considered correct? Thanks!
     
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