Not all 321's are Speedmasters.....

duffy7 · Jul 25, 2021

Congrats on this beauty

Is this the one from chrono24 from Belgium?

Fabulon · Jul 25, 2021

Thanks a lot duffy!

Yes it was listed there too. But i met with the seller in person as it was only a 90 min drive for me, so didnt buy it through chrono. Was always a grail for me and i finally have one now. I really love these 321seamaster chronos

Here i have another one...not an omega...but a distant cousin

myatt · Jul 25, 2021

Fabulon
My favorite thread here 😀

Here is my 105.001

Uniquely distintictive lugs on this reference 😀

Geme81 · Jul 26, 2021

Spacefruit
Of course most people know that, but for some while I viewed early Seamaster 321's simply as potential donors for ailing speedmasters. Several years ago I bought this and put it in the safe for future need. Then I got a call from the workshop to say they were now swimming in 321 parts, and could fix anything. So this meant I no longer need a "reserve" 321 and so I decided to send this in. I dont know too much about these, but I can tell you its back home, fully serviced for an all in cost of £1600, including the purchase, service - and strap!.

That isnt bad for a guaranteed 321, I know that these seamsters get advertised without history for $3000 - 4000+ but I really dont think they sell. I may not be comparing like for like - there seem to be many references carrying the seamaster name and a Speedmaster era 321.

Instructions were to service, clean the case and give a light polish. Keep original hands and dial, do not refurbish them in any way - apart from removing any loose material.

For some reason the dial shows slightly more yellow than in life. I have much to learn about watch photography.

I would love to see others?

Beautiful piece

southtexas · Nov 3, 2021

Hello guys, if I have a 15,99X,XXX cal 321 movement, can I submit for an extract to see what it was originally cased in? I’m based in USA, do we have use of the online request portal yet? Thanks very much.

Edit: also, is there a list here on the forum that shows which references were powered by 321 (and during which serial ranges)? Probably a big ask, but thought I’d try….

pdxleaf · Nov 3, 2021

southtexas
Hello guys, if I have a 15,99X,XXX cal 321 movement, can I submit for an extract to see what it was originally cased in? I’m based in USA, do we have use of the online request portal yet? Thanks very much.

Edit: also, is there a list here on the forum that shows which references were powered by 321 (and during which serial ranges)? Probably a big ask, but thought I’d try….

Try putting your serial number in Ilovemyspeedmaster.com first.

If you do decide to request an extract online and you are in the USA, you will need to say you are in the Virgin Islands. You can use all the rest of your normal address. I have done this and it works.

EDIT: I did it for a complete watch, not just a movement. Because they ask you to submit pictures of the watch, it's doubtful that they will issue you an extract.

You can send a request to Omega's customer service, who might take mercy on you.

southtexas · Nov 3, 2021

pdxleaf
Try putting your serial number in Ilovemyspeedmaster.com first.

If you do decide to request an extract online and you are in the USA, you will need to say you are in the Virgin Islands. You can use all the rest of your normal address. I have done this and it works.

EDIT: I did it for a complete watch, not just a movement. Because they ask you to submit pictures of the watch, it's doubtful that they will issue you an extract.

You can send a request to Omega's customer service, who might take mercy on you.

I put it into the website you sent me (thank you). Here’s what it spit out. Is this website reliable; meaning, is this movement from a 2915-1 or -2? And how would it know (unless this movement had been confirmed before, which is highly unlikely as it came directly from an old-timer’s watchmaker estate)?

pdxleaf · Nov 3, 2021

Well, that is interesting.

The person who developed this site is @eugeneandresson, who is a forum member. He is in Europe so would reply in the morning if he cared to comment. (Hi, Eugene.)

In brief, the website is based on previous examples and estimates ranges of serial numbers for models. (That's my dummy understanding as Eugene is much smarter than I am.)

It is pretty accurate. I have put in several serial numbers in the past to verify references when thinking of buying a watch. I used it once on a watch that i later got an extract for and Eugene's website was only off by one month from the extract. So i think it's pretty accurate.

What are you thinking now? It's a shame you don't have the rest of the watch. Is the movement clean or rusty? Are the screws clean or are the edges rough?

Tell us more about the old timers estate. Was it just a random estate sale or did you know him? It's an interesting artifact for certain.

Cheers

eugeneandresson · Nov 4, 2021

southtexas
I put it into the website you sent me (thank you). Here’s what it spit out. Is this website reliable; meaning, is this movement from a 2915-1 or -2? And how would it know (unless this movement had been confirmed before, which is highly unlikely as it came directly from an old-timer’s watchmaker estate)?

Without watch pics I don’t believe you will get an extract (it changed). ‘They no longer want to legitimize bastards’ would be my guess. Movements were assigned to watches in blocks or batches for production of the different models with same movement (eg a bunch of Speedmasters, then a bunch of Seamasters etc) however this doesn’t mean the serial number ranges and models are 100% mutually exclusive. Often they are. It’s not an exact science though, and there may be some outliers. My science teacher always said before an exam ‘when in doubt read the instructions’…still holds true in this case 😉 On the page you entered your serial number in are some ‘instructions’ in the form of a long disclaimer intended to help understand the process a bit, and a link to here. You will see the exact block this SN falls under. So it may be from a Speedmaster, and it may not be (my guess). 159xxxxx is definitely early territory.

Truva1 · Nov 4, 2021

What goodies. Fantastic.

southtexas · Nov 4, 2021

eugeneandresson
Without watch pics I don’t believe you will get an extract (it changed). ‘They no longer want to legitimize bastards’ would be my guess. Movements were assigned to watches in blocks or batches for production of the different models with same movement (eg a bunch of Speedmasters, then a bunch of Seamasters etc) however this doesn’t mean the serial number ranges and models are 100% mutually exclusive. Often they are. It’s not an exact science though, and there may be some outliers. My science teacher always said before an exam ‘when in doubt read the instructions’…still holds true in this case 😉 On the page you entered your serial number in are some ‘instructions’ in the form of a long disclaimer intended to help understand the process a bit, and a link to here. You will see the exact block this SN falls under. So it may be from a Speedmaster, and it may not be (my guess). 159xxxxx is definitely early territory.

Thank you for that explanation and all
of your effort putting together that site!

I looked at Speedmaster101.com, and it shows this movement serial falling in line with that site’s serial range. See pic below. I know this isn’t definitive, and I would like to learn what other models used this caliber in this range. The “here” link you posted is very helpful also, thank you. From that link, the movement serial falls in the midst of the 2nd row (pic below).

eugeneandresson · Nov 4, 2021

southtexas
Thank you for that explanation and all
of your effort putting together that site!

I looked at Speedmaster101.com, and it shows this movement serial falling in line with that site’s serial range. See pic below. I know this isn’t definitive, and I would like to learn what other models used this caliber in this range. The “here” link you posted is very helpful also, thank you. From that link, the movement serial falls in the midst of the 2nd row (pic below).

If you look at ‘Table B’ on the shared link, you will see why ‘2915-1/2’ 👍

southtexas · Nov 4, 2021

eugeneandresson
If you look at ‘Table B’ on the shared link, you will see why ‘2915-1/2’ 👍

Yes, I indeed saw that. I am aware that it could’ve been in one of those, but I’m curious to see what other omega models of that range were powered by 321. In other words, I’m trying to narrow down what different refs it could’ve come from. Thanks for the continued help.

From what I’ve taken from this conversation, the one in question was made in a batch that has been seen in 2915s, but has that same batch also had movements in other omegas?

southtexas · Nov 5, 2021

pdxleaf
Well, that is interesting.

The person who developed this site is @eugeneandresson, who is a forum member. He is in Europe so would reply in the morning if he cared to comment. (Hi, Eugene.)

In brief, the website is based on previous examples and estimates ranges of serial numbers for models. (That's my dummy understanding as Eugene is much smarter than I am.)

It is pretty accurate. I have put in several serial numbers in the past to verify references when thinking of buying a watch. I used it once on a watch that i later got an extract for and Eugene's website was only off by one month from the extract. So i think it's pretty accurate.

What are you thinking now? It's a shame you don't have the rest of the watch. Is the movement clean or rusty? Are the screws clean or are the edges rough?

Tell us more about the old timers estate. Was it just a random estate sale or did you know him? It's an interesting artifact for certain.

Cheers

The estate had some interesting items in it. This complete 321, and another complete 321 that has a
17.3 serial and Seamaster chronograph dial with complete handset. There are several funky watches in it, including an oversized WWII chronograph apparently worn by bombers (I don’t recall the brand). I’ll get some pics when I have a moment. Also had a few complete watch heads that need service.