Community Stories

Oh my god, I bought a speedy. (back on my wrist!)

jurisevac@
Posts
228
Likes
343
When you are looking for problems you find a problem for me that would be great baying to the others are not, but for the same amount of money you can get new watch with no problem but this is not in the trend of what we can get a history free and vintage look in one package,anniversary models omega speedmaster exist.
 
Speedmasterfan88
Posts
1,303
Likes
4,389
TNTwatch TNTwatch
Is it that hard to see that the other numbers have been drilled out too?

If you're not concluding it's a stolen watch, then is it that hard to think it fits into the other story of the drilled out serial numbers? Or is it that hard to follow the links to read that story?


I read the storys and threads provided by the links, and the pictures of OP look nothing like the ones in the articles where the numbers where precisely drilled out in an concentric form.

Let's just agree to disagree on this one.
 
jurisevac@
Posts
228
Likes
343
Bravo, don't drink and drive and don't bay used goods when you can have wellpur pillow from TV shop.
 
Speedmasterfan88
Posts
1,303
Likes
4,389
jurisevac@ jurisevac@
Bravo, don't drink and drive and don't bay used goods when you can have wellpur pillow from TV shop.

Maybe you should lay off the drinking mate ... 馃槈.
 
TNTwatch
Posts
2,876
Likes
1,962
Speedmasterfan88 Speedmasterfan88
I read the storys and threads provided by the links, and the pictures of OP look nothing like the ones in the articles where the numbers where precisely drilled out in an concentric form.

Let's just agree to disagree on this one.
When you work on 3000 units on a commercial scale, not every unit can possibly be the same.

Not trying to convince you to agree with anything, but do you or anyone think that a thief with the tools and skills to work on the movement would be that stupid to leave most of the numbers pretty much still readable?
 
Archer
Posts
29,344
Likes
75,900
Speedmasterfan88 Speedmasterfan88
Please take a look again at the pics provided by OP and the other comparison pictures in this thread. The numbers merely resemble the refined stamping we see on the other pictures plus some of them resemble more of a blob than an actual stamping... what's with the last number? Supposed to be a 2 I guess? What do you think happened here? The stamping machine at Lemania/Omega had a bad day? A few to many drinks the night before? Someone at omega restamped this part by hand? And then there are the drilled out numbers...

I have some experience with machinery designed to stamp lettering on metals in high volumes - the process is not as repeatable as you might think. Having serviced hundreds of Speedmasters, I can say that depth of stamping varies certainly. Some are very difficult to read, even in real life. These numbers have the classic signs of being stamped too deeply:



I only see 2 numbers that appear to be tampered with - the 6th and 7th. Reading the article, I very much doubt this was done by the same place that neatly machined away the 4 serial numbers on those other watches, so I don't believe this is one of them. Just my opinion.

Cheers, Al
 
Speedmasterfan88
Posts
1,303
Likes
4,389
TNTwatch TNTwatch
When you work on 3000 units on a commercial scale, not every unit can possibly be the same.

Not trying to convince you to agree with anything, but do you or anyone think that a thief with the tools and skills to work on the movement would be that stupid to leave most of the numbers pretty much still readable?


In no way I think that 馃槈. Why I said in my earlier comment, that I would think a thief would drill out all the numbers.
For me it's more likely that the part at some time was changed, maybe the number of the exchange part was then rather crudly overstamped with the original reference number that belonged to this watch. As it falls into the correct range for a speedmaster like OPs as others pointed out. That's just my theory though.
I know that this does not explain why some of the numbers appear to be completely drilled out.

The other story provided in the links would make perfect sense to me, if the drilling on OPs watch would be done in the same fashion (concentric and complete) as it's shown in those pictures.

Now with @Archer chiming in, thanks for the clarification on stamping processes and too deep stampings.
 
TNTwatch
Posts
2,876
Likes
1,962
Speedmasterfan88 Speedmasterfan88
The other story provided in the links would make perfect sense to me, if the drilling on OPs watch would be done in the same fashion (concentric and complete) as it's shown in those pictures.
There were thousands of units for that one grey market dealer, it's obvious that they were not from the same source, were not modified by one person, one process or even one single outfit. It's not like there was an assembly line set up just to drill out the numbers, so differences happened. One difference mentioned in the story is there were 3, 4 and 5 digits drilled out.

From the OP posted pictures, I think at least the last 3 digits have been drilled out, and looks like the 4th and 5th digits also been possibly messed with.

Whatever the cause, I don't think this was a stolen watch. It's also possible that there was not just one grey market dealer either.
 
tamura
Posts
779
Likes
2,448
The watch is back on my wrist!!!! ::rimshot:: Afaik the watch was not stolen, no one is missing it.It maybe was illegal imported to japan in the seventies and the 2 numbers were drilled out in japan.
Some new pictures.
Dial in black
aabbsma.jpg

A bit brown
aabbsmb.jpg

brown
aabbsmc.jpg aabbsmd.jpg aabbsmg.jpg aabbsmh.jpg

Tamura馃榾馃榾
 
gperry
Posts
21
Likes
22
Looks even better on the wrist. I'd say you did well. Lugs are super crisp too. Enjoy your watch. I'd be interested to hear if you ever end up doing an extract.
 
Tritium
Posts
1,210
Likes
1,690
Very honest from your part not accepting a watch before you're sure is not stolen. At least, you have two theories that could prove is not, so nothing wrong keeping it and giving it the wrist time it deserves.
Enjoy it 馃憤
 
oddboy
Posts
9,217
Likes
24,055
What's the story with being imported into Japan?

Watch looks really nice!
 
jurisevac@
Posts
228
Likes
343
This is sounds of modern-day, brown is trend darling and brown dial is what we bought.But sweetheart blue is premium color in this dials,OK blue it is.
 
tamura
Posts
779
Likes
2,448
oddboy oddboy
What's the story with being imported into Japan?

Watch looks really nice!
Those watches have been imported without paying tax but sold in shops.
 
oddboy
Posts
9,217
Likes
24,055
tamura tamura
Those watches have been imported without paying tax but sold in shops.
so that's a "known" thing? like the article posted about the ones in the US? I'm just curious to know if there's a link or something describing this, or is it just a theory or anecdotal? Not challenging the idea, it sounds reasonable, just wondering if there's some info I could peruse to understand it a little better.
 
4 More Posts...
Sign up or log in to reply...

Similar threads

Robert-Jan

I Should Have Bought A Speedmaster As My First Watch

Robert-Jan Modern Omega Watches
bsowers34
bsowers34
Posts
4
Views
1K
buramu

A384 Revival - just in awe after a week on my wrist

buramu Zenith Watches
cristos71
cristos71
Posts
2
Views
7K
ae86guy

Speedy back from questionable service... thoughts?

ae86guy Modern Omega Watches
galaxytime
galaxytime
Posts
34
Views
8K
97'vintage

What should I get done on my 1962 Omega?

97'vintage Vintage Omega Watches Help, Discussion and Advice
97'vintage
97'vintage
Posts
10
Views
4K
omega_jaemaster

My new Flightmaster SNA411 - how does the size look on my wrist?

omega_jaemaster Seiko Watches
Alpha
Alpha
Posts
6
Views
4K
Harry jenkins

My mistake (Don鈥檛 sleep on it)

Harry jenkins Open Discussion
ErichKeane
ErichKeane
Posts
33
Views
5K