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Omega bday present from 1972

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Hi - am looking for an Omega from 1972 as a bday present - budget is pretty good, anyone got anything interesting or can point me in the right direction? Am leaning towards Speedmasters, my knowledge is not super hot though! Thanks all

Will
 
gbesq
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1971 Speedmaster Professional would fit the bill. The reference number would be 145.022-71 They were manufactured from 1971 through 1974. Last of the step dial models (until the new 2021 Speedy was introduced). Not particularly easy to find in all original and good condition, but they are out there. Here’s mine:
9DD05971-19F5-48FE-9F59-7481DA193255.jpeg
Edited:
 
JwRosenthal
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Dating these exactly can be tough without an extract from the archives- which will tell you when and where it was delivered. Keep in mind that watch parts were made in batches, then later assembled. So a movement made in 1971 may not have been assembled into a watch until 1973. Furthermore, once it was delivered, it could have sat in a jewelers stock for a few more years. So a movement (which bears the serial numbers by which it can be dated) could have been made in ‘71 and not sold until ‘75.
Plus being very strict on a specific year of production can make you overlook some great period examples in order to find a potentially poorer example which happened to fit into your year requirement.

Best advice is to focus on an era, not specifically a year. As @gbesq mentioned, the ‘71-‘74 models were the last of the step dials and had the moon back- so are fairly easy to spot. They also are the best value in the step dialed Speedy’s IMO.

Don’t use eBay or Chrono24 as a barometer for price, they are all over the map from daydreamer collector prices to beaters and cobbled watches for stupid money. Look at the classifieds here and search Speedmasters that have sold in the last year or two- it should give you a pretty good idea of what honest examples tend to go for.

And my ‘72 says hi- also my birthyear, I just got lucky on that one.
BDEA3CA9-D586-49F8-82C1-2A44AE96E149.jpeg
 
gbesq
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Nice ‘72! Unfortunately, my birth year is 1958 and Speedys from that year tend to be a little pricey and hard to find. Ok, VERY pricey and REALLY hard to find. 😁 But I’m happy with my ‘71.
 
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Up to $10k I guess - love the feedback thanks for the time and the pic - yes that is bang what I am after. Great job my friend.
 
JwRosenthal
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$10k should get you a near pristine example of one of these. A good daily wear with some mileage (as mine has- don’t mind the service bezel, the original beaten ones is in storage) can be had for much less. Keep an eye on the classifieds here, they do pop up
 
gbesq
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While I take no position on whether this watch is a “buy,” I would say that it appears to be a 145.022-71 in reasonably good condition that falls within the upper end of the expected price range for this reference. It looks to me like the original tritium hour and chronograph hands may have been replaced with superluminova service parts (notice how they are much whiter than the minute hand). The bezel may also be a service replacement. The bracelet and end links are correct for this reference. A watch that is not fully original would be a deal breaker for me, but you could certainly use it as a starting point to compare to other 1971 Speedmaster Professionals to get a sense of the market.
https://watchcharts.com/listing/2479865
Edited:
 
JwRosenthal
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gbesq gbesq
While I take no position on whether this watch is a “buy,” I would say that it appears to be a 145.022-71 in reasonably good condition that falls within the upper end of the expected price range for this reference. It looks to me like the original tritium hour and chronograph hands may have been replaced with superluminova service parts (notice how they are much whiter than the minute hand). The bezel may also be a service replacement. The bracelet and end links are correct for this reference. A watch that is not fully original would be a deal breaker for me, but you could certainly use it as a starting point to compare to other 1971 Speedmaster Professionals to get a sense of the market.
https://watchcharts.com/listing/2479865
Those photos are awful! Color cast is all over the place, dial is pitched inky black as to not be able to see any surface detail. This is either a totally ignorant seller or one with something to hide.
 
gbesq
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Not a pro at listings to be sure, but his customer reviews are actually quite good. I posted the link for comparison purposes only. Thought that it might be useful for the OP to compare it to other listings as well as to the pics of our watches that you and I posted to begin getting a better idea of the market. If he searches thread titles only for “1971 Speedmaster” in the OF private watch sales forum, he’ll also find 12 prior sales listings.
 
Butik
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Thank you guys for above feedback, I am also looking to get a 50-years gift to myself next year (vintage '72). Any Ideas within the budget of 3-4 k€?
 
gbesq
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Butik Butik
Thank you guys for above feedback, I am also looking to get a 50-years gift to myself next year (vintage '72). Any Ideas within the budget of 3-4 k€?
Omega only? Chronograph, diver, dress watch?
 
Butik
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gbesq gbesq
Omega only? Chronograph, diver, dress watch?
Yes, OMEGA only - to be honest anything larger than 36mm (I have 18cm wrist). Already own 6 modern Omegas of all styles (diver, GMT, dress, chrono, X-33) so the style does not matter so much 😀
 
JwRosenthal
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Butik Butik
Yes, OMEGA only - to be honest anything larger than 36mm (I have 18cm wrist). Already own 6 modern Omegas of all styles (diver, GMT, dress, chrono, X-33) so the style does not matter so much 😀
You are in luck- ‘72 was a great year for larger Omegas. Under your price range (please help me with ref #’s) would be the Speedy II, the TV dialed Speedy, the 37mm sparkle Seamasters, the Seamaster 200....and a few more I surely am missing
 
Butik
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Hmm, these colorful chronos are nuts 😀 <3
 
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