I received an email alert on this Flightmaster (and have reproduced the more detailed photographs for reference)

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Omega-Fl...716407?hash=item2171982237:g:m4AAAOSwmZde8tMWPurchases made through these links may earn this site a commission from the eBay Partner Network



I must say, I thought the price was extraordinarily high at over £5,800 GBP depending on the exact exchange rate. I get the case is excellent (but not perfect), but with a service dial, service pushers and crowns, it seems to me that there's little value in its originality. I personally wouldn't have a problem owning one of these where all those parts were service parts, as it's a functional watch for me, but I think I'd rather start with a tired example and get the work done myself than pay this. I'm also a little bit befuddled as to why so much attention appears to have been paid to the cosmetic side of things but to me the crystal seal looks aged, and the back of the case appears quite scratched (in comparison to the rest of it). And no photo of the case back (although that might just be an oversight).

I'd be interested to know what other people's views are on this.

 

It might beetje photo or the screen but it looks on picture 3 and 4 that is extremely crisp but not straight. Like he case has been polished and then the raw Finish brushed back in. Or am I wrong?

 

Just two more points - the regulator being black seems slightly odd (but maybe a service part)? And the description has completely the wrong details (for a Seiko Lordmatic).

 

I wondered about that, but didn't feel knowledgeable enough to speculate on it.

 

service parts watch = strong pass for me and
price is out of world
Just my 2c
Good luck

 

to me it’s worth well less than half the asking price

 

I think the black regulator is just an illusion based on how the light was reflected in the photo. Ultimately, this is a service parts watch with a refinished case. Very little left of the original watch, and the price should reflect that.

But since we're on the subject, damn Flightmaster's look nice

 

Thanks for all the comments - to be clear, I have no intention of purchasing the watch, as it's utterly overpriced in my view, but it has been interesting to see other people's views about it. Two quite nice Flightmasters sold at £2,000 and £2,200 at auction yesterday in England, plus premium of about 25 per cent. One of them I was bidding on, and I bid £2,000, but I guess the winning bidder for the same amount must have bid earlier.

 

The crystal and gasket looks very odd, I'm not sure from the photos what the issue is but it looks like the crystal gasket is not correct for the watch

 

This watch has been heavily restored. The crystal is sticking up a very long ways from the top of the case (normally sticks up a bit, but no where near this much), so this is caused by one of two things:

1 - The crystal has not been properly seated in the case, or

2 - The case has been so heavily refinished that significant height has been removed from it.

Based on the fact that this is clearly an old gasket holding the crystal in place (new ones are white and translucent), it would not have been difficult to seat the crystal properly, so I am leaning towards a pile of material being removed during the refinishing process.

 

Despite what the listing says, this looks like a .026 case body. If so then the height of the crystal may be correct, or the wrong crystal or gasket may be in it. However my guess is that the back is likely service and says .036. Also agree way overpriced and service everything (hands, dial, etc.) and heavily restored.

 

I’m fairly sure the 036 uses a different type of gasket from the 013 and 026.

My one which had new crystal and gasket last year (as part of the service) and has a slightly yellow tinge to the gasket too.

 

Yes a different gasket and crystal. The .013 and .026 have the same gasket but different crystals, the .036 has a different crystal and gasket. On the .026 the crystal does stick up, and has a bevel. The mvt. serial number is also definitely in the .026 range, actually early on. The .036 serial numbers start at 33xxxxxxx. I'm betting this is a .026 with a .036 service back.

 

For reference:

Nearly new 036 on the left, very well used 026 on the right.

 

These two references use completely different crystals, and completely different methods of holding the crystals in place.

The 145.026 uses an O-ring to hold the crystal in place, much like a Mk. II Speedmaster.

The 145.036 shown above, uses a hard plastic gasket to hold the crystal in place.

I don't believe it is physically possible, based on the outside diameter of the two crystals being so different, to install the style with the rigid gasket into the case that uses the O-ring style. The crystal and hard plastic gasket would be too large for the opening in the case designed to take the O-ring.

Yes, I am familiar...I do service these you know...and that includes replacing the crystals and the gaskets that hold them in place.

If you really want to see what a new gasket for the 145.036 looks like, here's one I installed on a watch last month...





Cheers, Al

 

Point taken, still has a mvt in the .026 serial range. Just reinforces that this is likely a put-together job of old and new service parts. Case so heavily re-done it looks like the lug ends were "chopped"and shortened.

 

Wasn’t arguing with you @Archer or questioning your abilities (I think you’re awesome) - just observing that the fresh gasket in mine has a bit of a yellow tinge to it too.

 

"fresh"...well....

 

Not sure what’s going on here to make temperatures run so high, but I’m going to duck back out of this thread.

have fun folks.

 

Thank you again to all of you for your input. I'm growing a little more confident in being able to spot a watch with issues (at least in relation to one of these, which I've been looking for for some time), but threads like these are massively helpful in developing that knowledge.