Can it be right to sell this as a 105.003 when the bit you look at, the dial, isn't? Can you trust any off it. How do "upmarket" auctions house get away with just posting one photo anyway. Sorry for the moan http://www.antiquorum.com/catalog/lots/omega-ref-st-105-003-lot-302-296?page=1&q=speedmaster
Interesting philosophical question. If someone makes a stupid comment, are they fully stupid, or maybe they just had a slip of the tongue? As Mike said, no need to speculate - ask for more info and pictures, and then you can answer your own question.
Now that I've read the description, I can see and read that it is a 2998-2 dial and a very nice one at that
Yup, says right in the listing that it's has an earlier 2998 dial. Can you trust it? Seems like the description is accurate, but that doesn't mean original vs put together. You just have to know what you're bidding on I guess. In any event, the price will probably be up there in large part because of the dial.
No interest in buying , have better , so more a point of order and discussion point. It's listed as a 105.003 , how much of the watch needs to be 105.003 for that to be an accurate description. Is it the movement and caseback? A 105.003 is individually identified from other straight lug models by its dial, Its quite hard to see the model and serial number on your wrist. Yes the dial is nice if we are into asset stripping, has it been relumed. How many wrong parts make it a Franken. If this watch was posted on the OF with one photo would you buy it for 10000 euros and counting or what would you say to the seller?
I would buy the watch for 10,000 euros because the dial is worth 10,000 euros alone. Dial is not relumed, just amazingly tropical with original radium lume. Like this one
Unusual situation where it is a parts watch that has more value than if it were an all original 105.003 - all because of the dial which by itself is worth more than an all original 105.003!
I look at every watch I consider purchasing as an assembly of parts and the value of those parts. You have to add $2-3000 for a perfect DON when calculating the value of a vintage Omega and deduct that much for a missing one. This is just an example, but it applies to bracelets, casebacks and any other part that needs to potentially be replaced or that can be sold off.
I have determined the watch is a Franken and have revised my opinion. Watch will/should fetch about 12-14k euro..
All estimates above, so far, are essentially lower than what this is likely to fetch. That dial will turn many to a pile of drool...even if a parts watch. AQ has a following, regardless
I considered that too. How many people do you know have 2998-2's? Then ask, how many of them are incomplete and require a new dial? If you want to start a project using this dial, you would still need a correct caseback, base 1000 bezel, Alpha hands, Proper bracelet and proper movement. I think the number of people this would appeal to is very low. Then add 20% to the hammer price and if its anything more than 15k USD the buyer is paying 18k USD. Anything is possible if 2 people really want it, but I considered it and have decided to pass. its a complete parts watch, not a single part matches, not one...
WTF Hear that sound? It's the sound of people searching parts drawers to contruct early Omegas for auction.