I am being offered this Omega Speedmaster 105.012 with tropical dial for $4.5K. Is it worth it based on the actual picture of the watch below? Thanks.
Pusher are too large for a 105.012. Also has wide T spaced dial which was only found in later 105.012 models. Need movement and case back pics to make sure this isn't a 145.012
Hmm. Why do you say it is a 67? There are no 105.012-67's Hands, bezel and dial look correct for reference. To be honest I like it, but many here do not follow my penchant for partially destroyed watches. The photos are dreadful - in that they are not as shot, they have been filtered or edited, and taken by someone who is either careless or unable to grasp basic photo principles and without access to at least a smart phone camera. All of which suggests it might be a bargain....after all, if the seller doesn't care.... My worry is the dial is damaged beyond what I like to call patina. Are all those marks in the crystal or on the dial? Especially around the 7 to 9 mark. Personally I would be taking a gamble on it, if I thought it was cheap. My guess is it is a -66CB with polished lugs - unless as @Gemini4 suggests it is a 145.012-67 One thing to remember is that brown dials in this reference is uncommon, though not implausible - so careful examination would be required to check for originality. I would want to see the outside case back, and inside the movement and case back. Oh and of course first I would want an unaltered photo to see that dial, because it is all about the dial.
Thanks for the advise gentlemen. I will see the watch tomorrow and will get better pictures of the watch including the case back (inner/outer) and movement as suggested by Gemini 4 and Spacefruit.
I'd certainly get the back off and get a peek at the movement. It looks like some of the lume had almost rotted to a black gunk so I'd be concerned about significant water ingress. Could be nicer in the flesh or could look completely sh@£&ed out.
I think this is overpriced for $4,500. Wrong pushers, damaged dial, probably a 145.012-67. In comparison, I picked this up on Ebay recently for less and it is a significant improvement. 105.012-66 HF. Bezel looks better in person. All original, even the crown. I think the OP can do much better for $4,500.
I agree Gemini4, I really liked that one you bought. I tried to persuade him to send Overseas but he wouldn't. The bezel looked weird in the photos, in some it looked badly damaged, in others it looked reasonably good.
It hurts when you can't do anything about it and all you can do is stand back and watch. Does it look as good in person?
It does. It happens. About 3 months ago, at the height of DON bezelmania, I lost a pristine $300 DON BIN bezel on Ebay because the seller would not ship to the USA. I nearly convinced him and then he realized what he had and pulled the listing.
Ouch, US$300, 3 months ago. It seems US$1,000 won't even get a half reasonable DON bezel these days. One on Ebay Germany now for EUR1,300.
Actually it is a bit brown. This is the seller's photo from EBay and not the best quality. Irregardless, the watch dial under consideration by the OP is both scraped and damaged. Pushers are wrong. The hour subresgister doesn't reset properly. If, when held up to light at a certain angle, it appears brown, this does not IMHO add much value to an overpriced watch. In America we also have a saying. If your beaches have rocks instead of sand and herring carts instead of palm trees then you can't know very much about tropical.
On second look the dial is not scraped but the lume plots are flaking, crusty and not very attractive.
A tropical 321 is always attractive. I think the watch would be more desirable with a good relume. I bought this 105.012 some years ago : After restoration :