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Omega Speedmaster Pre Professional......took A Gamble And...............................

  1. Tom Dick and Harry Mar 16, 2013

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    Well

    As I mentioned in a few of my recent posts I’ve been on a bit of a buying spree of late, partly because I am working bloody hard and wanted to reward myself (my wife disagrees) and partly because there have been some opportunities come up I couldn’t miss.

    In the last two months I’ve snagged a night on NOS Chrono-quartz a NOS gold plate Speedy MKII, two NOS Omega Skin Divers a couple of Omega Lobsters and a NOS Megaquartz 32khz mirror dial along with a few more which I will share as they return to me from STS

    As anyone who knows me on the forum will testify I love vintage Omegas and have dedicated a lot of time over the last six years of collecting to building and sharing my knowledge of the brand pre 1990, that said many people on the forum also think I am a tasteless upstart with some sort of imbalance towards garish Omegas from the 70’s with a proclivity for early HEQ quatz. Unbeknown to many however I also do own quite a few ‘icon pieces’ like my ploprof, Bullhead, Railmaster etc etc.

    Although I’ve owned over a dozen Speedies I haven’t had one in the stable for a little while since my 2998 FAP went to Malc, my favourite piece and one of my big regrets was selling my Speedy 105003-65, which went to Steve Vickery here on TZ, for those of you who knew Steve you will know he sadly lost his fight against cancer last year but before he passed I brokered a deal for him on the Speedmaster to go from him to my uncle, who has a small collection of vintage Omegas. Anyway, I saw my uncle recently and he was wearing the watch which reignited my passion to find another, although I love the 2915 and 2998 I think the 105003 is the perfect speedy, great lines, clean dial and hands and a great heritage!

    The 105-003 was the fourth generation of Speedmaster; the 2915 ‘broad arrow’ produced between 1957 and 1959 (now worth in excess of £20000 in original condition), the 2998 which ran form 1959 – 1962 (very similar to the 2915 but with dauphine hands and base 1000/ Tachy 500 black bezels), the 105-002 which ran for one year only from 1962- 1963 (basically the 105003 with dauphine hands) and then finally the 105-003, straight lugs, pre professional dial but the now infamous speedmaster hands! (made famous because of the NASA link, hence Ed White)

    As anyone who appreciates a good Speedmaster will know straight lug pre professionals in original condition are not easy to find (despite their relatively high production numbers), usually ‘modernised’ with replacement dials, bezel and hands, often polished to within an inch of their life and regularly with a movement that’s seen more action than Katie Price.

    Whilst perusing my favourite auction site a few weeks ago this little gem popped up, pics were poor, seller had just one positive feedback and it had a starting price of £700!

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    I messaged the seller with an honest appraisal of the piece, left my number with an offer which was well in excess of his asking price and fair market value for an un serviced example taking a gamble on the movement (no point in offering £1000 and hoping for the best, plus that’s just not my style) fully expecting to hear nothing.

    Couple of days past and whilst sitting in a dull as dishwater meeting my phone went with an international number!! Long and the short the seller was a lovely chap called Peter who’s now retired and lives in France. He'd owned the watch since new, it had been sitting in a drawer for over ten years and he recalled buying it new in 1970! He was selling the watch through his grandsons ebay account! Now some people here might have smelled a rat based on the low feedback and international number but I gave the benefit of the doubt and jumped right in based on a great conversation with a lovely guy!

    So, a dozens emails whilst the watch came from France to the UK, then from Durham to me, an exchange of a good wedge of money and I was left with a completely original but very dirty Speedy 105-003-64, for me it was like opening a barn door and finding that original Porsche 356 pre A in totally unmolested condition (that’s my next mission) She was filthy, couldn’t get the case back off buy was running bang on and functioning perfectly!

    She’s just back from the ‘specialist restoration department’ at STS where their service manager Simon handles all of their ‘special work’, I’ve had the case cleaned (40 years or dirt and debris), the movement overhauled and the case very sympathetically refinished along with the original crystal. Personally I am thrilled with the results, and in the words of Simon, ‘it’s a great find, the movement is perfect and one of the best I have ever seen’

    So without further pontificating I give you my one owner (now two) never restored (until now) and completely 100% original (even down to the crown) Speedmaster 105-003-65 ‘Ed White’

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    Moral of the story? Sometimes it’s worth taking a gamble

    Cheers Tom
     
  2. cicindela Steve @ ΩF Staff Member Mar 16, 2013

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    You did well Tom, very well. She's a beauty, no denying. :thumbsup:
     
  3. watchyouwant ΩF Clairvoyant Mar 16, 2013

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    that`s the way to go ! i`ve done that 100`s of times over the last 25 years. only a few disappointments. and with some unbiased judgement you will do well ! congratulations. kind regards. achim
     
  4. Privateday7 quotes Miss Universe Mar 16, 2013

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    Very beautiful piece Tom. Congrats on your barn find...........
     
  5. SpikiSpikester @ ΩF Staff Member Mar 16, 2013

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    Great find. Well done :)
     
  6. BASE1000 Prolific Speedmaster Hoarder Mar 16, 2013

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    Tom, yes, the 105.003 is in some perspective the most classic of all the Speedys and it is a perfect daily wearer. Hands are easy to read and the face without the silver tension ring makes the dial very large, clean and serious looking.

    my congrats on that very nice example of this icon!
    Gunnar
     
  7. pitpro Likes the game. Mar 16, 2013

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    mmmm congrats
     
  8. Varasc Mar 17, 2013

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    A fantastic thread Tom, chapeau! Great watch and story.
     
  9. Tom Dick and Harry Mar 19, 2013

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    Thanks all

    Yep I am really pleased with it, I have been wearing it for three near four solid days now and it has lost 14 seconds against my Marine Chronometer, not bad for a near 50 year old watch!
     
  10. sumerian Gold Constellation Magpie Mar 19, 2013

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    Hey Tom,
    i didn't know you are on this forum.
    thats a nice watch looks like you have a bunch of NOS
    ofcourse I grabbed one of them recently ;)
     
  11. Tom Dick and Harry Mar 19, 2013

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    Sure am! I do get around! Loving the omegaforum so far!

    I have a humble collection of a few NOS pieces ;)

    Yep, really pleased with the Speedy, one I will be keeping
     
  12. MSNWatch Vintage Omega Aficionado Staff Member Mar 19, 2013

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    The feel of a NOS (or something very close) vintage omega is special indeed!