Omega Speedmaster Professional Mk II

Ben Vista · Apr 21, 2020

Let me say from the out set this is not a complaint, I am more than happy with the result. I recently had my 1971 Speedmaster Professional Mk II completely serviced and reconditioned in Switzerland, i.e. replacement glass, mechanical parts, stainless steel strap and metal case polished. The watch looks well and I am more than pleased. Question one relates to a small bag of parts which were returned with the watch, something that has never happened during any pervious service. It is possible the internal workings of the watch have been updated or do I still have a 1971 mechanism? Question two relates to something I have never considered before. I traditionally wind my watch (fully) morning and evening and I reset the time against the atomic clock on the first day of each month. What would this 1971 Omega expect to loose or gain in time over a period of thirty days? My reasons for these question are simple. I will be seventy in August of this year and this watch has given no trouble in forty nine years of wear and tear. I want the fully reconditioned watch to go to one of my grandsons. Finally for insurance only a new Speedmaster of this same model is retailing at £4000 in the United Kingdom, what could be the current value of my watch? Any advice, positive or negative on how I should look after my reconditioned Speedmaster would be most welcome, Thank you. PS I should add the replacement stainless strap is different to the original but that takes nothing away from the look of the watch..

padders · Apr 21, 2020

To address you questions in order, yes it is normal to have some movement parts changed and returned, no it doesn't mean the movement is no longer considered original, it is a bit like changing service parts on a car and being given the plugs, leads etc back. No you cant expect a mechanical watch to be accurate to the second over weeks and months, within a few seconds a day is considered normal. Post a pic of the parts they returned if you like, we may be able to advise what work was done but it is nothing to be worried about I would think.

It is a pity you didn't join the forum before you sent that to Switzerland, since that wouldn't have been the course of action most would recommend for a vintage piece. Omega have a track record of destroying originality, wiping out patina and generally lowering the value of the vintage pieces they service. You seem to have been lucky (or wise) in that while the case has been polished and the bracelet replaced, you still seem to have kept the original dial and hands. That said those hands, while seemingly aged may have been changed from the originals at an earlier service, the hour hand is normally thinner than that. A good refinish on this model is not such a bad thing since a scratched up Mk2 doesn't look great, but on most vintage watches a case polish results in a piece less desirable to collectors who value originality over shininess.

In terms of value, you wont see much of an uplift for your outlay over the value of the watch had it been simply mechanically serviced at a local UK watchmaker, several of whom are more sympathetic to vintage pieces. The bracelet can be sourced direct from a boutique, but many other parts are now mostly restricted to authorised repairers. Tatty original Mk2s seem to fetch circa £1K-£1300, tidy serviced ones maybe £1500-1800 so while you have added value, maybe not as much as you hoped. These aren't like the Speedmaster Pro Moonwatch (the Mark 1 if you like) where some of the vintage models trade at a premium to the new watch (sometimes a big premium), the demand is rather lower for the Mark series unfortunately. I have one myself so do keep an eye on values!

ConElPueblo · Apr 21, 2020

Judging from the photo provided, I'd have stern words with the person in charge of the case refinish. The facets look soft and the brushing is plain wrong for this watch.

padders · Apr 21, 2020

Hard to say from that pic. I was assuming it had the correct radial, sunburst finish on the bezel and sharp facet edges but if it doesn't then I agree that is not acceptable and would make me question whether it had actually been done by any official Omega operation, which was my working assumption above.

Maganator · Apr 21, 2020

I would echo what @padders has said.

I am sure your grandson will cherish the watch as it belonged to you so the value in that regard is priceless. But to replace the MkII would likely cost under £2k

Maganator · Apr 21, 2020

If you have found one retailing at £4k it is likely the modern re-issue, rather than your vintage one. They look similar but are subtly different (see the date window at the 6 o'clock position on the image below).

Tet · Apr 21, 2020

Padders as always with a great reply.

Regarding timekeeping I've been timing mine over the past 3 weeks(speaking of which I forgot to wind it yesterday morning so probably stopped now, damn) and it's been +1.5 seconds per day with one full wind, if I wind it again in the evening it adds about an extra second.

Can you post some better pics of the case. Is that the 1162 bracelet? If so they are still available to order for anyone with a parts account, they aren't as solid as the originals but are decent, think their RRP is around £360 or something silly like that.

The MK2 is a cool watch and they can take some knocks, just be sure to warn whoever you pass it on to to keep it away from water.

Archer · Apr 21, 2020

ConElPueblo
Judging from the photo provided, I'd have stern words with the person in charge of the case refinish. The facets look soft and the brushing is plain wrong for this watch.

Well, I agree - this doesn't look right at all...

Looks as if someone applied a simple brushed finish, rather than the proper sunburst finish.

I would question if this really went to Omega, as I would not expect them to make such a mistake. I wonder if they sent it in via a dealer - there have been instances where dealers have sent the watches to their own trade watchmakers, rather than to Omega.

I would also like to see the parts that were replaced.

nkhandekar · Apr 21, 2020

My experience with Omega is that they do a first rate job on case refinishing. This case was not refinished correctly. I echo Archer's sentiments above.

Ben Vista · Apr 22, 2020

padders
To address you questions in order, yes it is normal to have some movement parts changed and returned, no it doesn't mean the movement is no longer considered original, it is a bit like changing service parts on a car and being given the plugs, leads etc back. No you cant expect a mechanical watch to be accurate to the second over weeks and months, within a few seconds a day is considered normal. Post a pic of the parts they returned if you like, we may be able to advise what work was done but it is nothing to be worried about I would think.

It is a pity you didn't join the forum before you sent that to Switzerland, since that wouldn't have been the course of action most would recommend for a vintage piece. Omega have a track record of destroying originality, wiping out patina and generally lowering the value of the vintage pieces they service. You seem to have been lucky (or wise) in that while the case has been polished and the bracelet replaced, you still seem to have kept the original dial and hands. That said those hands, while seemingly aged may have been changed from the originals at an earlier service, the hour hand is normally thinner than that. A good refinish on this model is not such a bad thing since a scratched up Mk2 doesn't look great, but on most vintage watches a case polish results in a piece less desirable to collectors who value originality over shininess.

In terms of value, you wont see much of an uplift for your outlay over the value of the watch had it been simply mechanically serviced at a local UK watchmaker, several of whom are more sympathetic to vintage pieces. The bracelet can be sourced direct from a boutique, but many other parts are now mostly restricted to authorised repairers. Tatty original Mk2s seem to fetch circa £1K-£1300, tidy serviced ones maybe £1500-1800 so while you have added value, maybe not as much as you hoped. These aren't like the Speedmaster Pro Moonwatch (the Mark 1 if you like) where some of the vintage models trade at a premium to the new watch (sometimes a big premium), the demand is rather lower for the Mark series unfortunately. I have one myself so do keep an eye on values!

B Ben Vista
Let me say from the out set this is not a complaint, I am more than happy with the result. I recently had my 1971 Speedmaster Professional Mk II completely serviced and reconditioned in Switzerland, i.e. replacement glass, mechanical parts, stainless steel strap and metal case polished. The watch looks well and I am more than pleased. Question one relates to a small bag of parts which were returned with the watch, something that has never happened during any pervious service. It is possible the internal workings of the watch have been updated or do I still have a 1971 mechanism? Question two relates to something I have never considered before. I traditionally wind my watch (fully) morning and evening and I reset the time against the atomic clock on the first day of each month. What would this 1971 Omega expect to loose or gain in time over a period of thirty days? My reasons for these question are simple. I will be seventy in August of this year and this watch has given no trouble in forty nine years of wear and tear. I want the fully reconditioned watch to go to one of my grandsons. Finally for insurance only a new Speedmaster of this same model is retailing at £4000 in the United Kingdom, what could be the current value of my watch? Any advice, positive or negative on how I should look after my reconditioned Speedmaster would be most welcome, Thank you. PS I should add the replacement stainless strap is different to the original but that takes nothing away from the look of the watch..

I will start by thanking you for taking the time to reply. Unfortunately the bag of returned bits has gone to land fill. There were quite a few bits which suggested to me the internals had received a major overhaul. The Case. This was a working everyday watch so it had received a fair amount of knocks and scrapes. I was an aircraft engine technician with Rolls Royce. The Bracelet. This was badly worn. Time keeping. I find the watch now makes four minutes in a month, which I consider rather much, but I am no expert and something I never paid attention to before. Value: I purchased the watch new in August 1971 as a twenty first birthday present and paid less than £50, I was therefore surprised it is worth over a thousand pounds as I paid the best part of a thousand to have the current restoration plus a new strap. Having read some of the other comments I am off the option that although I took the watch to the local Rolex / Omega up market jewellers, where it went after that is anyone's guess although it was away for twelve weeks. As a pensioner I will pass the watch on to a grandson and hopefully it may still be around and working in another fifty years. Again thanks for your comments, very much appreciated.

NikoMartinez_SYD · Apr 22, 2020

Yes normal to have parts returned if done with omega directly... nothing to worry about there.

One of my favorite watches! I have this one from 1972 in original vintage condition :

padders · Apr 22, 2020

B Ben Vista
I will start by thanking you for taking the time to reply. Unfortunately the bag of returned bits has gone to land fill. There were quite a few bits which suggested to me the internals had received a major overhaul. The Case. This was a working everyday watch so it had received a fair amount of knocks and scrapes. I was an aircraft engine technician with Rolls Royce. The Bracelet. This was badly worn. Time keeping. I find the watch now makes four minutes in a month, which I consider rather much, but I am no expert and something I never paid attention to before. Value: I purchased the watch new in August 1971 as a twenty first birthday present and paid less than £50, I was therefore surprised it is worth over a thousand pounds as I paid the best part of a thousand to have the current restoration plus a new strap. Having read some of the other comments I am off the option that although I took the watch to the local Rolex / Omega up market jewellers, where it went after that is anyone's guess although it was away for twelve weeks. As a pensioner I will pass the watch on to a grandson and hopefully it may still be around and working in another fifty years. Again thanks for your comments, very much appreciated.

Bearing in mind the ~£360 cost of the new bracelet the price you paid would not be unreasonable if the work has been carried out by Omega themselves in Switzerland (or another UK based first tier authorised repair operation) but seems excessive if done locally by someone less capable. Was any paperwork supplied when the watch was returned? The photo you posted wasn't very clear and other contributors have concerns that the case finish applied to your watch isn't that of the original. Does yours look like the example shown above with a radial finish around the crystal? Had you enquired here first, you would likely have been advised to deal with a repairer directly as high street jewellers have a nasty habit of adding a large handling premium for themselves and not necessarily using the best operators but obviously that that doesn't help after the event.

Four mins in a month works out at +8s per day. That isn't great but is within tolerance for the movement, even when brand new. There is way of back hacking the 861 movement when the power reserve is low which makes it easy to correct for a gain every few days but it might be easier to just reset it back a min every week.

If your intention is to pass it on then many of these concerns are academic, I am sure it will be treasured as an heirloom.

GordanDaniel · Apr 22, 2020

Im not a huge expert of anything, but that case even looks way over polished to me..
Not the greatest "just serviced" outcome i dont think.

Ben Vista · Apr 23, 2020

NikoMartinez_SYD
Yes normal to have parts returned if done with omega directly... nothing to worry about there.

One of my favourite watches! I have this one from 1972 in original vintage condition :

I was delighted to speak with someone else who has a Speedmaster from this period. A former Rolls Royce college in England who purchased his Speedmaster at the same time as myself still wears his day and daily. I note you have replaced the stainless steel strap. Was this by choice or wear and tear? When I took my watch in for reconditioning I was offered the choice of a NATO strap but preferred to remain with the stainless steel bracelet. Must ask you about time keeping. As a result of this forum I shall now reduce my winding to once every morning. It was stated in another response yesterday that, "by winding the watch morning and evening would add a further second each day to the time." Finally if I have one regret regarding my Speedmaster it must be that my paperwork and box no longer exist. So once again I thank you and all those who have made honest comment. This is most welcome.

Ben Vista · Apr 23, 2020

padders
Hard to say from that pic. I was assuming it had the correct radial, sunburst finish on the bezel and sharp facet edges but if it doesn't then I agree that is not acceptable and would make me question whether it had actually been done by any official Omega operation, which was my working assumption above.

I can confirm with absolute assurance that the watch was reconditioned by Omega in Switzerland. As I stated in a previous reply, I worked for Rolls Royce as an aircraft engine technician and considering the marks, scratches and little indentations on the case before it went to Omega, I consider what they have achieved as more than acceptable. With respect I am not selling the watch, but it is good to learn from individuals like yourself the negative and positive of watch restoration and condition. Again, I thank you for your honest comment.

Archer · Apr 23, 2020

B Ben Vista
I can confirm with absolute assurance that the watch was reconditioned by Omega in Switzerland.

If that is the case, they have made a serious error in the refinishing of your case. The case should have been lapped on a machine that would give it a "sunburst" pattern, with lines radiating out from the center of the case like this:

That is done on a machine like this (this is a video I took at the Omega service center in New Jersey while there for training years ago):

And this is the case being refinished in that video:

Your case does not appear to have this finish. Although Omega has been known to make mistakes on the type of finish that is supposed to be applied on some more obscure models, this is a common watch that they should know better.

I'm pleased that you are happy with the result, but the fact remains it isn't correct based on the photos you have posted. I'm sure as a former RR aircraft technician you value doing the job right for your trade, and Omega hasn't done the right job here. If it were mine, I would insist they repair the finish.

Cheers, Al

Omega Speedmaster Professional Mk II

Ben Vista

padders

ConElPueblo

padders

Maganator

Maganator

Tet

Archer

nkhandekar

Ben Vista

NikoMartinez_SYD

padders

GordanDaniel

Ben Vista

Ben Vista

Archer

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