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Omega Speedmaster Racing 145.012 auction

S
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The London watch was just "passed" today by Lyon and Turnbull after bidding went from £32,000 to £36,000 (estimate 40-50). So it appears that there was a reserve price set at 38 or 40.

If anyone wants to make a post-sale offer :
https://www.lyonandturnbull.com/

The buyer's premium is 27% plus 20% VAT in the UK on that premium (total 32.4% for UK buyers) but their expert just confirmed to me that if they handle the export to a non-UK buyer, that tax would not be added. Of coure, import tax & duty will occur at the buyer's frontier.
 
erpin9
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speedy4ever speedy4ever
I confirm that I briefly examined this model during the Geneva auctions. Spacefruit raised concerns about the short, white straight hand; indeed, all other Red Racing documented examples (both Professional and pre-Professional dials) with the white straight hand have a longer version. That said, given that examples are found with the “diamond” chronograph seconds hand in both drop and flat versions, no one can certify with absolute certainty which versions are legitimate.

Regarding the lume, most examples observed so far show issues with the applied tritium, which is often partially or entirely missing on one or more plots, reflecting a likely manufacturing issue.

As for the serial number, it falls outside the usual ranges for both Red Racing versions. Based on our observations to date, two main blocks can be identified: around fifteen examples in the 26.54.xxx range, and fewer than ten in the 26.07x.xxx range, all produced in 1968.
A few outliers are also known, and given the limited sample size, it would not be appropriate to exclude examples solely on the basis of their serial number. Notably, the 25.00x.xxx example for sale was also very likely produced in 1968, based on this block (25.002.xxx to 25.009.xxx), where all documented Speedmaster examples were produced that year.

Important precision: I certify that I don't know who is the seller.
25,xxx,xxx to 25.999,xxx Speedies were manufactured in 1967 according to many experts. The watch for auction has a very early 25,00x,xxx serial number. If the watch had a 25,999,xxx serial, maybe i would consider it because it is within range of the earliest red racing serial numbers you mentioned (26,07x,xxx). No doubt the dial is authentic but in tha absence of an extract from Omega, it would be a risky venture given the facts don’t you think?
 
Dash1
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erpin9 erpin9
25,xxx,xxx to 25.999,xxx Speedies were manufactured in 1967 according to many experts. The watch for auction has a very early 25,00x,xxx serial number. If the watch had a 25,999,xxx serial, maybe i would consider it because it is within range of the earliest red racing serial numbers you mentioned (26,07x,xxx). No doubt the dial is authentic but in tha absence of an extract from Omega, it would be a risky venture given the facts don’t you think?
Not necessarily. Speedy4ever pointed out that most red racings have been produced in 1968 and this one for sale has a serial number that places its production to 1968. Also, is it known for certain that the archives show which watches were fitted with these dials or was that information added to the extracts based on photos provided by the person requesting the extract? I wouldn’t value the information on an extract much beyond production date, case reference number and, to some degree, delivery country.
 
erpin9
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I believe the serial number of the watch for sale is an early 1967 production. Btw would’nt the extract state that the watch came with the red racing dial?
 
Dan S
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erpin9 erpin9
25,xxx,xxx to 25.999,xxx Speedies were manufactured in 1967 according to many experts. The watch for auction has a very early 25,00x,xxx serial number. If the watch had a 25,999,xxx serial, maybe i would consider it because it is within range of the earliest red racing serial numbers you mentioned (26,07x,xxx). No doubt the dial is authentic but in tha absence of an extract from Omega, it would be a risky venture given the facts don’t you think?
erpin9 erpin9
I believe the serial number of the watch for sale is an early 1967 production. Btw would’nt the extract state that the watch came with the red racing dial?
Unfortunately, as you probably know, Omega no longer provides extracts to the general public. So if this watch doesn't already have one, it will be difficult to get that information. Insiders can probably get the archival information, so if you have contacts maybe you can get it.
 
Dash1
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erpin9 erpin9
I believe the serial number of the watch for sale is an early 1967 production. Btw would’nt the extract state that the watch came with the red racing dial?
So, I believe speedy4ever was saying that there is a batch of Speedmasters with serial range 25.002.xxx to 25.009.xxx that were produced in 1968 (and he would know! )
Yes, in the past you might get an extract that stated the watch was fitted with a racing dial, but many of the extra items mentioned were based on photographs sent in by the owners, not from actual archive records. This is one of the reasons the extract system is now closed.
 
speedy4ever
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Dash1 Dash1
So, I believe speedy4ever was saying that there is a batch of Speedmasters with serial range 25.002.xxx to 25.009.xxx that were produced in 1968 (and he would know! )
Yes, in the past you might get an extract that stated the watch was fitted with a racing dial, but many of the extra items mentioned were based on photographs sent in by the owners, not from actual archive records. This is one of the reasons the extract system is now closed.
That's it!
 
speedy4ever
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erpin9 erpin9
25,xxx,xxx to 25.999,xxx Speedies were manufactured in 1967 according to many experts. The watch for auction has a very early 25,00x,xxx serial number. If the watch had a 25,999,xxx serial, maybe i would consider it because it is within range of the earliest red racing serial numbers you mentioned (26,07x,xxx). No doubt the dial is authentic but in tha absence of an extract from Omega, it would be a risky venture given the facts don’t you think?
1968-03-27 #25.009.xxx 145.012.webp
Just one example that contradicts these many experts.
 
Makesbelieve
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erpin9 erpin9
I will be bidding on this watch and hopefully, it will be part of my collection soon. Fingers crossed.

So, is it now part of your collection?
 
mac_omega
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hansaboy hansaboy
Roughly 84500€ / 97500 $, is that excluding the premium?
I think the price indicated is the hammer price which would be without premium.
 
hansaboy
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mac_omega mac_omega
I think the price indicated is the hammer price which would be without premium.
I thought so too, but I did not follow the auction....so you never know.
And I do wonder if the buyer is on our Forum....?
 
Vinz Clortho
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Holy Moly, that's a crazy amount. Hitting 6 figures, didn't know they put that many zeroes behind a number in either currency for one watch, not counting the premium.
 
C
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I’m somewhat embarrassed to say it is my third Omega in that range… I’ve been looking for one of these for a few years now, it is on the short list of ones I would pay what it takes. There is one on Chrono24 that wants $180k+ but I thought I could do better (and I did).
 
zinterz
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So it looks like @candid won this watch, based on this thread. How are you finding it, @candid? We all, obviously, want a lot more photos (if you'd oblige, of course!). Maybe a wrist roll, maybe a video or two... maybe a collaboration with other collectors on here... and with it being your "third Omega in that range", what else do you have? ...so many possibilities! 😅
 
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