Hello dear people of this forum!

I've been looking for a decent vintage speedy for more than six months and most of the options that I've found on websites like eBay and Chrono24 were either too expensive or in very poor condition. I'm very close to giving up and think the 60th anniversary edition from 2017 (the remake of the CK 2915) is a very good option where I'll know what I get - of course at a premium to a decent vintage 145.022.

So with the help of this forum I've at least managed to narrow down what exactly I want - I'm looking for a 145.022 from the 70s and I did find 4 options on Chrono24. I'd love to have a model with a step dial, but if it comes at the expense of condition like in case 3) or at a much higher price tag as in option 1), I think I prefer to pay a more reasonable price and get something in more decent condition like 4, which I appreciate is a much younger model, but still has this nice vintage look). I'm currently favouring 3) just based on the overall package (price, condition, collectable value), but am not sure what (if anything) is wrong with the watch.

What do you guys think? As mentioned, I'm really afraid of tapping into a trap given the vast amount of different versions of the Speedy. I really want to come to the end of this search and have my own Speedmaster that I enjoy.

1) 145.022-71ST
https://www.chrono24.com/omega/--5th---145022-71st--id15336275.htm
This is my favourite as the condition seams to be very good and the 71s are worth collecting, given the step dial. What is still putting me off is the price - but maybe that's the price that needs to be paid for a decent 145.022-71 nowadays. According to the price chart from speedmaster101 this would have to be fall into the "very good" condition category to justify the price.

2) 145.022-74ST
https://www.chrono24.com/omega/speedmaster-professional-moonwatch--id15186559.htm
MUCH cheaper than 1), though I guess the lower price is due to the worse condition of the dial (seems like there are issues with the lume)? Does the rest look correct?

3) 145.022-71ST
https://www.chrono24.com/omega/--5th---145022-71st--id14341136.htm
This one also comes with step dial, but I've been monitoring this model for a while and I wonder what's wrong with it? Why has it not sold? The dial looks like it's been re-lumed, is that the reason? Bezel looks correct.

4) ST145.022 from 1989
https://www.chrono24.com/omega/--1120---st145022--id13172365.htm
This is probably the least collectible model as it's just from 1989, but I like the patina that the lume has developed and the overall condition seems decent.

Thank you for all your help and the advice!!

 

you'll get more replies if you post pictures not the links.

 

I’ve got a final year 145.022, which satisfies the vintage urge with tritium dial and hesalite and slightly faded bezel, but with upgraded many movement and being just over 20 years old, not delicate enough to worry about wearing it everyday. And not terribly expensive. Good luck.

 

Adding pictures here as requested. Appreciate any advice that I can get as I'm really struggling.

1) 145.022-71ST
This is my favourite as the condition seams to be very good and the 71s are worth collecting, given the step dial. What is still putting me off is the price - but maybe that's the price that needs to be paid for a decent 145.022-71 nowadays. According to the price chart from speedmaster101 this would have to be fall into the "very good" condition category to justify the price.



2) 145.022-74ST
MUCH cheaper than 1), though I guess the lower price is due to the worse condition of the dial (seems like there are issues with the lume)? Does the rest look correct?



3) 145.022-71ST
This one also comes with step dial, but I've been monitoring this model for a while and I wonder what's wrong with it? Why has it not sold? The dial looks like it's been re-lumed, is that the reason? Bezel looks correct.


4) ST145.022 from 1989
This is probably the least collectible model as it's just from 1989, but I like the patina that the lume has developed and the overall condition seems decent.

 

Just received some more pictures for 2)

 

Seems like your looking for a new old watch. Any used watch is going to have a certain charm and only you can pick the charm that you can put up with the most.

My advise is look for what you want and take the price out of it. Many times if you upped the price a few hundred $$s you would find what you would love the best. ie: looking at your budget limit excludes some nice watches that are a bit over.

 

I would never waste my time looking on Chrono24.

 

Hour and minute hands are wrong.

 

All Asian sellers?

Don't forget to calculate the VAT in when you import the watch to Europe / Austria, thats 19% on top!

 

Are they tho? What makes them look wrong to you? They have aged quite a bit as well if you look at the lume. Are you saying that they should have aged much more in line with the rest of the dial?

 

No, I'm saying that they are not the original hands that came with that watch .
They are either service hands that Omega were using at some point in time, or they are from a Mk2.
Either way, they stick out like a sore thumb and are not right.

 

AKA, they are too short.

 

I see - may I ask you what you think of the others too? Would you agree that 1) and 4) are more authentic than 2)? Any thoughts on the 1957 remake which I personally find very appealing?

 

Sorry, can't comment because my favourite browser doesn't open your links.

 

Oh but I've posted pics of all 4 above