Phillips 2998 (November 2021)

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So I have been studying this, and I must say I find quite a few inconsistencies. Am I being too paranoid or picky?
51_001.jpg

Here is the link to the listing:

https://www.phillips.com/detail/omega/CH080221/51?fromSearch=speedmaster&searchPage=1

To make it more interesting, I will leave my worries until later. How many do you see? On second thoughts, here is a list that I put forward for discussion:

1. Bezel
2. Alphas
3. Case Back
4. End links

Just to be clear, I still like the watch, but as many know me, a wonderful dial will make me forgive other problems.

51_002.jpg

51_003.jpg

51_020.jpg
 
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So interesting. I can see that the hour hand doesn't look right. The minute hand also looks a tad short? I would love to hear more on what looks suspect on the bezel, and what makes the dial distinctively 2915-3 vs. 2998-1. The hippocampus on the case back looks too well defined given what looks like a history of polishing.
 
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Caseback looks like someone photoshopped the engraving. I don't know about originality but it seems like there would be more wear compared to the lugs, which have seen either polish or wear. It looks so fresh and even. I haven't seen many of these in the flesh so would not know if this is typical or not. It looks wierd in the photo.
 
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I'm wondering why nobody has mentioned the "base 1000 " bezel
 
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Endlinks are definitely not correct (ok I’ll edit this to say I’m 99% sure they’re not correct).
 
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You only have to look at the wear on the watch to know that there’s no way in the world that the caseback would remain in that condition.
 
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And a 2915-3 dial as well.

The auction house would seem to vehemently disagree, given the repeated and lengthy assertions of this as a 2998-1
 
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Endlinks are definitely not correct (ok I’ll edit this to say I’m 99% sure they’re not correct).
They look OK to me.
 
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The auction house would seem to vehemently disagree, given the repeated and lengthy assertions of this as a 2998-1

Early 2998-1 examples were produced with “leftover” 2915 dials.
 
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They look OK to me.
Yeah you may well be right. I see some characteristics that are supportive of original but the top and bottom of the circle looked a bit to fat for my liking. If they’re are repros they’re the only close ones I’ve ever seen.
 
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As to the end links:
I feel they are in a very different condition to the rest of the bracelet, indeed watch. They are perfectly flat across the width of the back, and that is an unusual condition.
I would have also been ready to see single notch links on a watch this early but I am not certain
 
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I feel they are in a very different condition to the rest of the bracelet, indeed watch. They are perfectly flat across the width of the back, and that is an unusual condition.
Now that you've called our attention to it, these sure look damn near new.
 
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The bezel looks correct. The only thing that makes me hesitant is the fact that it is in much better condition than the case.
 
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One of the end links looks worn but to be fair I wouldn’t let end links put me off a watch.
Considering the value of the watch itself the end pieces seem like a consumable that can be later changed if you don’t like them.
 
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The case back looks odd for the rest of the watch based on the photographs. Having said that I find it hard to look passed that gorgeous dial and at the auction estimate the case back wouldn’t necessarily put me off.
 
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I am mesmerized by the dial. Looks too good to be true.