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Scarecrow Boat
·I’m interested to know where these ‘prototypes’ have been hiding…
Prototype Omega Phillips Auction
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rob#1
·This reminds me of the apocryphal tale about how Steve Jones from the Sex Pistols has a secret stash of early Pistols’ 7” singles that are supposed to be scarce and therefore worth a mint; story goes that he sneaks one onto the market whenever he’s short of a few quid 😗
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byunjoe
·Well I can only speculate where they source all these, but these variations are certainly quite interesting. I know Omegas bookkeeping isn't the most complete but can these prototypes even get registered for the 'Extract from the Archives"?
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watchyouwant
·
Phillips reputation in getting good results at auctions will owners of uncommon versions contact Phillips first and offer them. If I have a rare version, I contact them as well. How these watches came together, is a complete different story. Don't forget the Dial manufacturers sales people, who designed dials and offered the to the watch companies in the hope of getting a contract. A few of these " Dial Prototype Books " came to the market a few years ago. Dials only, no feet. The answer to originality questions could be answered by the Dial Manufacturing guys. You only have to find a time correct original " normal Dial " watch and , voila, the prototype can start. If the Archives go by the movement number, no problem . A bit more complicated with Rolex. But every Watch Manufacturer will be happy to find international Media attention without payment for it. Win-Win for all sides,exept for the buyer ? But if you can afford to buy these, you must have some spare change.....
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Foo2rama
··Nowhere near as grumpy as he used to be...Rotating bezels or not?
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Foo2rama
··Nowhere near as grumpy as he used to be...Saw prototype and the first one… and thought here we go again.
The second is obviously legit.
I have questions on the first one. I also want to know where Philips is getting these. I hope we don’t have a billionaires vinegar situation.
The second is obviously legit.
I have questions on the first one. I also want to know where Philips is getting these. I hope we don’t have a billionaires vinegar situation.
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Wlcutter
·please explain?
There's a really, really excellent book about it, but, briefly: a bottle of wine supposedly owned by Thomas Jefferson that sold at auction for $156K usd whose provenance is let's say *very* questionable.
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spacemission
·Fixed
Thanks foo2rama. What's your opinion about the first one?
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Foo2rama
··Nowhere near as grumpy as he used to be...Thanks foo2rama. What's your opinion about the first one?
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140dave
·People see what they want to see.
Where is the simple EOA or a letter from the Omega museum for either confirming this is a prototype? "It appears to be" and "the Museum thinks" is as close as they get. Not saying it isnt, but personally I want more if I am throwing that kind of money at a piece.
Where is the simple EOA or a letter from the Omega museum for either confirming this is a prototype? "It appears to be" and "the Museum thinks" is as close as they get. Not saying it isnt, but personally I want more if I am throwing that kind of money at a piece.
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studeb
·Interesting that the second one has no tachy markings, although there appears to be a step for one on the outside of the dial.
I agree with 140Dave and others that the auction house hype is, well, in the absence of anything from the factory, just hype.
Reminds me of an early Porsche i saw auctioned in the 80s, there was a letter from the factory in German that said we cannot find a record of this chassis or motor, but the english translation supplied by the auction house was more along the lines of it could be a Gmund era vehicle, we are not sure.
I agree with 140Dave and others that the auction house hype is, well, in the absence of anything from the factory, just hype.
Reminds me of an early Porsche i saw auctioned in the 80s, there was a letter from the factory in German that said we cannot find a record of this chassis or motor, but the english translation supplied by the auction house was more along the lines of it could be a Gmund era vehicle, we are not sure.
Edited:
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spacemission
·The first one could be built. I’d want to see how the factory verified it as well as internal shots.
I see it like a rolex 1655, 100% dispensable 😁
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Spacefruit
··Prolific Speedmaster HoarderIt is true, if you have a rare speedmaster, phillips will be the ones to sell it well.
On the Flightmaster, purely from a collector's quality assessment, I see hands that have been relumed for the watch. I see a bezel that shows signs of age. I like the overall look of the watch. I wonder if the 24 hr hand works?
On the Alaska, it is very clean. The hands are clean, the bezel is perfect. The wording in the description " In fact, while this cannot be 100% confirmed, the Museum thinks this watch might...." is concerning.
I think more will be revealed on these two. I love the look of them, and if I do then certainly some of the high flying collectors will too.
Are they genuine? Well they have at least some genuine parts which are very rare.
My question really is, how come Omega let all these working prototypes out the door with their blessing? If they are real, and did not have some sort of decommissioning/exit chit, then ownership is cloudy, no?
I would love to know the process by which an R&D department allows all these working watches to leave the company.
I still want them(!)
On the Flightmaster, purely from a collector's quality assessment, I see hands that have been relumed for the watch. I see a bezel that shows signs of age. I like the overall look of the watch. I wonder if the 24 hr hand works?
On the Alaska, it is very clean. The hands are clean, the bezel is perfect. The wording in the description " In fact, while this cannot be 100% confirmed, the Museum thinks this watch might...." is concerning.
I think more will be revealed on these two. I love the look of them, and if I do then certainly some of the high flying collectors will too.
Are they genuine? Well they have at least some genuine parts which are very rare.
My question really is, how come Omega let all these working prototypes out the door with their blessing? If they are real, and did not have some sort of decommissioning/exit chit, then ownership is cloudy, no?
I would love to know the process by which an R&D department allows all these working watches to leave the company.
I still want them(!)
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mancio
·It is true, if you have a rare speedmaster, phillips will be the ones to sell it well.
On the Flightmaster, purely from a collector's quality assessment, I see hands that have been relumed for the watch. I see a bezel that shows signs of age. I like the overall look of the watch. I wonder if the 24 hr hand works?
On the Alaska, it is very clean. The hands are clean, the bezel is perfect. The wording in the description " In fact, while this cannot be 100% confirmed, the Museum thinks this watch might...." is concerning.
I think more will be revealed on these two. I love the look of them, and if I do then certainly some of the high flying collectors will too.
Are they genuine? Well they have at least some genuine parts which are very rare.
My question really is, how come Omega let all these working prototypes out the door with their blessing? If they are real, and did not have some sort of decommissioning/exit chit, then ownership is cloudy, no?
I would love to know the process by which an R&D department allows all these working watches to leave the company.
I still want them(!)
I won't be surprised if in the old days, manufacturers let the prototypes out way more easily since they simply did not care.
It's the same question on how so many Prototype Rolex dial left Singer. Somehow the mentality of 30/40/50 years towards prototype was different. Not imaging that parts like that , in Rolex case in particular, could have been use to build "unique" Rolex.
I agree that the uncertainty towards the fact that one of the cannot be 100% confirmed is unsettling, but if the Museum say it might makes it possible ( and a really hit of luck if the watch was put together later on and somehow manage to be this close to one that was actually made ).
I wonder how many times auction houses enquire the Omega museum about pieces submitted for future auctions and they get a solid "NO" in return.
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S.H.
·Are they genuine? Well they have at least some genuine parts which are very rare.
My question really is, how come Omega let all these working prototypes out the door with their blessing? If they are real, and did not have some sort of decommissioning/exit chit, then ownership is cloudy, no?
I would love to know the process by which an R&D department allows all these working watches to leave the company.
I bet these were assembled with prototype / leftover / demo parts, from subcontractors (everything was subcontracted in a vintage speedy). Omega may not have let those out the door unsupervised, for me they may have never been inside in the first place.
And if they are almost guaranteed to fetch good price at auction, why would Omega officially burst the bubble? It is good PR, so let it languish in a grey zone (and as I said, they may not even have relevant records for these "prototypes").
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SpeedyPhill
·Another prototype Speedmaster requested by NASA... interesting 24 hours bezel but AFAIK never used in spaceflight... 👎
At least 5 years ago, we didn't keep quiet about this:
😗
.
https://www.hodinkee.com/articles/a...-never-go-to-space-actually-did-at-least-once
At least 5 years ago, we didn't keep quiet about this:
😗
.
https://www.hodinkee.com/articles/a...-never-go-to-space-actually-did-at-least-once
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Gael.Bx
·I take advantage of this post to share with you some photos of this prototype which is a test watch of the first piguet 1285
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watchyouwant
·Movement picture? The case is a normal service replacement case.
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Gael.Bx
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