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  1. oddboy Zero to Grail+2998 In Six Months Feb 10, 2015

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    Hey guys,

    Poking around for a '68 transitional and had a question.. seems hard to find one that checks all the boxes, but I have found a few that have either a nice DON bezel *or an applied logo dial.

    Which is harder to find after the fact? A proper bezel or a proper dial? Or are they both pretty much made of unobtainium?

    Thank you as always!

    J
     
  2. repoman Feb 10, 2015

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    The more $$$ you are willing to spend, the more you'll find. I don't know which is technically harder to source, but I would pick a vintage Speedy based on the dial first, and bezel second. I wonder if we all put too much emphasis on DON bezels? To 99.99999999% of the worlds population, they would not be able to see the difference if you pointed it out to them, but that same unwashed mass of humanity could tell you a great looking dial versus a junker.
     
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  3. cristos71 Feb 10, 2015

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    It´s a good point and I 99.99999999% agree with you, the only problem is it is the other 0.000000001% of me that would be forcing my eyes to ignore my lovely dial and only focus on the irritating DNN bezel!
     
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  4. oddboy Zero to Grail+2998 In Six Months Feb 10, 2015

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    @repoman, even if I were prepared to pay $$ mucho deniro, where do you source nice vintage bezels? EBAY only has so many. :)
     
  5. gemini4 Hoarder Of Speed et alia Feb 10, 2015

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    image.jpg Be patient. 145.022-68 Speedies are out there with the correct dial and bezel. I bought this less than 2 months ago on ebay. It is perfect with dial, bezel and 1039 bracelet.

    Sure it is easier to buy and install a DON bezel then a dial but the DON bezels are getting more expensive by each listing. Some of them are quite beat up too.

    The was another post within the last few days of a member purchasing a 145.022-68. Wait...and it won't be long either.
     
    Edited Feb 10, 2015
    ketiljo, Varasc and oddboy like this.
  6. Spacefruit Prolific Speedmaster Hoarder Feb 10, 2015

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    That looks good
     
  7. oddboy Zero to Grail+2998 In Six Months Feb 10, 2015

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  8. gemini4 Hoarder Of Speed et alia Feb 10, 2015

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    It is a very early 145.022-68 and has the drop seconds hand instead of the later flat seconds hand. I believe it is one of the earliest 861 caliber Speedies. I purchased in on a BIN, on Ebay, from a seller in Spain. It arrived in New York in about 3 days in pristine condition. It looked brand new.

    Very pleased to say the least. Just goes to show you that all you have to do is keep looking.
     
    Edited Feb 10, 2015
  9. gemini4 Hoarder Of Speed et alia Feb 10, 2015

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    Moonwatch Only says that the serial numbers for the 145.022-68 is 26555xxx. - 27.719xxx.
    My watch movement number is 26559xxx.
     
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  10. dougiedude Carpe horologium! Feb 10, 2015

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    As I learn more about the Speedy's of that time period, I have much more appreciation for the characteristics (as long as original) like the 'drop' seconds hand, and the applied logo, and full length markers than I do the DON bezel. It might still bother me a bit, but honestly, if its original, why should I really care? The other characterstics I mentioned are much more aesthetically pleasing to me than a DON...

    @oddboy Good luck in your search, Joel! We are on the same path!

    Doug
     
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  11. gemini4 Hoarder Of Speed et alia Feb 10, 2015

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    The DON bezel was original on all the 145.022-68. It was the phased out with the 145.022-69.
     
  12. dougiedude Carpe horologium! Feb 10, 2015

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    OK, thought that might be the case, although I've seen some true transitionals (68's AND 69's) with DNN, not sure if they were original or not.

    My main point being that 'original' is more important to me, than DON; DON not as important as an 'applied' logo, for instance....

    But thanks for the correction/information!
     
  13. 250scr Feb 10, 2015

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    There's 1 on ebay right now that goes off in 5 hours or so
     
  14. gemini4 Hoarder Of Speed et alia Feb 10, 2015

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    I could be wrong but I think that only the 145.022-68 is a transitional. Moonwatch only does not refer to the 69 model as transitional, I think.
     
  15. 250scr Feb 10, 2015

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    Only difference in a 145.012 and a transitional 68 is the caliber changed
     
  16. oddboy Zero to Grail+2998 In Six Months Feb 10, 2015

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    The 861. That's what I'm after.
     
  17. 250scr Feb 10, 2015

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  18. 250scr Feb 10, 2015

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  19. oddboy Zero to Grail+2998 In Six Months Feb 10, 2015

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    Which one?
     
  20. 250scr Feb 10, 2015

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