Well I do - back when the late Chuck Maddox was still writing. I remember when 861's were under $1000 and 321's a misunderstood sub genre, especially the asymmetric lugs - no one knew how to differentiate properly, so they languished. Often the asymmetric 321's were abandoned in sock drawers as too expensive to warrant repair.

One of my favorite watches was bought for £1370 from the owners daughter who advertised it as a "1970's Speedmaster, broken". Here it is:


The watch above turns out to be a 105.012-63 with an extremely rare non T dial. At the time I had no idea how rare this is! I have never had the chance to buy another.

I had a friend who begged me to buy his Speedmaster, and I gave him a thousand dollars for it. At the time I thought I had over paid, and this watch is not without its case issues. It ran, and he had serviced it regularly. Here is the side view of it showing that the case is not great.



It is a 145.022-78. The dial has the slight greenish overtones, that I don't like (shown here on the left, with a better looking dial for comparison of plot colour - neither has a step, but the one on the right is for a later watch):


(Yes there is a splodge on the left one too)

I was living in the tropics. Far from a watchmaker (though strangely we did have an Omega Service Centre), but able to access parts suppliers online. I bought the silver dial, which I think must be for a Teutonic - I am not certain.

The hands, well these are much harder than you might realize. All of them match in colour, and are a set. This particular set is very hard to put together as the Omega supplied hands have a slight colour variation, and I was lucky enough to find this complete set. It was expensive, but you know, I was obsessed.

With the help of more mail order tools, I shoved it all together. I am pretty sure it took me several evenings of staring, thinking, working out how to do things, and terrified I was going to ruin things with one little slip. I have this theory, that if it takes all night to do one thing - just put on one subdial hand for example,, its no problem as long as I leave no marks.

So here is the finished item:


Oh yes I changed the bezel too.


Now prices are rising I suppose that financially I should put it all back to standard. Lucky I dont think that way about my little pleasure of watch collecting.

Also Mrs Fruit has just nicked out of the box for daily wear....

So I ask you all, what is your cheapest speedmaster? Go on, make us all as green as the lume

 

Is the greenish dial common on seventies speedy, looking at a-78 with this kind of dial , and Lume is very ligh blue green ..... I think moisture in case and am hesitant....

 

I missed the good ol' days

 

220 bezel 145.022-69 for $1377 in 2013, came without any bracelet.

Has since been serviced by Al from Archer Watches

 

I worked for an Omega dealer in 1989 when I bought my Speedmaster Appollo XI 20th anniversary commemorative model, sapphire back, for dealer cost less 20%! Under $1,000.00 (Cdn.), brand new.

 

I think this 105.012-65 is my most favorite bargain. It is complete with original 1506/16 bracelet. Purchased early last year for what the bracelet and end links are worth today. The seller had been given the watch by his father but wanted to sell it to fund a new omega purchase in a big box store. I was happy to help.

 

Even seven years ago when I started it was better but no where near as good as these prices you guys are talking about. I really missed out!

 

Being one of the new guys, I don't think I'm going to like this thread...congrats to the early birds though. You guys really waded into a minefield considering all of the unknowns back in the day. Maybe in 10 years I can say "I remember this one I bought in 2014 for $xxxx..."

 

Back in 1999 I saw a photo of a Speedmaster and had to have one. I eventually found one at a watch dealers stall in Portobello market, London for £500. I didn't know the difference but it turned out to be 145.012-67 with original bracelet. I've been collecting Speedies every since. I once bought a 2915 for £3,000!

 

I bought my first speedmaster from an AD in 2007 for £1275.
A week later a friend saw it and said he had one in a drawer that he hadn't used for years.
After a bit of haggling I swapped a Beretta 303 worth about £300 and ended up with a very nice '76, which I still have.

 

My Speedmaster, even though it was found and no owner ever claimed it so it was "free", ended up costing me more than I care to calculate.

It started simply enough; I pulled it out of a drawer and thought "I wonder if this is worth getting fixed up?"

In finding the answer to that little question I got the vintage watch bug - a very costly little disease to treat...

For the record my actual expense for this watch is around $1000 USD for two services. I haven't felt the need to replace the replacement bezel. Maybe I should have when I was made aware it wasn't "correct" because I found a DON bezel a little over a year ago in good condition for a little over $700 USD. No, I thought, too expensive...



A 145.022-68, btw.

 

I think the greenish dial is fairly common for that era, and is a result of aging, not damage/moisture. I like them a lot.

 

Omani Speedmaster, eBay, £1500.

 

SF LE! Nice.

 

I was very late to the party... my 1st Speedmaster was Feb 2016, a 145012-67 ..£3650 after bezel swap. Still ok I think

 

Not as nice as the -63 above, but 'cheap' Speedmasters do pop up from time to time. Even in the last year or so.

This tired 145.022-68 came in via Ebay in Jan '15, for £1200 GBP. Listed as bought in '71 by the sellers father. Came with vintage 1171.

Not necessarily my best value Speedmaster, but certainly the cheapest.

 

I remember when they were cheap, but I wasn't particularly interested baack then. And now I'm in the mood for one, but cannot bring myself to fork up the required cash.

I guess I'll never own one then. Oh well...

 

I think that qualifies for "drops microphone, walks off stage".

(As long as you still have it that is).

 

In the early eighties I bought my 145.022-69 for the equivalent of then ~250 US$ (in Deutsch Marks).
A few weeks later the dealer told me he had another Speedmaster.
Initially I wasn't too keen buying it, as it didn't have the nice crown guards .
So he forced it down my throat by selling it even cheaper.
This is how I came to own my 105.003-65 .

 

Found a one owner 145.012 w/ DO90 and a 1171/1 bracelet for $1200 a year ago. Case and dial in average cond., nice movement, hands painted, lume gone and the dust cover is the newer style (anyone have a spare of the old style?), but still ok for the money....