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Roll the dice on this 2998?

steffe
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Coming up at auction.
Not running and not sure why, a hand has fallen of, serial is 18645645 so most likely a 2998-5 and not a -4 as the caseback states. Wrong crown. The rest is not so attractive but looks "honest".

Normally, not my cup of tea so why do I like it? I'm not sure but something in me wants a project and I flirt with the thought of having a 2998 and not need to worry about it.

What do you think? Worth rolling the dice if it's cheap enough? Am I crazy just thinking about it?

29981.jpeg 29982.jpeg 29983.jpeg 29984.jpeg 29985.jpeg
 
Redwes25
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Everything depends on price but I think it is attractive.

PS - I have a 2998-4 with a 2998-5 case back so I might be biased!
 
Aludic
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It's clearly got issues like that loose hand and some rust, somewhat dirty lume, wrong crown, service pushers, to name a few... Still, it could be a rather attractive piece at the right price. If it would sell at its estimate, it could make for an amazing buy. I'd expect it to exceed the higher estimate by quite a mile, though, as even its value in parts exceeds that, in my opinion. Good luck!
 
steffe
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Seaborg Seaborg
I like it, a lot.
Redwes25 Redwes25
Everything depends on price but I think it is attractive.

PS - I have a 2998-4 with a 2998-5 case back so I might be biased!
Aludic Aludic
It's clearly got issues like that loose hand and some rust, somewhat dirty lume, wrong crown, service pushers, to name a few... Still, it could be a rather attractive piece at the right price. If it would sell at its estimate, it could make for an amazing buy. I'd expect it to exceed the higher estimate by quite a mile, though, as even its value in parts exceeds that, in my opinion. Good luck!
This confirms I am not crazy after all 😁 Thanks for your thoughts.

@Redwes25 - Then we might have a swap of casebacks in the future!

@Aludic I did not realize it was service pushers, thanks for that info. Like you say, I don't think the estimate is accurate nor important this time, I just need to make up my mind if I find this watch "worth the risk" and not overpay for a broken watch. I don't think I have the patience to sell parts if I can't get it running 😀
 
steffe
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Some more questions:
- Are correct, vintage pushers hard to get? (I guess a flat foot crown would be pretty easy)
- Can I get most parts for the 321 movement through ebay and this forum?
- If I order an extract, does it show if it is a -4 or -5 or does it just say "2998"?

Thanks in advance for all the help!
 
Aludic
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tad tad
Yes, it should denote the ref…

upload_2021-10-23_9-12-31.jpeg

Thanks for sharing the example of the previous Extract template. It actually highlights a change versus the current template, which no longer contains the sub reference. 2998's are now simply extracted as 'CK 2998', I am yet to see a recent example of an extract containing any more detail than that.

Getting back to @steffe 's other questions:
Some 321 parts are getting quite hard to find. It will be a bit of a gamble... if all else fails, there might still be the option of finding a donor. As to the pushers; the dimensions of the pushers fitted are probably correct, it's just that the 'neck' is too clean for them to be the original ones. Finding original (i.e. worn) ones that are still useful might take a while. None of the above would hold me back from making an educated offer. (Rest assured; I am personally not planning to at the moment. 😉)
 
steffe
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Aludic Aludic
Thanks for sharing the example of the previous Extract template. It actually highlights a change versus the current template, which no longer contains the sub reference. 2998's are now simply extracted as 'CK 2998', I am yet to see a recent example of an extract containing any more detail than that.

Getting back to @steffe 's other questions:
Some 321 parts are getting quite hard to find. It will be a bit of a gamble... if all else fails, there might still be the option of finding a donor. As to the pushers; the dimensions of the pushers fitted are probably correct, it's just that the 'neck' is too clean for them to be the original ones. Finding original (i.e. worn) ones that are still useful might take a while. None of the above would hold me back from making an educated offer. (Rest assured; I am personally not planning to at the moment. 😉)
Ah I see, so I guess I need to study speedmaster101, moonwatchonly, forums etc and compare serial numbers to know if It's a - 4 or - 5? I think the hand-combination and serial number make it more close to a - 5 though. Thanks for clearing out the pusher question, I could definitely live with them if they are the correct dimension. But a correct crown would be nice.

Haha, always the risk to attract some competition to the bidding when asking on a forum... 😉
 
Larry S
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Looking at MWO. IMO..Pushers are replacement, crown is too. SN is close enough to be either 4 or 5. (Pretty sure that Omega was going to use their movement stock as models ticked FWD. These were just tool watches back then after all)). Dial is aged but honest. Bezel is worn but honest. Case looks ok. The rest of it is all there. I’d use Speedy 101 poor (-) as my bidding guide. Just putting it right, cleaning it up as is is going to be at least a grand.
Edited:
 
JulienLeBreton
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Larry S Larry S
Looking at MWO. IMO..Pushers are replacement, crown is too. SN is close enough to be either 4 or 5. (Pretty sure that Omega was going to use their movement stock as models ticked FWD. These were just tool watches back then after all)). Dial is aged but honest. Bezel is worn but honest. Case looks ok. The rest of it is all there. I’d use Speedy 101 poor (-) as my bidding guide. Just putting it right, cleaning it up as is is going to be at least a grand.
And I will add, be prepare to wait! Parts are difficult to source, so take beauty shots of it before sending it 😀
 
Claven2
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Pretty sure omega has 321 parts now. If you have a parts account, that is.
 
Archer
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Claven2 Claven2
Pretty sure omega has 321 parts now. If you have a parts account, that is.

Despite the fact that some members here who attended the early press releases, and said that Omega stated that parts would become available, that has not happened. The only parts that are still available from Omega are the same few parts that were available before the "new" 321 was announced.

The "new" 321 has not made one bit of difference in the 321 parts that are available, and I don't suspect it ever will. Well, there is one difference - all the parts are now far more expensive than they were previously.
 
Claven2
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Archer Archer
Despite the fact that some members here who attended the early press releases, and said that Omega stated that parts would become available, that has not happened. The only parts that are still available from Omega are the same few parts that were available before the "new" 321 was announced.

The "new" 321 has not made one bit of difference in the 321 parts that are available, and I don't suspect it ever will. Well, there is one difference - all the parts are now far more expensive than they were previously.
That seems odd, as they clearly had to make parts to assemble the new 321 movements ?!?
 
Archer
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Claven2 Claven2
That seems odd, as they clearly had to make parts to assemble the new 321 movements ?!?

They clearly have the parts - they just aren't sharing. My guess is that this is in part an effort to keep the "mystique" surrounding the 321 intact. It goes hand in hand with all the marketing about "scans" having to be taken of the movement in order to "recreate" it, even though the parts were being made all along for servicing, and Breguet was using the movement for many decades after Omega stopped.
 
Larry S
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Archer Archer
They clearly have the parts - they just aren't sharing. My guess is that this is in part an effort to keep the "mystique" surrounding the 321 intact. It goes hand in hand with all the marketing about "scans" having to be taken of the movement in order to "recreate" it, even though the parts were being made all along for servicing, and Breguet was using the movement for many decades after Omega stopped.
And possibly to keep vintage prices up so they can charge what they are for the new one.
 
Claven2
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Claven2 Claven2
That seems odd, as they clearly had to make parts to assemble the new 321 movements ?!?
Larry S Larry S
And possibly to keep vintage prices up so they can charge what they are for the new one.

Or possibly it's to encourage purchase of the re-release. I'm sure if you send a new one in for service, they will use their parts stash to fix it.
 
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