hi all

I'm new to the site but have been lurking and looking for a transitional Speedmaster for a little while now. I spotted this one, due to be auctioned in a couple of days, and wondered what consensus of opinion on it is...

What I know: its case back says its a 145.012-68. The seller said they couldn't get to the movement because it's covered...

It's got an Omega 575 bracelet on at the moment which presumably isn't original (EDIT: it appears to be a 1116 bracelet with 575 end links, so it may well be original to the watch), and to even my untrained eye, it looks like the hands have been replaced...

Any other thoughts?

 

Caveat, I'm not an expert, so bear that in mind and wait for more opinions.

Case looks to be in fairly good condition.
Hands are definitely wrong, looks like from a Mark II
Dial is ok, though lume always throws me. I think it's original.
Nice DON bezel and applied logo.

Looks like a good one, depending on price.

Edit: and yes, bracelet is not right.

Hands and bracelet can be addressed.

It's always a bit risky to buy without seeing the movement and trying to confirm whether movement number is correct for the reference, and what kind of shape it's in.

Don't forget to factor in a service.

 

Thanks! I had thought replacing with an original bracelet, a period set of hands and a service would likely be £1000/$1500 or thereabouts... so yeah, I'd only pick it up if the price was realistic. I wonder about the lume, too - maybe the photo isn't doing it justice, but it looks a little too white. Maybe I'll go and take a look at the watch in person - but it's about a 90 minute drive away and is the only thing of any note in the auction, so could be a big waste of time

Ewan

 

Lume looks all present and correct to me. Dial appears to be in great condition.

The hands aren't a huge issue and if this is a well advertised auction, I'd expect strong interest in this.

 

575 sounds like the endlinks
what's the bracelet clasp numbers?
can we see the whole bracelet?
Is it 1116?

 

Firstly, the 145.012-67 and 145.012-68 are not transitional watches. They both are 321 calibre movement, raised emblem dials and have DON bezels. The 145.022-68 is a transitional watch.

If the caseback indicates this is a 145.012-68, this is a huge plus. Rare compared to 1967 edition. You must, of course, check the movement number.

 

Maybe I am seeing something different here but the lume looks off to me. The edges look perfectly square and it appears to have no depth or ageing of the tritium, just bold white unusual for a 48 year old speedie. It could have been all scraped off or relumed or it could just be my eyes and looking at the watch using a tablet. Wait for a few others to chime in.

 

Agree - my first thought was the lume was just all washed off - but its too fuzzy to be 100% sure

 

I believe these hands are correct but most likely have been replaced during a service as they look newer. If we ordered hands for this 321, this is what they would be.

 

This is how they physically look in this batch.
Lume color can vary by photographic lighting
and how much the watch was stored early in it's life.
Here is 26075695

 

No disrespect, but I do not believe the length of lume in the hour and minute hand is correct. The period correct looking hands are still available...I know because I had to replace the style pictured. (Not sure the lume material is the same color in new replacement hands.)

 

Minute and hour hands appear to be of a Speedmaster Ref. 176.012, AKA Mark 4.5.

 

I'm still saying Mark II for the hands. It uses cal 861, so hands are compatible with 321 or 1861. Mark 4.5 uses cal 1045, and I believe the hands are different that the other calibre family.

Edit: not that it matters, both are wrong for this ref.

 

You're right , what happens is that these hands I think are also incorrect for the Mark II .These are shaped for Mark 176.012 with the hole for 861/321.

 

Thanks all - really helpful. I've been emailed another photo of the bracelet and it looks like a 1116, though the inscription on the clasp isn't visible.
The minute & hour hands, when compared to the ones on the 145.012-67 as pictured here look wrong, but I reckon I could live with that and source some more in-keeping replacements in time. Not sure about the chrono hand; it looks to be about the same age as the others so presumably they were all replaced at the same time...

 

So let's see the bracelet picture.
We like pictures here.
If bracelet is 1116 like I guessed and has 575 endlinks,
it could be the original bracelet.
Hands can be found

 

Man, you guys are on it! not something I took into consideration at first look. Check before posting or risk looking like a novice

 

Here's another pic they sent me, this time with the movement exposed. It's a Cal 321 with serial no in the expected range -

 

Auction went for £2500. Too much for my interest - not bad given that the estimate was £400-600