Can't say I've seen this before, an Ebay auction for a #0000 40th Anniversary Apollo XI Speedy Pro
http://www.ebay.com/itm/351420868055?_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:ITPurchases made through these links may earn this site a commission from the eBay Partner Network

This pre-production or demo models are usually marked "not for sale". Can someone comment on the claim in the ad that #0000 watches are sometimes given to Omega insiders as a gift/award.

 

same seller has a 3590.50 with a '69 serial in the 27,71x,xxx range. does such a thing exist?

http://www.ebay.ca/itm/Omega-Speedm...ertified-White-Dial-42mm-3590-50/331576964116Purchases made through these links may earn this site a commission from the eBay Partner Network

OVD lists the 3590.50 as 1989 -> http://www.omegawatches.com/planet-omega/heritage/vintage-watches-database?ref=14508

 

I would want confirmation from Omega. I seem to recall that there are service replacements marked 0000. Omega may re-engrave the number but official parts resellers like Ofrei used to carry certain casebacks marked 0000, if I recall correctly.

 

I've seen these before, and in fact just tried on a 0000 serial number Speedy Pro Silver Snoopy. They are display and/or sample models either given to boutiques or to lucky customers on loan. They are fully operational and specified correctly, but they are not available for sale or warranty, or at least that's what the sales rep told me.
I'm not sure what they do with these models afterwards but giving them as gifts or awards makes sense since they by their own admission cannot sell them.

 

Personal opinion from past experiences (not watches): I doubt dealers are allowed to give these away to anyone, but I wouldn’t be surprised if some of them fell through the cracks over time.

 

My guess is that this is a franken watch of some kind, perhaps just the caseback, or a slip-through-the-cracks pre-production unit. I doubt any company in the world would allow pre-production units to be given away as gifts. Pre-production means exactly that - they are not factory spec and almost always have unserviceable unique characteristics, or things that were improved upon in the final production run. In my business, we do keep pre-production units around for testing and lab work, but they are not serviceable so as soon as they break we dispose of them, and of course, they are never for sale.

 

As I said in my post the Omega rep specifically told me that the 0000 units are preproduction samples BUT fully working models, it's just that they aren't for retail sale. Especially for a model like the Speedy Pro which doesn't use a different movement of any other components that would really affect the usability in the long term.
It's not like these are preproduction concept cars with fake suspension, faux lights and non-connected electronics.

 

I've seen it differently for what its worth. At NYC, Omega was showing off the Snoopy watch and it was just plain "0". They wouldn't sell it to me. It apparently goes in the Museum.

 

Yup, that was the same one I tried on a few weeks ago! I couldn't remember the exact text but I remember it didn't have a serial number.

 

So if one ordered an extract from Omega for the serial from the movement, I wonder how Omega would respond? Would they deny its existence? Would the extract mention it was pre production? Or would it simply just say it is for a 311.30.42.30.01.002. Not insinuating anything, just genuinely curious.

 

mmm.

So a watch that is never supposed to be released to the public, now on sale, is 1000% legit?

I am not sure how. At some point it left Omegas hands - when by all accounts "zero" watches are not supposed to.

I would have to know how it left Omega to be able to say that.

And I am quite ready to accept a plausible explanation - I just cant see it yet

 

I agree 100 percent with Repo

 

What would Omega's response be if this were sent to them for service?

 

If you agree with him then you'd be wrong.
To expand on what dsio said above, they can only officially issue a certain amount of limited edition pieces. BUT, they need to show off the limited edition pieces at fairs, shows, boutiques, etc. So, they create working models but don't give them official serial numbers because if they used a real, serial numbered model that was later sold to a customer how would the purchaser feel if their model has been ogled, handled and otherwise used by thousands of people before they took ownership?

 

My concern would be in the way that it left Omega's ownership. If it was sold at auction, or given to the dealer to be allowed to be sold, or whatever, I would want documentation from Omega saying so.

There is a chance that it was not authorized for re-sale, and if so, then the buyer would be in receipt of stolen goods, and would have to surrender it to authorities upon receipt of such evidence. They would be out the amount paid. That would be my concern.