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Should I trade my Speedy for a SM300?

Davidt
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Dash1 Dash1
Bad luck. That watch was a real bargain imo. I would have bid had I not bought a watch earlier in the week, plus I thought it would go much higher!

It was a lesson for me. I almost just threw out a bud as I also thought it would go much higher. When it only finished one bid higher and my immediate reaction was “I would’ve paid that and a bit more” it’s a lesson to never assume that prices will be astronomical, especially in the current market and properly consider your bid.
 
Pahawi
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Maybe the winning bidder would have gone much higher too...
 
Davidt
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Pahawi Pahawi
Maybe the winning bidder would have gone much higher too...

Very possibly so, but at least then I’d know. Anyway it’s my own fault.
 
Gael.Bx
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for my part I also crossed the epas on a watcco to avoid a big headache, the search for a vintage is an ordeal,
a lot of fakes, as much the first of 15 years ago with their A plat were easy to identify, today when you see the
quality of the cases sold on etsy or elsewhere it is scary, not to mention that you are never safe from an
exchanged movement if you do not have the extract of corresponding archive,
and if you find a watchco at 4k eur you need almost double at least for a vintage one with a nicely patinated tritium
and not all greenish or worse missing, when in addition you have to be careful to wear it on a daily basis ,
the watcho is not a poor 165.024 but to be considered as a modern reissue with the good period movement just like today's speed 321 at 15k....
A watchco is condemned to be worth less than a vintage one in very good condition, but is surely worth more than one in average condition, I think...

IMG_20221014_143455.jpg
 
Revo
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Gael.Bx Gael.Bx
for my part I also crossed the epas on a watcco to avoid a big headache, the search for a vintage is an ordeal,
a lot of fakes, as much the first of 15 years ago with their A plat were easy to identify, today when you see the
quality of the cases sold on etsy or elsewhere it is scary, not to mention that you are never safe from an
exchanged movement if you do not have the extract of corresponding archive,
and if you find a watchco at 4k eur you need almost double at least for a vintage one with a nicely patinated tritium
and not all greenish or worse missing, when in addition you have to be careful to wear it on a daily basis ,
the watcho is not a poor 165.024 but to be considered as a modern reissue with the good period movement just like today's speed 321 at 15k....
A watchco is condemned to be worth less than a vintage one in very good condition, but is surely worth more than one in average condition, I think...

Pretty much my thinking. And it looks like I sourced a "watchco" -- hopefully picking it up in a week's time.
 
Revo
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So OF, I think I know the answer to this -- but feel free to surprise me -- which one would you choose? Both "watchco" builds, but one has a new SL dial & hands and the other is old tritium. (N.B. the latter is more money.)

Pros to SL = cheaper, glows in like a torch, looks like a normal watchco with new parts, immaculate condition.
Cons to the SL = looks new and shiny.

Pros to the old dial = warmer, softer vintage lume, might hold / increase value better (or might not).
Cons to the old dial = more money, no glow, slightly faded and tired.

(The SL pictured isn't the one in question, just a random image stolen off the internet. The tritium dial, however, is the very one I've been offered.)

0cda3b2a-e95a-4b4e-8405-6f8797582fad.jpg 6105e8b2-b4ce-48dc-9088-e042739f06f1.jpg
 
JwRosenthal
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My .02c, vintage dial adds no “value” to a watchco- it’s still a parts watch essentially with an expensive dial in it. Value is watchco without dial + value of vintage dial. Plus the lume in the bezel doesn’t match.
If you want the aged look, have the watchco relumed by a pro and call it a day- but the bezel still won’t match.
 
padders
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Are the hands original Ollie? If not then I'd take the SL lume watch, if the dial and hands are both tritium and match each other, I'd take that maybe, depending on the premium asked.

General aside:
I have spent the best part of 2 decades learning what I can about Omegas (and as some know my job involves jewellery valuation) and yet I still don't think I have anywhere near the knowledge to go after an all original SM300 with confidence, as such I am beginning to think that it is better to consider them all tainted, or maybe just settle for as tidy a Watchco as possible if you must have the look.
Edited:
 
Revo
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padders padders
Are the hands original Ollie? If not then I'd take the SL lume watch, if the dial and hands are both tritium and match each other, I'd take that maybe, depending on the premium asked.

General aside:
I have spent the best part of 2 decades learning what I can about Omegas (and as some know my job involves jewellery valuation) and yet I still don't think I have anywhere near the knowledge to go after an all original SM300 with confidence, as such I am beginning to think that it is better to consider them all tainted, or maybe just settle for as tidy a Watchco as possible if you must have the look.

Thanks Dave, helpful as always! (Hmm that looks sarcastic when written down; it didn't sound that way in my head. Now I'm overthinking it! Gaaah!)
 
size11s
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If you have the thought of selling it on at some point then the vintage is possibly the best option if all things are equal. If the intention is to keep it for the foreseeable I would go SL and let it age gracefully with you. As others say, I find the bezel/vintage dial a tad jarring and once that is in the mind it doesn't leave. Nice decision to have to wade through Ollie, good luck.
 
Slevin kelevra
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If you are buying a Watchco then you are buying a watch purely for the astetics and there is absolutely nothing wrong with that. For me, its the Tritium watch all day long.

What is the price difference bewteen the following:-

A genuine Vintage watch - £6000 upwards?
The Tritium Watchco
The SL Watchco?

Lots or not much?
 
Revo
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Thanks all. "Watchco" SM300s seem to sell for about £3.5k, head only. Maybe less if a date version (one sold recently on ebay in the UK for £3k). The one with the tritium dial is a bit more.
 
Ian_km
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Revo Revo
Thanks all. "Watchco" SM300s seem to sell for about £3.5k, head only. Maybe less if a date version (one sold recently on ebay in the UK for £3k). The one with the tritium dial is a bit more.

There was one on EBay UK last week starting at £3250 that got pulled before the end, I was watching. Was that the one?

I have a similar hankering for one.
 
Revo
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No, a different one. This one. £3k but collection only and date version.
 
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watchlovr
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Revo Revo
Says it has Zinc Sulfide lume, is that right? I thought these were tritium or SL?
I’m guessing (by the look) that it’s a relume with a vintage product
 
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