I thought I would do a fresh thread to update on my watch now that it has come back from service and some gentle restoration by Simon Freese.

Simon put a don insert on the watch, but I still have the brand new modern replacement if I ever feel the need for the new look.

While the watch was away I was lucky enough to locate a 7912 bracelet with Number 6 endlinks and I was keen to try that on. A member on here very kindly helped me with an end centre link that was missing, that is the bit that the spring bar goes through to attach it to the endlink.

The case is in nice condition and doesn't seem to have suffered from excessive polishing.

 

Bellisismo [emoji4]

 

The color matched hands look great!

 

Great looking watch.Why did you decide on the drop end chrono hand rather than a spear end hand?

 

Same thing isn't it. The square end Chrono hand was not proper to the 105.003 range. I found a supplier on e-bay selling genuine OEM parts and they had a listing for the hands. I showed Simon the listing and checked with Speedmaster101 and they are correct for the watch.

http://speedmaster101.com/blog/square-or-drop-end-chrono-hand/

 

Flat end and drop end chrono hands are seen in 145012s...but not 105003.

 

What happened to it? The before photo looks like it was in a food processor!

 

Really nice! Wear in good health. Simon has done a great job. My 64 says hello! Sold in October 65 and my one and only Speedy for nearly 20 years..... Coming up for a service soon...

 

Can someone post an image of a drop end and a spear end Chrono please so we can see the difference. Looking at images they look identical to me. The article linked above only makes reference to one type of drop end Chrono, not two.

 

Oh. I thought you had the bezel replaced with new one. What am I missing?

 

The image above has a brand new bezel insert and the tatty one that looks like it has been through a food processor is an original don which many advised me to put on the watch. They can easily be swopped over if needs be.

 

I think the end result looks great. The hands look great. I would be more than happy with having the DON bezel on my 64. A good vintage 'correct' look for a vintage looking watch. And a great find re the bracelet and end links. Congrats!

 

I think part of the confusion was indeed having the original picture last (since removed), and not mentioning on the package listing above the newly supplied DON bezel. The package listing intimated the old DON was replaced by the new.
But I read it through a couple of times and got there.

 

More great work by Simon. Really like the dial on this one. Hope you are going to wear and use it.

 

Apologies, yes I see that I have caused a few issues, but amended now, so hopefully clearer now.

 

Now I get it!!! Old look. Perfect movement. Sweet!!!

 

Its a lovely thing Ken.

 

Come out nicely, Ken. Congrats!

It's difficult to answer the value question. During the past 12 months, I have seen this reference traded in a very wide range. Yours is an honest example with pluses from looking lovely overall and having the 7912 bracelet, #6 links and some box/paper goodies, but also minuses from having a small scratch on the hour subdial, repainted hands and replacement crown. In this market, a perfect example is hard to come by these days and we all know how insanely high it can get when one shows up for sale.

 

Re: scratches in sub-dials - look at the hour recorder sub-dial, from 3.5 to about 7.5. Scratched from the tip of the hand - very common to see.

 

I get you, a circular mark (scratch left by the hand - as you say). I was looking for something more obvious like a clumsy watchmaker leaving a straight line scratch.

In all honesty I didn't even see it when looking at the macro image, so hopefully nothing to lose sleep about.