Hello, i am helping a friend that wants to buy a Speedmaster, he has found a nice Speedmaster Pro 105.012-65 , but the bezel is exchanged somethimes back in the days to a newer one with a dot besides ninty bezel.

Is it ok to buy this and try to find a DON bezel or just keep it as it is with the exchanged bezel?

What could the value be of Speedmaster with changed to the wrong Bezel?

Thank you for your input!

 

Depend on the condition but expecting a mint DON reaching 4000-5000usd,

 

Factor the "defect" in to the price. Depending on which bezel is fitted and the condition of that bezel, it is worth a low few hundreds ($ or £) while a DON will start at £1000 and go up to over £4000.

This is where the anomalies start to show in the pricing of watches: a good 105.012 is going to be, what, $10000? Yet you could spend $5000 simply on replacing the bezel. Does that mean that the rest of the watch is only worth $5000 as well or is the market askew in its valuations?

A buyer might want to price the watch by deducting the value of what's "wrong" ; while the seller will (at worst) be pricing the watch on the parts that are right.

Frankly, I think that if the market is driving DON prices that high then it's time to adjust the perceived value of complete watches that are all there. This brings us full circle to the value of the 2998-4 that we've all been so fervently discussing of late.

 

Hello, if you have some pictures of the watch it could help to define a price. Ok the Bezel is important but the general conditions of the watch are important too (hands, dial, crown, polished, over polished, not polished...). As said upper, a DON bezel in good condition is about 3500€ now so it can give you an idea of the value of the watch without it.
I would say, if all is original but the bezel, in good condition, only for the head, around 8000USD.

 

So why do you start with a good 105.012 being worth $10,000?

 

Because that's the price I can get one for.

 

so you think it is worth buying a bezel for a lot of money if that one is missing?

 

the speedmaster101 price chart has a good discussion about how DON bezel affects prices.

http://speedmaster101.com/price-chart-2/

 

I think that there are quite a few 105.012's about (not sure if you specifically want a -65?) and if it wasn't calling out to me, I wouldn't buy it. It's different if there's something about the watch - a particularly good dial or it's a birth year and you've been looking for ages, or anything else. From experience, whatever you budget to bring a watch back to "as new", it will always cost more.

 

and if he wants to buy a DON bezel, it need to match the patina of the watch of course? and where is the best place to find one?

 

Legwork; eBay, forums, watched on, collector sites, old watch maker's workshops, house clearances ... basically everywhere you can think of.

 

Ok, so you agree that it is still worth a buy at the right price even without the right bezel?

 

it could be. can you share any pics of the watch? can't really tell you if "this" watch is worth buying without seeing it. But i've certainly bought watches with issues (wrong hands, bezel, etc) for the right price...

 

Here is one sold for $4600 +20% = $5520

it is a 145.012 - 67 SP with Bracelet 1171/633, with 321 movement, but both changed bezel and dial !

https://www.bukowskis.com/sv/auctio...aster-professional-kronograf-armbandsur-42-mm

 

Looks like maybe a service dial. If there's a way to confirm that it's a proper dial for 321, and not a later dial taped onto the movement with sticky pads or something, that would be helpful.

Basically, you want to take the price of a Good watch from the pricd chat, then deduct the price of a good bezel and dial (unless you like the dial that's on there and it's a proper 321 dial).

So say $9000 for something between Good and Collector.

-$3500 for a good bezel
-$3000 for a good dial

(If you can find them, and those prices are probably low)

That leaves you around $2500. Low for a good case and movement, but probably not that far off really. (Remember, price chart is head only, so add bracelet in after the fact)

Another way to consider it is to put a price to each component - case, movement, dial, hands, bracelet. Add them all up and thats what its worth.

 

Could it be an good option to mount a Decimetre Bezel on the 105.012 watch? like this below?

or it is the best to spend a lot of dollars on a DO90 Bezel?

 

Sure. You could even add a mesh bracelet if you want. After all, it is your watch.

 

Thank you, now i could go back to sleep..

Sorry for my beginner questions, the DON bezel madness is hard to understand

 

It's pretty simple.

Collector value is with correct bezel. Wrong bezel affects price directly proportionate to the price of a correct equally patinaed bezel.

Decimeter bezels exist in a few flavors and original non service one are worth more.

That being said if your wearing it who cares what the bezel is if you like it and understand how not to over pay.

 

I bought this one last year, it looks very nice and allows to switch with my DON. It gives another look to the watch and less common