Speedmaster 145.022.68ST

View attachment 840658 View attachment 840657 Hi all,
New to the forums and looking for some advice. I am looking to pick up a 145.022.68 ST for £3.2K.. The watch doesn’t come with the original strap and the bezel looks like it’s from 1970 onwards.
I appreciate it’s down to personal preference with its own value, however, do you think the value is in the watch?
I have attached pictures but they’re not great 😉
Cheers..View attachment 840646 View attachment 840646 View attachment 840647 View attachment 840650 View attachment 840651
View attachment 840763

Limited info I can give as a novice from those pics, and it's always good to see more pics such as the inside of the case back and the movement itself, but...

1. firstly, i suspect it's been back to Omega in the not too distant past, as the hands and the bezel look to be replacements (purely based on their condition) - many sympathetic repairers would have retained the originality, but that also could have been the owners choice at the time, or perhaps the originals were too far gone
2. hard to tell, but the dial logo looks to be applied rather than printed, which might point more to a transitional model. If so, then the bezel has been replaced (hardly surprising given the prices of DON ones these days)
3. case has clearly been polished and shows no noticeable dents or scratches, i hear people talk of 'soft lugs' but to my eyes these look pretty good (happy to be corrected by the worldly wise on here)
4. i can see very little wear or damage to the outer bezel ring, which normally suffer from the odd dent, impact damage - perhaps better photos would show some that havent been fully polished out
5. caseback aesthetically is correct for the year - the condition of the rear of the case/lugs and the back are probably consistent with the year and some regular use over the years.

I'm looking out for something similar price range - I'd say its better than most I've seen at that money (I'd prefer some patina to the hands and lume myself, but not all aged / yellowed due to different suppliers); I do wonder though if it perhaps a bit too 'clean' / 'new looking' for the age.

If it's in the UK, or EU to that matter, then I think there are far worse examples out there - if the price is your rough conversion from overseas then factor in shipping, insurance and import duty (typically 20% all told) - eg a $3200 watch might look fine , even at todays poorer exchange rates to GBP, but by the time you add the tax it'll end up £3200

Hi appreciate the information and the level of detail you have sent.
The cost is £3.2K shipped, and I have asked for pictures of the movement to double check the serial number which I believe should be 26xxxxx - 27xxxxx I am also double checking the logo is applied.

I wasn't aware of the hands though, my understanding they did have two different designs for the Chrono hands.. maybe other members will know.
I am aware the original strap and bezel you could be looking at 4K at least.
Cheers

The flat ended chrono second hand came in around -68, they just look too new to me but perhaps its the lighting or phone camera wizardry, or just modern replacements during service/repair.

Perhaps also some lume damage to the marker at the 5 position ?

Picture added..

Movement looks to be correct, no paperclips bodged in, clearly had replacement gear parts during service.

The 145.022-68 is considered a transitional model as it featured the old style AML dial but with the new 861 movement.

So dial is correct but looks washed. Not much lume left and a damage at 5 o'clock. Hands are correct for this reference but might be replaced. Better pictures would help.
Bezel is a DNN which is not correct for this reference. Should be a DON.
Pushers, crown are replaced and case and caseback look recently polished.
From a collectors point of view there's not much left in this watch and the overall aesthetics are not very pleasing.
As for the price, have you looked at the price chart on speedmaster101?

Perhaps a nieve comment on my part, but the colour of the gear wheels looks much less aged than the rest of the movement components - perhaps proper modern ultrasonic cleaning would bring that finish on older parts? - I'll bow to better knowledge given your qualification.

You mean, coloured like this one?



and this one?

Two points. The movement seems to show a serial of 3059xxxx which would put it at late 1970 or 71. Also the clutch lever bridge does not have a beveled edge which makes it a 1970 or later movement. All told seems to be a mix of parts.

Now I'm confused. Is the only picture of the watch movement in question the fuzzy one at the beginning? If so, it's hard to tell much without a better picture. I was thinking it was the bottom picture. 😕

Perhaps not a recent service - I was a bit bleary eared this morning when i replied, and perhaps not worded as well as it could have been. The bezel is not correct and has been replaced at some stage - perhaps in hindsight not at its last service (whenever that was). But at some point its been swapped, and there's next to no damage on the one now fitted; perhaps for those who only wear a speedy for special occasions, or with a suit to to the office on occasion, that sort of preservation could be achieved over 15+ years. My judgement was also somewhat clouded by my own recent searches for similar watches that just seem to wear battered and/or corroded bezels.

Like many things this is a trade off between value and aesthetics/originality. As has already been mentioned the watch has a number of later parts that may have been swapped during a service. On the other hand a correct transitional Speedmaster would cost quite a bit more than the £3.2K you mention. Personally, I would either want a correct transitional model and pay the extra or would settle for a less sought after reference that would fit on the £3.2k piece range. Either way I would pass on this.

Hi all thanks for the response.
The 2 images Percy isn’t my watch the serial number is a 26xxxxx

MCC I think you make a great point..