Speedmaster 145.022 - 69 barn find

[JayBe]

I probably had a lucky day and wanted to confirm with the community. While picking up some watches from service at my watchmaker yesterday, he told me that some person had just come by that day and brought him some watches with the intent to sell. Apparently, some grandfather died and when they opened his safe, they found watches that nobody was aware of, so they must have been lying there for 30 years or so. Amongst them was this Speedmaster 145.022-69 that I immediately jumped upon. I love the story and looks, so I immediately made a fair offer (-service cost) that the seller accepted.

To my eyes, the watch is all original and unmolested. It is well worn, with most of the wear on the bezel. The dial and hands are at least “good”, the case is sharp and quite certainly unpolished and in good nick too. The movement is working, even with decent amplitude and all chrono functions. The serial number of the movement seems to be in the right range (264 or 284… I believe. I only made a bad photo and now cannot get the dust cap off) and the movement is visually in very good condition. A service is scheduled, before I am going to wear it. The end links are 633 and the bracelet is 1171, as I am sure you can tell.

Overall, I am quite pleased with the purchase and would love to hear some comments on how you think I did. I was looking for an affordable example for quite some time and it almost seemed like I was priced out of the market a year ago, so I am very happy.

Edited: Jun 27, 2023

 

[wagudc]

I agree, really looks quite nice. The only unfortunate bit is the bezel. Nice find!

 

[Aroxx]

Nice! Extra cheesy as well. Always a good sign!

 

[pdxleaf]

A great find, one that most people would have jumped on.

As an aside, it always fascinates me when I see bezels like this. WTF did people do to get all those chips?! I'm not questioning your bezel, just amazed at how banged up they get. People must have walked into more doors in the old days.

 

[JayBe]

Thanks to everyone for your kind words so far. I agree that the bezel is the weak link, but I also believe that it allowed me to negotiate a good price based on the poor visual appearance it creates to a layman. We are able to look beyond that and see the contrasting conditions of dial, case, hands, lume...and how easy it is to polish the crystal, clean the case, bracelet and make a ton of difference.

The bezel, at least when it comes to the shiny spots, is chipped it seems. You can see that it bubbles at spots and then, I assume, chips away. Should be due to corrosion on the metal underneath the paint and not (only) dings. Painted aluminium parts on vintage cars do that unfortunately as well.
Otherwise, the case and outer bezel would not be in that condition anymore.

 

[Dan S]

The bezel is easy enough to replace, it will be a beauty.

 

[Seaborg]

Beauty! Big congrats on this one.

 

[hansaboy]

Wow!
Nice sharp luggs, and with the brushing still visible!
The lume plots and hands look amazing as well, and the dial should be in the same condition (hopefully, its hard to see on the pics)!

Congrats!
Please keep posting!

Cheers!

 

[Risto]

After a little visit to the spa, it should be perfect for daily wear! I love that bezel.

 

[JayBe]

hansaboy

Wow!
Nice sharp luggs, and with the brushing still visible!
The lume plots and hands look amazing as well, and the dial should be in the same condition (hopefully, its hard to see on the pics)!

Congrats!
Please keep posting!

Cheers!

Thank you, the dial is indeed pristine and do I dare to see a hint of brown? 🥰

I have to admit that I did not evaluate the watch entirely correctly in the shop and only realised how nice it actually is, when I took the dial out into the sunlight and compared the condition of the case to other examples. I was too focused on examining the parts and looking for damages, overall appearance. Given the situation at hand, I was more focused on getting the deal closed. Had a hard night in between offer and acceptance from the seller.

The whole situation is interesting, because had I not come into that shop that day, another person (not collector) would have bought it, who thought that it was just a beat up moonwatch and wanted it as a beater. So I approached the seller, not hiding my full appreciation and enthusiasm for the watch. Educated the seller on the subject and made an honest offer.

The longer I look at it, the more spectacular I find it.

I suppose that stabilising the lume of the hands would be a good idea?

Edited: Jun 28, 2023

 

[Spacefruit]

Superb

 

[Sa Calobra]

JayBe

I suppose that stabilising the lume of the hands would be a good idea?

Based on what does it need to be stabilized? I thought this only needs to be done if the lume is cracked?

 

[itsjustausername]

that is an enviably nice looking example! congrats 😀

 

[RevZMan123]

pdxleaf

A great find, one that most people would have jumped on.

As an aside, it always fascinates me when I see bezels like this. WTF did people do to get all those chips?! I'm not questioning your bezel, just amazed at how banged up they get. People must have walked into more doors in the old days.

The ceramic bezel on my dad's gmt-ii was all banged up too, chips down to the metal in one or two places. And here we are just putting them in a box. lol

 

[hansaboy]

Sa Calobra

Based on what does it need to be stabilized? I thought this only needs to be done if the lume is cracked?

The hands look great!
Dont think they need any love?

But you will service the watch, so let the watchmaker decide??

 

[Faz]

pdxleaf

People must have walked into more doors in the old days.

GPS’ weren’t yet available back then…

 

[Davidt]

Beautiful watch, great find. Congrats on going for it.

I know everyone focusses on the dial (rightly so), but case condition is also of the utmost importance and this one looks great. The -69’s do tend to have these large/tall side profiles, especially when compared to the earlier 105.012’s, and yours looks excellent.

 

[Sa Calobra]

hansaboy

The hands look great!
Dont think they need any love?

But you will service the watch, so let the watchmaker decide??

That was exactly my point. I was responding to @JayBe s comment that stabilising the lume would be a good idea.

 

[JayBe]

Yes, thank you for your comments on that. My practical experience with Speedmasters of that age is very limited, but what I observed is that many have problems with lume of the hands (missing, replaced or cracked). So I was just considering getting ahead of that potential problem.
I unfortunately do not trust watchmakers to make decisions on these kind of things and prefer to give them precise instructions on what to do and what not to do.

After careful consideration, I will only have them do:
- movement CLA
- new gaskets
- ultrasound cleaning of case and bracelet
- polishing of crystal (only!)

 

[Archer]

JayBe

Yes, thank you for your comments on that. My practical experience with Speedmasters of that age is very limited, but what I observed is that many have problems with lume of the hands (missing, replaced or cracked). So I was just considering getting ahead of that potential problem.
I unfortunately do not trust watchmakers to make decisions on these kind of things and prefer to give them precise instructions on what to do and what not to do.

After careful consideration, I will only have them do:
- movement CLA
- new gaskets
- ultrasound cleaning of case and bracelet
- polishing of crystal (only!)

You shouldn't send watches to watchmakers you don't trust...