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Speedmaster 145.022-69 Straight Writing 27.7M Serial ID

EAO101
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Hi everyone,


I recently picked up a Speedmaster and I’m trying to make sense of the serial number. It’s a 145.022-69 with a "Straight Writing" caseback, but the serial number on the movement is 27,7xx,xxx


I’ve read somewhere that this serial range (27.7M) usually belongs to much earlier watches, but this one seems to be original and even has the steel brake on the movement. The dial is a painted logo step dial and the bezel is a DNN.

I’ve done a bit of digging and saw some mentions online about 'late assembly' batches or factory anomalies where certain serial blocks like the 27.3M or 27.7M were held back and cased later in the 70s. How do I find out more?
I'm trying to figure out if this is a recognized cluster or if I just have a bit of a weird outlier on my hands

I'm a layman when it comes to the deep history of these, so I'm trying to figure out if this is a known combination or if I have something unusual here. Does anyone else have a 27.7M serial in a Straight Writing case logged in their data?


Thanks for any help!
 
padders
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Dunno but 27,755,555 gets a hit of August 1969 on ILMS which is after the landing, but only just. I have no knowledge of what serials straight writings run in, that is your job to research but it is not impossible IMO that a watch with that serial has such a back.

ps you need to give at least another 2 digits if you want a better answer, 27.7m probably covers months.
 
Davidt
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I don’t think it’s correct. 27m isn’t even the correct serial for any -69, it’s a -68 with applied logo dial, DON bezel and -68 caseback.

Pictures would help but it sounds like the watch may have had a movement swap.
 
padders
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Hmm good point, didnt' notice that ILMS said Aug 69 but also said 'not a moon watch' my bad
 
SOG53
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Best explanation would be movement swap, otherwise a completely assembled watch.
 
SOG53
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If I owned the watch I would clean/polish the crystal (unless its cracked then replace) and if I liked the vintage used look I would keep and wear it assuming its a movement swap, not uncommon at prior service.
If you wear it regularly get movement serviced.
If the uncertainty about movement swap bothers you just sell it as is and look for another.
 
EAO101
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Dan S Dan S
Better to check before buying.

SOG53 SOG53
If I owned the watch I would clean/polish the crystal (unless its cracked then replace) and if I liked the vintage used look I would keep and wear it assuming its a movement swap, not uncommon at prior service.
If you wear it regularly get movement serviced.
If the uncertainty about movement swap bothers you just sell it as is and look for another.
Thanks.

Intend on wearing it.

The mismatch is not bothering me at all. Was just curious as it is unusual.
 
Dan S
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EAO101 EAO101
Thanks.

Intend on wearing it.

The mismatch is not bothering me at all. Was just curious as it is unusual.
It would bother me if I paid full price for a straight writing, and got one with a swapped movement
 
EAO101
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EAO101 EAO101
Thanks.

Intend on wearing it.

The mismatch is not bothering me at all. Was just curious as it is unusual.
Indeed.

Had it been fitted with a later serial movement I would've passed but, its earlier, copper plated and with the steel brake.

Also, watchfid mentions a batch of 27.7M movements fitted to straight writing case watches.

From their page:

"We have observed some 145.022-69s with earlier serial numbers, in 27.3, 27.7 and 28.0 mios, but their delivery is often in 1975 [or later], meaning that they possibly correspond to Speedmasters assembled later."

On speedmaster101's page there is a clear dead space in the serial range that had me curious:

145.022-68 (The Transitional): 26,550,000 - 27,320,000
145.022-69 (The Standard): 28,420,000 - 31,000,000
 
Davidt
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Unfortunately I think you’re clutching at straws.

There’s a very, very slim chance it’s this magical 27m serial that appeared later. Much more likely it’s just a movement swap.

It real terms though, it materially impacts the value so if this wasn’t disclosed and you bought from a dealer, I’d be getting in touch with them if it wasn’t disclosed. If it was a private buy from an unknowing seller it is what it is.
 
DonovanMartin
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I had # 27,715,440
145.022- 69ST
Extract was July 4,1969. Broke my heart to sell it, but I got into a tight spot.
 
Davidt
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DonovanMartin DonovanMartin
I had # 27,715,440
145.022- 69ST
Extract was July 4,1969. Broke my heart to sell it, but I got into a tight spot.

Yes but I’m assuming the extract didn’t confirm 145.022-69, it just said 145.022.

So yours could also have well been a -68 with a replaced caseback.
 
DonovanMartin
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Davidt Davidt
Yes but I’m assuming the extract didn’t confirm 145.022-69, it just said 145.022.

So yours could also have well been a -68 with a replaced caseback.
I’ll have to find a picture of the extract. If I remember correctly it listed the bracelet reference which seemed to be found on the -69 and not the -68. But that was just conjecture. I have a thread here somewhere with it all and a long discussion
 
Dan S
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DonovanMartin DonovanMartin
I had # 27,715,440
145.022- 69ST
Extract was July 4,1969. Broke my heart to sell it, but I got into a tight spot.
And this was a Straight Writing -69? Delivered before the actual moon landing?

I don't know if you have read the thread, but the OP is discussing a watch with a SW case-back, which describes the moon landing, typically delivered in 1971-ish, and usually to Japan.
Edited:
 
DonovanMartin
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Dan S Dan S
And this was a Straight Writing -69? Delivered before the actual moon landing?

I don't know if you have read the thread, but the OP is discussing a watch with a SW case-back, which describes the moon landing, typically delivered in 1971-ish, and usually to Japan.
I did read the thread. He was also asking about serial numbers and early ones with straight line riding. So I have included my serial number, showing it definitely wasn’t that early.
 
EAO101
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DonovanMartin DonovanMartin
I did read the thread. He was also asking about serial numbers and early ones with straight line riding. So I have included my serial number, showing it definitely wasn’t that early.
Saw that. Thanks.
 
Dan S
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DonovanMartin DonovanMartin
I did read the thread. He was also asking about serial numbers and early ones with straight line riding. So I have included my serial number, showing it definitely wasn’t that early.
I think that the typical delivery date of the 27.7 serial is well known and while more examples are always good, they aren't needed. The ilovemyspeedmaster site obviously incorporates a significant number of these.

The operative question is whether a small batch of 27M movements were held back and delivered with SW examples in 1971. This is highly speculative, but if someone could provide an extract showing a 27.7M serial 145.022 delivered to Japan in 1971, it would be interesting.
 
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