First and most important, I would like to thank you all for considering this thread, and sorry to make it so long.

I just traded an Omega Speedmaster for a bunch of other watches, but I'm in serious trouble finding it's "right place". I will just show you what I found and may be you can advise me from here.

This seems to be an Omega SpeedMaster 145.022 from 1970, 861 calibre and sn: 29118046 : https://www.fratellowatches.com/spe...ter-professional-145-022-buyers-guide-part-2/

Bezel is a DO90: http://speedmaster101.com/base500-bezel-identification/ but should't be a DNN?

It has the right step dial from the 70's: http://chronomaddox.com/speedy_dial_details.html

The central chronograph hand is different from everyone I looked up in the net. It's a substitution made with compatible hand, not original. The others seem original, no longer have tritium, and I believe they were repainted.

As I'm Portuguese and traded it here in Portugal, this watch has the "Salazar" stamp on the lug at 10 o'clock: during the Salazar regime (dictator ship up to 1974) in Portugal, customs hammered a stamp into the lug confirming that import customs had been paid on this item, please see: https://www.watchprosite.com/omega/...zar--two-rare-outliers--/677.1084263.7986713/
So this puts the watch in the right time (70's), as dictatorship enden in 25th April 1974 with a revolution.

The problem is the back is a “Non Nasa”, but different from the one you see in the "Salazar watch" I refer to; Inside, does only states "ST 145.022", and no "71". The hallmark is from KB and not HF (Huguenin Freres). But It does not seems fake or altered, for patina is consistent with age. I would like to believe and explore that this is a very last example (70s) of the "non nasa"; I've been looking to find an equal in the net, and the one I found in the picture above the "Non Nasa" in: http://speedmaster101.com/145-022/145-022-71-74-76-78/ Not only seems just the same as mine (mine having no writings), as it states in the text regarding to it "first time we see the stamped medallion case back". Do you think it's possible that KB and not HF made a different case for omega in this time? What KB hallmark stands for? I found no info in the net regarding it.
It has 3 repair marks inside, by different hands, but that can be also made up.

What do you gents say about it?

Thank you all,

João

 

Sorry, forgot to post the interior back case photos...

 

OK, this is a little odd. Your serial number is pre-220 so a DON is correct. However, the caseback would be expected to be the older, acid etched, hippocampus. This one looks like a post-moon caseback that's had the inscription ground out.

 

Ok, but in that case then it is a 145.022-69, and not a 71 has I was guessing? Were 69s made through the 70's?

And still, do you think it's possible for a to have a KB case? And do you konw what KB stands for?

 

Never seen ST 14 50 22
Odd caseback..... cant comment on other things.

 

I'd wager that's a -69 with a correct serial, bezel and dial but a replacement case-back - it should be an HF pre-moon.

 

The 145.022-69 was made from 1969 to 1971 inclusive. The KB doesn't ring a bell. My first thought on looking through the photos is that you've got a perfectly correct -69 which has had the caseback replaced. I can't explain the lack of an inscription. What you need to focus on is the late 29m serial number. Working just from memory, this is going to be the first half of 1970.

I just checled the number you posted on ilovemyspeedmaster and that came back as March 1970. That would mean a DON and plain caseback. Not with that medallion and certainly not a NASA caseback.

 

ST145.022 .... the most common of the vintage Speedmasters and the first to use the 861 movement.

 

So 69 and 71 were contempouraneas for 2 years or so, and you think that's impossible to have a mixed order? Of course it would have to be a mixed order with a case back odd exceptionalyti...
May be only an extract from omega could clarify, assuming it would have all details, that is. In that case they would state the production date and would telll me the case back it's not from the watch, I assume.

 

no. Never a DON and no NASA.

Additionally the lack of -7x is telling that it is a service caseback, or later.

Plus the way the numbers are stamped does not look like normal production at all.

 

IMO he has concerns about the gaps between the numbers engraved, so probably misinterpreted

 

To be clear, that case back is not original to the rest of the watch.

 

Ah ... I understand the comment now!

 

Ok, thak you guys for your time and concern. That gives me a clearer perspective of the watch, and if I want to restore it to a original conditon just know the way to go. For the time being just enjoy it in my wrist.

 

Out of the dial, movement, mid-case, bezel and case back, if i had to have o e be unoriginal I'd chose the bezel or caseback.

They can literally be changed by a careful layman and service parts are available that give a similar look whilst the core components of the watch remain original. This can tide you over if you decide to search for a period correct one.

 

As I see it, all you need to put this watch back to original is the caseback. A quick check on fleabay failed to find a correct -69 but to give you an idea of what you're looking for, this one is a -67: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/OMEGA-SP...306183?hash=item23ab456147:g:t7EAAOSwX2xbrPsrPurchases made through these links may earn this site a commission from the eBay Partner Network

 

May be it's one of these from a much later time: http://www.josephbonnie.com/en/prod...61-yellow-kb-st-145022-pic-359050-circa-1993/
But it puzzles me how to clean those engravings without taking the metal in the holes to open the case. I'm strugling to believe the case I have is modified. It took a good artisan to do it I guess.

 

I know, I will have to spend a good deal on it...

 

Normal watch from around 90-95 based on bezel. Same curious stamping...

 

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Original-V...322464?hash=item260312d2a0:g:dh4AAOSwsh5bOA3pPurchases made through these links may earn this site a commission from the eBay Partner Network