Speedmaster Mark III help

banshee · Nov 4, 2020

Hi guys,

I was offered this Speedmaster Mark III, but there is an inconsistency I detected: the Mark III shouldn't come with this case, but rather with the beefy Jedi one. The movement is cal. 1040. My guess here is that the dial and movement are correct for 176.002. Very strangely, on the caseback the engraved 176.001 is scratched and there is a second engraving below 176.007.My research shows that this ref. corresponds to a Seamaster (no Mark III on the dial), case is cushion indeed...

Any comments would be appreciated!

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tyrantlizardrex · Nov 4, 2020

Run, don’t walk.

valkyrie_rider · Nov 4, 2020

Yeah, looks like a Mark III dial put into a Seamaster 1040 case.

It also seems that there is some oxidation in the lower right side of the movement (4th photo), which could explain why the dial was replaced (i.e. water damaged the original dial).

The number one place to find information on all things 1040 caliber related is:
https://www.calibre1040.com/

Wait a little while for @Andy K to show up and share his encyclopedically deep knowledge on the subject.
😀

valkyrie_rider · Nov 4, 2020

Check the expected dial models for Mark III:
https://www.calibre1040.com/cal-1040-collectors-guide-dials/e/

valkyrie_rider · Nov 4, 2020

So, yes... it looks like a FrakenSeaMark III.

Andy K · Nov 5, 2020

Hi @banshee, there are people out there that believe that Omega made Speedmaster Mark IIIs in this configuration (ref. 176.007) but I'm not one of them. As @valkyrie_rider said, I think this is a frankenwatch that should have a Seamaster dial.

banshee · Nov 5, 2020

Thank you for the input guys! Indeed, I'm inclined to the theory that it was a Mark III with very damaged case (those large cases get bumped up a lot) and later the dial and movement fitted to a Seamaster 176.007 case.

What's your opinion on the caseback: scratched ref. 176.001 and the 176.007 engraved below? Someone told me that's something Omega did in the factory back in the day.
I just found another one on ebay: https://www.ebay.com/itm/Omega-Seam...594809?hash=item23d2ece0f9:g:D28AAOSwU9xUT95M

valkyrie_rider · Nov 5, 2020

I can't really comment on scratched case backs, at least all my vintage Omegas don't have that.

It is really tough to find a good Mark III with a nice dial and an unpolished case, as I've reported when I found mine:
https://omegaforums.net/threads/speedmaster-mark-iii.95659/

Comparatively speaking, is easier to find other models, both older (e.g. Mark II) or newer (e.g. Mark 4 and 4.5).

My recommendation would be try to buy one from someone from this forum, as it will be guaranteed to not being a Frankenwatch.
😀

May I ask you which kind of budget you have for it?

Remember that buying a 'bargain' may imply on ending up with a Fraken (worst case) or having to send the watch immediately to service (manageable).

When it comes to vintage watches, the 2 main priorities are:
a) State: it is all about finding a good exemplar, it is tough to find parts for watches that are 40 to 50 years old.
b) Vendor: an honest and reliable seller will stand up for the watch if something goes wrong.

In case you haven't watched (pun intended) yet:

valkyrie_rider · Nov 5, 2020

Final tip: when you find the right one, move fast!

Otherwise you may regret... 😀
https://omegaforums.net/threads/the-one-who-got-away.89334/

rcs914 · Nov 5, 2020

If this were really cheap I'd get it, since it is frankly WAY better looking than the Jedi case in this configuration - you just would have to be okay with it not being "right".

Andy K · Nov 5, 2020

banshee
What's your opinion on the caseback: scratched ref. 176.001 and the 176.007 engraved below? Someone told me that's something Omega did in the factory back in the day.

This is pretty common for the earlier 176.007s. Omega discontinued the 176.001 pretty quickly after they started production and repurposed the casebacks.

banshee · Nov 5, 2020

valkyrie_rider
I can't really comment on scratched case backs, at least all my vintage Omegas don't have that.

It is really tough to find a good Mark III with a nice dial and an unpolished case, as I've reported when I found mine:
https://omegaforums.net/threads/speedmaster-mark-iii.95659/

Comparatively speaking, is easier to find other models, both older (e.g. Mark II) or newer (e.g. Mark 4 and 4.5).

My recommendation would be try to buy one from someone from this forum, as it will be guaranteed to not being a Frankenwatch.
😀

May I ask you which kind of budget you have for it?

Remember that buying a 'bargain' may imply on ending up with a Fraken (worst case) or having to send the watch immediately to service (manageable).

When it comes to vintage watches, the 2 main priorities are:
a) State: it is all about finding a good exemplar, it is tough to find parts for watches that are 40 to 50 years old.
b) Vendor: an honest and reliable seller will stand up for the watch if something goes wrong.

In case you haven't watched (pun intended) yet:

Thank you for the advice. Long story short: it was offered to me from a seller in another country from who I've bought decent watches before. He knows I'm always looking for additions to my collections, hence he gives me a notice when he gets something interesting.

Speedmaster Mark III help

banshee

tyrantlizardrex

valkyrie_rider

valkyrie_rider

valkyrie_rider

Andy K

banshee

valkyrie_rider

valkyrie_rider

rcs914

Andy K

banshee

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