Speedmaster Mods

Posts
2,152
Likes
16,534
Personal enjoyment > monetary value

I bought my watch to enjoy it and I modded it to enjoy it more - not to increase its monetary value. If I ever wanted to sell it, I can convert it back to its original state as I’ve kept the original pieces.

this is really what it’s about…speedy or otherwise
 
Posts
1,134
Likes
1,689
Recently tried this.. always wanted to see how it would be like!

Racing speedy on a Ed white case.
 
Posts
1,241
Likes
3,861
I guess it’s technically a mod, but it’s a 321 serviced by Bienne in its original case. I had the service hands and the dial relumed.
 
Posts
9,217
Likes
24,050
Recently tried this.. always wanted to see how it would be like!

Racing speedy on a Ed white case.
where's that bezel from? LewisCo?
 
Posts
47
Likes
110
It seems most of the watches in this thread are modded to look like other Speedy models. While most of my Speedys are unmodded, I’ve taken a different tack with those that are and have modded various original/genuine Speedy models to be either more readable or just more to my liking. Just to be clear, the hand changes have been done by watchmakers, I'm not going there, although I do any bezel changes.

The first was my genuine Gemini LE. I was unsatisfied with the legibility of the silver hands, so I went all out with a set of orange ones. People seem to either love or hate this mod, with very few occupying the middle ground.

3c472d385a53eb884ab5fe546c5dcd47.jpg

rw2WA5U.jpg

Next was a very simple mod, a blue Gemini bezel on my white & blue Broad Arrow.

8qrdTN2.jpg
rioA7jB.jpg

This one was a planned mod from before I even bought the watch. I love the look of the Rising Sun LE, but the silver hands against a silver dial were not a winner for me, so I acquired a set of black hands and voila... with a red tip for the second hand to match.

806f93640427a7394fa2aaac26d2972c.jpg

4a0b0c1a1fe21e7ccda1c1d9a4a96b16.jpg

Then I decided that the silver bezel on my Legend Speedy would look better if it was black and then I thought that as the dial centre has a bit of a champagne tint to it, that a set of rose gold Broad Arrow hands would be nice.

68e48d5277ae4f6ef36d9f3ee92cd0bc.jpg

696e8aa7fedc6a80be3c8d7d6e64ac81.jpg

Subsequently I bought a red Legends Speedy and went with the simple black bezel swap.

24eae22ed144d455b434913dd4dc1dea.jpg

307fb2f09123c3a0dbfd55f3fef761c9.jpg
 
Posts
1,134
Likes
1,689
where's that bezel from? LewisCo?
I believe Lewis Watch Co said his bezels won't fade, so it could be one of these: https://www.radialproject.com/

Yup! It's from there... I bought multiple to fade it just right. (huge money sink) It doesn't fade well like OEM inserts. Very odd fella.
 
Posts
14
Likes
82
“It seems most of the watches in this thread are modded to look like other Speedy models…”

Love the blue and orange color scheme!
Edited:
 
Posts
14
Likes
82
I have two Speedy Mods and they both get more wrist time than the “standard” Speedys. The Ed White / FOIS was done by Adam Lewis. He really does great work and I’d recommend him if you are looking for someone to help you create your bespoke Speedy.
 
Posts
116
Likes
66
Personal enjoyment > monetary value

I bought my watch to enjoy it and I modded it to enjoy it more - not to increase its monetary value. If I ever wanted to sell it, I can convert it back to its original state as I’ve kept the original pieces.

Love this thread. This reply encapsulates why I am here, as do many others. I'm a watch wearer, not a collector however, like other things, there are a few items that deserve to be left absolutely original and many that can and should be improved to suit individual requirements.

I have a very strong emotional attachment with my speedmaster and it will never be the same if refurbished, but a different dial, hands in the same case or whatever doesn't change that it is still my watch, rather than a re-manufactured product. You can buy a quarter Mil car and still feel fine with different rims, exhaust, even new paint.

I also don't have any hangups about OEM parts if a similar or better item became available. In fact, being that little bit different is more unique than replicating an unavailable original I would think.
 
Posts
3
Likes
19
You went Alaska, right?

Like that you did something new. 👍

Yeah, Alaska minute, hour, and chrono hands.
 
Posts
666
Likes
1,223
Looks like i never put this one into this thread:



I have changed the bracelet to a US1035, since. One of my favourites.
Edited:
 
Posts
116
Likes
66
In the vein of white face modifications, I can see plenty of the Speedmasters re-faced etc but I have yet to see any of the 145.014 cases treated similarly.
If a prototype looked like this

Then a modified Mk2 could look like this,

Which to me looks really good. I found this on the net and have no idea exactly what this watch really is, but I'm assuming it is a modified Mk2. If so it stands out to me as very different to the treatment afforded the standard Speedmaster case.
 
Posts
418
Likes
963
This one was a planned mod from before I even bought the watch. I love the look of the Rising Sun LE, but the silver hands against a silver dial were not a winner for me, so I acquired a set of black hands and voila... with a red tip for the second hand to match.

806f93640427a7394fa2aaac26d2972c.jpg

@gaf1958 I'm really liking those black hands on your rising sun!! Which hand set are they as I can't find one with the awesome red tip (or is that hand painted)?

I'm actually considering a new set of hands for my new Apollo 8. Fantastic watch but the hour/minute hands don't really pop, especially in low light conditions!