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Speedmaster Professional 1992 Serial number check

A
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Hi,

I guess I am old enough to post this in the vintage section!?

Would anyone kindly be able to confirm the serial number range for December 1992? Or at least within 1992. Ideally someone who has had confirmation form the Omega archive. The results on Ilovemyspeedmaster lookup seems to vary a little and it would be a shame to buy a birth year watch that isn’t actually the correct year!

Thanks in advance.
 
Aludic
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Hi!

As simple as your question seems to be; it isn’t really that exact. The Speedmaster serials weren’t always shipped sequentially by Omega. Based on hundreds of EoA’s, I for one cannot exactly pinpoint ‘92 as ‘91 and ‘92 seem to have seen a blend of serials from 48272xx to 482844xx. I have set of 14 confirmed serials between these two limits, so I’d say it’s probably as close as you’re going to get without an EoA or papers of the exact watch you’re looking to buy.

Hope this still helps!

Nb: I know what looking for a birth year Speedy is like. Hence @speedybirthyear on Ig. It’s a quest, better enjoy it. 😉
 
Davidt
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When you’re looking for a watch from 92 what are you wanting - a watch sold in 92 or made in 92?

They’re different. If your dad had left the hospital and called at an Omega AD the day you were born, it’s likely the wqtxh he wild have bought would have been made in 91 or even 90. A watch made in 92 would likely have been sold in 92 or 93.
 
A
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Davidt Davidt
When you’re looking for a watch from 92 what are you wanting - a watch sold in 92 or made in 92?

They’re different. If your dad had left the hospital and called at an Omega AD the day you were born, it’s likely the wqtxh he wild have bought would have been made in 91 or even 90. A watch made in 92 would likely have been sold in 92 or 93.
Thank you that is very helpful. I will aim for a serial as high up in that range as possible and hopefully it works out! Or I just don’t get an archive report and live in ignorance!

Do you have any experience buying Speedmasters from Japan? There are a few cheaper watches within this serial range which are quite tempting, but I am trying to decide if it is worth the risk as the condition isn’t always super clear. But the savings would cover most of a service… So as long as I buy one with a nice dial/hands/case I think that would be a good option.

I will have to import one as I live in a country with very few options.
 
A
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Davidt Davidt
When you’re looking for a watch from 92 what are you wanting - a watch sold in 92 or made in 92?

They’re different. If your dad had left the hospital and called at an Omega AD the day you were born, it’s likely the wqtxh he wild have bought would have been made in 91 or even 90. A watch made in 92 would likely have been sold in 92 or 93.
Ideally made in 92 as that feels nicer somehow. I am mostly looking at watches without papers anyway so I have been focusing on the serial numbers.
 
amuscare87
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A AHW
Thank you that is very helpful. I will aim for a serial as high up in that range as possible and hopefully it works out! Or I just don’t get an archive report and live in ignorance!

Do you have any experience buying Speedmasters from Japan? There are a few cheaper watches within this serial range which are quite tempting, but I am trying to decide if it is worth the risk as the condition isn’t always super clear. But the savings would cover most of a service… So as long as I buy one with a nice dial/hands/case I think that would be a good option.

I will have to import one as I live in a country with very few options.

I have purchased from Japanese sellers prior to the tariffs being enacted in the US. I have always found the condition of the watches coming from Japan to be of the highest quality. Something about their culture and the respect they have for these timepieces. As always, no matter where purchasing, ALWAYS shop the seller. There are some Japanese dealers that are better known and have a track record.
 
Davidt
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There are some great watches from sellers in Japan but there are also many with over polished cases, dial issues and corrosion.

Not generalising too much but on the whole Japanese sellers do tend to be fairly honest in their descriptions, they tend to to waffle about nonsense like a lot of dealers do and the descriptions can be very brief. I’d say you need to know what you’re looking at to ensure you’re buying a good example.

That applies to all sellers.
 
amuscare87
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Davidt Davidt
There are some great watches from sellers in Japan but there are also many with over polished cases, dial issues and corrosion.

Not generalising too much but on the whole Japanese sellers do tend to be fairly honest in their descriptions, they tend to to waffle about nonsense like a lot of dealers do and the descriptions can be very brief. I’d say you need to know what you’re looking at to ensure you’re buying a good example.

That applies to all sellers.
Good point here @Davidt and maybe my previous comment about being in the best condition was a step too far. Those examples do exist, as well as the redialed, over polished examples. I think what differs from other markets is the honesty about the condition of the watches as you pointed out
 
Danimals
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Aludic Aludic
Hi!

As simple as your question seems to be; it isn’t really that exact. The Speedmaster serials weren’t always shipped sequentially by Omega. Based on hundreds of EoA’s, I for one cannot exactly pinpoint ‘92 as ‘91 and ‘92 seem to have seen a blend of serials from 48272xx to 482844xx. I have set of 14 confirmed serials between these two limits, so I’d say it’s probably as close as you’re going to get without an EoA or papers of the exact watch you’re looking to buy.

Hope this still helps!

Nb: I know what looking for a birth year Speedy is like. Hence @speedybirthyear on Ig. It’s a quest, better enjoy it. 😉
When I use the online look up tools for serial numbers and they give years, would it be right to interpret that as the date of production, or the date it was offered for sale?
 
amuscare87
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Danimals Danimals
When I use the online look up tools for serial numbers and they give years, would it be right to interpret that as the date of production, or the date it was offered for sale?
That would be correct.
 
Dan S
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You can trust the calculators and tables if you want, but the extract data for the 90s are very sparse. And it's unlikely that Omega will ever start providing extracts again.

So if the production year is really important to you, hunt around until you find a watch with an extract. TBH, your best bet is a Seiko, since the year and month of production is prominently engraved on the back. If it's not so important, believe whatever makes you happy - ignorance is bliss.

Personally I think that the focus on birth year (or equivalent) is silly beyond belief. Buy the reference you like in the best condition you can afford. By coincidence, I have owned at least a dozen watches from my birth year, and I have never received the slightest smidgen of joy from a watch because of the year of production.
Edited:
 
A
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The birth year thing is a bit silly, but I do feel it adds something to the watch.

Does anyone have experience with the larger Japanese sellers on Chrono24 e.g. Closer, aonohappa? They have a lot of positive feedback, but of course some bad is thrown in as well. They seem to have a lot of Speedmasters coming up for sale consistently.

In many cases I am finding it a bit hard to judge the condition of the case and dial from the pictures they provide.

For example my assessment of the condition of these two watches correct? If they don’t include a picture of the movement is that a bad sign?

Watch 1

My assessment is that the case has been polished but appears to be fairly sharp still.

The tritium on the dial and hands looks quite nice, but a fair amount has turned dusty.

The bracelet looks correct.
IMG_0907.webp IMG_0908.webp

Watch 2

Hands not as nice as watch 1. Some discolouration.

Ends links on strap don’t seem correct?

Case itself is similar to watch 1?
IMG_0910.webp IMG_0911.webp
 
Davidt
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Closer have some great watches at reasonable prices, but they also have a lot of worn out crap. They’re essentially a wholesaler and while their descriptions and headings are accurate and they don’t make an effort to deceive with fancy descriptions, their descriptions are sparse so you have to rely on the pictures and your knowledge

It also depends where you are in the world. Importing a Speedmaster from closer to the UK would be expensive once you add 20+% in duties.
 
A
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Davidt Davidt
Closer have some great watches at reasonable prices, but they also have a lot of worn out crap. They’re essentially a wholesaler and while their descriptions and headings are accurate and they don’t make an effort to deceive with fancy descriptions, their descriptions are sparse so you have to rely on the pictures and your knowledge

It also depends where you are in the world. Importing a Speedmaster from closer to the UK would be expensive once you add 20+% in duties.
Yeah. Some of the ones they are selling are quite shocking condition, but at least they are not trying to hide it. Do they offer a discount ever? I tried asking but it was only a couple of percent off.

That is the reason why I am looking to a cheap watch from Japan and then servicing it. I have to pay over 20% VAT for import and the chance of a local one coming for sale is extremely slim.
 
Davidt
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If you’re in the UK you’re not going to find a Speedmaster from Closer at a price that makes sense.
 
ibis888
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I have a 3590.50 from early 90s and dug these up when trying to figure out a rough age. If you google “3590.50 papers extract” you can find old sale listings with extracts and/or papers.

Serial: 48,291,003 produced July 20, 1993 according to Davidoff Brothers listing
Serial: 48,284,448 produced April 1, 1992 according to Extract of Archives
Serial: 48,279,965 sold 1992 according to papers
Serial: 48,275,501 produced June 5, 1991 according to Davidoff Brothers
Serial: 48,270,254 produced 1991 according to Davidoff Brothers
Serial: 48,266,959 produced 1991 according to Davidoff Brothers

As others have said, strongly recommend finding the best condition early 90s 3590.50 you can find and calling it close enough.
Edited:
 
A
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Thanks all for the feedback. The more time I spend researching and the more I realise how people end up with so many Speedmasters! So many interesting models. Unfortunately my budget does not allow that.

I have to pay 25% VAT on imports so I am definitely leaning towards being patient (which is hard) and waiting for a good one to come up locally. Or if there is a particular bargain abroad then it might be worth buying.
 
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