Hey guys,

a friend ask me for help, but I am confused myself. He showed me a nice tropical, what seems to be Speedy 145.022- 69 on some pics. Today he got the watch, opened it and there is the confusion. We have a 0022 caseback, a 45.XXX.XXX Serial, a DON and a 69 dial. The hands are Tritium as well.

Is this is mixed up part watch or was it just a serviced in 1984 and got a new caseback and movement?

Maybe you have some ideas.

Thanks Nico

 

Without a paper trail, it's a franken...

 

I buy the bezel and the dial if you want.

 

It's not my watch, I would keep the parts for myself. I just wanted to find out, if this is just a serviced watch, or a franken. I think in the ends, its all about the parts anyway

 

Without proof that services were done to put it in this state (and even with given the complete movement swap, it's a franken/build/just not correct.

 

Ok, let me asked the other way around. I it possible to say, that caseback and movement where swaped at the same time? Any caseback specifics for 1984 / 85?

thanks!

 

Nope.

It's a modern, laser engraved caseback, I believe the 345.0022 was introduced in 1987... so from then, or some point after.

And a movement produced at some point in the early 1980s.

Again, without documentation to show what was done when and where, it could have been done in the 80s by Omega or it could have been done last week by a guy trying to build something to sell to the uninitiated.

 

Thanks guys, I will forward your answers to my friend!

Nico

 

With a dial that nice, I would hope this wasn't a recent put-together. Would be a shame to not do it right. I personally think that if the caseback were swapped for a correct one, it would be quite enjoyable. Yes, the movement isn't the right serial number range, but I personally could look past that if everything else were basically correct. The only real issue with that is if I recall the way of telling if it is an authentic -69 going tropical (and not a dial that has been tinkered with) is by movement serial range.

But honestly, that's a beautiful dial regardless.

 

Personally, I would use the caseback and movement problems to drive down the price and buy myself a great looking watch.

 

Yes, I would buy it for the dial

 

Frankin or service makes zero difference it’s value as parts. I guess the midcase would matter... but that’s about it

 

The dial is so nice that I'd buy another '69, maybe with a service dial and bezel but otherwise period-correct and put this dial and bezel into it. Then I'd sell everything that was left over individually as parts.

 

Or sell the dial and bezel for big bucks, buy a dial, bezel and caseback for the 45 serial range and have a complete watch plus a good wedge in the back pocket..

 

Actually, best would be to get a '69 (with service dial and bezel which are correct for the 45 serial range). Then do some swapping over and you have 2 Speedys which are both period-correct!

 

Thanks guys, thats exactly what he will do now.

 

Even with a paper trail, it's a frankenwatch. Cars have hard and fast rules for this sort of question: correct chassis; engine; gearbox; rear axle (and diff); and, transmission (sometimes this definition includes the differential) must all be present for the car to be considered "original" .

If the movement of the watch is swapped out, then the watch can't be complete and original in my eyes regardless of the circumstances or reasons for the swap.