As some of you have seen in the sales section, I have had to list quite a few of my watches for an "unexpected buying opportunity." I wanted to share the new arrivals with you - they are quite special!

Part 1 is shown HERE and is the "main event."

I have always been of the mindset that a Speedmaster is an essential part of an Omega collection. When I first started collecting watches, my first purchase was a Railmaster 2503.52 followed by a Speedmaster 3570.50. The more time I have spent on these forums, the more I got into my head that I need something with a DON bezel, applied metal logo, step dial, etc. You guys are such enablers!

That is why when this opportunity arose, I decided it would be fair to let the modern watches go to fund this vintage purchase - a 145.012 from 1967.



This watch has definitely seen a lot of wrist time but shows honest signs of wear. It carries its DON bezel, which has signs of wear but fits with the overall patina. The dial has developed a dotted patina and there is some loss to the dial lume. (Scratches are to the crystal, not the dial!)



The hands, crystal, and crown are also original. What I like the most is that the watch remained unpolished over these years. You can still see the original factory brushing on the sides and well as sharp lug lines!



The next order of business will be to get this serviced and crystal polished. I will be putting it on a 1171 bracelet and changing out that horrible strap.

Hopefully this doesn't spiral into more pre-moon Speedmaster purchases...

 

congrats !!!! That is very cool.
Tom

 

shouldn't it have long hour indexes ?

 

It's interesting, there were some discussions previously about this type of dial. For example here: https://omegaforums.net/threads/speedmaster-service-dial-or-not.59114/

"MWO calls it the B4 rarely seen but not listed as a service dial as it makes that distinction on other dials."

It doesn't matter much to me as this was meant as a "daily wearer" type of watch. It's interesting how the patina and condition of the dial matches the rest of the watch perfectly. If it were changed out, it must have happened very early on!

 

as a daily beater it's ok.

from a collection point i would prefer the long index dial because this is for me the feature which makes them a tad more attractive than short index

 

There's no pic of the movement..i'm slightly concerned with the brown staining at 6 o'clock...Evidence of water damage? Rust?

 

i think the stains come from bad condition storage of the dial before it was reborn in the watch

 

That looks fantastic Mike. Love that rare dial, great pick up!

Will look lovely on the bracelet I think.

 

The discoloration is only on the crystal ring, so I hope it will clean up during service. No evidence of movement damage!

 

Congrats! A 321 Speedy is a great watch, it’ll be a wonderful daily wearer.

 

After a light crystal polish and proper bracelet

 

A worthy quest. Congratulations on your find. I hope you enjoy wearing your pre-moon Omega Speedmaster.

 

nice catch, huge congrats and wear in good health

 

If this were my watch, I’d send it to James Hyman for a relume. Like all here, I appreciate originality - but where the lume is mostly gone as in this case, a relume would absolutely elevate this watch significantly.

 

Love the watch MikeMan. Congrats!

 

Do you know the approximate cost of one of his re-lumes? I hear he is quite good.

 

About a 100 quid from last I heard

 

Nice catch!!! Looking forward to seeing it after it’s spa treatment Mike. Where are you sending it??
Simon Freese does a great sympathetic relume if you’re based in the UK. I also have a lovely 69 that was relumed by James Hyman which is perfect.

 

Nice catch, enjoy

 

Yeah mine was done by James a month or so ago for £100.