Thoughts on 2998-61 Please

Buy it! Reality is that the watch is 55years old, and something would have been replaced at some point. If the SN falls in the correct range, and dial and hands are period correct, and you love it, you should own it!

is there an issue with the seconds register? looks like it might have a little damage on the dial. I would want to know that's not the case.

So is the consensus the hour/minute hands are service hands?

E-Diddy: what exactly are you referring to on the seconds register?

Look closely at the surface of the running seconds register (the left one). it appears uneven and possibly damaged. I could be incorrect, but personally I would want a closer look at it. I'm picky about my pieces. h/m hands & crown are service. crystal is incorrect. end links i could live with.

E-diddy: it appears that the running second hand has rubbed into the subdial giving it a circular scratch...

I'm not a vintage expert... but I know this, the decision to buy, or not buy, is up to you, nobody can make the decision for you. If you are looking for a pristine collector grade example, obviously pass here and keep looking. If not, you need to decide what your criteria is for a 2998... pretty much every one you come across will have a list of issues that make it less than collector quality. The real experts around here have a keen eye for the details, and valuations. They know what shortcomings can be overlooked (and even corrected down the road) and which ones are deal breakers. And of course there is that small issue of PRICE... what is your budget? I think that most people that find their way onto this forum, looking for a vintage Speedmaster, want to find the best example they can get within their fixed budget. Sure this piece has flaws, which have been very well pointed out by the smart folks around here, so now decide if the price, but I think a consensus is forming that this piece is fairly priced, especially given the crazy market prices we've seen in vintage Speedy's the last 6 months. Who knows what the future brings. Good luck whatever you decide.

agree with @repoman, the decision to buy is a personal one. I think we have been kind enough to provide you the facts in order to make an informed decision. I'm uncomfortable with the hand drag on the dial. Makes you wonder if the piece has movement issues you'll need to fix. Maybe one more thing to consider -- what has the seller disclosed about the piece? Does it match with what we've told you? Good luck.

Thanks for the sage advice gentlemen.