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  1. squirrelman Jul 20, 2013

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    I asked about opening a caseback in my first thread, but you were all able to dissuade me. So instead here are the pictures you asked for. To my newbie eyes it looks good but I am eager to hear all you're learned opinions. Thanks everyone I appreciate all your help :) 2013-07-20 10.17.10.jpg 2013-07-20 10.17.30.jpg 2013-07-20 10.17.49.jpg
     
    MKelley and TLIGuy like this.
  2. SpikiSpikester @ ΩF Staff Member Jul 20, 2013

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    Looks like you've done very well there. :D
     
  3. squirrelman Jul 20, 2013

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    Thank you, I was quite excited when I saw it come up on ebay. From the sellers pictures it looked like it would for sure need a new crystal, but when I got it, it had a unscratched crystal (with the small Omega symbol in the middle). The sellers pictures didn't do the watch any justice, and they didn't even mention that it was a pre-moon dot above the 90 watch.
     
  4. dsio Ash @ ΩF Staff Member Jul 20, 2013

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    Watch is real for sure, no need to risk that pristine caseback.
     
  5. MSNWatch Vintage Omega Aficionado Staff Member Jul 20, 2013

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    You did good - an early cal. 861 speedmaster in excellent condition.
     
  6. Spacefruit Prolific Speedmaster Hoarder Jul 20, 2013

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    Very nice indeed
     
  7. sulaco Jul 20, 2013

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    Great watch in exceptional condition
     
  8. danomar Jul 20, 2013

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    That is still the one version of the Speedmaster that I still would like to own. Yours appears to be in exceptional condition. Enjoy!
     
  9. richardew Jul 20, 2013

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    Looks to be a 145.022-69, and it looks to be in great shape. Great buy! By 1970 the bezel is no longer the dot over 90 and the back would have an inscription.
    Here is a photo of one of mine that I opened up when I got it. It's a 105.012-66 and there are no watchmaker markings on the inside of the caseback, leading me to believe that it had never been worked on or opened. The gasket on the caseback/case has dissolved. You can see that it was working until I opened up the watch because the movement is pristine with no evidence of corrosion inside the watch. The photos are a bit crappy and were taken at my friend's jewelry shop.
    inside.jpg movement.jpg
     
  10. MKelley Jul 20, 2013

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    Very nice Speedmaster Squirrelman. Wear it with great pride that you did well.:thumbsup:
     
  11. Privateday7 quotes Miss Universe Jul 21, 2013

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    The transitional 861, an increasingly collectible item.......... Congrats
     
  12. Spacefruit Prolific Speedmaster Hoarder Jul 21, 2013

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    Not sure i would call this a transitional, as it lacks the applied marker on the dial.

    The second photo has longitudinal blurring, making it look like an applied marker, but the top photo clearly shows the painted one.

    A special example nonetheless.
     
  13. MSNWatch Vintage Omega Aficionado Staff Member Jul 21, 2013

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    My take is that all three early 861 speedmaster models are transitional models - applied logo (transition to a new movement), non-applied logo (transition to a new dial design) and early inscribed caseback (transition to the new bezel style, bracelet and a foreshadowing of the new caseback design). All three versions were not made for a prolonged period of time and were eventually replaced by the 861s that persists with little change to the present time.
     
  14. MKelley Jul 21, 2013

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    Well said. That's also been my understanding. :thumbsup:
     
  15. OttawaMan Jul 21, 2013

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    Playing Devil's advocate...you're all saying "great job...you did good" but how do we KNOW he did good? That the watch looks great there appears to be no doubt..but that the OP did well on the purchase is not really known now is it? Maybe he paid $14,000 for the watch. So all we can really comment on is condition and authenticity. Just sayin'.

    BTW, I'm envious. Loving the Speedy more and more each day.
     
  16. screwzlewz Jul 21, 2013

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    Was this watch from Arizona? If so I know the watch and almost drove out to buy it but opted to wait for an applied logo transitional.
     
  17. squirrelman Jul 21, 2013

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    Haha not quite $14,000, I wish I could afford to drop that though. It was on eBay for $1999 BIN and I put a best offer of $1850 in and got it, for just the head. So I still need to get a bracelet for it. Speaking of, does anyone know which bracelet(s) would be corrected for this watch?


    The seller on eBay of this one was from Florida so it must be a different one.
     
  18. SpikiSpikester @ ΩF Staff Member Jul 21, 2013

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    The correct bracelet is either a 1039 with 516 end links, or 1116 with 575 end links.

    $1850 sounds like a good price for a watch in that condition.