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Unloved for 30 years in a drawer

bags1971
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The wife knocked the door mirror off the car few days ago.......

While searching for found a guy local who had one for sale online yesterday went to pick it up from his house we got talking about cars and watches said

"oh I've my dads watch been in a drawer for over 30 years ill show it you"

I've got it for sale and a guy was supposed to come and get it but never rang me.

Well long story short couldn't pass it up at the price offered.

Has had water ingress that's what stopped it working pusher cap missing crown snapped but wow that bezel.

Movement is pretty clean balance moves freely some slight rust on one or two of the visible parts but will need to see whats under the dial

Going tomorrow to be looked at parts replaced and a full strip down and service.
 
20200229_090903[1].jpg 20200229_103714[1].jpg 20200229_103706[1].jpg IMG_3239.JPG
Foo2rama
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FYI dials not original to a. -74 it’s later.

also a 31m with no metal brake on a -74?
 
OMEGuy
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If it lay 30 years in a drawer and got service dial and hands before it was put aside, the owner must have knocked it at the wall all day long to make it look like in the first picture.
 
bags1971
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Foo2rama Foo2rama
FYI dials not original to a. -74 it’s later.

also a 31m with no metal brake on a -74?
foo which part are you refering to?
 
bags1971
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agree the dial is later with the short S didnt even notice it ::facepalm1::

but for the price im not too fussed

Condition is not collector by a long long long shot but its going to be a nice everyday watch once sorted

Who knows whats happened to it in its 45 years or so life

What I do know it was his dads tho he showed me a picture of him wearing it
 
abrod520
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Might not be correct but man does it look cool, and a fun story to boot. I say clean it up and wear the hell out of it, don't worry about dials! 👍
 
Foo2rama
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bags1971 bags1971
foo which part are you refering to?
You would expect it to have a plastic brake in 74 and the jury is out on 31m in 74. But as to the later it bears more research.
 
bags1971
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Foo2rama Foo2rama
You would expect it to have a plastic brake in 74 and the jury is out on 31m in 74. But as to the later it bears more research.
see what you mean searched online a seen a few with 31 mil serials
 
pseikotick
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Ok, I've been thinking about this for 7 or 8 mins, and I have two theories of this watch, both EQUALLY plausible.
1. The "deep state" (or possibly aliens) cleverly created this watch with a movement that is correct but swapped the delrin for steel, swapped the original dial for one that is slightly newer with similar patina, scuffed up the bezel and crystal to make it appear aged, made the movement seem to have been neglected for decades, added signs of moisture, then sold it for what I'm guessing must be 2 or 3 k. The funds likely went to buy arms for a terrorist outfit or pay for publicity to cover up the existence of aliens.

2. The watch got some moisture inside when it was young (as the movement shows is likely) and the dial was replaced in the 70s or early 80s with a dial that is clearly not recent.
 
OMEGuy
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pseikotick pseikotick
2. The watch got some moisture inside when it was young (as the movement shows is likely) and the dial was replaced in the 70s or early 80s with a dial that is clearly not recent.

I like both theories...

The earliest dials with the shown design that come to my mind are from the later half of the 80s. I assume the dial and hands were swapped when the watch had been serviced in the late 80s / earlier 90s.

This would at least roughly match the seller's description.

But since it's not likely the watch had a water damage right after this service and it appears very worn in the first picture of the OP, I don't believe it had been stored away for 3 decades.
Edited:
 
bags1971
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OMEGuy OMEGuy
I like both theories...

The earliest dials with the shown design that come to my mind are from the later half of the 80s. I assume the dial and hands were swapped when the watch had been serviced in the late 80s / earlier 90s.

This would at least roughly match the seller's description.

But since it's not likely the watch had a water damage right after this service and it appears very worn in the first picture of the OP, I don't believe it had been stored away for 3 decades.
who knows could of been worn a week a year 5 years before it got water damaged chucked in drawer with other junk get scratched up
 
eugeneandresson
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Next time I fall off my bike and/or break something, there better be a nice treasure-y-Speedmaster that falls out from somewhere (preferably not the one on my wrist) 😡

Nice score 👍
 
dennisthemenace
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Foo2rama Foo2rama
You would expect it to have a plastic brake in 74 and the jury is out on 31m in 74. But as to the later it bears more research.
But would you expect a 31m to have a plastic brake?
 
OMEGuy
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Foo2rama Foo2rama
also a 31m with no metal brake on a -74?

I had understood this the other way round, which seemed ok for me, since I thought that the"plastic" brake wasn't used before the late 70s and with movement serials up from 39 m.
 
bags1971
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This is why I like this forum healthy debate on a watch and not

oooo I put my new well known watch brand down and now it’s got a micro scratch should I send it back for a full service and polish
 
dennisthemenace
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OMEGuy OMEGuy
I had understood this the other way round, which seemed ok for me, since I thought that the"plastic" brake wasn't used before the late 70s and with movement serials up from 39 m.
The plastic brake was introduced in 72/3.
 
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