Vintage Speedmaster 145.0022 - advice

Speedy Austrian · Mar 27, 2020

Hi, am currently looking into buying a vintage Speedmaster via a local private seller. I'm still relatively new to collecting vintage watches and came across this forum during my research on the watch. It's really great to see all the good feedback that you guys give each other and I thought I might just try to check with the people here what they think about the watch. It seems to be in good condition, the serial number dates it to sometime in the 80s. The seller told me that he purchased the watch from a dealer a few months ago in Japan. The watch has a very nice patina and seems to be in good condition, but I'm a bit concerned because the colour of the lume on the hands does not match the indices. What do you think?

Help / comments / feedback would be so much appreciated! Thanks a lot in advance!

Davidt · Mar 27, 2020

Looks like a correct early 90's Speedmaster. I wouldn't necessarily call it vintage just yet.

The lume on these 80's/90's Speedmasters does tend to go a nice shade so it's probably original.

Seaborg · Mar 27, 2020

Davidt
Looks like a correct early 90's Speedmaster.

Agreed.

First, welcome on the forum 😉 !
I also have a 90's (1996) Speedy and it looks really similar in terms of patina. No worries about the hands, they seem completely fine with the dial, I wouldn' doubt they are original to the watch. The bezel also seems slightly faded, I like it 👍.

Cheers

nzshadow · Mar 27, 2020

think it looks lovely.

OMEGuy · Mar 27, 2020

Hello and welcome!

Look here: https://www.ilovemyspeedmaster.com/productiondateprediction/

This suggests a production date of July 1991, which appears matching, looking at the watch. 👍

If you do some web research and look for other Speedies from that period, you'll find that many of them have the DNN bezel. Since the bezel insert has slightly faded and if you should decide to swap, you might consider looking for a nice DNN bezel as well (just a thought).

The watch is nice and sharp! Enjoy... 😀

Speedy Austrian · Mar 30, 2020

Thanks so much for all your help, really appreciate it. I'm a bit confused about the difference between the reference 145.0022 and 145.022. I read that the former is the successor of the latter and that Omega, but that people still call the 145.0022 the 145.022. Do 145.0022 models also make reference to production years (e.g. 145.0022-XX)? Seller wants USD 4,400 for it, I find that a bit expensive for a fairly young version of the model. That's what you would be paying for some of the older models from the 70s that are still in good condition, no?

killer67 · Mar 30, 2020

$4400 is a little high

dan7800 · Mar 31, 2020

Is that a 1479 bracelet?

OMEGuy · Mar 31, 2020

Price point isn't unfair IMO.

dan7800 · Mar 31, 2020

OMEGuy
Price point isn't unfair IMO.

If it came with a service, then I think that it would be close.

killer67 · Mar 31, 2020

dan7800
Is that a 1479 bracelet?

It think it is a 1479 but the watch is from 1985 so shouldn’t it have the 1450?

dan7800 · Mar 31, 2020

K killer67
It think it is a 1479 but the watch is from 1985 so shouldn’t it have the 1450?

Not necessarily

https://omegaforums.net/threads/speedmaster-professional-bracelets-1171-1479-1498.84715/

timestamp · Mar 31, 2020

K killer67
It think it is a 1479 but the watch is from 1985 so shouldn’t it have the 1450?

Serial is from mid 1991.

killer67 · Apr 1, 2020

timestamp
Serial is from mid 1991.

I thought 48,XXX,XXX was 1980s. Carry on...

Speedy Austrian · Apr 1, 2020

Thanks for all the advice. What is the difference between 145.022 and 145.0022 in terms of value / desirability? I always wanted a 145.022, but this one seems to be in good condition and available locally (I prefer that), so am strongly considering to take it (though at a lower price). I've so far always bought from professional dealers who had also serviced the watch and feel it's very risky to buy from a private seller, so just want to do as much research as possible.

hanky6 · Apr 1, 2020

The colour of the lume looks great, very similar to mine:

Love the 1479 bracelet, slimmer and neater than the newer versions IMO.
Price a little high, bought mine cheaper here on the forum from @Kringkily

dan7800 · Apr 1, 2020

Speedy Austrian
Thanks for all the advice. What is the difference between 145.022 and 145.0022 in terms of value / desirability? I always wanted a 145.022, but this one seems to be in good condition and available locally (I prefer that), so am strongly considering to take it (though at a lower price). I've so far always bought from professional dealers who had also serviced the watch and feel it's very risky to buy from a private seller, so just want to do as much research as possible.

Most folks prefer 78's and prior.

As always, take "service" with a large grain of salt.

joe band · Apr 3, 2020

that is a looker though... unless you are dialed in to a step dial or AML, that one is basically the same as 74- to mid 90's until the turned away from tritium lume.

i like the faded bezel, gives it character.

Denarius · Apr 3, 2020

Nice watch, doesn't look like its had much wear by the case sides and paint in the case back engraving, this is one of the first things to go with regular wear..

Denarius · Apr 3, 2020

hanky6
The colour of the lume looks great, very similar to mine:

Love the 1479 bracelet, slimmer and neater than the newer versions IMO.
Price a little high, bought mine cheaper here on the forum from @Kringkily

Nice watch, do you know the bezel looks after market?

Vintage Speedmaster 145.0022 - advice

Speedy Austrian

Davidt

Seaborg

nzshadow

OMEGuy

Speedy Austrian

killer67

dan7800

OMEGuy

dan7800

killer67

dan7800

timestamp

killer67

Speedy Austrian

hanky6

dan7800

joe band

Denarius

Denarius

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