So go for the old one. You can serviced it mostly anywhere (to someone who knows it's job of course) and the history with it.
It's a Speed. It will keep running for years if you take care. Just the tritium hands that may (or not) go to dust at one point. You will have to change the hands for new ones (so you will have lume 😀 ).
Also, I’ve read that this movement was made to a 1000 pieces. Is this accurate?
The tritium hands are not an issue. Any competent watchmaker can apply binder to the back of the hands which will stabilize the lume and keep it intact. He certainly won't have to replace them with modern service hands. At worst, they might eventually have to be relumed, but even that is unlikely if the watch is properly cared for and maintained.
1000, I don't remember. The modern version with co-axial is no use in real world. Marketing. But that's my point of view.
Yes or do that. It depends how the tritium aged. But only purist won't change the hands at all. It's not that a big deal in reality ; in 50 years there will be no tritium hands on any watch anyway.
I respectfully disagree. Ask any collector of vintage Speedmasters whether they view replacement superluminova service hands as an issue on a vintage Speedmaster reference.
I get your point. But as you just said "collector of vintage Speedmasters". OP is not. He wants a nice watch for is birthday. Whether he will have to change, re-lume or not in 20 years is not a big concern.
I’m picking this one you pictured below. …. Still too many issues with the new modern model that haven’t been all weeded out yet.
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Yeah I’m not much of a collector. But would love a watch that I can treasure for years to come. I have a sub, but fell out of love for it and it’s too heavy for my liking. The Speedy wears perfect.
Oh what issues are there with the modern one?
I’d opt for vintage all day but the price seems high relative to a new Sapphire Sandwich. I’d expect there’s better value in Tokyo.
Basically the vintage is $6100 and there’s a seller back home selling a brand new 2024 sapphire sandwich for $6500.
Basically the vintage is $6100 and there’s a seller back home selling a brand new 2024 sapphire sandwich for $6500.
$6100 sounds insanely expensive for a pre-owned 80s Speedmaster. You keep calling it vintage, but it's not. It is not a collectible watch.
I’m not so well versed in the terminology but I do see many places calling these vintage so I just go with it. I don’t care as much for whether it is a collectable, or whether its value might increase over time. Just looking for a watch that I can beat up as a daily driver to go through life with me pretty much. Also, I personally like the display caseback, and a lot of the collectable editions don’t come with those.
Why ask for advice? Just buy what you like.
Just looking for a watch that I can beat up as a daily driver to go through life with me pretty much.
