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JMG
路I am 12 years older than my wife. I am glad that she has seen the value of vintage... while I have seen the value of something new. 馃槜 This is in my confidence that she is not also on this forum...
Vintage vrs. newer Speedmasters
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OSP
路I just don't get buying used watches, unless they are a lot less expensive.
This looks like a nice way to get a watch, compared to an internet purchase
At least you have no issue with a redial or bad replacement parts on a new one. But then again if you can find a genuine, original everything 145.012 then happy days. Have one of each.
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Kazyole
路Thanks Jim
the scratched and banged up dials and not knowing how the watch was cared for, serviced and perhaps even a fake makes a new Speedmaster very desireable to me.
There are fakes of new watches too. Fortunately, there really aren't any convincing fake speedies out there (that I've seen). The cheap movements they use place the subdials too far apart. As for the rest of it, it just takes a little more research/due diligence to feel confident in buying vintage, since you need to be able to look at the photos and recognize if the parts are original to the watch or not.
As for condition, just don't buy one that's beat up. I have a 105.012-66 that I bought about a month ago that cost me about the same as what it would have cost for me to walk into the omega boutique and leave with a new speedy, and it's by no means beat up. It needed a DON bezel, but now that I have that, I can expect the watch to slowly gain value over time to the point where if I want to sell it in 10 years, I'd probably do pretty well. If you buy a modern speedy (or any modern watch really), you'll start to feel that depreciation hit from day 1.
The new speedmaster is a very nice watch and certainly no one would judge you poorly for buying one, but to me, vintage speedmasters are more special. The stepped dial, applied metal logo, aged tritium, and column wheel 321 movement just add up to a really special package. Plus, if you're into history, there's something to be said for owning a watch that's as close as possible to the first watch worn on the moon.
To each his own though.
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Davidt
路I massively prefer vintage watches so agree with much of what's been said.
I would just be slightly hesitant to to say that buying a vintage 321 Speedmaster at current prices will definitely be a sound investment. It may well be, but prices have jumped significantly in the last year and its not outside the realms of possibility that they could be riding a peak at the minute.
Like I said, it's vintage all the way for me. But buy what you love and can afford and expect that if you need to sell, you'll make a bit of a loss. If you don't, all the better.
I would just be slightly hesitant to to say that buying a vintage 321 Speedmaster at current prices will definitely be a sound investment. It may well be, but prices have jumped significantly in the last year and its not outside the realms of possibility that they could be riding a peak at the minute.
Like I said, it's vintage all the way for me. But buy what you love and can afford and expect that if you need to sell, you'll make a bit of a loss. If you don't, all the better.
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BlackTalon
路路This Space for RentI got into Omegas about 6 months ago. I started with a brand new Planet Ocean. I then picked up a barely used 3570.50 Speedy. An I most recently picked up a '67 Speedy. Frankly since getting the '67 I have to force myself to wear one of the other watches. The '67 just feels right on the wrist, and I think it looks pretty nice. The newer Omegas I have are nice enough, but they just seem to lack soul. With that said, chances are I will be picking up another newish Speedy soon verses a vintage but that is due to cost and availability.
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Rman
路I am new here, and happy to be reading and learning about these watches.
I want to add a Speedmaster to my collection and am puzzled to see the older Speedies in very good condition selling for $ 4,000 to $ 7,500 and more. Everyone is saying that the vintage Speedmaster prices have risen quite dramatically lately which is good news for those selling, but what I don't understand is I am seeing new and newer Speedmaster watches selling for $ 3,000
Am I am missing something ? Why are collectors paying a large premium for a used Speedmaster ?
If you don't have the vintage gene, don't try to figure it out. Be grateful.
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Ravineman
路Guess I just like watches. I am not a collector.
https://bulangandsons.com/love-for-the-vintage-omega-speedmaster/
https://bulangandsons.com/love-for-the-vintage-omega-speedmaster/
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repoman
路
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Dgercp
路You ask a question to an extremely biased group here. Most of us can not even relate to someone
who prefers a new watch over an old one. But, we are in the minority and if you post this on Timezone you will get
a very different take (much more in line with yours). No right answers here, just different illnesses!
who prefers a new watch over an old one. But, we are in the minority and if you post this on Timezone you will get
a very different take (much more in line with yours). No right answers here, just different illnesses!
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Rman
路Guess I just like watches. I am not a collector.
https://bulangandsons.com/love-for-the-vintage-omega-speedmaster/
He says as he...
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JimInOz
路路Melbourne AustraliaGuess I just like watches. I am not a focussed collector.
https://bulangandsons.com/love-for-the-vintage-omega-speedmaster/
There, fixed it for you.
馃槈
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mozartman
路The vintage collector and the new collector are two different species. Funny though, they both do a lot of selling and trading as they hunt for ever more exalted grails. 馃槈
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M'Bob
路I buy both, and just like the kids, love them equally for different reasons.
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kepa
路Guess I just like watches. I am not a collector.
https://bulangandsons.com/love-for-the-vintage-omega-speedmaster/
I am not a collector. I do not intend to be a collector, but I like watches, and I appreciate that some watches are forever associated with historic/iconic events/people/pop culture. The Speedmaster is associated with man walking on the moon and space travel (Apollo missions). It doesn't take a rocket scientist to work out that this can create demand for the same model as worn by the astronauts, and because they are in limited supply, their prices are still high. One person can look at a vintage Speedy and see a watch. Someone else can look at it and see man travelling into dangerous and unknown space with a piece of metal strapped to his wrist and wants the same.
On that note, I cannot wait to get home and open the package that arrived this morning whilst I was at work: scratched up bezel, scuffed casing, short 1039 bracelet, but still ticking old watch.
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JohnSteed
路I'll take it one step further. The collectors' value in these watches are based on the particular association between Omega and NASA with the US space program in the 1960's. IMO, this has little to do with the quality of the movement or its timekeeping abilities. Not that there's anything wrong with that. 馃榾
The cal. 321 movement was used by Omega in many, many models prior to the introduction of the Speedmaster in 1957 and the NASA competition a few years later. These are popular, but nowhere near as popular as the Speedmaster. Accordingly, they don't carry the same level of collectors' premium.
There are a lot of watches that are valued more for who wore similar examples than for anything else having to do with horology. Some the 1960's Heuer chronograph models fall in this category, as does the "Paul Newman" Rolex Daytona.
Some years ago, I purchased a nice 1959 Rolex Oyster Perpetual for well under $1,000. I've since been told that my de-cased cal. 1030 movement would be worth about double the value of the complete and running watch. Why? Because several very desirable (and very expensive) Rolex models of similar vintage used the same movement. Since Rolex does not divulge any information about their vintage watches or supply NOS parts for this caliber, any or all of the movement parts could be swapped out with no reduction in value.
So a better analogy would be:
Classic, but relatively inexpensive, and
Vintage and very expensive...but both cars used the same engines!
gatorcpa
Yup!
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Ravineman
路OK, yes I get it now. Thanks you.
Is there anything historic or interesting about this old Seamaster ???
Is there anything historic or interesting about this old Seamaster ???
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arkstfan
路Interesting discussion. I'm typing this with a 67 year old Elgin on my wrist. It has no real collector value but I find charm in the fact that without computers, semiconducters, or electricity on my wrist or in designing it, a series of finely machined gears, wheels and springs can keep time so accurately after so many years.
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Peemacgee
路路Purrrr-veyor of luxury cat box loungersI don't do Speedies
But I only wear vintage Connies
Yes I love the quality but the real joy of vintage watches is the research the hunt and the finding
I sit in meetings surrounded by folks with their new rolexes tags and Omegas - and even more exalted brands - which anyone can walk into a shop and buy
But no one has watches like mine
Nothing wrong with new watches
But to me they're simply not as special
Only you can decide which floats your boat
But I only wear vintage Connies
Yes I love the quality but the real joy of vintage watches is the research the hunt and the finding
I sit in meetings surrounded by folks with their new rolexes tags and Omegas - and even more exalted brands - which anyone can walk into a shop and buy
But no one has watches like mine
Nothing wrong with new watches
But to me they're simply not as special
Only you can decide which floats your boat
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Peemacgee
路路Purrrr-veyor of luxury cat box loungersTo add to that
I just posted the latest 18k Globemaster / Constellation
For the same price I could buy 5 beautiful 18k vintage Connies ( if I could find them!)
I just posted the latest 18k Globemaster / Constellation
For the same price I could buy 5 beautiful 18k vintage Connies ( if I could find them!)
