Hi I’ve come across this 1450022 from 84. It was bought from new by the seller’s father. I can’t help but notice this insert looks like a DON from my noob point of view which it obviously should not be...So is it simply a fake? Are Don inserts even compatible with more recent watches? The printing seems closer to the outer edge, especially on the upper left part... Just curious
If it's a fake, it's a damn good one. Don't you just love these mysteries. Waiting for the experts...
! ! ! Ex---perts !!! Ex---perts !!! Ex---perts !!! We can't wait more ! (Seems really like a NOS one... Don't see the difference with my old 145.012 bezel!)
Regardless of the bezel, the lugs have been polished severely and are now way too soft for my liking here is my 1983 for comparison
Out of interest, how do you know it's an 84? Have you checked the movement and serial? Bezel could be explained if it's an older model that had service dial etc replaced in the 80s? Looks like a pretty straight DON to me...
Ok, but what @machamp6650 was referring to, i think, was: what if this was a newer service dial in an older case? ( and then the DON will be correct for the older case)
Well if it was supposedly bought new by the seller's father in 1984, then it shouldn't be a pre-moon. I think the big question is, how much are they asking? The bezel looks nice, but I think some of the serifs could be off. Nothing definitive - but if they're asking a high price for an '80s Speedmaster, they could be hoping that you'll buy it thinking you can sell the DON. On the other hand, it's not impossible that some watchmaker along the line had a spare DON bezel, and replaced the original. So, what's the full story given by the seller?
Ok, a little follow up on this Got the seller on the phone and received a video. The watch was serviced for the 1st or 2nd time last year through an AD. They indeed polished it. The bezel previously on was a little damaged (I have older pictures) and they apparently swapped it despite the owner’s demands. It stayed in a safe since then and he didn’t notice until I told him...He was actually pretty mad about it and called his watchmaker to complain because this New bezel looks too new (even wants to send it back but I don’t think it’s a good idea!)...He has no idea what a DON is... He has all the original/service papers and an « expert’s » appraisal from just before the service appraising it at 4.5/5k€ (the expert advised him to get it serviced). So with the cost of the service he’s asking for 6k€ which seems way too high for a 145.0022... but that insert changes the deal! what would be a good offer to make for such a watch regardless of the almost perfect DON? Thanks!