Weird bezel on a 1450022?

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Dsplash

·Sep 18, 2020

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

 

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Passover

·Sep 18, 2020

Very good looking bezel IMO, looks genuine...

Curious what the experts say 😀

 

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Marsimaxam

·Sep 18, 2020

If it's a fake, it's a damn good one.
Don't you just love these mysteries. Waiting for the experts...

 

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Dsplash

·Sep 19, 2020

Yes, it’s very intriguing!
Might it be a real DON wrongfully fitted in a 15+ years younger watch??

 

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Dsplash

·Sep 19, 2020

New pictures I got
Any ideas?

Dsplash

Yes, it’s very intriguing!
Might it be a real DON wrongfully fitted in a 15+ years younger watch??

 

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jaegodylan

·Sep 19, 2020

The bezel seems like the real deal and that you sir are a lucky man!

 

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befobe

·Sep 19, 2020

! ! ! 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!)

 

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Sherbie

·Sep 19, 2020

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

 

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machamp6650

·Sep 19, 2020

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...

 

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befobe

·Sep 19, 2020

Agree with @Sherbie about the lugs.
@machamp6650 : Dsplash said 84 in the first post.

 

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Sherbie

·Sep 19, 2020

befobe

Agree with @Sherbie about the lugs.
@machamp6650 : Dsplash said 84 in the first post.

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)

 

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befobe

·Sep 19, 2020

Sorry. Got it thanks.
So now we need the serial! 😁

 

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abrod520

·Sep 19, 2020

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?

 

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Dan S

·Sep 19, 2020

Dsplash

It was bought from new by the seller’s father.

I can’t help but notice this insert looks like a DON

Seller's story bad ... DON bezel good. 😁

 

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Dsplash

·Sep 22, 2020

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!