What Do you think of this Speedmaster 105.012?

bazelot

Ok so i got the watch. I have been reading a lot about Speedmasters and It looks like everything is ok on this one except that the serial number might be on the earlier side for the CB case. I was reading this article:
https://www.chronoholic.com/post/the-omega-speedmaster-professional-a-case-study
It says "The manufacture of the Speedmaster Professional case by La Centrale Boites started around July of 1967." The serial number on the watch i have is 24537640
In the same article the author is using 105.012-66 CB serial number: 24.955.511 produced on August 22, 1967 as a reference number and I found somewhere else from an extract i found on the web that 105.012-65 24531.xxx produced January 6th 1967. This last reference is really close to my watch. If the CB cases started on July 67 how can it have a movement that was most likely produced end of January 67 / beginning of February 67?
Am I putting too much thought into this or could this be an issue?

M moorey

2453's are a bit of a conundrum and need their own discussion slot.

bazelot

Why is that?

befobe

Exact. I confirm. Made a very good job on a previous 145.012 I had... (Should say "regret")

SOG53

Regarding the dial if you like the patina and it looks ok on the wrist, I don’t see the logic to spend a bundle with a dial restoration by the watch Michelangelo- if you want a pristine one you could get it for probably less than 4500 + cost of dial restoration
I would service and then wear and enjoy it

bazelot

Ok so i got the watch. I have been reading a lot about Speedmasters and It looks like everything is ok on this one except that the serial number might be on the earlier side for the CB case. I was reading this article:
https://www.chronoholic.com/post/the-omega-speedmaster-professional-a-case-study
It says "The manufacture of the Speedmaster Professional case by La Centrale Boites started around July of 1967." The serial number on the watch i have is 24537640
In the same article the author is using 105.012-66 CB serial number: 24.955.511 produced on August 22, 1967 as a reference number and I found somewhere else from an extract i found on the web that 105.012-65 24531.xxx produced January 6th 1967. This last reference is really close to my watch. If the CB cases started on July 67 how can it have a movement that was most likely produced end of January 67 / beginning of February 67?
Am I putting too much thought into this or could this be an issue?

Aludic

Honestly, I wouldn't worry too much about it. I've seen a few Speedmaster EoA's with serials in the 24537xxx range; mostly 105.012's produced in the first half of '67, predominantly HF's. There is one CB in my sample too. As pointed out by @SOG53 ; serials weren't quite cased entirely sequentially, so it is perfectly well possible and IMHO quite likely that the watch and movement belong together.

bazelot

Thanks. Really stressful being a vintage Speedmaster 😀 There is a picture of it worn:

BLOW UP

At that price point, I think it's great!!! If it was mine I would probably get the lume redone on hour and minute hand to match the second hand ( colour looks really good in the pic.), and I'd have the lume on the dial redone and color matched. I think I'd be tempted to straighten out the kinks. the whiteish spots on the dial probably won't shift, they could be very carefully touched up though, I would probably go to someone like James Hyman to get the work done.. Congratulations👍

ndgal

Hello there.

I have yet to own a 105.012-66 CB in that specific (24.537.XXX) serial range.
The closest proximity serial I have in my archives is 24.537.039 (601 numbers prior to yours) and it is one from the last batch of 105.012-65 produced on April 18, 1967.
Once Omega resumes issuing extracts you should apply for one and see what is the production date of this movement.
Unfortunately, Omega won't be able to tell (or at least they couldn't in the past) if the serial corresponds to a -65 or a -66.

bazelot

Thanks. You can only see the white stuff a bit from a certain angle in broad daylight. THe picture i posted is 2x and when you see it in real life the white dots become almost impossible to see. I actually love the patina more and more and I won't touch anything on the watch. I want to keep it as original as possible. The only thing I might do is get the hour and minute hour relumed if i can find someone who can do it correctly

pdxleaf

Don't most watches. Zoom might be the worst thing invented for collectors. "LOVE this watch🥰...oh, there's a mark I hadn't noticed...🙁"

(Avoid the temptation to wind it. That thing is practically screaming for moisture.)

Looks killer on your wrist!