Forums Latest Members

What does my 145.022-71 Speedmaster have in common with my 345.0809 First SpeedieMoon?

  1. gemini4 Hoarder Of Speed et alia Apr 16, 2016

    Posts
    5,855
    Likes
    16,579
    Normally, from a collector's standpoint, not very much.

    This particular Speedmaster 145.022-71, which arrived today, is not your normal 1971 Speedie.

    On the watch surface, everything appears as it should. Printed logo, large pushers, correct hands and a stepped Professional dial as 1971 was the last year of the stepped Speedie dial. The case is sharp. It is in rather nice, original condition IMHO.

    image.jpeg

    Inner HF caseback looks correct and normal as well. Movement (not shown, 3219xxxx) is correct and is a normal early cal 861 type.
    image.jpeg

    On the reverse side of this caseback is where all the excitement is found.

    The short lived, transitional, NO INSCRIPTION, TYPE C1 (MWO) Caseback.

    Only the Seahorse central medallion and logo is present. The "Flight Qualified....." Inscription that exists to this day was not ready for production and this caseback bridged the gap between the Straight Writing caseback of the 145.022-69 and the well known inscribed Speedmaster medallion caseback.
    image.jpeg

    Lastly, what does this 145.022-71 have in common with my First SpeedieMoon 345.0809 of 1985?
    image.jpeg
    14 years later, in 1985, the No Inscription caseback would return to the back of the 345.0809.
     
    Edited Apr 16, 2016
  2. sky21 Apr 16, 2016

    Posts
    1,187
    Likes
    1,854
    Very cool @gemini4, once again you find a pristine example of a seldom seen speedy. How do you do it!!
     
  3. gemini4 Hoarder Of Speed et alia Apr 16, 2016

    Posts
    5,855
    Likes
    16,579
    My main occupation is traveling the world, searching for vintage Speedies that @Spacefruit doesn't own yet. :)
     
    Edited Apr 16, 2016
    Jwit, Foo2rama, MikiJ and 5 others like this.
  4. sky21 Apr 16, 2016

    Posts
    1,187
    Likes
    1,854
    Between the two of you that has to be why there are so few good ones left for the rest of us!! Have you found your Apollo-Soyuz 75 yet?
     
  5. gemini4 Hoarder Of Speed et alia Apr 16, 2016

    Posts
    5,855
    Likes
    16,579
    There are lots of vintage Speedies still out there. Next week, I hope to have another nice example to show.

    FYI, This particular 1971 version was sold by Kirill @KRLYUZH earlier this year. In addition, George @Kringkily has a 145.022-71 NO INSRIPTION that, for the right price, he may be willing to part with.
     
    sky21 likes this.
  6. Kwijibo Apr 16, 2016

    Posts
    1,857
    Likes
    2,240
    What a pain! travelling the world searching for speedmasters... Gemini, as you seem to know the 71 quite well, I always wondered why mine had a 32... SN. Isn't that movement supposed to be issued in 1972?

    thanks
     
  7. gemini4 Hoarder Of Speed et alia Apr 16, 2016

    Posts
    5,855
    Likes
    16,579
    The 145.022-71 was produced from 1971 - 1974.
     
  8. sky21 Apr 16, 2016

    Posts
    1,187
    Likes
    1,854
    Can't wait to see what you come up with next. Maybe the Omega museum will sell you or @Spacefruit the BA 145.022-69 #1 with Nixons name on it for being the most dedicated Speedmaster collector in the world?
     
  9. Kwijibo Apr 16, 2016

    Posts
    1,857
    Likes
    2,240
    thanks Gem, Actually I made a mistake, it's a 31. It was first sold in 1972 according to papers.
     
  10. gemini4 Hoarder Of Speed et alia Apr 16, 2016

    Posts
    5,855
    Likes
    16,579
    Perhaps @Spacefruit would prefer a gold Speedmaster with an inscription to Edward Heath.
     
    BlueBoy likes this.
  11. sky21 Apr 16, 2016

    Posts
    1,187
    Likes
    1,854
    The British PM from the 70s?
     
  12. ibis888 Apr 16, 2016

    Posts
    318
    Likes
    192
    Nice watch! The caseback is quite interesting too, I learn something new every day.
     
    gemini4 likes this.
  13. al128 unsolicited co-moderation giverer Apr 16, 2016

    Posts
    2,203
    Likes
    2,017
    G4, just out of curiosity ... what is your serial - and how should it fit in? IOW would yours be one of the earliest -71's?

    thx!
    Al
     
  14. gemini4 Hoarder Of Speed et alia Apr 16, 2016

    Posts
    5,855
    Likes
    16,579
    Movement number is 3219xxxx, not the earliest. Perhaps inscribed medallion production lagged demand and these were substituted. Not really sure.
     
  15. al128 unsolicited co-moderation giverer Apr 16, 2016

    Posts
    2,203
    Likes
    2,017
    ok, I have a speedy with serial of 31.000.xxx, a DON90 bezel and a -71 case-back ... and I try to figure out if its a 69 with incorrect caseback or a 71 with incorrect DON90 bezel or if there is a (realistic) chance that it was a borderline-case...

    cheers, Al
     
  16. sky21 Apr 16, 2016

    Posts
    1,187
    Likes
    1,854
    Well a 71 can definitely have a 31m serial, so the caseback certainly can be legit. I think the DON bezels generally stop by 30m but maybe you got lucky!!