Allow me to introduce myself. I'm a f***ing bloodhound when it comes to vintage watches. One word in a conversation and it's like the radar flicks on and I get a fix.

On Saturday morning, I was talking to an aquaintance - a market trader - who has a love of watches that equals my own and pockets that are much deeper. We have both recently, and coincidentally, bought ourselves a Top Time and we were having a "compare". On top of that, I'd brought four 1950s Seamasters with me as a game: spot the one that's "not right".While we were talking, one of his customers joined in and steered the conversation to Speedmasters. He'd just inherited some.

Radar not only on but locked.

After a brief chat, I offered to look at the watches one day and give him an assessment. As I was driving this afternoon he called me, watch in hand. We exchanged pleasantries and he started to describe the watch.

I asked if it had the word "professional" under the "Speedmaster". No.

Does it have straight lugs or are they faceted? Twisted? Straight.

Can you see the "Swiss Made" at the bottom of the dial? Yes

Does it have a letter T either side of the "Swiss Made"? No.

If you look at the main seconds hand, the big hand pointing to 12, is that a simple white hand coming to a tip or does it hav ... It's white. Straight.

OK, if you turn it over, are there two distinct circular lines on the back or just one? It's really worn, I'm not sure.

Can you still see the hippocampus? The seahorse? Yes.

Is it just etched into the steel or is it a medallion type thing. It's really feintly etched.

I think I need to see this in person. Are you free this evening? Yes.

So, I dash through all the other things I have to do; speak his address into the satnav and set off.

Well, I arrived and he had three watches out waiting for me. An early 80s megasonic constellation - running, fair condition, steel case and bezel (at least I couldn't spot a hallmark anywhere on there). There was a MkII, a 145.014. The 2 o clock pusher wasn't operating or returning but the watch ran. The seal was tar but the 861 was clean and dated to 1971, with a steel brake. I know the Delrin brakes are perfectly good, but I like to see the steel brakes. It needs plenty of TLC but it's a good watch. The bracelet's incorrect for it .. but there's a bracelet.


You can see from the background I grabbed my copy of MWO on the way there.

Now, the last. The Speedmaster. The non-professional. The one I hadn't seen yet because it was wrapped in a plastic bag. He said that the bezel had come off. That a pusher was loose in the bag. Gingerly. Carefully. I let the watch slide into my palm ..
He hadn't lied to me about anything.

But this was strange. The back is from a 145.014

The movement looked like an 86x but a 29m serial number (which would put it in 1970).
But now I'm second guessing myself ... was it ever an Omega?

 

Mega fake ... but he didn't lie to you, at all

 

Wow

 

I know ... and I was thinking as I was asking each question ... this has to be ... it just has to be ...

It's that movement that's bugging me, though ... I mean, it's a pretty expensive way to fake a Speedy.

 

so what is the movement? Its a Lemania 1873 kinda movement... Do you remember what the baseplate said?

 

Quote: Radar not only on but locked. End Quote
Next time less power in Your illuminator radar and more in Pulse Acquisition radar ... great story though

 

There was nothing there. At least, nothing that was visible.

 

Oh man, what a disappointment. You totally had me going along on the ride with you.

 

Scratch that - there is a 4 pointed star there?

 

Better luck next time

 

The suspense!

Loved this thread

 

Oh dear. I'm reading this going "yep, yep, yep,yep" thinking, here we go, this is going to be great, score of the year. A genuine barn find 2998 when they seems to have dried up.

Then you last picture rolls up onto my screen.

Didn't know whether to laugh or cry!

 

You poor f***ing bloodhound Next you will have a better cookie

 

barn finds come in different shapes and forms but a good story it was its DON bezel is probably on eBay...

 

Much like a suspense story.. good read.

Sorry OP that it didn't turn out well in the end.

 

I think I have a good idea of what happened... probably a Deville 861

And then got redialed and got its hands changed. (maybe not. Does look like a Deville to me though. Maybe Deville case and speedy dial)
MKII speedy casebacks fit onto speedy cases, I found out. So that makes sense. It fits, but you need to live without the dust cover. Don't ask me how I know...

 

Great read. At least I am not so jealous anymore. Keep looking. That is how many are found!

 

Haha, what a twist ending. I was purposely scrolling slowly so as not to reveal the tropical 2998-1 that was inevitably waiting below. Nope!

 

This thread was a roller coaster ride.

I am surprised you managed to keep driving while talking to him. I would have had to stop at the side of the road.

 

It's a good theory but not that case. As I said above, it's an expensive way to fake a watch and my guess is that a hobbyist watchmaker was having some fun with leftover parts.