Maybe it's splitting hairs but... I saw this Speedmaster listing a few days ago. It sold before I got too far down the rabbit hole (things go fast around here). It got me started thinking though. Is this my birth year watch? https://omegaforums.net/threads/speedmaster-145-022-71.36526/ The case is stamped 145.022-71. As I know, the -71 is related to the year. I think it is related to the case and not the movement. The movement is serial number 32,851,884. My reading says that Speedmasters have a somehow different rule for movement numbers and years. The movement number would put it 1973-1974. http://www.lesmala.net/jean-michel/speedmaster/serial.htm So, is this my birth year watch because it is stamped -71, or is it off by a few years based on the movement? Or maybe it's a birth year because I say it is. The case and movement are from different years so it'll never be fully the right year. What is the consensus?
Its what ever you want it to be Due to budget cuts, the Birth Year Police have stopped comparing movements with your birth certificate. If the economy improves, this could change though, so be careful.
I reckon it depends on your reference site for caseback and serial http://speedmaster101.com/serial-quick-reference-to-78/ Either way depends just how close you want it to be for your birth year watch, me I'm a "in the ballpark" guy others are " on second base with a 5 pace lead and 3 steps outta the base path" kinda guys
I think you'd have to get an abstract to pin a watch down for perfect birth year, most folks don't try to be quite that specific or accurate. So in the end I think you could go with, "close enough for WIS work"
I'm getting a late SN -76 with an early dial for my 40th if all goes according to plan. For me that is close enough, I doubt I will get the extract to disprove it.
I was born a really good birth year for watches, except I can't actually afford the ones I want most. 1957.
I did go on a search for a birth year watch a while back and this was the best I could do at the time. It's entirely possible that the movement (Cal. 520) was indeed manufactured in 1957 because the factory where it was made only produced movements for Omega between 1955 and 1957. The serial number, the Ref Number, plus the Omega Vintage Watch database all suggest that the serial number was stamped on the movement and the finished watch left Omega in 1959. I plan on getting an Extract from the Archive for this watch sometime in the not-too-distant future.
There are different ways to see it. It could be the year it was made ( often the year before release) or the year it got released, or th E year of purchase as stamped on papers. All those are good birth year parameters if you like the watch in question because, let's face it, it's just another way to justify a good watch. I should know, I collect birth year watches. I have mine ( a 1971 5512) my brothers ( a 1969 gmt 1675) Andy sons ( 2004 gmt 16710) and will continue to get a good 1966, 67. At the end of the day I have 3 great watches that WI I'll be great no matter what.
I am still trying to get a birth year watch. I thought it would have been the Ed White, but the extract indicated 1967. I will keep looking for one, but it my case looking for the production date to be 1966. But given the cost of a 1966 speedy, I am looking for children birth years (have one of the two), wedding year, graduation, basically any excuse to buy a watch.
Just keep buying and you will end up with a birth year, got two or three and never even tried looking for one. 71 for me also
Its whatever you want it to be really, I'm kind of spoiled for choice as I was born in one of the best watch years ever for both Omega and Rolex.
I was born in 1949 and have never seen anything from that year advertised at dealers or auctions. I suspect that if I did and I liked it, it would be out of my price range.
I have been thinking about a birth year watch also, specifically a SpeedMaster. But have you seen the prices of a 69? Might have to sell a kidney or some such to pull it off.
I happened into a birth year 1665 and 1680, didn't realize until years later. I decided my first Speedy was going to be birth year 79, and @MikiJ was kind of enough to find me one...within one week of starting my quest. I still owe him...
I was on a quest for a birth year speedy (1968), when a 145.012-67 fell into my lap at a fantastic price, so I was prepared to call it close enough. As it turns out the extract shows it left Omega in '68, despite the 67 case back and (based on serial number) the likely 67 manufacture of the movement. Honestly if any part of the watch says birth year to you, then I think you are good