Dear Omega Forum members, I have found this Franken Speedy for quite a low price (1600€) and I would like to solicit your wisdom and knowledge concerning this watch. As the seller told me it's a vintage watch, it can be, to my opinion, a 145.022 Speedy (I have not seen the caliber) from the 80's. According to him, the watch is running but the chrono hand does not reset to zero properly. What I can see : - Wrong dial (MARK II) - Wrong new hands - Case in quite good condition (unpolished) - DNN bezel also in good conditon - Omega buckle on the bracelet (not visible here) Here are two pictures: Thank you for your help. Cheers. Seaborg.
No. Save the 1600 Euro and save a bit more to buy a pristine example. I would wager that, in time, you will regret buying this model and want to sell it on. You will struggle to sell it.
I have seen his ad, he lives close to me. So I've considered, but I thought that it would be a pain to put it back together, considering the movement needs a service...
The earlier replies have all the wisdom and experience. For me the term 'Franken Speedy' is the worrying bit. After I joined the forum and began to learn about what collectors are looking for in a watch, That term seemed even more puzzling. Why would we want one? I'm developing a love for beautiful watches by studying this forum but my speciality is guitars. I have a guitar that I have altered and added bits to. It works OK for me but I would have a hell of a job selling it. When I read what the experienced members write it seems to have a consistent theme: (as shown below)
Thanks for your replies. I was wondering if this one could be a nice project of restoration. So my 145.012-67 will stay alone (for the moment)...
Assuming that the case and movement match up, you would be looking to purchase bezel, dial and hands, and I assume a service. I'm not sure cost and the headache of finding those parts make this financial feasible. I have done a couple of project watches, I don't plan on doing anymore.
It can take quite a while to get all the parts together...I wouldn't bother with that; too exhausting
I think the lugs look polished as well. About the only reason I could see buying this is if you wanted to do your own dial/hand swap. 1600 Euro is pretty cheap for the case and movement.
Yes. Could be. But what case and movement is it? I have seen watches like this with a lemania movement inside and a service case
My concern also, without movement pics it's hard to value. The caseback looks newer then the case so I'm betting you will need a serial number for it.
I have finally seen the watch by myself. I have opened it revealing a clean 861 caliber. The serial number is 30596xxx so was manufactured in 1969 or 1970 according to tables. However, the case is engraved by both numbers 145.0022 and 345.0022 but there is no serial number on the lugs. The dust cover was missing such as the O-ring gasket. I can imagine that this movement corresponds to a Mark II (matching the dial) as it seems unikely to be a late 145.022-69 caliber in this case. What are your thoughts ? Thanks. Cheers.
145.0022 and 345.0022 is a modern case from the early 90's. So you have an unknown provenance in need of service movement, new hands, new case, wrong dial, modern DNN ( dot under 70) nightmare. So, again this is a frankenstien that needs a service badly with unknown costs... Minimum $500 for the service if not more and your left with a watch with no collector value. IF you wanted to make a hotrod watch with a dial and hands from an LE it might be an OK base, but that watch would still have little value. All in all at 1600 euro it seems over priced... the real costs is more like 2100 euro with the needed service.... Would you pay 2100 for that watch?
Nope I was no more considering buying this but I was curious to see it opened. As I said last time, my 145.012 will stay alone for the moment. Now I am more wondering how the hell this was "alive". What happened to the owner to mutilate his watch like this ?...