I’d love to see how people started into Speedmasters. So I’ll start with my mine. I bought it at a San Francisco pawn shop sale, one Saturday in the spring of 1982, for about $225. It’s a 145.022-74 or 76, with a C2 medium S dial. I did have it serviced a single time, by a trusted watchmaker, about 15 years ago. (Yes, I’m ashamed.) Of course, I still have it. It’s all original, at least for the years it’s been in my hands. It’s still pretty clean. I wore this watch for over five years straight, including at my wedding later that year and on our honeymoon. Five years later, I found a used Rolex Explorer 1016 in a second hand watch store and bought it for $350; that became my daily watch for about ten years. This watch sat in my drawer until fairly recently. I’m wearing it at the moment. It gains about fifteens second a day and I promise to have it properly serviced very soon. Show us yours!
I started with a Mark II. The members here were very supportive of my exuberance at the time ( even though I did all the wrong things*) and I very much appreciate that. Thanks guys! https://omegaforums.net/threads/racing-dial-mark-ii-back-from-omega-restoration-service.19381/ *I did it very consciously because I wanted to see exactly what Omega would do. Lessons learned.
No pictures but when I was a youth minister my pastor had(and still does) a Speedmaster he bought new in 1972. The unique thing about his is the silver dial. I need to get a picture. It’s an 861 movement I’m sure as he winds it daily. I found a black dial 1976 in a pawn shop but the case was not great. Sold it and found the -69 I wear most days! Here’s a wrist shot of the -69
Mine was a 30th birthday present from the wife after wanting one for what seemed like was half of my life up until that point.
My first Speedie was almost an Ed White in February of 2015, but most people around here remember how that ended up : https://omegaforums.net/threads/my-most-precious-to-date-has-arrived-then-gone-again.21008/ Yes, the 'ol "paper clip" in a movement thread.. After my disappointment, I was ready to find something else, and it was just 6 weeks later, I found a modern one, the Speediorite, to satisfy my craving: Then at 8 months post paper clip, I found a sweet, unmolested cal. 321 inside a fellow forum member's watch, and so I bought that. It only needed a correct sweep seconds, and the amazing @oddboy provided that for me... still owe ya, bro! Group shot, where , in the background left, you can see my last purchased Speedy, a near-mint Apollo XI 25th Anniversary:
Since kid I loved the speedmaster, as I always saw my grandfather wearing his. He bought it new, in 1993. When I was 19, he gave it to me, so this was my first. And is my most beloved watch. The year I bought my second speedy, a chocolate sapphire sandwich. Both watches are shown in the picture.
A highschool buddy (with rich parents) had a SMP when we were growing up in Amsterdam which Turned me onto Speedys and their history, he of course new very little bout the watch I ended up Purchasing a MKII at Sotheby’s in Amsterdam when I was 21 (late 90’s) for around $500 with the original moon crater box, did the usual noob error and sent to omega in CH for servicing to the tune of $500 ( cough/ splutter) loved that monster! Think it took me a few months to build up the wrist strength to wear it without noticing it hahha...second noob error was to sell it when I needed some cash a year or so later....youthful folly....and since then life happens as you all know and watches were low on my priority list other than the cursory Craigslist crawl....which after sufficient diligence yielded an unmolested 145.012-67 with lovely DON on its original 1039...naturally not wanting to “bang it up” I convinced my wife I’d now need an additional waterproof watch for my daily beater...hahaha!! Love both my Speedy and my GMT...
So, I got two ‘toys’ today, a new bracelet for my first watch and a speedmaster101.com case opener. Figured I should post these here. I got to open it to find out whether it was a 74 or a 76. Needs service but beautiful, at least to me. It’s a 145.022-74. Thank you OF and speedmaster101, cause otherwise I wouldn’t have found the wonderful case opener.
5+ years ago I wanted to update from the Invicta to a "luxury" watch. At that time, I determined that the speedy was the least expensive option. I bought a 3572.50. I still own it. 5+ years later I am a huge seedmaster fanboy. Decades Collection.
I will spend the rest of my life regretting that I passed on that watch when it was listed in eBay. Probably the best bargain I’ve seen in more than a few years. Enjoy!
Yes! I will say, that it went for less than I thought. I think the 5 day auction length, incorrect hands, no papers/box, and the soft lugs kept the auction result much lower than other previous sales (I know of two). @repoman was able to help me source the correct hands and he also sent me a link to another auction that seems to confirm the correct box was included as part of the auction. I plan to speak with Omega to see if replacement cards can be ordered.
The skelton I REALLY want: If it had been platinum, I might have chased yours. Skeletons are really interesting. I need one.
I wonder what @Barking mad is up to these days https://omegaforums.net/threads/the-arrival-of-something-very-very-special.29237/
Hi, having received friendly help from you guys recently https://omegaforums.net/threads/145-022-69-looking-for-some-advise.95055/ I want to say "thank you" by posting my first Speedy:
My first is shown here on the right, a 145.012-67 purchased in 1992 or 93. I think it was about 200usd. The 90s and 2000s brought more Speedmasters.