I recently took my newly purchased W124 Mercedes to a local specialist for some TLC and spotted he was wearing an oil covered Speedmaster! Even more amazingly it was an applied logo model that he bought new in 1969 and has worn in everyday since. Proof that Omega built them tough. I've got no idea what it's worth now, probably more than the old Merc he was working on! Any similar stories anyone?
Mechanic wearing a Speedmaster
Kirk280
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I agree I'm going for either 145.012 or 105.012
Could be a completely original 145.022-68. The first of the cal 861 watches had applied logo dials. Don't think it's a 105.012 but we may never know!
From the photograph, I can't quite tell if the lugs have vertical facets. If they did, it would be a dead giveaway that it was a late 105.012. What is fascinating is that if we assume the dial to be original, you can clearly see the T SWISS MADE T font pitch is slightly narrower, which is characteristic of the 105.xxx series dials:
Figure 1: A premoon 105.012 dial
The 145.xxx dials have a slightly more widely pitched (spaced) T SWISS MADE T inscription, where the edge of T's just touches the 28-minute and 32-minute index markers:
Figure 2: A premoon 145.012 dial
What is particularly interesting is that the 145.022 dials have a shortened luminous 30-minute marker like such:
Figure 3: A 145.022 dial
. . .which this watch does NOT have. The lume on the watch face appears to be completely gone, while the lume on the watch hands does appear yellowed somewhat, which is characteristic of tritium hands. So now we're struggling. . .because we have 145.022 watch hands, on a 105.012 watch dial, with what appears to be an 1171 bracelet, with a dot-over-90 premoon bezel. With all this said, I think that this can still check out as an ultimate example of a truly factory-correct example of a late 1968/early 1969 Transitional speedmaster. The caseback is LIKELY a premoon hippocampus. And I am quite curious to determine whether this is a c321 or a c861.
Kirk - can you please decamp to the garage posthaste, and get some additional photographs? We need the caseback, the crown, the numbers on the endlinks, and the numbers with date code on the bracelet clasp. Listen closely if you can tell whether the watch is beating at 18,600 beats per minute, or 21,000. Or, see if your mechanic will screw off the caseback for you to snap a few photos of the movement inside.
cheers,
Mark
No no no. These watches were not made to be trailer queens..... (cars that cannot be driven). These were, and are, to be used to the fullest...
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Thanks for sharing this!A great tool watch in action.
Some good detective work here but I would be a little more cautious in saying that not all 105.012 had the narrow font dial or the flat top lugs, and not all 145.022's had the shortened 30 minute markers.
Here's a picture of my old 145.022-68 transitional Speedmaster with the wider font marking and longer 30 minute mark.
We know that Omega used multiple sources of sub-contract part supply and it's also evident that watches were assembled in different places. Add to this the fact that the Speedmaster went through multiple redesigns throughout the 1960's and it becomes quite difficult to be sure of anything.
In my opinion, this watch could still be an all-original 145.012 or 145.022-68. The 145.012-67 being the most commonly seen variant so therefore most likely.
What amazes me is that the condition of the bezel is relative good. Considering we know this watch has been used regularly by a practising mechanic, it makes me wonder what abuse some other watches must get to see beaten up bezels so often.
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Being the owner of said watch I find this post fascinating. To me (I know I will get flamed for this) it is a watch that has proved ultra reliable over the years. I had no idea that it would cause such interest.
So, a history of the watch as I remember it.
I was in the Army when I purchased this watch in 1968/9. Royal Engineers to be exact. My reason for purchase was that over the years I had bought numerous cheap watches, as I was constantly breaking them due to my role within the Engineers. Deciding eventually to buy a quality watch I noticed in the NAAFI in Paderborn, that the watch I now have was for sale, brand new, for 1000 Deutsch Marks (approx ÂŁ100). Tempted beyond reason I broke the bank and bought it. I then Transferred to R.E.M.E. ( Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers) and continued with my service. The first service I had on the watch was in Duesberg. I had broken the wrist strap and had it replaced with a leather one (sacrilege as I now know) that was in 1973. The watch had been subject to abuse in various forms ( on one occasion a bomb blast in Ireland ) but continued to keep perfect time and was totally waterproof. I wore and continue to wear it on a daily basis. I left the Forces and eventually found myself in Saudia Arabia where I had it serviced for the second time. I attempted to have an original strap fitted but the agent could not find one for me. A new lens was also fitted. I left Saudia and went to Kenya with the watch still attached to my wrist. Finishing my contract there I returned to UK and set up my own business as "A Mechanic". I had the watch serviced for the third time in 2010 ( at a cost of ÂŁ632 ) A new strap was found and I believe something was done to the hands, but cannot quite remember. Every now and then I go down to my auto electrician who has an ulta sonic cleaner and pop it into his "tub" for a quick clean. It gets covered in all sorts of fluids ranging from Diesel to Brake cleaner. I wear it on my right wrist as I am right handed so no issues of hitting it with a hammer. I wear it everyday as it is the safest place to keep it, I work with it, sleep with it and generally have a good time with it ( no pun intended ). I have no concept as to its worth but think it may be a grand or so. Having read this thread and taken on board the comments I think I should get it insured.
The places the watch has been to are as follows.
2 x Winters 200 miles inside the Arctic Circle. (Minus 50 degrees)
Europe ( just about all of it )
Kenya, Somalia, Sudan, Ethiopia, Tanzania and Uganda. (Mid 20 Degrees)
Saudia Arabia (Hottest was 35 Degrees)
Qatar
UAE.
and last lastly Sunny Down Town Kirkham. Wet and windy.
So, a history of the watch as I remember it.
I was in the Army when I purchased this watch in 1968/9. Royal Engineers to be exact. My reason for purchase was that over the years I had bought numerous cheap watches, as I was constantly breaking them due to my role within the Engineers. Deciding eventually to buy a quality watch I noticed in the NAAFI in Paderborn, that the watch I now have was for sale, brand new, for 1000 Deutsch Marks (approx ÂŁ100). Tempted beyond reason I broke the bank and bought it. I then Transferred to R.E.M.E. ( Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers) and continued with my service. The first service I had on the watch was in Duesberg. I had broken the wrist strap and had it replaced with a leather one (sacrilege as I now know) that was in 1973. The watch had been subject to abuse in various forms ( on one occasion a bomb blast in Ireland ) but continued to keep perfect time and was totally waterproof. I wore and continue to wear it on a daily basis. I left the Forces and eventually found myself in Saudia Arabia where I had it serviced for the second time. I attempted to have an original strap fitted but the agent could not find one for me. A new lens was also fitted. I left Saudia and went to Kenya with the watch still attached to my wrist. Finishing my contract there I returned to UK and set up my own business as "A Mechanic". I had the watch serviced for the third time in 2010 ( at a cost of ÂŁ632 ) A new strap was found and I believe something was done to the hands, but cannot quite remember. Every now and then I go down to my auto electrician who has an ulta sonic cleaner and pop it into his "tub" for a quick clean. It gets covered in all sorts of fluids ranging from Diesel to Brake cleaner. I wear it on my right wrist as I am right handed so no issues of hitting it with a hammer. I wear it everyday as it is the safest place to keep it, I work with it, sleep with it and generally have a good time with it ( no pun intended ). I have no concept as to its worth but think it may be a grand or so. Having read this thread and taken on board the comments I think I should get it insured.
The places the watch has been to are as follows.
2 x Winters 200 miles inside the Arctic Circle. (Minus 50 degrees)
Europe ( just about all of it )
Kenya, Somalia, Sudan, Ethiopia, Tanzania and Uganda. (Mid 20 Degrees)
Saudia Arabia (Hottest was 35 Degrees)
Qatar
UAE.
and last lastly Sunny Down Town Kirkham. Wet and windy.
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2,465 Posts
Nice! Welcome to the forum!
I'm going to choose to believe that you actually are said mechanic. As such thank you for posting the watches history for us watch fanatics. If you had any photos of it which you could upload I am sure lots of people would enjoy them.
I myself have a Rolex Explorer that has been through similar traumas as your Speedmaster (though not for quite as long).
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6 Posts
No as they were renewed on the last service.
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