Subexplorer
[Moderator - WristScan]
33541
Just for the pleasure of sharing a recent catch...
I was surprised when this watch was offered to me because I had never known about it before. It looked like Goldfinger’s Speedmaster MkII.
A quick check in internet taught me this is a reference 145.034 Speedmaster MK II gold plated which I had no idea it existed.
It is not full gold but electro plated to a 20 microns gold surface.
Offered by Omega around 1972 it is a rare find I feel.
Now ... the original owner (a total ignorant about watches) put the watch in a safe for years without wearing it to later discover a tarnish on the bracelet so he decided to polish it!.
He ended removing the gold plate of the JB Champion with Omega logo on the clasp which was fitted on this watch when it was originally sold in USA. Only a hint of gold remains in certain parts of the bracelet.
I only thank he didn’t intend to polish the case!!
I feel I will end fitting leather straps to wear this most stunning watch. Movement is same reliable 861 of regular Speedmaster MK II and Moonwatch.
The dial with red bezel is most striking and somehow reminds me about the Gold 145.022 Moonwatch of 1969.
Have a great weekend my dear friends!
Cheers! Abel
Available on the marketplace
4,084 Omega listings are live on the eBay market and 362 collector listings on the WatchProSite marketplace.
Just for the pleasure of sharing a recent catch...
I was surprised when this watch was offered to me because I had never known about it before. It looked like Goldfinger’s Speedmaster MkII. A quick check in internet taught me this is a reference 145.034 Speedmaster MK II gold plated which I had no idea it...
Amazing pictures. Please tell more about the goldfinger heritage!
What does that mean? Hagwe
Thank you so much Reuven and appologize for my bad joke! Lol. I was referring to the super enemy of James Bond film "Goldfinger". He was a very evil guy...
... and loved everything made with gold. Even his Rolls Royce was made of gold. I felt this was a most suitable watch for such an extravagant character, and a joke for James Bond fans. Lol! Cheers! Abel
aaah yeah, ive seen the movie about a 100 times and always thought he was wearing a calatrava or constellation and this made me wonder if i missed a special scene or so.
The watch seems too young comparing to the movie, so i could have known better. Thanks for pointing out!
Great to know you like Bond films too Reuven. I have seen that film many times too but I confess I never paid attention to Goldfinger´s watch. I presume a gold Calatrava or Connie could be..
... a suitable watch for such a gold loving character. Yes, the film was released in 1964. The Speedmaster MkII steel came in late 1969 or 1970 if I remember well and the gold version a bit later, so it couldn´t be on Mr. Goldfinger´s wrist at that time. ...
Wow Abel !...
That’s a great Omega !... what an incredible find. That watch was made for you !!!
Now the hunt is on for you to find that bracelet
But your idea to wear it on a strap is possibly the better option: just enjoy it as it is. A cool catch, Abel!
Thank you so much for your comments dear friend Moritz!! Yes, it would be nice to find the correct golden bracelet but I feel it will be very complicated to source. I was thinking in a ...
... croco brown straps for this watch could do fine. Anyway I don´t expect much wearing of this watch which I bought to complement my collection of Speedmasters and seduced by its rarity. Glad you like it! Abel
Plated Mk IIs have been the gateway to owning a Speedmaster . . .
. . . for a very long time. Easily the most affordable reference on the secondary market, yet essentially identical to the steel versions other than the crystal, hands, and sub-dial details. Now, if you had been able to find one of the solid gold Mk IIs, ...
Thank you so much for your comments and interesting details dear Art. I didn´t know they also were made in solid gold!! Though I´m not fond of wearing gold watches...
... I have an special spot in my horological heart for rare variants and in uncommon metals. Of course it would be wonderful to find one of these so rare solid gold examples. Though I didn´t know about the golden and gold Speedmasters MkII, I did know abo...
I've seen two solid gold Flightmasters plus several Speedmasters, Abel, but only one . . .
. . . Mk II. Supposedly eight made . . . it has to be the rarest production reference. Don't recall how many solid gold Flightmasters were made (I want to say 40, but that can't be right); 18 kt Mk IIs are a fraction of that. Best, Art
Thank you so much again for your clarification dear Art. You keep teaching some interesting facts I have never read about before. I can well see how rare the MK II full gold case is.
Again, I feel it would make for a super catch for any collector!! Best, Abel.
According to one source, Omega produced 200 ref 345.801 . . .
. . . but only 20 equipped with the gold bracelet. So the gold Mk II is rarer by far . . .
Congrats on such a lovely and surprising find my friend!
It is a pity the owner decided to have the bracelet polished, but it is not a major concern. The watch is lovely and well kept, and if you wish, you can have the bracelet re-plated by professional services like LA watchworks. Otherwise, a nice rally strap...
What a great catch, Abel!
I’ve been a fan of this version for a few years now! You are quite lucky, because in that good of a condition they are seldom and far in between. Funny enough, I recently came into an opportunity to buy a watch in a similar configuration as your Mark II. ...
Hola Alejandro! Muchas gracias por tus comentarios! Thank you so much for your kind comments my dear friend. And congrats on your Caravelle!
yes, it has a very similar look! The condition of mine is very good except for the bracelet. It's a shame its past owner did that polish! Enjoy your goleden Caravelle so much! Take care and be safe my friend! Cheers! Abel