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Omega

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Comments:

Newbe needs help on an Omega Moon Watch

 
 By: luciano.prieto : April 23rd, 2011-00:23

Hello, I have been looking for an used Omega and came across this 1970 unit. Can you take a look at the pictures and help me see if it looks original?

The watch is advertised as an 1970 cal 861.

Much appreciated.
Luciano

IMO it is all authentic

 
 By: mac_omega : April 23rd, 2011-05:20
NT

it all looks good to me except the caseback

 
 By: G99 : April 24th, 2011-14:17

i believe the 'flight qualified' caseback was first used in 1971, but i dont know when they added the 'only watch to be worn on the moon' it was later on so i would guess the caseback is a replacement. very common as people seem to want the casebacks with different text on.

nice looking piece

Graham

Thanks G99, one more Q'

 
 By: luciano.prieto : April 24th, 2011-14:46

Thanks for your response. In another blog I was told that the chrono second hand looks replaced. Do you think that is correct?

 

Thanks

Luciano

i think its correct. its...

 
 By: G99 : April 24th, 2011-14:52

i think its correct. its very difficult without digging out my copy of time
capsule to verify when the hands changed. sadly i'm moving house so it might
take a while to find.
if you can post a pic of the dial with the chrono second stopped at 10 secs
so i can look at the back end of it.
 
best
Graham

 

mmm, not sure.

 
 By: luciano.prieto : April 24th, 2011-15:28

I will try, but these photos are from an auction, not actually mine, but i will ask. Thanks G99

i've checked the book for...

 
 By: G99 : April 25th, 2011-01:34

i've checked the book for you and the second hand should have a flat bottom
for the date you give and although the pic isnt brilliant it looks to be the
correct one to me. the caseback isnt correct for the year, but it is correct for
the model number 145.022 which was used for many years. its a nice caseback so i
wouldnt worry about it, however, there are a lot of good original speedmasters
out there so if your not sure go for another one.
if your not worried about a specific year you'll get better value by buying
a later one as all the collectors want one made when the space programme was
still in full flow.
 
hope that helps
Graham

 

further to my last statement

 
 By: G99 : April 25th, 2011-02:08

i've just checked the Omega site set up by the late Chuck Maddox, the reknowned world expert in Speedmasters, and what he states in one small section is that your caseback is the second generation of 'flight qualified' casebacks with the added 'first watch worn on the moon'. when this caseback was first used is not clear, but the first gen came was introduced in late 1969 and ran until 'possibly' 1971-1972.

the only way to clear this up is to ask for a pic of the inside of the caseback as most, not all, but most of the ref numbers have a date as well ie ST 145.022-71  or 145.022-71 ST. if it has the date code then you will know if it matches the date given by the seller.

i cant see the movement number clearly, but for it to date from 1970 it needs to be 28mil-30mil. it looks to be a higher number than that so it is later..

its entirely possible that the movement date and caseback tie up nicely, but the seller has got the year wrong. thats very common as a lot of sellers dont really know the correct dating.

i hope i havent confused you with too much detail, but these details can make all the difference.

best

Graham

Thanks Graham, one more Q

 
 By: luciano.prieto : April 25th, 2011-15:40

Hello Graham, I really appreciate the level of detail and dedication to this post, for that I thank you sincerely.

I have asked the owner for the movement # and I am waiting for his response. In the meantime I found another seller with the same model, I would like to share the data with you so I can have your opinion.

Movement #305992XX
Ref #145022- 71 ST
here are some pictures, thanks in advance for the help!

Luciano
 

this one looks perfectly ok...

 
 By: G99 : April 26th, 2011-01:40

this one looks perfectly ok to me, the 30mil serial number lasts from 1970
through 1971 so a mid to late 30mil fits nicely with 71. nice condition with
just a bit of lume lost in the centre second hand, but its 40 years old and you
need to expect some degradation, original bracelet is a bonus.
 
a perfectly nice example.
 
best
Graham

 

In this 861...

 
 By: Omegallector : April 27th, 2011-02:13
...the center wheel brake should not be in plastic ?

it looks like it is...

 
 By: G99 : April 27th, 2011-02:18

it looks like it is plastic to me, but the pics arent very big.
 
how many owners have had plastic parts changed for earlier metal parts ?
its not something i would be concerned over myself.
 
G

 

THANK YOU, thank you!

 
 By: luciano.prieto : April 27th, 2011-08:37

Hello Graham,

I really appreciate the level of detail and dedication, I will go look at the watch (the second watch with the old bracelet) personally and decide.

If I move foward with it, i will definitely post some better pictures for all of you.


Thanks a lot, really.

 

Luciano

Got the movement number of the 1st watch

 
 By: luciano.prieto : April 25th, 2011-19:03
its 32855865.

32mil to put it in 1972, but there has to be some give and take

 
 By: G99 : April 26th, 2011-01:46

all the serial number listings always say +/- 2 years (to cover everyones backsides smile )

the likelihood is that the seller has got the date wrong and its a perfectly good 1972 Speedy.

you've now got 2 good examples, but i think the 2nd example is a better bet just because all the information was at hand straight away. at the end of the day it probably comes down to price. i suggest you take your time, look at lots of examples, get an idea of what your looking at and then you'll get a good 'un.

happy hunting

Graham