Dating a speed master professional

[andromeda160]

This speedmaster for sale locally has a Schumacher caseback and I have never seen any schumachers with this dial.. it has a manual wind movement. Is it an older watch with a newer caseback or was this swapped into the case.

[arcadelt]

It’s the wrong caseback , and it’s the wrong dial and bezel for that case too. Basically, it’s a parts-build watch.

[007timer]

Frankenwatch


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[andromeda160]

Any idea on the dial and bezels age? Seems like Speedmaster cases aren’t outrageously expensive. The watch is definitely attractive in price(roughly $1,500) although the chrono hand doesn’t reset to zero, and it’s got the case issue. I just assumed they swapped out caseback, didn’t realize it was swapped into a new case as well

[arcadelt]

Originally Posted by andromeda160

Any idea on the dial and bezels age? Seems like Speedmaster cases aren’t outrageously expensive. The watch is definitely attractive in price(roughly $1,500) although the chrono hand doesn’t reset to zero, and it’s got the case issue. I just assumed they swapped out caseback, didn’t realize it was swapped into a new case as well

The dial and bezel are contemporary, so they might be worth a few hundred each. Non-stepped (flat/domed) dials were introduced in the mid-1970s, with a the DNN bezel introduced in the early-1970. None of that is to say those are that old in this watch, as they could be from just a few weeks ago.

The case is the oldest bit, as these straight lug cases were only made until about 1967, although typically older. That is provided it is genuine.

[andromeda160]

Gives me a place to start at least. Can only hope the dial and bezel end up being period correct for the movement. Although it appears pretty much any parts I would need to make it period correct no matter what it ends up being are out there, and far more common than vintage Rolex parts

[arcadelt]

Originally Posted by andromeda160

Gives me a place to start at least. Can only hope the dial and bezel end up being period correct for the movement. Although it appears pretty much any parts I would need to make it period correct no matter what it ends up being are out there, and far more common than vintage Rolex parts

Just looked again, and the dial is earlier than the late-1990s, so I think 1975 to 1995 is the target range.

[andromeda160]

Originally Posted by arcadelt

Just looked again, and the dial is earlier than the late-1990s, so I think 1975 to 1995 is the target range.

From what I was reading it was saying 69-90. Pretty broad range. I will hopefully have the watch home within the next few days to look at. I think it’s probably a straight lug case with an 321 from what I can remember from briefly looking at it. Will likely just source a period correct Caseback, and wear it as is. The dial is attractive and I didn’t realize it was a straight lug. Seems like more than a fair price judging by parts value on eBay.

[andromeda160]

Movement is a 321, despite being a franken watch I have a feeling the dial and hands are older and that it probably just had a cheap caseback put on when the original was lost or something. I think the next move is to get some extract papers

[andromeda160]

SN dates the movement to 63

[GTS Dean]

That's certainly pre-moon vintage! This is a curved-lug model that just barely makes the age cut.

[andromeda160]

Originally Posted by GTS Dean

That's certainly pre-moon vintage! This is a curved-lug model that just barely makes the age cut.

Beautiful watch, mines nowhere near the caliber of that. Looks like a new caseback is about as much as I paid for the watch.