Looking for a speedmaster moonwatch? Info inside!

[Mr. Pap]

I will give it al look when i get back home and let you know for sure.

The part i am totally sure about is that its a case with ref 145.022 st74 and it came with a 861/1861 movement ring.

Edit: Well i measure it that way and its indeed around 42mm. The 48mm is also correct. I don't have a crown to confirm the 44mm one but i am sure it must be correct also...

 

[markh]

That's good news. Thanks for the input!

 

[Five of Clubs]

All the Speedmaster Professionals from about 1966 onwards should have a roughly 42mm case (and about a 40mm bezel).

 

[LHOOQ]

The thick crown guards are what make measuring the Speedmaster Professional so tricky. Without them, the case diameter would be about 40mm. And in my opinion, the Speedy Pro wears more like a 40 than a 42.

 

[seriph]

I just know I'd love to have this watch as my first franken project but it looks like it just ain't gonna be possible.

Gotta say though, that the first factory to build a 1:1 rep should have no trouble selling the lot. I guess the mvt is simply too specialised to bother.

Personally I'd pay $500 for a 1:1 - no idea if that's silly-high or crazy-low (these are technical terms used by architects when describing dimensions to clients)

 

[Five of Clubs]

Personally I'd pay $500 for a 1:1

Me too. In fact, I probably wouldn't have the gen if they built one (and I didn't befriend LHOOQ because we seem to talk each other into spending piles of cash ). I do think we may eventually get a decent co-ax Speedy. It seems they have most of the parts. I would very likely buy one of those as well.

 

[markh]

Tried the crystal swap

Ok. Last night I tried to swap out the crystal for the Sternkreuz one. Got it all apart an got the old crystal out, only to realize I had the wrong size replacement one.

Here are pics of the process. I just put it back together with the original crystal.

Any suggestions on what size crystal I should try? The one in the pic was a mm or 2 too big. Look closely at the 2nd to last pic and you can see the new crystal sitting on top of the old one. Look at the edges of the crystal and you can see it hanging over.

Here we go...

 

[tracyl]

The reason it didn't fit is because this is a cheaper 21j automatic, and I think the crystal is smaller than the ones that have the ST102 movement. Just order a 32mm crystal and you should be good to go. Or you can order the nicer watch from Silix that has the manual wind chrono(st1902).

 

[markh]

Yeah, I know why it didn't fit. Ive had all 3 versions of the moonie & to me, this is The most accurate. I'll just get a different crystal. Already had the manual wind (from MR) & didn't like it. Case & dial aren't very accurate.

 

[Five of Clubs]

Did you remove the original crystal gasket before putting in the plexi? It will make a big difference in fit.

It's obvious that you have a different case than I did, but it might work anyway.

 

[markh]

I don't think I did that. If you don't see it in a pic then I didn't remove it. How does it come out?

I still think it's too big. I'd have to put it in from inside the case for it to fit through the bezel and I don't think it would clear it...

The only sizes I see available on the bay are a 332 & a 334. Think one of those would work?

 

[Five of Clubs]

It's a little white plastic ring that sits between the original crystal and the bezel to help water resistance. I normally stick a razor or exacto knife between the gasket and the case, then gently lift it out.

The best way to figure out which plexi is to get the crystal and gasket out, then measure the open space with calipers. Cousins UK has any size Sternkreuz HW plexi that you would need, and they are very inexpensive.

 

[markh]

Cool. I'll give that a shot. I was just excited I got it back together and it was still working...

Any suggestion on paint for the rehaut? I have some black but I think it might be too shiny. The gen one looks more matte like the dial...

 

[jbsails]

1967 Omega Pre Moon Speedmaster **Exceptional and Original** Ca 321

I have owned this rare watch for 15 years or so and have carefully cared for it. It is in wonderful condition for its 45 year age.

Here are some photos.

PM me if you need additional information. It is a beauty...

Best,
JB

 

[markh]

Ok. I took the crystal out again and removed the retaining ring. Innermost diamater is 31.00mm (inside the lip) and the diameter just inside the bezel edge where the lip is (where the crystal would sit) is 32.42mm.

So what size would you suggest? Or should I buy 4 different ones to see what works. Cousins has them in 31.2, 31.4, 31.6, 31.8, 32.0, 32.2 & 32.4. Any would work I guess. I'm leaning toward the 32's just so there's not much gap between crystal & inner bezel edge.

 

[markh]

just curious... what's the diameter of a gen hesalite?

 

[markh]

What sucks is apparently the older reps were bigger or at least had bigger faces on them with maybe thinner bezels. FxrAndy over on RWG (http://www.rwg.cc/topic/97274-speed...lexy-conversion/page__hl__+speedmaster++plexy) used a 336 on his first try then went up to a 342 which is way bigger than would fit in mine...

 

[Five of Clubs]

The older reps were indeed bigger, that's why I sent you a 34mm plexi! It was the correct size for the old ones like I had. Who knew they would change it? :facepalm:

I'm not sure what the lip is that you're describing, but on my Speedy rep the bezel insert had a smaller inner diameter than the bezel, so that's why I had to glue in the undersized plexi. Is that the same situation that you have? I guess the short answer is to order the largest plexi that will drop in to avoid a gap.

 

[markh]

Yeah, when you take out the retaining ring there's a little lip that it sits on. That's all I'm talking about. It's where the edge of the new plexi would rest. That's where I'd put the glue for the crystal.

Anyone have an old version they want to get rid of?

 

[drbollocko]

Anybody keeping an eye on the watchco sale stuff for future frankens? Some expensive items, some items going reasonably cheap at times though:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Omega-Speedmaster-1970s-90s-Moon-Watch-Case-only-Case-Ref-1450022-Excellent-Used-/380496376778