Dear ΩF

For your consideration is a beautiful Speedmaster 2998-3 with lollipop chronograph seconds hand.



This was a true barn-find, and before my custodianship was in a family for many decades, worn by the father (who wore the hell out of it). I bought it from his elderly daughter. This one has given me great pleasure over the years, and I am likely going to regret selling it. But a long sabbatical looms ...

This is a head-only sale. If so desired, I can provide a period correct 7912/#6 at additional cost. Watch was serviced in late 2019 / early 2020 if memory serves.

Dial and Hands

Clicking my pictures should yield high resolution pics. Apologies for the red spec of leather lint. I keep my watches in leather watch rolls...and this one currently lives in a red leather roll.

This watch has had quite a life. The deep black dial is in beautiful condition, and has no major flaws. It has some oily marks near the center of the dial where the pinions protrude, but not really visible to the naked eye. The dial lume I believe is still original (radium? never measured with a geiger counter, but due to the hands (read on) I suspect it is), albeit with more loss on the plots on the right side of the dial than the left. This watch was apparently worn whilst building houses with bare hands. Can you imagine?

Wabi-sabi lume is a very subjective thing, and I find this a very attractive wabi-sabi (I am a pedant, and most if not all of my vintage collection are pristine and perfect). Its also relatively stress free to wear.

All hands are original to this watch, and are correct. I love these alpha leaf hands ... they truly are classic, and the modern versions of them fall short.



These hands have been relumed at my instruction. I did this, because they were previously relumed in the early 1990's...and looked horrible when I took custodianship of this watch ... pond-muck-green ... yuk ... mind the wrist cheese ...




This is what the watch looked like in the 90s prior to the first reluming of the hands ... what a shame, it was perfect as is ... the lollipop had lost its lume as lolli's tend to do, but the hour/minute hands were perfect.



I tried to restore the look of the above picture to the hour and minute hands ...





When I went to go and stay with the family, I asked them why they relumed the hands. They told me their father started losing vision later in life, and the hands didn't glow at night, and he wanted them to.

Bezel

You will notice I also swapped out the bezel to one from the same period, with wear, but less shagged then that once in the above pictures ... and to me it fit the dark dial and overall character of the watch better ...



The Case/Pushers/Crown

The case looks to me exactly as all other 2998 cases I have seen, and very similar to the modern EdWhite and FOIS(mk2) cases, albeit with many years of wear.

Don't worry, I was very careful with my dremel vice ... and it has soft rubber clamps. I couldn't do the shots on the table without getting the sun straight down my lens ...



The pushers are also original to the watch. The crown is period correct, it came with a later service crown.

Here from the time I picked it up. Nothing has changed with regards to the case or pushers.



Caseback


Movement
As mentioned the movement was serviced just before covid hit. I don't think it needs a service any time soon. Winds crisply.

This was a pre-service shot.
Not much has changed, I simply don't have the skill to open the caseback without damaging something.





Family Shots

From the family photo album, some shots featuring this watch during its life.



Photo Dump

Here some shots taken with great pleasure ...



Terms and conditions. 21000 CHF (USD | EURO | GBP equivalent) OBRO wired directly to my Wise account. Bank-wire will be local to you, so no stress there. More currencies are available upon request. No trades this time thanks.

The watch and I are in Switzerland, and so F2F could happen here. I could arrange to meet at a border location (e.g. Germany...to be discussed). I will accept a wire directly to my Swiss bank account too, however that will be in CHF, and will thus cost you conversion and transfer fees. Paypal F&F will be accepted, in CHF as specified. I use Wise as it saves you on these fees, and is a local transaction for us both. Returns are accepted only if grossly misrepresented. You will get what you see in these pictures which are of a decent quality and high resolution, so I don't believe there is any chance of misrepresentation.

Shipping (plus insurance) to wherever you are in the world will be at your expense (to be discussed). EU postage can be arranged.

Lots of references here.

I have 100% positive reviews (upon request) on other platforms too.

All criticisms about the watch are welcome.

Thanks ΩF for this space