First time working on an Omega Speedmaster Professional! Broken mainspring & Caliber 861 service 

Thank you for taking the time to stop in! I hope to keep it going.

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! A lot more goes into these than many folks realize. Mike was very grateful indeed. I appreciate you taking the time for such a thoughtful post.

Thank you for your very kind critique. It’s a great watch. It’s stirred my interest in them even more. Maybe a little more time apart will help settle and temper that. I am curious about the reduced version though.

I’m glad you liked it. I really appreciate you stopping in and also for the comment!

Thank you so much. It’s a cool one for sure. I’m already feeling like I need to work on another!

Thank you. I lack your skill and charm, but I’m glad you enjoyed it!

Thank you. Spain is seems such an amazing county. I hope to visit one day!

I have a 6.25-6.5 inch wrist and I was surprised how well it worked. Still, I want to try on a reduced at some point. There is a Speedmaster in my future.

@@WMIYC I have a 40mm seamaster, was dads … I’m working on getting my own too.

I agree. The nicer the movement, the easier they tend to be. But sometimes… lol!

Hopefully, I didn’t ruin it for you!

It is an amazing watch! It just has that magic.

I’m no Omega expert, but it looked and felt nice - aside from the bracelet.

It’s a “pre moon” 145.022-69 with the “Dot Next to 90” bezel. Likely made in the very early 1970s. Need to check that the serial number aligns with the bezel to verify that the bezel is original, the earlier serial numbers (until about 30,90x,xxx) had “Dot Over 90” bezels which are more valuable. Later serial numbers had the Dot Next to 90 bezel that is present on this watch. Regardless, fantastic condition… collector grade! Many people would be thrilled to own such a great example.

I have a also '69 and it too looks no where near its 50 year age. People think it's no more than 5 years old. I too got it really cheap back in '95 when a friend was telling me that he knew "Sydney's watchmakers watchmaker" that could source any watch I wanted. He was the guy all that your regular watchmakers would call to work on 'too hard' fixes for the top brands. Now this guy was prone to exaggerating so I said 'tell him to find me a '69 Speedmaster and sure enough within a week he introduces him to me and he was not what I imagined. He was this little middle aged pony tailed Vietnamese guy that spoke broken English (tbh he looked like a drug dealer) but true to his would he showed me this battered '69 with a rubber strap but only cosmetic damage. I asked how much with a period correct strap and he said $750 (all AUD) as is, $250 for a clean / polish and service, $100 for a crystal, $100 for the tachymetre insert and $250 for a bracelet. I told him to go ahead and a week later he brought back the watch I kid you not I could not believe it was the same watch. The bracelet was all floppy and and while it had the Omega logo on the clasp, it did not have 'Speedmaster engraved anywhere on it and I told him that I wanted a new one and period/model correct and he said that it was for a genuine '69 Speedmaster and NOS and the $250 was cost. I did not believe it cost $250 but I did not complain because I figured that he had to make money. Months later I am rubber necking around the watch boutiques and I run into him behind the counter of a high end boutique and asked what he was doing there and he tells me that he was just picking up some Rolex's and a Piaget to repair. NGL I was floored, he really was 'The watchmakers watch maker". Also years later I'm browsing eBay and decide to price the bracelet that he supplied by looking at the model number on the clasp (1171) and on the ends (633) and for the second time was again floored to see that the same NOS bracelets were going for $1,000 USD (even the end bits were bringing 00's). Wish I had kept his number

It was a great achievement that made people proud! I vaguely recall feeling space inspired toys I had as a boy.

I appreciate the feedback. Yeah, the faster I got, the slower my track cars would get :D

I appreciate that!

It’s expensive no matter who does it, but it’s hard to not recommend using Omega.

@@WMIYC Thanks for the reply. Yes I may have to go done that road. Just want a lubrication service, no case polishing etc. Watch is from 2009 and if I say so myself cosmetically immaculate. Thats the point I have decided to wear my watches more, rather than leave them in the safe. For that I need to get it serviced and likely the others to include a 1962 (my birth year) Constellation.

I can’t stop thinking about efforting toward for myself now! Thank you for the support!

Thank you! You wouldn’t think watch repair would be so dangerous! 😅

I really appreciate your thoughtful comment. I am with you on the macro footage. I hope to find a reasonable solution soon.

So true! Fewer tools, less expensive, and I can do it more frequently. I enjoyed the track time, but don’t long for it.

Thank you so much! A Seiko 6139 is pretty affordable and parts are reasonable if needed. I find it a little less complicated. There are a number of good videos to guide you. And they are cool watches!

I like that idea. You’re the first to support the squeak!

Ha ha the popular opinion is split over the squeak. Thank you!

Thanks! It’s really been a rewarding hobby. There’s growing support for the squeak!

Honestly, while putting back together I had to tinker quite a while on a thing or two until I got it figured out.

Someone recently told me how they sprayed some into a Heuer chronograph. I was stunned into a speechless stupor.

Haha! Some have learned to love it, but I think I’ll oil it. Take care!

@@WMIYC Heheh! Many thanks:) Looking forward to more videos :)

I’ll work to keep your sub. Thank you!

Thank you for your kind praise. I’ll work on that squeak. :)

I’m with ya!

I’ll consider the squeak issue. 😬Thank you for taking a moment to share!

Well no one has asked to keep the squeak. 😆

I am so glad you enjoyed it! I’m not sure that tool has a commonly defined name, but is often referred to as a mainspring barrel closing tool. It’s not very critical, but the cheap versions work fine and it’s nice to have. It does make it a little easier to apply pressure more evenly. I’ll put a lubrication video on the request list! Thank you!

I think we have a few things common! It’s handsome movement for sure. I always thought the Speedmaster was cool, but I wasn’t compelled to feel like I needed one. After working on one though, I just can’t seem to shake it.

It might seem silly, but I was terrified of damaging the bezel and click mechanism. Maybe after I do one or two on something less expensive, he’ll let me follow through.

Hi. Thanks for the friendly comment and tip. I have a plastic set of tweezers, but a have not been able to get as precise with them yet. Maybe it’s something I should work on!

​@@WMIYC Thanks to you to for the quality content! At least with decorated or expensive movements it could be worth it, there are some with metal frames and plastic tips that are a lot easier to work with (still not as good ofc ) would not recommend the all plastic ones they are to soft..

That’s brilliant!

They’d be better for it! …and not on super sticky tires,

I have a bin of 6139 parts I’m thinking of piecing together for an 80002. I’ve not had a great deal of experience, but I take just a little extra care handling radium and tritium.

I agree! There is a modern version with one now, right?

For me, I think I was about a dozen movements in before I did my first chronograph, a Seiko 6139. I did a few of them more of less in succession. I think back then I could have done the 861, but I did learn more and develop my skill more since then. The Seiko 6139 is quite different, but a good first chronograph to start with. Maybe an ST1901 is an even better option. I was not looking to do the 861. It found me. Even though I had been through dozens of movements since my start, the 861 still was a little daunting because of the mystique of the watch and the personal connection to the owner.

Do you think we have taken the difficulty of those missions for granted?

And still Nasa spent 50 years saying there was no point going back. And now they want to, its going to take another 20 years before they are ready. 😂

If it were an issue with the hands being loose then they would no longer still meet at the 12 position at the same time. This leads me to think it’s a canon pinion or equivalent issue. They get loose and often we pinch them a fraction for them to grip.

Many thanks

Good eye! Long story short, the hands that were on it before were not of the same tone and were odd looking to the eye. Also, the post of the center second sweep hand had damage on inspection. It looked as if it had been glued!

You are not wrong and the owner knows it! :D

Hi, there! This was the set that I bought. There maybe others still available. www.amazon.com/gp/product/B017MP5IFW/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1. Multiple pairs are handy, but all that I need is one set of #3 tweezers. www.esslinger.com/brass-tweezers-non-magnetic-5-inch-straight-tip-6-sizes-sold-individually/ Hopefully, that helps!

I use a very sticky braking and pricey grease for the inner wall on automatics. For manual wind, I typically put a couple of tiny drops on D5 in the pan of the barrel and two more tiny drops on the spring off set for the other two beneath. Do you have a recommendation?

I didn't see that in the video.

@@rickseconds7676 Fair enough. Sometimes I do things like forget not to block the camera or even turn it on…or it dies on me. But, I’m not perfect. Just a hobbyist and there are plenty of folks with superior skill. I enjoy it and hope others can as well!

You sound like a good friend. Watches can hold a lot meaning. I wish I knew someone closer to you. I’d curious to know more about it.

Wow! Pricing seems all over the place according to comments.

Thanks for joining in. Did they replace the mainspring or other parts?

@@WMIYC Yes mainspring was broken so I could not wind it, as usual they replaced the crystal and a few other parts, took about 2 months to get it back from authorized Omega service.

@@gmcenroe Interesting. Do you have more than one? For myself, I’m considering a reduced for the smaller 39mm size. I have smaller wrists and I’m really used to smaller vintage watches. The largest I wear is maybe my Seiko “Bruce Lee.”

Published service cost for a manual wind chrono is $900 plus tax and return shipping. Had mine serviced about 4 years ago and it was $750 plus I had a damaged bezel replaced. Was an additional $150 iirc.

@@TWOTONEFARM Thats good information and thank you for taking the time to share!

Gotcha. Thanks!

Ha! The comment seems split over squeak or no squeak. I really do appreciate the sub and the like. Are you a speedy fan or interested in watchmaking yourself?

@@WMIYC both a speedy fan and a watch entusiast. You're actually the 2nd channel in service / restoration i sub to, 1st one is Marshall's wristwatch revival. Im setting up a work areal myself later in the future, to start work g on movements myself :D

Sorry about that!

The owner wants to replace it you have any suggestions!

@@WMIYCsuede black with white stitching looks insane i have one on mine and i just cant get enough of it

@@WMIYCsail cloth strap.

​@@WMIYCMaybe the Uncle Seiko 1479 bracelet. Think they are Uncle straps now. If not they might have another one that will fit. Seems like a nice bracelet. They have a friction fit, or a double push button with stirations.

Well, still, thanks for dropping by. I hope you can slow down to watch it sometime. Best regards!

I gotcha! Thanks! I hope to have you back!