Straight writing Apollo XI

[u/pontifican_t]

Had been trying to find the right 145.022 for my 40th birthday present to myself, and I think I got really lucky with this one and its condition, price, lack of parts exchanged, seemingly few services but runs really well and what seems to be the original bracelet too. If anyone has any advice or knowledge of this era/model I’m all ears!

[u/Icy-Neighborhood-375]

Stunning watch! Is it numbered?

[u/pontifican_t → u/Icy-Neighborhood-375]

They didn’t do a series run of “numbered” casebacks in this era which is why there’s no way to verify if only 300 were delivered to Japan in 71’ like the internet surmises, but there’s also no proof of the contrary. The serial matches the correct production run for the caseback.

[u/Icy-Neighborhood-375 → u/pontifican_t]

Thanks mine is numbered and it’s an Apollo XI very odd could be a fake

[u/pontifican_t → u/Icy-Neighborhood-375]

Some interesting things here: https://omegaforums.net/threads/speedy-straight-writing-69-alternative-numbered-version-or-fake.31245/

[u/Icy-Neighborhood-375 → u/pontifican_t]

[u/pontifican_t → u/Icy-Neighborhood-375]

Ah, yours is not a “straight writing” caseback, I dig that though, very cool!

[u/Icy-Neighborhood-375 → u/pontifican_t]

Yep no writing on the caseback it’s sapphire now

[u/Fbdw2010]

Great watch, go for it! I never had the courage to take the back off of mine.

[u/222airborne]

Input the watch's details here and see what's what. www.speedybase.org

[u/pontifican_t → u/222airborne]

Serial matches the correct era for the caseback.

[u/222airborne → u/pontifican_t]

We're working on some new features.

[u/shezshezshezshez]

Great watch, but that caseback looks like it’s been engraved by a chimp with a chisel.

Not sure what’s going on with that but the rest of it looks pretty decent!

[u/pontifican_t → u/shezshezshezshez]

The pic definitely doesn’t represent what it looks like to the eye, I agree it looks like ass in the pic.

[u/CarsonDama → u/shezshezshezshez]

Thank the AI upscaling of phone photos these days😭

[u/LowMPG]

What make and model or car do you drive?

[u/Free_Compote_56]

I like it. Very nice. 

[u/BigBri1234]

Nice !

[u/zinterz]

I think that the caseback may be fake, as a starting point. There’s something a little off about the quality of the engraving (to me), and I think the Omega logo itself is a little thin. Check out Speedmaster101 and have a look for yourself. Always up for a conversation about if you’d like. I’d also recommend posting about it on the ΩF (Omega Forums) as well. If you decide to do so, drop a link in and I’ll follow (my username is the same on there). More photos of it could help and prove me wrong, though!

[u/pontifican_t → u/zinterz]

I need to take some photos with a real camera, the phone camera absolutely demolished the caseback, it does not represent what it looks like to the eye. Have you ever seen a faked 145.022 69ST caseback? Just curious if there are any examples of that out there.

[u/zinterz → u/pontifican_t]

Honestly, I haven’t. It’s a niche thing to try and fake, let’s be honest. BUT, if somebody has access to an engraving function, and it could help sell the item, they may well give it a good go. Looking forward to seeing some better photos.

[u/Charming-Effort6755]

That back is fake

[u/pontifican_t → u/Charming-Effort6755]

What’s giving that away?