OMEGA | SPEEDMASTER RACING DIAL, REFERENCE 145.012-67 SPSTAINLESS STEEL CHRONOGRAPH WRISTWATCH WITH EXOTIC DIAL AND BRACELETMADE IN 1968

Dial: black, racing dialCalibre: cal. 321 manual winding, 17 jewelsMovement number: 26'541'088Case: stainless steel, screw-down back Closure: stainless steel Omega bracelet with integrated folding clasp Dimensions: 42mm diameter, bracelet circumference approximately 190mmSigned: case, dial and movement Accessories: Omega Extract of the Archives confirming subsequent delivery to the United Kingdom in 1968, service card from Swisstec with a two year warranty until 2021.   

DIAL: dial is in excellent condition overall. All luminescent indexes are fully intact and brighten up homogeneously under UV light. The hands display a matching patina both in day light and under UV light. There are very small losses of luminescent material to the hour hand, visible under magnification. There is a darker stain within the luminescent material of the minute hand, towards the centre of the dial. With some discrete scratching to the counterweight of the central chronograph hands, visible under magnification at certain angles. The signed plexiglass is in excellent condition. CASE: with strong bevels and sharp edges. With slight scuffing mainly to the lugs and case bands. The top right lug bears deeper scratches to its profile and a minor dent to its beveled surface. The back bears scratches caused by previous opening attempts. The engravings and seahorse are visible and retain good definition. The dot over ninety bezel insert is in good condition. There is a slight discoloration to the outer periphery of the insert, a slight loss of ink between the 88 and 87 marks and close to the 65 mark. MOVEMENT: running at the time of cataloguing, chronograph starts, stops and resets smoothly. Bracelet: stamped 1039 and dated 3.69  The present lot was fully serviced in June at a cost of 665£. It comes with the Swisstec (Omega accredited service company) 2-year warranty card. Please note that the movement has not been tested for the accuracy of its timekeeping. Please note that Sotheby's does not guarantee the future working of the movement and that a service may be required at the buyer's discretion.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. All dimensions in catalogue descriptions are approximate. Condition reports may not specify mechanical replacements or imperfections to the movement, case, dial, pendulum, separate base(s) or dome. Watches in water-resistant cases have been opened to examine movements but no warranties are made that the watches are currently water-resistant. Please note that we do not guarantee the authenticity of any individual component parts, such as wheels, hands, crowns, crystals, screws, bracelets and leather bands, since subsequent repairs and restoration work may have resulted in the replacement of original parts. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue. In particular, please note it is the purchaser's responsibility to comply with any applicable import and export matters, particularly in relation to lots incorporating materials from endangered species.NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

**Please be advised that bands made of materials derived from endangered or otherwise protected species (i.e. alligator and crocodile) are not sold with the watches and are for display purposes only. We reserve the right to remove these bands prior to shipping."

The enigmatic ‘racing dial’ Omegas have continues to beguile collectors due to the fact that there are so few recorded examples in circulation. General consensus between collectors is that these watches were rarely released for public consumption, and instead developed with a more specific purpose in mind. There are 3 versions of the racing model, but which commonly feature two colours on the dial: red and black. The first example, the ‘pre-professional’ model has an applied metal Omega logo , red and white hour markers, red hands, white chronograph hand and the ‘checker-board’ scale around the outside. The second example, as per this lot, features the same distinctive hour markers, scale and hands but also a white painted Omega logo and ‘professional’ printed clearly under the Speedmaster script. The subsidiary dials are noticeably smaller. The third example with similarly painted text, features a grey dial with orange accents and logo.

This watch is not only rare for the reasons stated above but also because the watch remains in superb condition, having been carefully looked after from the same owner throughout the decades. However, what is even more captivating about this watch is that it has been confirmed by the manufacturer as one of the very few to have been delivered directly to the UK. It is thought that the majority of these models were delivered to Switzerland and Japan, making this present lot an extremely exciting find.