Few questions on the Speedmaster.

[Flaxmoore]

My wife's a huge NASA fan, and when I was looking something up last night, I stumbled across the fact that the Speedmaster was worn on the Moon. Needless to say, she was seriously geeking out about this, and I love the look of the watch.

What are the specs of the originals? I see that they're making an automatic variant instead of the original manual wind, but what else? Where should I look to acquire one that would be as true to the originals as possible?

[jmsrolls]

Neil Armstrong and most of the moon walkers wore the cal. 321 ref# 105.012. The current ref# 3750.50 cal. 1861 remains the only watch flight qualified for EVA.

Fr. John+

[Flaxmoore]

Is this the same watch? I can't find that reference number.

[jmsrolls]

That's the 40th Aniversary model. It is basically the same as the 3570.50.

Here is a thread you might find interesting:

http://www.rolexforums.com/showthread.php?t=50074

And some articles written by the late Chuck Maddox:

http://www.chronomaddox.com/#Moonwatch

Fr. John†

[Flaxmoore]

Good stuff, thanks!

Now to log all of this for when I have money. Hesalite crystal, manual wind... *jots*

[Perdu]

I'm always amazed when I'm reminded of the history of the Speedy.

[jmsrolls]

If your wife is into space flight, you might want to check out "Apollo XIII", the movie. NASA gave Omega the "Snoopy" award for the Speedmaster Pro used to time the re-entry burn.

One of my favorite movies is "the Dish" about an Australian tracking/relay station used to relay moon video from Apollo XI. It lets me relive the experience of the first moon landing.

Here's my "Neil" watch and Buzz on the cover of National Geographics:



Fr. John†

[jmsrolls]

Originally Posted by Perdu

I'm always amazed when I'm reminded of the history of the Speedy.

There's not another watch with the history and mystery of the Omega Speedmaster Professional.

Fr. John†

[Flaxmoore]

This one just shot up the list to a must-have. Apollo 13 is even one of my favorite movies.

[shedlock2000]

You should check out one of the threads on the Alaska project!

I find the special edition something elce, I seriously thought of a speed master, but was only eventually put off by the heselite chrystal and the lack of date. I came so close to getting the alaska though!

[gaopa]

Fr John introduced me to the Speedmaster and after that there was no turning back. It is truly one of the must have Omegas. IMHO, the other must have is the Seamaster Professional, the 2254.50.

For the money, there is nothing like these two Omegas! Cheers, Bill P.

[jmsrolls]

If you are into Apollo XIII, here's the "Snoopy" Limited Edition:



Omega press release:

Professional Snoopy EditionOMEGA Speedmaster Professional - Limited "Snoopy Award" edition - Reference 3578.51.00

The legendary "Moon Watch" - flight-qualified by NASA for manned spaceflight missions in 1965 and the only watch ever to be worn on the moon. Its timeless design remains ever-popular: stainless steel case and bracelet, OMEGA calibre 1861 mechanical hand-winding chronograph movement with hour and minute display, continuous small seconds hand, central chronograph seconds hand, 30 minute and 12 hour totalisers, and a power reserve of 45 hours. The Speedmaster Professional has luminous hands and hour markers (Super Luminova), a hesalite crystal as used on the original model and a screw-in case-back ensuring water resistance to 50 metres. The tachymeter scale on the black aluminium ring of the steel bezel allows calculation of a vehicle's speed, a machine's hourly production etc. The Snoopy Award design is etched and painted on the sapphire crystal case back. OMEGA received this award, the highest distinction from NASA astronauts, on 5 October 1970 in recognition of its vital role in the safe return to Earth of the Apollo XIII mission. Production of this limited-edition model is restricted to 5441 individually numbered pieces.

Fr. John†

[macstiltskin]

Originally Posted by gaopa

Fr John introduced me to the Speedmaster and after that there was no turning back. It is truly one of the must have Omegas. IMHO, the other must have is the Seamaster Professional, the 2254.50.

For the money, there is nothing like these two Omegas!

Cheers, Bill P.

I totally agree! I prize these a lot more than my Rolex. Great watches.

[blackmsport]

Originally Posted by gaopa

Fr John introduced me to the Speedmaster and after that there was no turning back. It is truly one of the must have Omegas. IMHO, the other must have is the Seamaster Professional, the 2254.50.

For the money, there is nothing like these two Omegas! Cheers, Bill P.

100% agree

If rolex is Lexus
The Omega may be Infiniti

Problem with Rolex watches... they are not very nice looking...

[David Bidner]

Chuck Maddox's site mentioned in an earlier post has the most complete information I have found anywhere on the speedmaster and other omegas.

I have had at various times the speedmaster premoon, the 1957 reissue and two versions of the speedmaster moonphase. They are all great time pieces!

[jmsrolls]

Here's another good site:

www.speedmaster-mission.net/

Fr. John†

[generic0]

I went to tour NASA Houston (JSC) on Thursday and as you walk up to look inside the building where Mission Control ("Houston, we've had a problem!") is, there's a display inside the door...looked like commemorative Omega Speedmasters for most of the missions. I couldn't get close because of the # of people, but it was nice to see all those moonies right there where it all went down. Or at least right there where the radio communication to where it all went down was.

Excellent watch!

[Flaxmoore]

Since the money-saving is started, one more quick question. How long is the service life on the Speedy Pro with a manual wind? I know some watches are insane- my grandfather's pocketwatch is only -10/d after 74 years without service- but others are more touchy.

[lavaman]

bigger problem with rolex: timex, seiko, and others rip off their look. one of the nice things about owning an omega (you meet the nicest people...) is that there is a very good chance that whatever you wear, it WONT look like the one the kid checking your movie tickets is wearing.... and I have noted that everyone knowns Rolex, but watch people know Omega. (and Tag, my other love).

[heresiarh]

Originally Posted by jmsrolls

Neil Armstrong and most of the moon walkers wore the cal. 321 ref# 105.012. The current ref# 3750.50 cal. 1861 remains the only watch flight qualified for EVA.

Fr. John+

hey. this is totally off topic. i just noticed you have an exp II black M serial in your signature. do you have any wrist shots that I can look at if u don't mind? I recently acquired one myself.

[jmsrolls]

Originally Posted by heresiarh

hey. this is totally off topic. i just noticed you have an exp II black M serial in your signature. do you have any wrist shots that I can look at if u don't mind? I recently acquired one myself.

Congratulations on your EXPII! I'm wearing mine as I type.

I've had mine for about a year and have found it to be very comfortable and quite versatile.

Here is the wrist shot you requested:



And yes, there is something missing.

Fr. John†

[Flaxmoore]

Any ideas on a service interval for the manual version, under daily wear?

[heresiarh]

Originally Posted by jmsrolls

Congratulations on your EXPII! I'm wearing mine as I type.

I've had mine for about a year and have found it to be very comfortable and quite versatile.

Here is the wrist shot you requested:



And yes, there is something missing.

Fr. John†

That is one beautiful time piece. I'm really enjoying it. I chose this over the submariner date model just cause I felt its a bit different. However my next rolex will be a submariner NO DATE, and hopefully I'll find a non-cosc version.

[Arcticboy]

Feel free to see my Speedy here: http://speed.sutterud.no/
You will not regret it if you buy one. Mine has the cal. 861 movement, and although it wasn't first on the moon, it has been up there several times. Worn by astronauts as well as cosmonauts...

Good luck!

[esm]

great thread! thanks.

i have recently got my eyes on a speedy monowatch - would like to add it to my collection.

am i correct to say the 3570.50.00 would be the one to get if i were to get one? and which movement? what is the UK retail at the moment and if i were to get a pre-owned one, what would be the "right" price to pay? what sould i watch out for?

[migboy]

i was checking out a speedmaster 145022 the other day... it has a very nice patina on the markers and the case and bracelet are in mint condition... the store claims that the original owner hardly used it and was a kept in a safe all the time, thus the amazing condition... it has the cal 861 movement... is it right to say that the watch was produced between 1968-1970? it doesn't come with box nor papers.
the store is asking (roughly converted from philippines peso) USD1400. is this a fair price for this particular model?
thanks.

[Arcticboy]

migboy, I do not know for how many years the 861 movement was produced, but mine is from 1996, so you need the serial number to specify more accurately the age.
$ 1400 is an absolute steal if the watch is in the condition it sounds like. Even without box and papers. Just make sure serial numbers are the same all over, and even if they do not match, I would still consider it...