Speedmaster "Speedy Tuesday" - A Pictorial

[sluu83]

One of my favourite LE Speedys.

[Travelller]

Men and our watches...


Nasa's Ragan featured in "A Man and his Watch"

[JR16]

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[Travelller]

Originally Posted by JR16

...

Sweet combo

[blcblc]

[Investr]

Ive gone back a re-read this review numerous times. TS the best review a pics I’ve ever seen here. GREAT JOB!!! I do have one of these btw.....

[Travelller]

@Investr, many thanks - much appreciated

A MAN & HIS #SPEEDYTUESDAY

[Investr]

Originally Posted by Travelller

@Investr, many thanks - much appreciated

A MAN & HIS #SPEEDYTUESDAY

I would have loved to have this bracelet with it. I ended up getting the traditional Speedmaster SS bracelet bc the boutique said it would be much harder to swap bracelets and straps if I chose yours. Looks fantastic!!! Love mine too but that bracelet is perfection!

[Travelller]

Originally Posted by Travelller

...As for your PM, yes the bracelet is a production model - the 1171/633

Originally Posted by Investr

I would have loved to have this bracelet with it. I ended up getting the traditional Speedmaster SS bracelet bc the boutique said it would be much harder to swap bracelets and straps if I chose yours. Looks fantastic!!! Love mine too but that bracelet is perfection!

Regarding your latest PM - I thought the answers to your great questions would benefit all, so...

The 1171/633 can be ordered at any AD or authorized service partner. It may be that your AD doesn't want to risk installing the bracelet due to the fact that it's not an official option (or match) but I'm sure if you let them know you're aware of the potential consequences (read below), they will order it. Personally, I would order it anywhere I could and have my favorite watchmaker do the honors...

As for the 633 end-links; they're a RPITA to install Unless you're a real hands-on type, I would highly recommend to let a trusted watchmaker do it for you. There is some filling of the end-links involved and I would suggest some experience necessary to install them with minimal damage to the caseback.

Speaking of which... For those of you who like swapping out your bracelet / straps on a regular basis, be prepared to see some scratch / scuff-marks on the rear-side of the lugs. I'm not a vintage-bracelet expert but as far as I can tell ...the end-links need to be forced onto the caseback, hence, the higher risk of leaving marks...

Last but not least, be prepared to accept a less-than-perfect fit. The 633 end-links were not designed specifically for modern SMP cases and the inner-curve of the end-link is not a one2one match with the case. Theory has it that Omega assumes the vintage cases that will make use of the 633s will have been worn out somewhat and hence they've allocated slightly more metal to the links...

Originally Posted by Travelller

Annex - The great end-link debate
As noted in the main body, there were a few choice vintage bracelets suggested by the community for pairing with the ST. A few that come to mind include the 1447/805, 1450/808, 1479/812 and the "production NOS" 1171/633. None of these were actually designed for the contemporary Speedmaster Professionals, however I am going with the assumption that the case has been a constant ever since the 42mm "Professional" was released... . In any event, fitting the 633 end-links to the ST (or any other production Speedmaster) appears to be quite the challenge. A few of the recipients that first received their STs and that opted for this combo reported back with some horror stories. Apparently the 633s sometimes come just a bit wider than the actual lug width. Some OBs asked to make the swap were either unaware of this possibility (or didn't think it a big issue...) and used the proverbial hammer to get the end-link to fit. Needless to say, the resulting scarring of the lugs was not appreciated by the end-customer... .

So "armed" with this knowledge, I had my personal watchmaker "tailor" the end-links to fit - prior to actually attempting to mate them with the lugs. Despite his valiant attempts, these vintage "hollow" end-links, designed to literally clamp onto the caseback, still managed to leave a (slight) trail... . Nothing more than superficial cosmetics, but still... *sigh* The "User" school of thought will certainly diagnose me with OCD and claim that as long as it's not a safe queen, it's meant to be used. Although that does make for a good argument, how many of you are really ok with the idea of scuffing up a watch before you even get to wear it...even once? "Not I", said he... !

As if getting over that "mental hurdle" wasn't enough, the end results are far from optimal. Don't get me wrong; I'm talking only about the end-links here; the 1171 bracelet is great and is a perfect match for the ST. Before this "pairing", I never really gave much thought as how an end-link should look once mated to the case. Now I was quite interested and took a look at a few other of my watches with bracelets; a ~2000 Speedmaster Professional with OEM bracelet (thin polished links) as well as my "classic" Grand Seiko. No professional, sophisticated diving watches with their complex bracelets, just simple two-fold clasps, etc. Here are my "observations." I will leave it up to you (and your €400~€700...) to decide what's acceptable, if not optimal...

Top to bottom: Grand Seiko, ST+633, & modern SMP & standard bracelet.

p.s. regardless of all the above, the combo is imho still the best given the vintage-feel, all-brushed, "NOS" production bracelet. The micro-gaps between the links & case are not noticeable in real-world use (as proven on a typical wristshot below) and as I don't intend to swap the bracelet out on a regular basis, the scratches on the rear-side of the lugs are also not a real issue.

[RFFG]

wow just saw this! Impressive write up, very informative.

[red1108nyc]

ST1 is an instant classic and can compete with some of the best

[sensui]

Originally Posted by red1108nyc

ST1 is an instant classic and can compete with some of the best

That's killing it right there.

[Travelller]

Originally Posted by red1108nyc

ST1 is an instant classic and can compete with some of the best

Applied logo F.T.W. on this #SpeedyTuesday...

[Pongster]

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[DahMan]

Wow, magnificent.i look forward to having the type of experience, process and history of watch buying you described, very thought provoking, and best defines the relationship between man, and his time piece.
Well done!

[Investr]

I still cant get over how much I love this piece! SHOCKED! I’m a compulsive flipper and this one is one I cant part with.

[ap1]

Originally Posted by Investr

I still cant get over how much I love this piece! SHOCKED! I’m a compulsive flipper and this one is one I cant part with.

Agree

[Investr]

Originally Posted by ap1

Agree

The funny thing is that I almost didn’t buy it!! I went by the boutique on vacation and we started talking Chronos (i was wearing a Daytona), and I mentioned how much I liked the ST in pics. He then said there might be one for sale. When offered, I asked to think about it overnight. The watch didn’t “blow” me way initially but man it has WON me over as much as any watch I’ve ever owned and that’s saying ALOT!!!!

[ap1]

Originally Posted by Investr

The funny thing is that I almost didn’t buy it!! I went by the boutique on vacation and we started talking Chronos (i was wearing a Daytona), and I mentioned how much I liked the ST in pics. He then said there might be one for sale. When offered, I asked to think about it overnight. The watch didn’t “blow” me way initially but man it has WON me over as much as any watch I’ve ever owned and that’s saying ALOT!!!!

Including Gold on OF? Wow


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[Travelller]

Originally Posted by DahMan

Wow, magnificent.i look forward to having the type of experience, process and history of watch buying you described, very thought provoking, and best defines the relationship between man, and his time piece.
Well done!

Thank you, sir

Originally Posted by Investr

I still cant get over how much I love this piece! SHOCKED! I’m a compulsive flipper and this one is one I cant part with.

Glad to hear it - this one has to be a keeper for all owners; even if Fratello Watches & Omega manage to issue an "ST" every other year, ours will always be the very first and most likely one of the best

[DC_boffin]

Just got my Speedy Tuesday yesterday and put it on a silver snoopy. Like Investr, I'm impressed at how much I'm enjoying this watch

[fskywalker]

Nice !

[Travelller]

IG has a tradition of posting your top nine, most-liked posts of the year.
I'm pleased to say that the ST made a cameo appearance:



I also decided to review my posts and come up with my own Top9 of 2018 too. Of course, the ST's included


https://www.instagram.com/trav11er/

[bonovox]

Terrific post. Thank you for this great write up on a special watch.

[Travelller]

Originally Posted by bonovox

Terrific post. Thank you for this great write up on a special watch.

Many thx

Happy #SpeedyTuesday

[Plai]

Nice photos and write up. Now I want that watch!

[BigBoy17]

Great looking piece

[Travelller]

Originally Posted by Plai

Nice photos and write up. Now I want that watch!

Thx / I can't blame you - it's really an awesome reference

Originally Posted by crazycarlitos

Another great in-depth review... Makes me want a speedy Tuesday now....

Thx It rocks, really does. It's a look that's timeless as well as being really a unique reference thx to the radial dials

Originally Posted by BigBoy17

Great looking piece

Agree 110%

~~~

For today, it's (the) #SpeedyTuesday

[solesman]

I'm torn between picking up an ST1 or the classic hesalite and steel caseback. It'll be my one and only and I want to get it right.

[Travelller]

Originally Posted by solesman

I'm torn between picking up an ST1 or the classic hesalite and steel caseback. It'll be my one and only and I want to get it right.

Tough call and fortunately having both, I don't have to go through that agony...
I would say that if you come across a good deal on an ST1 you should go for it. Resale shouldn't be a problem. If you go for the original moonwatch instead, you won't be disappointed - it's an iconic piece

Good luck and keep us posted