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Vintage SpeedmasterIts Speedy Tuesday When you buy a vintage Speedmaster watch, one of the thoughts that might occur is that you wonder what kind of life the watch had before you bought it. Who bought it in the first place? Why did this person picked this watch? Where has the watch been? This of course, goes for the watches that doesnt come with provenance or are not inherited. Although even then it is still interesting to ponder about these things.Todays Speedmaster in our weekly Speedy Tuesday topic is one that has seen things that we can only dream about. Watch enthusiast Guido Maniscalco bought this vintage?Speedmaster Professional 105.012 from the widow of an inspector at Vandenberg Air [...]
Omega Speedmaster Professional MIROne of Fratellos regular readers submitted his Omega Speedmaster Professional MIR edition for our Speedy Tuesday Only 28 pieces have been made in stainless steel and 7 in gold. This limited edition Speedmaster Professional commemorates the second American-Russian space link-up (the first was the Apollo-Soyuz, which also had its special Speedies to commemorate).The stainless steel version comes with two references, one for the 18 examples with a steel bracelet (ST 345.0022.105) and one for the 10 examples with a leather strap (ST 145.0022.105). The steel version has the Lemania based handwound caliber 861 movement and the gold version has the luxury finished [...]
Omega Speedmaster Pro MoonwatchThis is our second Speedy Tuesday on Fratello Watches and this weeks pick is the Omega Speedmaster Professional with reference number 105.012 and caliber 321 movement. Every Omega Speedmaster enthusiast knows that this is the same model that went to the Moon on the wrist of Neil Armstrong (we covered it here).Besides the pictured Omega Speedmaster ref. 105.012, astronaut Collins was wearing a similar model, the Speedmaster ref.145.012. Buzz Aldrin supposedly wore the 105.003 (pre-Professional), but this watch got stolen afterwards.Speedmaster fan Jmsrolls (John) shot a picture of his ref.105.012 Speedy on a 1969 copy of National Geographics magazine, covering t [...]
If you are a long time follower of Fratellowatches you probably already know that we are huge fans of Omegas Speedmaster collection. We do not only care about the Speedmaster Professional Moonwatch, we also like a lot of the other Speedmaster models that Omega introduced since 1957. Whether it is the modern Speedmaster 9300 chronograph, a vintage CK2915 Speedmaster pre-Professional or something completely different like a Speedmaster X-33, we (almost) love m all. Like this Speedmaster Day-Date ref.176.0016 for example, sometimes being referred to as the Speedmaster Mark 4.5.We decided to do a short write-up on a Speedy every Tuesday. Just because. If you are willing to play, please send us a [...]
After the Rolex Explorer and Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso, Mad Mens Don Draper has now been spotted with an Omega. In episode 6 of the 5th season of Mad Men TV-series, Don Draper impatiently checks his Omega Seamaster DeVille watch sitting in a diner waiting for his lady.Despite being introduced as a watch with a water resistant case, the 1950s Seamaster watches were very elegant and not that far away from the more luxurious Constellation collection. In the 1960s, Omega started to develop the Seamaster as a divers watch, as we know it today, and introduced the Seamaster DeVille as their more dressy collection of watches.Don Draper wears a Seamaster DeVille with a black dial and a date indicator, [...]
Today, I received a mail by a long time watch friend that included a picture of Tom Hanks wearing an OMEGA Speedmaster Professional. This photo was featured in an article (this one) in The Washington Times about Tom Hanks and his political preferences. I am pretty sure you saw or know the Apollo 13 movie, where he plays the role of NASA astronaut Jim Lovell.In the Apollo 13 movie, he is wearing [more or less] the same Moonwatch as the NASA astronauts did. It is nice to see that Tom Hanks also likes to wear a Speedy Moonwatch in his own time, where he probably can just pick out any watch he wants to have.Actor, director and producer Tom Hanks is not on the list of official OMEGA ambassadors b [...]
The first Speedmaster watch, the CK2915, is up for auction at Dr H Crott auctions on the 11th of May. Together with a lot of Patek Philippe and Rolex watches, they have this 1958 Speedy CK2915-2 listed in very nice condition. It has been serviced in 2011 at Omega in Switzerland, but theyve managed to keep it as original as possible in my opinion.This particular Speedmaster was produced in 1958 by Lemania, which was owned by Omega at that time and were licensed to do so, and shipped to Argentina. The picture above shows the beautiful symmetrical case (39mm) with straight lugs and the lack of crown guards that theyve added to the Speedy a few years later (starting with reference 105.012).Aucti [...]
If youve ever been to NASAs Kennedy Space Center recently, watched the Apollo 13 movie or.. even better.. witnessed it yourself, you know that the NASA astronauts used to have a strong preference for Chevrolet Corvette sports cars.The picture above shows the Apollo 12 crew with their beloved Chevrolet Corvettes. Astronauts Charles Pete' Conrad Jr., Richard Francis Gordon Jr. and Alan LaVern Bean with their 1969 Corvette Stingray coupes. Wired magazine did a nice article on NASA astronauts and their Corvettes last year, from which the picture above was taken (click here).In the book Last man on the Moon by astronaut Gene Cernan, he also refers to the Corvettes several times, being the choice [...]
Youve probably heard it by now, OMEGA introduced the remake of the First Omega in Space Speedmaster. The watch worn by Walter Wally Schirra on the 3rd of October 1962 during the Sigma 7 flight, was the Speedmaster ref. CK2998. This is a second generation Speedmaster, a few years before it became the official choice by NASA and renamed Speedmaster Professional in 1965. We had a look at the new remake of this Speedmaster 1962 during our appointment with OMEGA in BaselWorld and wed like to share our findings and the pictures we took, with our readers.As you can see, the dial lacks the Professional wording and has the applied OMEGA logo again, like it was used in those days. The font that OMEGA [...]
The Omega Constellation Grand Luxe is something really special. Omega introduced the Constellation in 1952, being more or less the successor of the Centenary watch that Omega introduced in 1948 to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Biel watch factory. Already being the flagship of the Omega manufacture [because of the fine finish and chronometer movements], the Constellation came in several grades in the 1950s.The ultimate edition was the Constellation Grand Luxe, even one step above the Constellation Deluxe, available in all gold or platinum and with the famous brick bracelet. For those of you not very?familiar?with the vintage Constellation series: the brick bracelet was reintroduced b [...]
The story of the Speedmaster began in 1957, when OMEGAs Claude Baillod designed the watch for his manager, Head of Creation Pierre Moinat. The first few models (CK2915 and CK2998) had a symmetrical shape and were replaced by the a-symmetrical case as we happen to know it now, in 1963. When the Speedmaster was chosen by NASA to become part of the astronauts equipment, OMEGA added the wording Professional on the dial in 1965. The rest is history and has been discussed and documented by many, including here at Fratellowatches.Besides the Moonwatch, OMEGA developed and produced a number of Speedmaster watches that were not part of the Professional series. We would say that the Speedmaster Reduce [...]
A visit to the OMEGA Museum was on my ToDo list as soon as I bought my first vintage Omega watch in 1999. In the past, I had mailed several occasions with Marco Richon (former curator of the museum) and John Diethelm (archives of Omega), but it never came to a visit to their museum in Bienne.Just recently, the Omega museum has been refurbished and a new curator (Brandon Thomas) has been appointed. Omega invited me over to come to visit their new museum and two factory visits to see how their Co-Axial movements are manufactured.Together with the guys from aBlogtoRead, Hodinkee, Les Rhabilleurs and WatchingHorology we headed to Bienne, Switzerland, to see these treasures of one of my favorite [...]
In 2021, Omega updated the iconic Speedmaster Professional Moonwatch with the caliber 3861 movement. A very good reason to update our Speedmaster Buyers Guide as well!This guide dates all the way back to 2014, and since then, a lot happened. Not only did we have our own way with Omega and the two Speedmaster Speedy Tuesday watches (in 2017 and 2018), Omega also introduced a number of interesting Speedmaster watches to the collection. What about the Speedmaster Calibre 321 from 2020, or the new Moonwatch Master Chronometer models in gold? Time for us to update this Speedmaster Buyers Guide.In this Speedmaster Buyers Guide, we give you an overview of the most important references of the Speedm [...]
When I bought my first Speedmaster Professional (on the 1st of October, 1999), I was completely captured by the beauty of this historical chronograph. Weeks, perhaps even months, I was browsing the internet for more detailed information on the Speedmaster series. It rapidly occurred to me that buying a vintage Speedmaster wasnt something easy, as it like always is in the details. Luckily, the world wasnt craving for tropical brown dials and all original flimsy bracelets, so at some point I was quite comfortable buying my first caliber 321 Speedmaster Professional ref.145.012 for approximately 800 euro (2000 Dutch guilders).The fun thing is, that I always seem to return to Omega Speedmaster [...]
Every year, Omega introduces a new limited edition of in my humble opinion the nicest chronograph ever, the Speedmaster Professional. It is one of the few watch brands, or perhaps the only brand, that gets away in my book with all these limited editions. This year, it was 40 years ago that Omega accompanied the crew of Apollo 15 to the Moon.The Apollo 15 Mission, that started on the 26th of July 1971 and safely returned on the 7th of August in 1971. On the 30th of July, the crew landed their Lunar Module on the surface of the Moon, to stay there for 4 days. This page on Wiki has a great and detailed description of the Apollo 15 mission.As you can see, Omega used the mission patch as an ins [...]
2011 is the year of Omegas Seamaster Planet Ocean. Although this company from Bienne also introduced an interesting new Speedmaster Chronograph (more on that one here), their focus is clearly set to the new line up of Seamaster Planet Ocean watches. The introduction of the Seamaster Planet Ocean on Capri (Italy) in May this year, was more than impressive (click here for a?lengthy?report with over 100 images) and just a few days ago, Omega released a new version of their iPhone application with a nice feature of the Seamaster Planet Ocean Chrono.Besides a nice and useful catalogue with Omega watches (divided into Gents and Ladies), news about Omega (watches and events) and videos, there is a [...]
Also known as the Seamaster PloProf, Omega developed this watch in the late 1960s in close cooperation with the COMEX company and Jacques Cousteau. Solely designed and developed for professional use, this divers watch was being nicknamed PloProf (Plongeur Professional) by those involved. Earlier this year, I wrote a small review (click here) on the current Omega Seamaster PloProf 1200M, a successful re-designed timepiece based on the original PloProf.The new PloProf 1200M is a superb divers watch, although collectors or connoisseurs probably prefer the original PloProf. Therefore, I am bringing this beautiful and original 1970 Seamaster PloProf 600M (166.0077) to your attention that is cur [...]
In 2021, Omega updated the iconic Speedmaster Professional Moonwatch with the caliber 3861 movement. A very good reason to update our Speedmaster Buyers Guide as well!This guide dates all the way back to 2014, and since then, a lot happened. Not only did we have our own way with Omega and the two Speedmaster Speedy Tuesday watches (in 2017 and 2018), Omega also introduced a number of interesting Speedmaster watches to the collection. What about the Speedmaster Calibre 321 from 2020, or the new Moonwatch Master Chronometer models in gold? Time for us to update this Speedmaster Buyers Guide.In this Speedmaster Buyers Guide, we give you an overview of the most important references of the Speedm [...]
Last week, I attended the Omega event on Capri, a small island near the city of Naples in Italy. Omega invited me, and a number of other journalists, over to this beautiful island to join their Seamaster Planet Ocean introduction and announcement of a special collaboration.To start with the latter, Omega and environmentalist/filmmaker Yann Arthus-Bertrand are collaborating on creating a film about the Earths oceans. Yann Arthus-Bertrand, famous for his movie HOME, showed up together with this other famous Omega ambassador, Buzz Aldrin, to announce their plans on this joint venture.Besides this introduction, Omega took us on a boat and sailed away to the beautiful coast of Capri with their fa [...]
In 1948, Omega introduced the world to their Seamaster watch. Omegas commercial director of that time, Adolphe Vallat requested a watch that was water resistant with an automatic movement. Omegas designer Ren Bannwart had a sketch on the shelf that was originally intended to be a new Centenary model (the predecessor of the Constellation) that he found to be too bulky to be an elegant dress watch. Adolphe Vallat happened to find it a perfect match for his request.So, there it was, the very first Omega Seamaster. 34mm in diameter, a bumper movement and with these superb looking beefy lugs. These very first Seamaster watches (as pictured below) were available with either center seconds or a sm [...]
