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OMEGA Novelties At BaselWorldTo our surprise, Jean Claude Monachon (Head of Product Development) of OMEGA showed us not only the new Speedmaster 9300 line-up (Dark Side of the Moon and 57 editions) and Aqua Terra 15.000 Gauss, but also a new OMEGA Seamaster Bullhead. If you are following us on instagram, you probably have seen our quick snaps of these watches already. However, here are the pictures we took during the presentation with a decent camera.OMEGA Speedmaster 9300 Dark Side Of The MoonThere was already some buzzin around just before Baselworld, perhaps OMEGA did that on purpose, perhaps not. The new caliber 9300 Speedmaster Dark Side of the Moon is made out of one block of ceramics. [...]

It is Speedy Tuesday Just a few months ago, Bert Buijsrogge and I visited the OMEGA museum in Biel, Switzerland. With the focus on Speedy Tuesday, Bert took some photos of the Speedmasters (and Flightmasters), Apollo suit and NASA equipment (including the Moon buggy prototype). If you remember correctly, we already did a report on the OMEGA museum a while ago (click here), but lacking the photographic skills of Bert of course.Except for the beautiful vintage Speedmaster Professional from Bert above, on the NASA console (used for the Apollo space programme), we dont have any descriptions for the rest of the 77 photos. Just sit back and enjoy. If you have any specific questions regarding a pho [...]

Speedmaster Pro Racing 3570.40Its Speedy Tuesday The moment youve all been waiting for. This weeks Speedy Tuesday is about the Speedmaster Professional Racing models, both old new. You probably know the re-edition that OMEGA did in 2004, the reference?3570.40.00 Speedmaster Professional. Last week, we received photos from one of our readers (Martijn Hofman) Speedmaster Pro 3570.50 that was converted to this Racing edition by his watchmaker. The reference 3570.30 model was for the Japanese market, but apparently the dial and hands are still available as spare parts. More about customization? Check Shanes Speedmaster Paramedic here.As you can see, the orange chronograph hands, hour markers an [...]

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 [...]

Its Speedy Tuesday As promised, something special for today Or should I say something customized? Where there are products with fans, it is only a matter of time before the first modded products will show up. Shane is one of our readers that took the liberty of creating his own version of the Speedmaster, using all original Speedmaster parts of course. Anyway, I asked Shane to do the talking.Vanilla Speedmaster 3570.50I wanted to write about a single watch, my first Speedmaster. It started out as a vanilla 3570.50 but it wouldnt stay that way, or any particular way, for long. Its a nice case study of what drives me to customize watches, of the differences that a few small parts make, and of [...]

Golfer Rory McIlroy (we featured him here in the past) just signed up with OMEGA and left Audemars Piguet. OMEGA immediately captured him in an advertisement for the Aqua Terra collection, which they link to the golf sport. In the past, OMEGA has been sponsor of golf legend Ernie Els and during the years, added players like Greg Norman, Davis Love III, Sergio Garcia and Michelle Wie to their list of ambassadors. And now Rory McIlroy.No worries for Audemars Piguet though, they still have some golf players in their stable of ambassadors. What to think of Bel n Mozo, Bud Cauley, Christie Kerr, Louis Oosthuizen, Miquel Angel Jim nez and even more. A number of big watch brands want to be associat [...]

Its Speedy Tuesday We have another vintage model for you in store today, literally. This OMEGA Speedmaster Professional 145.012 dates back to 1967 and has the famous column wheel chronograph caliber 321 movement. Actually, it is the very same watch that NASA astronaut Michael Collins was wearing during the Apollo 11 mission in 1969. You can read more about that here.In the meanwhile, weve covered so many of these 145.012 and 105.012 reference numbers that we actually lost track. It seems to be one of the most wanted and most affordable vintage Speedmaster models out there. However big however -, they are becoming more difficult to find in a nice and original condition.This particular Speedm [...]

OMEGAs Co-Axial Chronometer. For some time now, OMEGA has been teasing us with beautiful images on their Facebook page. Like the one below. Beautiful. Since it is Speedy Tuesday, we selected this one, but OMEGA did a few more very interesting images.This morning, about an hour ago, OMEGA released a video about their Co-Axial Chronometer movements. The Co-Axial escapement was introduced by OMEGA to the public in 1999 in their DeVille Co-Axial watches (very limited production). In the last 13 years, OMEGA has been adopting the Co-Axial movement in all of their ranges (except for the quartz models and the original Moonwatch of course). This George Daniels invention was adopted by OMEGA a few ye [...]

Its Speedy Tuesday Today we have a rare breed Speedmaster from one of our readers from the Philippines. Jun Cajayon is also member and moderator of the PhilippineWatchClub forums. Jun has been a long time fan of the Speedmaster Mark series after he tried a Mark II for the first time a few years ago.As you know, the Mark series were introduced in 1969 with the ref.145.014 Speedmaster Mark II. A more modern case (for that time), but with the same hand wound movement caliber 861 as in the Moonwatch. These Mark series were in production parallel to the Speedmaster Professional Moonwatch (145.022).One of the strangest Speedmaster watches from the Mark-era is definitely this 176.0012 from Jun Caja [...]

Michael Clerizo, friend of the show for a long time now, already had written a beautiful book called Masters of Contemporary Watchmaking. Clerizo (Wallstreet Journal contributor) just finished another great book another masterpiece called George Daniels, A Master Watchmaker His Art.Many of you will know George Daniels for his (important) work on the Co-Axial escapement. One of the or perhaps the most important inventions in watchmaking which has been adopted by OMEGA since 1999. However, Daniels already came up with the first co-axial escapement in 1975. After having having it tried and tested in a pocket watch first, he also applied his invention into wristwatches. By coincidence, he a [...]

Its Speedy Tuesday Some things do not need introduction anymore and I think that Speedy Tuesday might be one of them. The number of responses to Speedy Tuesday in my mailbox is just unbelievable. Please, keep them coming It might take a few Tuesdays, but your Speedmaster will be featured here.Today we actually have two Speedmaster watches lined up for you. One of them is the stainless steel version of the Speedmaster we featured here two weeks ago, the Apollo 11 40th anniversary edition of 2009. Two weeks ago, we had the platinum version and now we have the somewhat more affordable stainless steel version on Speedy Tuesday. Further more, we have something quite rare. A Speedmaster Profession [...]

Speedmaster Professional SnoopyIts Speedy Tuesday This week we received one of our favorite modern Speedmaster Professional editions from one of our readers, the Speedmaster Professional Snoopy.The Speedmaster Professional Snoopy pictures have been submitted by Daniel Justin Teo. He is an enthusiastic follower of our Speedy Tuesday topic and lives in Singapore. While growing up, Daniel Justin Teo writes us, Snoopy was one of his favorite characters. This, and the Eyes on the Stars being his personal slogan, makes the OMEGA Speedmaster Professional Snoopy his favorite daily timepiece. Besides OMEGA, Daniel Justin also collects Jaeger-LeCoultre watches.OMEGA Speedmaster Professional Snoopy 357 [...]

Apollo 11 40th AnniversaryLast week, we had the Speedmaster Professional Apollo-Soyuz with meteorite dial, submitted to us by Darren Townend. Darren has submitted this week's Speedmaster as well: The Speedmaster Professional Apollo 11 40th Anniversary edition in platinum. This Speedmaster weighs a whopping 248 grams!Speedmaster Professional 311.90.42.30.01.001Most of the Speedy Pro 40th Anniversary models we get to see is the stainless steel version with the silver medallion on the seconds counter. This limited edition of 69 pieces in platinum looks quite similar, but has a solid gold medallion at 9 o'clock and a wonderfully engraved case back as well. The case back has a gold medallion of t [...]

Apollo-Soyuz MissionSpeedy Tuesday Today we have another Speedmaster Professional from one of our readers and avid Speedmaster fans, Darren. He submitted this limited Speedmaster Professional Apollo-Soyuz with meteorite dial. A special version from 2010 that commemorates the Apollo-Soyuz mission from 1975. The Apollo-Soyuz mission, or ASTP (Apollo-Soyuz Test Project), started at the 15th of July and they returned on the 24th of July 1975.Speedmaster Pro 311.30.42.30.99.001To commemorate this, OMEGA already had a Speedmaster Professional back in 1975, limited to 500 pieces and with the Apollo-Soyuz logo on 12 oclock. Later on, in 1995 and 2000, OMEGA again introduced a Speedmaster to commemor [...]

It is Speedy Tuesday After a few weeks of recurring vintage Speedmaster topics, it is time for a modern classic. The OMEGA Speedmaster Professional X-33. Introduced in 1998 and also already in use during the Space Shuttle STS-89 mission of that year.Today we have a Speedmaster Professional X-33 reference 3990.50, also known as the 1st Generation X-33. In 2001, OMEGA introduced an updated version (reference 3991.50). This updated version had a different finish on the bezel. Also, because the 1st Generation models could have some issues with their pushers, they did an update with regards to the construction. The 1st Gen X-33 also had a unidirectional bezel where the 2nd Generation X-33 had a b [...]

Omega Museum in BienneIts Speedy Tuesday Although we welcome any type of Speedmaster for this topic, today we have something really rare. No other than the OMEGA Museum in Bienne contributed this Speedmaster for this Speedy Tuesday. This Speedmaster ACP was in their museum archives and we had the opportunity to shoot some photos of it.Speedmaster ACP Automovil Club PeruanoThe OMEGA Speedmaster ACP is a reference 105.012 Speedy that was delivered to the Automovil Club Peruano. A common misunderstanding is that ACP stands for Association of Chief of Police on these watches.The strange thing is, that the Speedmaster ref.105.012 goes back to 1963, together with the 105.003. The 105.003 had no c [...]

Omega Speedmaster CK2998-5Speedy Tuesday is here Last week we already had a Speedmaster pre-Professional CK2998, but that doesnt hold us back to present another wonderful Speedmaster CK2998. This time, it is an untouched Omega Speedmaster CK2998-5, where the dash 5 stands for one of the last versions of this CK2998. To our best knowledge, the -62 is the last CK2998 (after -5 came -6, -61 and -61).The owner of this watch is a chronograph nut, and as he said, one has to decide fast if you see one, as these Speedmaster CK2998 watches tend to sell very fast. Especially when they are as good as this one here. We fully agree with him, as it becomes quite difficult to find a decent Speedmaster with [...]

Its Speedy Tuesday We came across this very rare OMEGA Speedmaster CK2998-3 last week on the interwebs. A normal ref. CK2998 Speedmaster is already becoming rare, but how about this FAP version. FAP stands for Fuerza Aerea del Peru which means that this Speedmaster has been issued to the Air Force of Peru.The OMEGA Speedmaster CK2998 is the successor of the very first Speedmaster, the ref. CK2915. In 1959, OMEGA introduced the CK2998 which has the same case, but with a different bezel, dauphin hands instead of the broad arrow hands and O-ring gaskets on the pushers. The Speedmaster CK2998 was in production between 1959 and 1963 and was actually the watch that was worn by Wally Schirra during [...]

Speedy Tuesday is here Just recently, after a few of our posts on Instagram (follow @fratellowatches also on Instagram) we got in touch with Kathleen Yap. She followed-up with her precious Speedmaster in white. In case you didnt know, also ladies can join Speedy Tuesday with specific ladies Speedmaster watches.Kathleen is wearing one of our favorite ladies Speedmaster models, reference 324.30.38.40.04.001. A white dialed 38mm Speedmaster, much like the Speedy Reduced we know from the mens collection, with an automatic chronometer movement caliber 3304. This model is available on a stainless steel bracelet as well as on an alligator strap in white (reference 324.33.38.40.04.001).The case back [...]

Speedy Tuesday is here One of the Speedmasters that I didnt discuss on Speedy Tuesday before is the Broad Arrow Automatic. OMEGA introduced this Speedmaster Broad Arrow in 2001, based on the Speedmaster Professional case dimensions, but with an automatic movement.This automatic movement has been topic of several heated discussions in those early years. What was the case? The Frederic Piguet based caliber 3303 movement had some issues with the chronograph function. A number of cases are known where the chrono hands didnt reset properly to zero or just stopped functioning. The late Chuck Maddox was on top of it with his OMEGA caliber 33xx failure blog posts.It seems that after a fix of the Spe [...]