1998-2003 Speedmaster 3594.50 Replica Serial Numbers

Posts
875
Likes
2,607
Folks

am wondering if there is a consensus on valid serials for the unfortunately named ‘Replica’ broad arrow Speedmaster.

I’ve seen a few 48.... and that ties to a projection I get from ilovemyspeedmaster at around 1998, but there also seems to be a few amount in the 77...... range

Any thoughts on why such a large discrepancy?

I guess I’m asking - what confidence should one have in a 77..... serial being genuine and not a modded later 861. (Without pulling an extract - if that’s even an option)


Edited:
 
Posts
10,438
Likes
16,317
Both are correct, or at least plausible. Speedmaster numbers follow a pretty strange pattern and jump large ranges at times but seem to stay put at others. 48m to 77m is one such jump and occurred around 1999/2000. Speedies have been between 77 and 79m ever since making accurate dating by serial tricky but not impossible.

ps I wouldn’t personally use ‘57 or Broad Arrow when describing that model since those terms were used for other newer pieces which are very different using alternative movements. I do understand though why owners are reluctant to use Replica which is the name Omega themselves gave it.
Edited:
 
Posts
875
Likes
2,607
Thanks @padders.

I hadn’t realized there was a jump in serials, and not linear. How very bizarre, but good to know!

I was getting bent around the axle as an 861 I bought new in 2013 was in the 77m range.

Do you know of any threads that have tried to unpick this jump - I couldn’t find any, but likely my search-fu is lacking.

Ack on the Replica naming - I gamed the system a bit as I was concerned there would be low interest in a thread about a ‘replica’ watch, and added the MWO image to show - this thing is real! 😀. But what marketing genius decided it was a good brand name for a watch! Most unfortunate!

I’ll update the title.
 
Posts
10,438
Likes
16,317
Its tricky, ILMS (Eugene's excellent I love my Speedmaster site) works by interpolation from known extract dates for serials. It stops in the mid 1990s probably because of the lack of more recent extracts but I believe a similar interpolation/extrapolation technique probably works on the later serials such as those in the 77-78m range. I have a few recorded serials in my records which help me with these and also other Omegas from the period. SMP serials for instance in the 1990s to 2000s include 40m, 50m 60m and 80m! This can lead to owners assuming their watch is either 10 years older or younger than it really is.
Edited:
 
Posts
433
Likes
382
Hello @BatDad. If helpful to you, I purchased a nice 3594.50.00 about a decade ago, as a complete set. This included both red cards: the warranty card, and the pictograms card. The serial number on the warranty card (and watch) began with 7705 (the watch had the serial number engraved on the lug). The reference number on both the warranty and the pictograms card was 35945000. The bracelet was a 1998/840.
 
Posts
11
Likes
59
Folks

am wondering if there is a consensus on valid serials for the unfortunately named ‘Replica’ broad arrow Speedmaster.

I’ve seen a few 48.... and that ties to a projection I get from ilovemyspeedmaster at around 1998, but there also seems to be a few amount in the 77...... range

Any thoughts on why such a large discrepancy?

I guess I’m asking - what confidence should one have in a 77..... serial being genuine and not a modded later 861. (Without pulling an extract - if that’s even an option)

I had to order mine from my AD at the time and I know it was produced in October 1999 and has a 7700 serial number.
 
Posts
393
Likes
679
If it helps, I've got a 3594.50 with serial 7710XXXX. It came with the later bracelet so likely to be '99+, although I don't have original documentation about the exact date of sale sorry...
 
Posts
393
Likes
679
And yes, I've struggled with the 'replica' designation for ages, shocking marketing effort from Omega! These days I tend to use the term reissue instead of replica 👍
 
Posts
29,668
Likes
76,825
I've always loved the Replica, but interestingly on Omegas website, they don't call it 'Replica' but rather call it 'Broad Arrow': https://www.omegawatches.com/en-us/watch-omega-speedmaster-broad-arrow-35945000

When I look this model up on the Omega Extranet, it calls it this:

W SP MOON P II REPLICA II 42 ST/ST BLK
REF 35945000

So they may have changed the publicly seen name, but it's still referred to as the replica by Omega.
 
Posts
98
Likes
110
When I look this model up on the Omega Extranet, it calls it this:

W SP MOON P II REPLICA II 42 ST/ST BLK
REF 35945000

So they may have changed the publicly seen name, but it's still referred to as the replica by Omega.

I find that so bizarre. I wonder if any other models go by different names internally at Omega?
 
Posts
43
Likes
124
This is my Replica with low serial number, 1498 bracelet and single warranty card white.
 
Posts
10,438
Likes
16,317
That is a nice example. Have you hand the issues with hand corrosion that have affected many?
Edited:
 
Posts
43
Likes
124
That is a nice example. Have you hand the issues with had corrosion that have affected many?
Thank you
No issues here but i’ve seen hands damaged Both on others Replicas and Railmaster
 
Posts
875
Likes
2,607
@padders Can you say more about hand corrosion?

Mine is definitely stiff on winding and due a service, but I haven’t observed any cosmetic issues
 
Posts
10,438
Likes
16,317
Many of the Replica/Broad Arrow/57Pro edition (delete as applic.) experienced premature corrosion on the polished hands, some within as little as 5-10 years. Many were changed either under warranty or at first service. The polished finish on the hands seemed to pit or develop acne, it was a flaw unique to the Rep/BA/57P in modern Speedies. If yours doesn't have it, all good, it might have already been sorted or never happened. Changing the hands was had no negative consequences, both the originals and replacements had Superluminova lume so look identical.
 
Posts
2,180
Likes
2,354
Definitely think this will be the Speedmaster I purchase, love the applied logo & broadarrow hands plus the twisted lugs, would rather fit a SpeedyPro bezel on, shame none are for sale in the UK!
 
Posts
98
Likes
110
Definitely think this will be the Speedmaster I purchase, love the applied logo & broadarrow hands plus the twisted lugs, would rather fit a SpeedyPro bezel on, shame none are for sale in the UK!

There are four for sale on Chrono24.
 
Posts
1,099
Likes
1,083
wut the hell were they thinking even remotely with the word replica...it was rhetorical....plz don't answer...but they should have used a k instead of a c and had a hammer sickle caseback.......,,,,,blammo
 
Posts
98
Likes
110
wut the hell were they thinking even remotely with the word replica...it was rhetorical....plz don't answer...but they should have used a k instead of a c and had a hammer sickle caseback.......,,,,,blammo

I think they were thinking that they were 'replicating' the look of the CK 2915-1.