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2025 Speedmaster FOIS vs CK2998-4?

F
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Hi: I debated on whether to put this is the new vs vintage forum, but I believe this forum will better effectively answer this. Aside from the obvious strange choice of a non-matching seconds hand, what other details are different ("incorrect") when comparing the 2025 FOIS (sans strap or bracelet) to an original CK2998 (-4 presumably)? I've scoured photos of both the new and old references and I just haven't yet developed a keen enough eye for this task. If this has been answered elsewhere, I apologize in advance and would appreciate being pointed to the applicable thread.

Thanks very much.
 
bsowers34
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https://omegaforums.net/threads/hands-on-with-the-new-2024-omega-speedmaster-fois-first-omega-in-space.177129/ Cover Image
Thread 'Hands-On With The New 2024 Omega Speedmaster FOiS (First Omega in Space)' ·
2024 Omega Speedmaster FOiS on bracelet wrist shot
Almost four years ago, we announced that Omega...
Robert-Jan ·
Lots of info in this one.
 
bsowers34
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I love my 2024. Hard to read sometimes because the hands are shiny, but not a big deal.
 
bsowers34
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https://omegaforums.net/threads/celebrating-60-years-of-the-omega-speedmaster-becoming-nasa-flight-qualified.183445/ Cover Image
Thread 'Celebrating 60 Years Of The Omega Speedmaster Becoming NASA Flight Qualified' ·
60th-Anniversary-Speedmaster-NASA-Flight-Qualified.webp

As I landed in Zurich last Monday, I wondered what flying must have been like 60 years ago. Besides the cigarette smoke, one of the most significant differences would’ve been the...
Robert-Jan ·
Also this one, the Fratello article has a picture of his actual ck2998-4. Based on that I don't know why the new one has a sword second hand.
 
F
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I read the thread to which you sent me, and it's pretty much a love-fest for the watch, other than a few comments regarding the color of the lume and the seconds hand. Is it really that close to the original? (as with the bracelet, the commemorative text on the case back is excluded (obviously) from the analysis).
 
padders
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The quick answer is no its not a faithful copy but it is a homage to many of the things that Omega fans have been crying out for which were missing on the original FOIS and earlier vintage looking editions like the so called Replica model 3594.50. Omega aren't brave enough to ask £7K for a plastic crystal any more so a revised more domed sapphire crystal had to be a must. This was IMO a good choice. Longer dial indices and a step were also de rigueur. The lume colour will divide opinions. Some say it is faux aged, others a loving tribute to how radium fades. I have at times been on both sides of this debate.

My take is that if you want a faithful copy of a 2998, buy a 2998, the new FOIS2 is in many ways much more suitable for day to day use though so has many fans. I have an original Ed White and a FOIS2, a combo which ticks all the boxes I personally require, though a lollypop hand on the FOIS would have been nice (though it seems not faithful to the original). Incidentally from a utility POV, the white painted hands on the Ed are much more readable than the silver hands on the FOIS: there was a reason they changed the design in circa 1962. I don't have an issue with the mismatched sub hands, since I get that clearly separating the time keeping and chronograph functions has a use. It is a nod to the original FOIS so I guess that too is a look back, but a more recent one.

If you really want to drill down on 2998 versions, I'd suggest a good look at https://speedmaster101.com/ and also the book and app for Moonwatch Only.
Edited:
 
F
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That is an excellent reply and right along with my line of thinking. I thought of converting my 2012 FOIS into an Ed White, but if there's ever a rabbit hole to go down, it's that one. As for the new 321 Ed White, it has too many "upgrades," for my taste, especially the shape of the crystal and the ceramic bezel. So, I went and bought a 1966 105.003. While the latter is, well, the latter, checking the forecast before I head out with it and not venturing into a cold store on a hot day, or a warm store on a cold day, makes anything more than simply looking at it a challenge for a faint-hearted guy like me. My untrained eye tells me the new FOIS is the closest pre-moon ref. thus far (without lifting the hood, in which case an argument can be made for the Ed White), but I still want to know what makes the new FOIS fall short of being faithful. I simply can't tell beyond the most obvious (ie the seconds hand and case back tribute and perhaps the all steel pushers).
 
djmusicman
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I don't really like the 2025 FOIS. The fauxtina is too strong and doesn't make sense on a watch with a shiny sapphire crystal. I have the 321 Ed White. I have thought of "downgrading" it with a aluminium insert and a hesalite crystal. Then is would be close to a minty unpolished 105.003-64 (photo by Davidoff)

davidoff 105.003.64.webp
 
F
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You might be on to something there, and both of those mods would be easy to reverse.The first thing I noticed in the comparison photos is how small the numbers and indices are on the Ed White Bezel, and the crystal which reminds me of the 2012 FOIS in its shape. Question is, will an OEM DON bezel fit and could you avoid running into the same issues as trying to fit a hesalite crystal onto a 2012 FOIS?

In the last photo, the lume looks much less pumkin-y to me.
 
djmusicman
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F Freedom7
You might be on to something there, and both of those mods would be easy to reverse.The first thing I noticed in the comparison photos is how small the numbers and indices are on the Ed White Bezel, and the crystal which reminds me of the 2012 FOIS in its shape. Question is, will an OEM DON bezel fit and could you avoid running into the same issues as trying to fit a hesalite crystal onto a 2012 FOIS?

In the last photo, the lume looks much less pumkin-y to me.

The parts from the FOIS 2025 will fit the Ed White because the case is the same. And yes, same problems if you try to fit a hesalite crystal onto the ED White (otherwise I would have done it already)
 
Evitzee
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A bit of thread drift but if one wants an Ed White than one should buy vintage, I wouldn't try fitting a plasic crystal or aluminum bezel on a New 321 to make it more vintage-y. If the sapphire crystal, ceramic bezel, sapphire back and higher quality bracelet don't ring your chimes, go vintage. I wouldn't mix and match.
Edited:
 
djmusicman
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I’ve got both vintage and modern. Vintage has a lot of charm and the modern is more wearable everyday.

BC7DF54B-984E-4D35-843C-55C1A5D8A836.webp IMG_0234.webp
 
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