3592.50 advertised as “Apollo XI” but no Apollo XI engraving

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Hi Everyone,

I recently bought an Omega Speedmaster Professional 3592.50, serial 48.31x.xxx, with gilt 18-jewel cal. 863, tritium dial, 1479/812 bracelet and matching original papers.

The dealer advertised it specifically as:

“Omega Speedmaster Professional Moonwatch Apollo XI Full Set”

After receiving the watch, I realised that the caseback does not have the “APOLLO XI” engraving. It is the later Professional caseback execution, sometimes referred to in collector literature as the Professional Yellow variant.

The watch itself appears completely correct for this transitional period, so my question is purely about the terminology and collectability:

Would you consider it accurate to advertise this particular execution as an “Apollo XI”, or would you expect an “Apollo XI” 3592.50 to have the Apollo XI caseback engraving?

Also, assuming equal condition and completeness, do you see any meaningful difference in collectability/value between the Apollo XI caseback version and the later Professional Yellow version?

Interested to hear opinions from people who know these 3592.50 variants well.


Thanks!
 
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What is the full serial number? I can look it up if I have that...
 
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According to Fratello(https://www.fratellowatches.com/speedmaster-professional-caliber-863-reference-359250/):
""
Then, there’s also a 3592.50 with “Apollo XI” engraved in the case back, but not numbered. Omega knew how to confuse people back then (and even now). The 3592.50 with the “Apollo XI” engraving in the case back was used till 1995 for the unnumbered version. Then, in 1996, a new 3592.50 sees daylight. One with the same specifications, but without the “Apollo XI” engraving and with the new style bracelet (reference 1499, see above). Until this point, Omega used the famous 1479, and the 1450 and 1447 on the earlier (345.0808) models.
""

As far as value, I would think the 'numbered' versions would definitely hold a premium. For the non-numbered ones, MAYBE the Apollo X1 engraving has perhaps a slight premium? Enough that if I bought it EXPECTING the engraving, I'd be slightly miffed, but only slightly (and if I paid extra, I'd be extra miffed!).

That said, your bracelet being slightly 'mismatched' from what Fratello says is perhaps interesting, or there were transition models. IF you let Archer run your serial number, it would clarify exactly which year it is, which would help determine if it is a case-back swap, or the 1996 version.
 
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(Ack, I see you probably know all of what I posted, I looked it up in Moonwatch Only and see the "Professional Yellow" nomenclature).

As far as value... I think what I said above is about right?
 
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What is the full serial number? I can look it up if I have that...
the movement and original warranty card are matching and the serial is 48.314.9xx.
The card states ref. 3592-50.

What I am trying to establish is whether Professional/no-Apollo caseback + 18-jewel gilt cal. 863 + 1479/812 bracelet is a correct factory configuration for this serial range, or whether you would expect an Apollo XI caseback here.
 
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the movement and original warranty card are matching and the serial is 48.314.9xx.
The card states ref. 3592-50.

What I am trying to establish is whether Professional/no-Apollo caseback + 18-jewel gilt cal. 863 + 1479/812 bracelet is a correct factory configuration for this serial range, or whether you would expect an Apollo XI caseback here.
Archer can look up by your COMPLETE serial number to see exactly how it shipped, he has access to the Omega Extranet. So its probably worth providing him the whole number.
 
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the movement and original warranty card are matching and the serial is 48.314.9xx.
The card states ref. 3592-50.

What I am trying to establish is whether Professional/no-Apollo caseback + 18-jewel gilt cal. 863 + 1479/812 bracelet is a correct factory configuration for this serial range, or whether you would expect an Apollo XI caseback here.
Did you send the full serialno. via DM, if not help him help you.
 
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There's one for sale in the Private Sales section right now.... search around on the forum, and your answers await.
 
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I paid extra for matching numbers , box & papers and the really good condition. I am thinking to get some refund... I do not know what kind of value is reasonable. I want to keep the watch and wear it and obviously enjoy it. I am worried about the future value and if it will be hard to sell if there is no APOLLO XI. Generally watch is in great condition.
 
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I paid extra for matching numbers , box & papers and the really good condition. I am thinking to get some refund... I do not know what kind of value is reasonable. I want to keep the watch and wear it and obviously enjoy it. I am worried about the future value and if it will be hard to sell if there is no APOLLO XI. Generally watch is in great condition.
I spent a while checking out the value difference between these two, and can't really find any differences between the un-limited "Apollo XI" and the version without. The bracelet is the 'wrong' one according to Moonwatch Only, but Omega is nothing if not inconsistent in transitions 😀

Archer can give you some better idea of how it was initially shipped perhaps, but I don't know if there is any amount of refund that I could justify based on that being missing.
 
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I saw such post here which I assume has the orignal bacelet: