This is a long read but worth it. It comes from an extract thread earlier in the forum. Take a deep breath then read.
Dear Mr Hannover,
We have indeed produced all movements of cal. 321 from 1940 until 1960 = total units: 40’800 - when “freezed”, then the movement number was already engraved on each movement plate.
Therefore, the movements were used as required until 1968 when the replacement calibre 861 was gradually introduced. In other words, we had delivered “old” cal. 321 watches at the same time of the “new” references having the new cal. 861. This explains why certain movement numbers were not in “ sequence”.
The only reason for a change of calibre was due to the fact that any repair of the cal. 321 was extremely time consuming - hence, the production of cal. 321 was stopped in 1960 and this calibre was used-up until the replacement cal. 861 was ready for manufacturing; a entire new concept of production had been made and the actual cal. 861 is much easier to repair, without having lost anything of its high chronograph quality.
The movement number cannot be delivered as a continuous sequence and might have been delivered without taking into consideration “when” they were produced. Basically, we never had a continuous numbering of the movements for cal. 321 - a “package” of numbers was then assigned to the production lane, without taking into consideration when they have been produced.
As a matter of policy, the indicated date is the date of shipment of the complete watch and not its production date.
Hope this is now clear for you !Have a nice day
John R. Diethelm
OMEGA MUSEUM - Vintage Information
OMEGA SA
RUE STAMPFLI 96
2500 BIENNE 4
SWITZERLAND
T. +41 (0)32 343 97 04
F. +41 (0)32 343 98 70
I got more curious and wanted to know, it the cases was then also produced over a longer periode, and if the year indication on their back could therefor by wrong. This appeared to be the case, judged from comparing actual watches with the belonging certificate I could receive from Omega.
The conclusion was, that the cases were not necessarily used in accordance with the year indicated on their back.
Once again mr. John R Diethelm was very helpful.
Dear Sir,
We have following information about the production of cases for the OMEGA - Speedmaster:
Thecasesfor the “Moon watch” have not always been produced at the same time as the watches were produced, therefore, you might find in 1968 cases having the ref. 145.012-68 if they have been supplied in the year 1968…otherwise you might find some “older” cases with the reference +145.012-66 ( -67) fitted with a movement having been produced later…
Therefore, the production year of the CASE is not always identical with the production year of the movement or even of the complete watch delivery time.
Best regards
John R. Diethelm
OMEGA MUSEUM - Vintage Information
I could also notice, comparing certificate and watch of a pre.pro reference 105.003 that this was not produced in 1965 as stamped on the case-back, and that it was actually not sold untill 1967, after the introduction of the Pro model
This lead to more questions, not about this reference, and once again the people at Omega were helpful and could tell med, that they had reference 105.003 in their archives as late as 1968.
I finish of with mr.Alain Monachons of Omega´s explaination about the specificproductiontime of reference 105.003
Dear Mr. Hannover,
We are happy to here that you are so interested in the 321 caliber and the “Speedmasters” which used it.
To answer your questions the -65 in the case back refers to the date of manufacture of the case and not the watch as a whole.It is often the case that a large series of cases are made and then used for several years after.
The production date of November 1967 for your watch is correct andwe have found examples of the 105.003 on the archives as late as March 1968.
We have also recently found another set of archives which allow us to tell exactly which dial was fitted to the watch upon delivery and it would appear that the 105.003 was never delivered with the word “Professional” printed on the dial. This was reserved for the .012 series of watches with re-enforced asymmetrical case.
Hopefully this information clears up your questions.
Best regards,
Alain Monachon
OMEGA MUSEUM - Vintage Information
OMEGA SA
RUE STAMPFLI 96
2500 BIENNE 4
SWITZERLAND
T. +41 (0)32 343 92 71
F. +41 (0)32 343 98 70
