Advice on Speedmaster / reduced

J jim o'hara

hi all,
first time post - having just sold my Rolex Sub (as was offered double what I paid 7 years ago!!), im considering a used Speedmaster
I dont have the largest of wrists (c7 inch), so was considering a reduced/automatic as they are referred to
I know about the difficulty in servicing, but thats not a concern for me
what's confusing me, is the many different versions that came out - some referred to as a '40', then 'double date', then the standard one which looks more like a shrunken Speedmaster Pro
i.ve also seem some with, what looks like, 'yellowish' hour markers, giving a nice patina, then seen some of the same watch, without the yellow markers

I was wondering if there was a site, a database, or an expert on here that could shed some light on this model
also, I would probably wear on a leather strap, as im not a huge fan of the steel ones
thanks in advance
Jim

J jim o'hara

hi all,
first time post - having just sold my Rolex Sub (as was offered double what I paid 7 years ago!!), im considering a used Speedmaster
I dont have the largest of wrists (c7 inch), so was considering a reduced/automatic as they are referred to
I know about the difficulty in servicing, but thats not a concern for me
what's confusing me, is the many different versions that came out - some referred to as a '40', then 'double date', then the standard one which looks more like a shrunken Speedmaster Pro
i.ve also seem some with, what looks like, 'yellowish' hour markers, giving a nice patina, then seen some of the same watch, without the yellow markers

I was wondering if there was a site, a database, or an expert on here that could shed some light on this model
also, I would probably wear on a leather strap, as im not a huge fan of the steel ones
thanks in advance
Jim

the_vintage_ad

Step one honestly is looking at a Professional one and a Reduced in real life. People tend to set the 42mm Pro aside because of it's diameter but the Reduced wears bigger IMHO.

Big_G

Seamaster 321

Badwolf

For comparison. I don't have big wrists.

Donn Chambers

I have smaller wrists than you and have worn a regular sized Speedmaster Pro easily. If you wore a Sub, you can easily wear a Speedy Pro. Get it (or one of the slightly smaller variations like the First Omega in Space or 60th Anniversary edition) any day over the old automatic versions.

Archer

The only model you mentioned that is actually a Speedmaster e=reduced is the "standard one which looks more like a shrunken Speedmaster Pro", and the others are all Speedmaster date models.

The Speedmaster reduced uses a modular chronograph movement, and it has no date. The other models are based on the ETA 7750, and your servicing options are much more varied with those, then with the reduced. If I were choosing between these models, it would be a Speedmaster date model of some kind every time.

TheGreekPhysique

I was in a similar boat. My wrists are much smaller than yours and initially I had wrote of the speedy pro as a watch I would always love from afar but was never for me due to its 42mm size. After trying one on in person I changed my mind. Sure its big but IMO not to the point where I felt it looked ridiculous. When I tried it on my wife felt the same way. I am starting to believe a watch being "too big" or "too small" based on wrist size is more in our heads than anything. Here is a photo for reference. Again my wrists are MUCH smaller than yours.