I've been to the Antiquorum viewing during lunch time today. The idea was to handle that collector grade Speedmaster Soyuz in the flesh...

Movement winding is a bit hard, bracelet links are super tight, dial and case are flawless... all the signs of a watch that has barely been worn, not even opened.

I felt priviledged to see that beauty in the flesh.... I wonder how much it will go for....

https://catalog.antiquorum.swiss/en...master-soyuz-lot-324-603?page=2&q=speedmaster

 

Wow. Nice watch.

 

So that skinny bracelet can’t be correct right? And is the starting bid really 40k chf, so 50k after premium? Lovely example

 

What's the provenance?

 

I'm not arguing that it looks to be in great shape, but there does seem to be quite a few scratches on the back of the lugs and a scratch on the top of the 7:00 lug, probably from the bracelet being removed and reinstalled. But then I again I'm a born skeptic, especially when it comes to claims of watches being unworn in over 40 years.

 

Yes that bracelet is correct for a Soyuz. It is the only ref hosting that bracelet actually. It looks like a Rolex oyster

 

I understand your doubts but I can tell you this is a barn find that is 100% legit...

 

Awesome example. Wow

 

The AS bracelet should be as wide as the endlinks on the last link (20mm). This one on auction is not.



https://www.fratellowatches.com/omega-speedmaster-apollo-soyuz-1975/

 

Very nice watch. Thanks for sharing!

Regarding the bracelet: As mentioned, the original Soyuz bracelet has 20 mm links. Same width as the 633 endlinks.

The bracelet 1168 has been used on many other references with different endlinks. Both as 20 mm and as 18 mm version.

Nice list:
https://omegaforums.net/threads/case-bracelet-endpiece-list.81618/

Edit:
And of course there is more in-house information (1168 for Geneve "Ancoretta" Diver)
https://omegaforums.net/threads/fro...ge-seamaster-and-speedmaster-bracelets.45883/

 

Interesting, thanks

 

Bracelet clearly not original. As posted above the 1168 is strange as it seems to have come in two iterations, with different widths on the final links.

The bracelet here is the narrower of the 2, seem on 18/19mm lug models, not the 20mm Speedmaster.

 

I've got a 20mm 1168 that I would gladly sell to the winning bidder for a mere 10% of the winning bid price.

 

I had a 20mm 1168 as well for quite a long time waiting to score one of these 1975 Soyuz watches, but I finally gave up, there was a really dry period for several years with only very bad put together examples out there. The few private offers I managed to get myself into all wanted world record $$$$ to part with their pieces. Curious that several have popped up again this year, I'd like to say it gives me hope but I mentally checked out and moved on. It will be fun to watch the auctions, I hope the buyers know what they are getting into and have done their due diligence.

 

It might not be the correct "textbook" width 1168 for the reference, but after handling the watch in person I can tell you that the bracelet is tight and just as crisp as the actual watch.
So either the wrong width was installed incorrectly at the factory, or whoever matched this incorrect width bracelet to this watch searched long and hand until they found a true near NOS one that would jive with the overall condition of the watch.
Regardless, the bracelet wouldn't slow me down even one bit from bidding on this one.
It's probably one of the best Soyuz out there, and it will go straight on a Black NATO so FTW....

 

It’s a prototype!

 

Were the bracelets even fitted at the factory, or at Di Marchi in Italy I wonder.

 

It's comestically very, very nice indeed. Now with an incorrect bracelet (it's the 18mm version as said above), one could question what else is being manufactured here to prop up the sale. For example, replicating this kind of lume is totally possible nowadays, correct?

 

If that was a relume I am sure ndgal would have spotted it and told us so. And if not, and it fooled him, then there would imho be none here the wiser.

 

can't agree more....