Antiquorum Hong Kong on April 21, estimate $56-81,000

They say the case is a prototype made in '69 -- and the movement serial backs that up -- but it seems to have an Alaska II (1973) bezel and an Alaska III (1978) radial dial....



(picture borrowed from Antiquorum Swiss' website)

 

Would be interesting to know when that extract was issued. Could it be one of the old ones?

 

”Extract of records” is pre 2010 imo.

 

Yeah looks like the old format, therefore fairly meaningless. Might still be a genuine prototype but a new extract would reassure buyers I would think.
Potentially a very interesting Speedy.

 

Yes very!
I’m sure they (and the owner of such a piece) are aware of the old extract and will or have ordered a new one, will be interesting to see if they’ll update the listing.

 

Hmm, says "prototype case" but doesn't specifically call out if it is made by Star.

 

@SpeedyPhill , this one has my bezel!

Man, that is a Grail of a watch.

 

Lots of questions though.

 

What's up with the lack of cutouts for the crown & pushers? Doesn't resemble the Star cases I've seen photos of... (I am not knowledgeable of these prototype Speedmasters, just observing)

 

If I remember correctly this is @SpeedyPhill's wishes for the Apollo 11 50th I could do this...

 

Wow. I'd like to see the newer Extract also.

 

HF case, not USA Star case (that was later)

 

Hey guys,

We are familiar with this one since we had borrowed it for our exhibition back in 2015 and had listed for sale shortly after, but was then returned due to a change of heart by owner. The watch is most likely an assembly of ‘prototype’ parts (dial, case, Minutes bezel) as we mentioned in our book (see photo). The word prototype was one we were a little concerned to use in our book and still not sure if this classifies as we can’t be certain of the configuration vs the parts. There is no record of the movement as far as we know, so that is pretty mysterious as well. The caseback is a regular 145.022-69 caseback, HF stamped. However the case band is larger than normal at 44mm and visible as it covers the crown. There is a number engraved by hand on the back of the lug, but we never found out what it meant. The most alluring part of the the watch for us was the bezel to be honest. That bezel is just sooooo cool and never seen one in the wild since!! Radial dial and the mysterious large case actually look pretty cool together. I think the value here is most likely the sum of parts and how unique it looks vs an actual documented prototype (Star case Radial sold at Phillips last year). Hope this helps.

Cheers,

Sacha

 

Very cool!

 

In 1968 Omega introduced the caliber 861 movement (145.022-68) and started brainstorming with NASA engineers to build the ultimate spaceflight chronograph. This resulted in the first Alaska Project timepiece with white dial, 2 Gemini-capsule like subdial hands and Tachymetre bezel in 1969...
Although the 60-minutes bezel had been used by that time (be it with submarkers on SeaMaster 120 & 300), it appeared on the Alaska II project in 1972. The Alaska II project also came with the sublime radial dial with all numerals the right way up, and 3 Gemini-like subdial hands.
NASA photos reveal that astronaut Alfred Worden at least wore a regular dial SpeedyPro with 60-minutes bezel since May 1971, for at least 3 months before the Apollo 15 J-mission.

The (?) "prototype" (145.022-69) listed by the topic opener certainly looks unique bringing some questions with it;
Although parts (bezel, dial,...) can be easily replaced, I would finally like to find out when this 60-minutes bezel was used for the very first time on a SpeedyPro (? May 1971) and same question for the radial dial (? September 1972)...

 

As far as we discussed with Jim Ragan from NASA, he requested 60 min bezel because tachy totally useless for his astronauts.
NASA initially rejected Alaska project due to high costs, they didn’t ask Omega to come up with these designs and simply because they were satisfied with their regular production watches. Except for bracelets, they threw those all away!!

Lastly, in 1978, the Alaska III Black Radial was approved, but with limitations of Buy American act (no Swiss made on dial and US made matte-finish star case) even if assembled in Switzerland.
Of course, these were delivered without bracelets!

The 60 minute bezel, strangely, never made it into the production of those star cases in 1978.

The 3 known prototype Alask Project white dial (non-Radial) date to 1970 (note 220 Bezel and archives extracts) and refused by NASA. So, it stands to reason that 60 minute bezel was developed between 1971-1972 as you mention.

Why NASA never got Minutes bezels on their watches, remains a mystery.

Lastly, we also discussed with Mr Ragan that in 1970, NASA & Omega had a rocky year. First, NASA press relations office was not happy they hadn’t been consulted about NASA mentions on Speedy caseback (straight writing) and texts had not been pre-approved. The result in the following year was the ‘No NASA’ caseback 145.022-71 during a waiting period for approval by NASA of texts that would be on the caseback mentioning NASA. It was all worked out, but there was an awkward moment there.
Also in 1970, the Speedmaster was considered to be dropped by NASA for a cheaper American alternative and was proposed for re-certification, but this also worked itself out.

Our opinion on dates:
White dial w/ red case = 1970
White Radial w/ 60 min bezel = 1971
Black Radial Star Case = 1978

 

@DB1983
Very informative reply, didn't know about the waiting period for approval by NASA of caseback texts.

Also: Why NASA never got Minutes bezels on their watches, remains a mystery.
Well Apollo 15 astronaut Al Worden mentioned these bezels cost about US $ 75.00 in those days, an important percentage of the complete watch retail price

 

Looks awesome, I am curious why is pre2010 extract meaningless?

 

they would put info on the extract provided by the applicant...

 

Thank you.