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SoyuzPilot
·A couple of members drew my attention to this piece coming up for auction tomorrow. Thank you both.
https://www.osenat.com/en/lot/148153/25810289-omega-speedmaster-apollosoyuz
It is described as number 441, with serial number 35,580,643.
As has been discussed here many times, the first 400 of the Apollo-soyuz issue (000-399) were fairly analogous, produced in April and May 1976, based on a standard 145.022 with serial numbers in the range of 39,180,900 - 39,181,400 (at least those from my research of 50 or so examples).
The next batch of watches, stamped 400-499 have been recorded on many different serial numbers, in fact all that I know are earlier than the standard range. There are batches in the 31m, 32m & 35m. This one has a close relative in number 499 on serial 35,580,648. Most extracts for this batch of watches, that I have seen, don't mention them as Apollo-Soyuz, but I have seen one that has. There doesn't seem to be any difference physically with the first batch apart from the serials, however I've not seen any 400s with the 5.5m pushers, hence the cases and pushers may be standard 145.022s. This auction doesn't mention the pushers.
So this one could be a bona-fida 400s issue. However, the dial!!
The dial on this one looks very different from everything else I've seen. The A-S logo and, in fact, the printing in general looks rather think and heavy. The font on the OMEGA logo is different, without serifs, and a shorter proportion, and the numbers are also different, in particular the 3 on the chronograph hours subdial. Also, the T SWISS T font is smaller than standard, and is not found in that size on any moonwatch that I know. So the dial just looks wrong to me, perhaps re-painted or just not original, it's not clear.
The bezel is not original to a 1976 A-S; It is the later 145.022 version, used from 2004 onwards, with the dot under the 70, and between the 1 and 9 or 190 (thanks MWO). Whilst it may have been swapped on service, I haven't seen any Apollo-Soyuz examples with this later bezel, but of course, it's possible.
Hope this helps anyone looking at this. Shame I didn't see this coming up when I was in Paris last weekend, I would have liked to see it in person.
https://www.osenat.com/en/lot/148153/25810289-omega-speedmaster-apollosoyuz
It is described as number 441, with serial number 35,580,643.
As has been discussed here many times, the first 400 of the Apollo-soyuz issue (000-399) were fairly analogous, produced in April and May 1976, based on a standard 145.022 with serial numbers in the range of 39,180,900 - 39,181,400 (at least those from my research of 50 or so examples).
The next batch of watches, stamped 400-499 have been recorded on many different serial numbers, in fact all that I know are earlier than the standard range. There are batches in the 31m, 32m & 35m. This one has a close relative in number 499 on serial 35,580,648. Most extracts for this batch of watches, that I have seen, don't mention them as Apollo-Soyuz, but I have seen one that has. There doesn't seem to be any difference physically with the first batch apart from the serials, however I've not seen any 400s with the 5.5m pushers, hence the cases and pushers may be standard 145.022s. This auction doesn't mention the pushers.
So this one could be a bona-fida 400s issue. However, the dial!!
The dial on this one looks very different from everything else I've seen. The A-S logo and, in fact, the printing in general looks rather think and heavy. The font on the OMEGA logo is different, without serifs, and a shorter proportion, and the numbers are also different, in particular the 3 on the chronograph hours subdial. Also, the T SWISS T font is smaller than standard, and is not found in that size on any moonwatch that I know. So the dial just looks wrong to me, perhaps re-painted or just not original, it's not clear.
The bezel is not original to a 1976 A-S; It is the later 145.022 version, used from 2004 onwards, with the dot under the 70, and between the 1 and 9 or 190 (thanks MWO). Whilst it may have been swapped on service, I haven't seen any Apollo-Soyuz examples with this later bezel, but of course, it's possible.
Hope this helps anyone looking at this. Shame I didn't see this coming up when I was in Paris last weekend, I would have liked to see it in person.
