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Breaking News: The New Steel Speedmaster With Caliber 321 “Ed White”

Evitzee
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Togri v. 2.0 Togri v. 2.0
Let us not forget that:

“For the Calibre 321 project, OMEGA utilised a dedicated team of experts who worked efficiently over two years and in total secrecy to bring the movement to life. The small group was composed of researchers, developers and historians, as well as the finest craftsmen and experienced watchmakers”

Furthermore they used that digital tomahawk cryptonite scan they told ud about in their press release. I don’t think they will let mere mortal watchmakers touch that piece. I estimate service will come with a premium over the normal 1861, probably around 13,000 CHF 😁
I think a Kira Rey Skywalker type will be needed to work on the 321. But how many of those are floating around?
 
cvalue13
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I have an admittedly pedantic twitch with all the comments saying the watch is “overpriced.” It seems a definitional issue.

It may be “overpriced” in the limited sense that the person uttering the comment only means THEY won’t pay for it.

But a single buyer’s opinion that THEY won’t pay for it does not equal the watch being “overpriced.”

And, I suspect that most saying the watch is “overpriced” would agree that Omega is very likely to sell every one of these produced, at MSRP - which (in the only meaningful sense) shows the watch is probably not “overpriced.”

Embarrassed to be so pedantic in this, but for a forum as sophisticated as OF it seems we could hold the line of saying what we really mean: “Omega will sell all of these at this MSRP, but not to me.”

Meanwhile, I just got off the phone with my AD who just received word that the procedure here (US) is to take a full deposit (including tax) to be in line for this watch, with no guaranteed/clear time for delivery of the unit.

I would have been the 6th person this morning to lay down a full deposit, which 6 units may represent the entirety of the units received by this AD in 2020.

In the market/economics sense that Omega cares about, the watch is definitely not “overpriced.”
 
jhross98
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Evitzee Evitzee
No they haven't, they have worked to get to the position that they can compete with Rolex on certain models. And once the few 321's hit the streets they will be sold via grey marketers for $23,000 or so, similar to the Daytona.

i'll take the under on this one. . .
 
Denarius
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Personally I can see asking prices for this watch and the whole drama around it like the Speedy Tuesday but ramped up by 10!
 
jhross98
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cvalue13 cvalue13
I have an admittedly pedantic twitch with all the comments saying the watch is “overpriced.” It seems a definitional issue.

It may be “overpriced” in the limited sense that the person uttering the comment only means THEY won’t pay for it.

But a single buyer’s opinion that THEY won’t pay for it does not equal the watch being “overpriced.”

And, I suspect that most saying the watch is “overpriced” would agree that Omega is very likely to sell every one of these produced, at MSRP - which (in the only meaningful sense) shows the watch is probably not “overpriced.”

Embarrassed to be so pedantic in this, but for a forum as sophisticated as OF it seems we could hold the line of saying what we really mean: “Omega will sell all of these at this MSRP, but not to me.”

Meanwhile, I just got off the phone with my AD who just received word that the procedure here (US) is to take a full deposit (including tax) to be in line for this watch, with no guaranteed/clear time for delivery of the unit.

I would have been the 6th person this morning to lay down a full deposit, which 6 units may represent the entirety of the units received by this AD in 2020.

In the market/economics sense that Omega cares about, the watch is definitely not “overpriced.”

we have no idea whether this watch is overpriced or not. 6 people putting their name down at one AD is purely anecdotal information that doesn't tell us anything either way

omega's modern history of watches holding MSRP is poor and i think getting worse not better--particularly in the last few years. they over-staturated the market with LEs after a few started trading at real premiums. its one way to go business wise but it won't help you then go to a higher price point with a steel chronograph

i personally think this watch will trade below MSRP within 24 months maybe sooner, but we won't really know until then whether they priced it right or not
 
Evitzee
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cvalue13 cvalue13
I have an admittedly pedantic twitch with all the comments saying the watch is “overpriced.” It seems a definitional issue.

It may be “overpriced” in the limited sense that the person uttering the comment only means THEY won’t pay for it.

But a single buyer’s opinion that THEY won’t pay for it does not equal the watch being “overpriced.”

And, I suspect that most saying the watch is “overpriced” would agree that Omega is very likely to sell every one of these produced, at MSRP - which (in the only meaningful sense) shows the watch is probably not “overpriced.”

Embarrassed to be so pedantic in this, but for a forum as sophisticated as OF it seems we could hold the line of saying what we really mean: “Omega will sell all of these at this MSRP, but not to me.”

Meanwhile, I just got off the phone with my AD who just received word that the procedure here (US) is to take a full deposit (including tax) to be in line for this watch, with no guaranteed/clear time for delivery of the unit.

I would have been the 6th person this morning to lay down a full deposit, which 6 units may represent the entirety of the units received by this AD in 2020.

In the market/economics sense that Omega cares about, the watch is definitely not “overpriced.”
You must be the first person to use the word 'pedantic' TWICE in the same post. Well played.

I would speculate that a couple of the first five watches reserved at your AD this morning are headed for the grey market at the $23,000-$25,000 price range. There would only be a few hundred pieces coming to the US each year (based on them getting 10% of the Apollo 11 watch), so that means less than one per dealer. You would most likely be waiting YEARS if you are no. 6 in line.
 
Archer
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Togri v. 2.0 Togri v. 2.0
Let us not forget that:

“For the Calibre 321 project, OMEGA utilised a dedicated team of experts who worked efficiently over two years and in total secrecy to bring the movement to life. The small group was composed of researchers, developers and historians, as well as the finest craftsmen and experienced watchmakers”

Furthermore they used that digital tomahawk cryptonite scan they told ud about in their press release. I don’t think they will let mere mortal watchmakers touch that piece. I estimate service will come with a premium over the normal 1861, probably around 13,000 CHF 😁

My best guess is they will dig up Breguet himself and maybe George Daniels for the servicing of these most exclusive and very complicated chronographs...🙄
 
gostang9
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Absolute home run for Omega (Swatch Group) on this one:
- simple and gorgeous design
- all the key elements for Speedy history buffs (AML, long indexes, DON)
- amazing looking (functioning?) bracelet
- price point that competes with vintage but gets Omega in on the action
- not an LE, just "limited" (if only as a marketing gimmick) by annual volume

Many OF members won't buy it, but there are many people who will.

Called it...
Omega Speedmaster Price Discrimination strategy.JPG
 
Evitzee
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Archer Archer
My best guess is they will dig up Breguet himself and maybe George Daniels for the servicing of these most exclusive and very complicated chronographs...🙄
Not needed yet, they have Roger Smith to call upon, and maybe FP Journe in a pinch.
 
KstateSkier
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Archer Archer
My best guess is they will dig up Breguet himself and maybe George Daniels for the servicing of these most exclusive and very complicated chronographs...🙄
Hey Al, what is so difficult about servicing a 321 movement (beyond the availability of replacement parts of course)? Surely someone of your experience has serviced many?
 
Archer
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KstateSkier KstateSkier
Hey Al, what is so difficult about servicing a 321 movement (beyond the availability of replacement parts of course)? Surely someone of your experience has serviced many?

Nothing...
 
zkramez
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queriver queriver
With a ceramic DON bezel. That should keep the hoarders of the original DONs onside.

HUGE FAN MUST HAVE IT!!!!!!!
 
GadgetGuy88
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No mention of the box on this one so far...wonder if that’s sorted out?

I was hoping for a Gemini capsule shaped holder and a box that resembles the hand-held propulsion unit that Ed used.

Re the grey market pricing: would you rather buy this watch for $25K or get a GMT-II?
 
lightspire
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Omega has set a 2.5x price premium and will keep supply scarce to 1. drive up demand and perceived value (following in the footsteps of Rolex) 2. allow ADs to charge full price and hide these special 321 Speedmasters in the back for their "preferred" clients - those who purchase additional watches or jewelry or otherwise. Regular walk-ins can buy the new 3861 Speedmaster or other regular Omega production models. It's the new watch game. The question is: do you want to play?
Edited:
 
SpeedyPhill
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Archer Archer
Nothing...
Be extremely careful though...
When it's a platinum 321 with stone-achondrite slices, from an unidentified lunar meteorite, glued to the dial as subdials...
 
kov
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GadgetGuy88 Jakemeister1000
No mention of the box on this one so far...wonder if that’s sorted out?

That's a good question. Hope it's not the same ridiculous packaging as the platinum one...
 
wsfarrell
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queriver queriver
The lume is patina-ed but we're seeing that a lot these days and it doesn't detract from the attractiveness IMHO.
It seriously detracts for me. Patina should be earned by long ownership, not bought.
 
Archer
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SpeedyPhill SpeedyPhill
Be extremely careful though...
When it's a platinum 321 with stone-achondrite slices, from an unidentified lunar meteorite, glued to the dial as subdials...

I'll just point out that the question was regarding a 321, which is a movement...nothing was said about the dial or anything else related to a specific watch.

I'm quite sure if I can remove the hands off a watch with a mother of pearl dial (with a very thin slice of extremely brittle MOP glued to the surface of the entire dial) without damaging anything, that removing hands off pretty much anything else is not going to be a problem mate. But thanks for your concern...😀
 
jhross98
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lightspire lightspire
Omega has set a 2.5x price premium and will keep supply scarce to 1. drive up demand and perceived value (following in the footsteps of Rolex) 2. allow ADs to charge full price and hide these special 321 Speedmasters in the back for their "preferred" clients - those who purchase additional watches or jewelry or otherwise. Regular walk-ins can buy the new 3861 Speedmaster or other regular Omega production models. It's the new watch game. The question is do you want to play?

i don't see why anything in omega's history says these watches will trade at 50%+ premiums to MSRP

its taken rolex (and patek) decades and decades to make their brands what they are today and every other watch company wants to be them--if it were just a matter of releasing a steel chronograph and limiting supply there would be far more examples of new watches above MSRP than patek and rolex SS models

i just don't think its that easy or that omega have the client base for it. but we shall see!
 
AntonisCy
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flw flw
I doubt it ... or at least I doubt that Omega is done with the NASA affiliation. With the Artemis program gaining momentum, I can't believe that Omega won't put a full court press behind the effort to get the Speedy back to the Moon in some configuration.

Doubt NASA will go with a mechanical watch. I have seen a lot of astronauts wearing a G-Shock on the ISS. Technically speaking a digital watch makes more sense. I expected to see the Approved by NASA insignia on this speedy to be honest. Wont be surprised if its absent from the standard watch coming out soon too.
 
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