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KstateSkier
路Maybe a set of these are in your future?
Can't read the time on my Speedmaster 3507!
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alam
路
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kurtj29
路Yes, I'd like to comment. Get that freakin' watch off that stuuuuuupid NATO!
What? You can't be serious. I just spent $$$ on the real Omega version. It feels much, much better than the standard $10 NATO. Why the dislike for the NATO? I think it is good looking. (Man, I seem to be making all the wrong decisions with this watch...)
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cimo
路It is your watch and you are of course entitled to do with it what you like.
But if legibility is such an issue that you find you cannot adequately tell the time, maybe there is another watch you would like better instead? It seems to be a big investment of money and energy to source new hands and have them installed just to risk finding out you don't like them any better. Now you would have a watch in non-original condition that would possibly be harder to sell.
I think it looks great as is. See if you can get used to it. If not, then perhaps a different reference may be in your future.
But if legibility is such an issue that you find you cannot adequately tell the time, maybe there is another watch you would like better instead? It seems to be a big investment of money and energy to source new hands and have them installed just to risk finding out you don't like them any better. Now you would have a watch in non-original condition that would possibly be harder to sell.
I think it looks great as is. See if you can get used to it. If not, then perhaps a different reference may be in your future.
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kurtj29
路It is your watch and you are of course entitled to do with it what you like.
But if legibility is such an issue that you find you cannot adequately tell the time, maybe there is another watch you would like better instead? It seems to be a big investment of money and energy to source new hands and have them installed just to risk finding out you don't like them any better. Now you would have a watch in non-original condition that would possibly be harder to sell.
I think it looks great as is. See if you can get used to it. If not, then perhaps a different reference may be in your future.
Good advice, I think you are right. Thanks. I do see many different references in my future. 馃榾 Now getting the boss to buy into that is another issue.
Due to this, I have taken off my list the Apollo-Suyuz Meteorite dial Speedy, the Apollo11/Mitsukoshi Panda watches. But I have added the beautiful broad arrow two tone BROAD ARROW CO-AXIAL CHRONOGRAPH 42 MM Steel - red gold - my gosh that is incredible...
Edited:
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cimo
路Good advice, I think you are right. Thanks. I do see many different references in my future. 馃榾 Now getting the boss to buy into that is another issue.
Due to this, I have taken off my list the Apollo-Suyuz Meteorite dial Speedy, the Apollo11/Mitsukoshi Panda watches. But I have added the beautiful broad arrow two tone BROAD ARROW CO-AXIAL CHRONOGRAPH 42 MM Steel - red gold - my gosh that is incredible...
It might just be a case of getting acclimated to a new watch. In a few days you might not even notice. Otherwise, the watch world is a forgiving one. I'm sure someone would be happy to take that monstrosity off your hands 馃槈
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VetPsychWars
路I'm not a fan of broad arrow because the minutes register is almost completely obscured during what I think is an important part of the day, centered around 3pm. Caused me to change to something else because I was using the chrono.
Tom
Tom
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oddboy
路This. I'm sure it shows my age, but I always consider how easy a watch is to read before I buy and my speedy is easy to read for a chrono. I wouldn't spend the money to switch the hands and then have to probably spend the money to switch them back before you sell it on (seems watches in their original state sell better here from what I have observed). The reason I started looking for a new watch which led me to this site which led me to the speedy was because my 50 yr old eyes had a hard time reading my Citizen Skyhawk Titanium. It is a great watch but not easy for me to read.
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Flingit1200s
路Mine would be around 15 years old so, yep, that probably considered vintage for a Citizen! 
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Civilguy007
路I just got a Speedmaster 3507.51. I love the watch, the design, everything about it - except under most lighting conditions it is very hard to read the hour/minute hands. They are metal and blend in to the dial. Would it be a high crime against humanity and all things Omega to source a broad arrow set of hands and replace the hands currently on the watch? Ofrei seems to have the hands. I have a local watchmaker who says they can do it. Comments? Is this a problem with all metal handed non-broad arrow speed masters?
See below the 3507 sporting the new Omega NATO strap. (Really nice)
I feel your pain as my 50+ year old eyes struggle with my Speedy FOIS (and that's with corrective eyewear). Here it is under ideal lighting conditions...
And here is a shot with its Professional siblings.
Note that I did not take this picture with the intention of displaying the poor visibility of FOIS hands...just a random sample.
For comparison, the Railmaster also has metal hands, but I've never had legibility issues with it...so your "non-broad arrow" theory could be valid.
As others have advised, I would not mod it unless you have the means to get it done and to take a loss when you sell it.
Sent from my XT1254 using Tapatalk
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kurtj29
路I feel your pain as my 50+ year old eyes struggle with my Speedy FOIS (and that's with corrective eyewear). Here it is under ideal lighting conditions...
As others have advised, I would not mod it unless you have the means to get it done and to take a loss when you sell it.
Sent from my XT1254 using Tapatalk
Wow, you basically have broad arrow hands on that FOIS. That is a great set of pictures and comparisons. I think this forum has "talked me off the ledge". I am going to keep the watch as is. I believe I was little "spoiled" shall we say by my Rolex Polar Explorer II which is hyper-readable - probably one of the most legible watches out there. I am learning to work with the Speedy and I have learned to maybe shift my wrist a little to catch the light and that works really well. Otherwise the watch is beautiful - I will be keeping it. I really like it, and am learning how to live with it and most importantly learning to really like it. Thanks to everyone on the forum.
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kurtj29
路So, finding broad arrow hands is proving a little more difficult than I thought. Any advice? Anyone know what the compatible Broad Arrow hands for the 3507.51 with a 3301 movement? Recommendations on a Seattle watch maker?
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Civilguy007
路So, finding broad arrow hands is proving a little more difficult than I thought. Any advice? Anyone know what the compatible Broad Arrow hands for the 3507.51 with a 3301 movement? Recommendations on a Seattle watch maker?
Sent from my XT1254 using Tapatalk
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kurtj29
路
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kurtj29
路Still playing around with the Broad Arrow idea. In dealing with this situation I have found I really like the broad arrow Speedmasters. Worked something up on Photoshop. I really like it with Broad Arrow hands. It has to help visibility.
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arkstfan
路This might be sacrilege but if you are going to replace the hands (keeping the original) rather than broad arrow consider seeing if you can source suitable hands that are orange or even something in the bright green color. You need contrast more than anything to help it be more readable.
Ditto @ulackfocus suggestion to ditch the NATO, it's too busy for a dial that has a lot going on. A nice leather strap would show off the watch better.
Ditto @ulackfocus suggestion to ditch the NATO, it's too busy for a dial that has a lot going on. A nice leather strap would show off the watch better.
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kurtj29
路Thanks arkstfan. I have the OEM bracelet, the OEM Omega NATO strap and 3rd party black and brown leather straps. I have had the watch for 3 weeks now and have only worn the NATO strap for 2 days. Interestingly - the only comments I have received on my new watch were when it was on the NATO strap. One guy even pointed to the strap and told me he loved the strap and wanted to know where I got it. That's kind of funny.
I love the look of the Broadarrow Speedmasters so I am thinking that switching out the hands would be an aesthetic and legibility improvement. The current hands are just too small IMO. I just first need to find the hands, which is proving challenging and then a trusted watch maker to do it.
Anyone have suggestions on finding the hands?
I love the look of the Broadarrow Speedmasters so I am thinking that switching out the hands would be an aesthetic and legibility improvement. The current hands are just too small IMO. I just first need to find the hands, which is proving challenging and then a trusted watch maker to do it.
Anyone have suggestions on finding the hands?
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kurtj29
路So it looks like I may have found some hands. I also was able to purchase red hands for the chrono and the subdials. Which of the 2 versions do you like?
