Does Anyone Know How Many Straight Writing Speedmasters Were Produced?

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- Their contact at the Omega Museum stated that there were around 100 SW A-11 examples produced.
...

I have no reason to doubt them. What is strange to me is that there are so many available out of a batch of 100 produced. In the last year, I saw four for sale in Japan (two I bought, the first one sold when I found a nicer one.) Even if there were 300 like the MWO suggests, you'd think they'd be more scarce.

It'd be nice to see what info is available in the Omega archives and an explanation for how they determined 100 units. If this was in fact a special order from Japan, it seems reasonable to hope that there would be a paper trail of sorts, as it would be a fairly significant change in physical production. Any correspondence at all between the broker, any invoices?

These conversations between museum representatives and enthusiasts all seem credible, but I imagine something like a casual greeting at an event or party where someone says "hey, I've been wondering, how many of those did they make?" It would be very interesting to be able to havevthe opportunity to meet a museum rep and to speak to them in person, but just to hear them reply with a number without the backup for how they know is still frustrating.

I guess some people are never happy no matter what you do. 😁

Thanks for sharing. Sounds like a fun event.
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Edit: off topic a little. Looking at that SW A-11, it is nice, but is it "mint", which is how db describes it?

At first glance, it doesn't look mint to me. I think mint means "as delivered new from the factory." But here are dealers who are experts and who have seen in person more watches than I'll probably ever see in my life who describe a watch that looks more used as mint.

My take away is that descriptions can be a bit arbitrary but also that we need to temper our expectations of museum quality perfect specimens to reality. It seems that sometimes what we expect as buyers doesn't reflect reality. The other take away is never use the word mint. Excellent is good enough.

"CONDITION REPORT: Overall excellent condition. The dial and hands are mint as well as the case and bracelet."

From the website:
Edited:
 
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Waouh x100?... 'm surprised too. Surprised to see quite often A11 with EoA confirming Japan and 1971.
But I would be happy to believe this 😁.
 
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SW A-11:
- Their contact at the Omega Museum stated that there were around 100 SW A-11 examples produced.
I hoping I’m not remembering the figure incorrectly but I did reach out to them to double check. Either way I’m trying to learn more about these references so I figured asking for the clarification couldn’t hurt.

Even if there were 300 like the MWO suggests, you'd think they'd be more scarce.
Totally agree, at 300 I’m surprised at how often I see them come up for sale.
 
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And 31317410 , march 1971, unfortunately not in a good shape so i had to pass on it.

 
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Let's count precisely
SW Ap11 listing:


1: 31313536 - March 1971 - Japan
2: 31622096 - ? - ?
3: 31328143 - May 1971 - Japan
4 :31317410 - March 1971 - Japan
5: ?
 
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Let's count precisely
SW Ap11 listing:


1: 31313536 - March 1971 - Japan
2: 31622096 - ? - ?
3: 31328143 - May 1971 - Japan
4 :31317410 - March 1971 - Japan
5: 31313986 - March 1971 - Japan [see https://omegaforums.net/threads/doe...eedmasters-were-produced.166302/#post-2267557]
6. 31006193 - [ See same as above]
7. 31619XXX July 2, 1971. [https://omegaforums.net/threads/doe...ters-were-produced.166302/page-2#post-2282420]
8. 31006222 [see davidoff bros above]
9. 31637332- July 1971 - Japan [ see https://omegaforums.net/threads/ome...raight-writing-apollo-xi.110430/#post-1517971]
10. ?

A few more here but no s/n. https://omegaforums.net/threads/straight-writing-eye-candy.111341/

https://omegaforums.net/threads/straight-writing.64002/
Edited:
 
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to a 100 ... well we could get to a 100 straight-writing "service casebacks" for sure !
 
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This one showed up on ebay from a Japanese seller with sale date july 1972. So maybe not crazy popular if it sat in the window shop for a year ?

 
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This one showed up on ebay from a Japanese seller with sale date july 1972. So maybe not crazy popular if it sat in the window shop for a year ?

It has DON, which is unusual. Interesting to see the dealer.
Adding a caseback photo for the archives


Also this other A-11 (also from Japan and movement number is obscured)
 
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Super interesting and informative thread. I've owned (and sold) a few of these. All at serials in the 31.61X.XXX to 31.62X.XXX range with July 1 or 2 delivery to Japan. My most recent is 31.619.XXX, delivered to Japan on July 2, 1971. At home with my BA 😉


Just wanted to put into the thread an image of a Flight Qualified Straight Writing also produced on 2nd July 1971, which believe shows these were both produced in parallel.
 
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Let's count precisely
SW Ap11 listing:


1: 31313536 - March 1971 - Japan
2: 31622096 - ? - ?
3: 31328143 - May 1971 - Japan
4 :31317410 - March 1971 - Japan
5: ?
 
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From @Ron_W :
11. 31?????? - July 2 , 1971 - Japan

From @amphib44 :
12. 31313984 - August 3, 1971 - Japan

From the beginning:

1: 31313536 - March 1971 - Japan
2: 31622096 - ? - ?
3: 31328143 - May 1971 - Japan
4 :31317410 - March 1971 - Japan
5: 31313986 - March 1971 - Japan
6. 31006193 -
7. 31619XXX - July 2, 1971 - Japan
8. 31006222 -
9. 31637332 - July 1971 - Japan
10. 31622878 - July 1, 1971 - Japan
11. 31?????? - July 2 , 1971 - Japan
12. 31313984 - August 3, 1971 - Japan

(7 and 11 are not the same, based on pics)

13. ?