Community Stories

Does Anyone Know How Many Straight Writing Speedmasters Were Produced?

SPEEDYMARTIN
Posts
35
Likes
60
Hi there,

My SW FQ has a 3219XXX serial; but I dont have an EoA to validate when exactly it was produced. (Hope OMEGA will offer EoA soon)

P1850387.webp P1850218.webp P1850245.webp
 
befobe
Posts
1,483
Likes
9,318
Update ! 😁

145.022-69 SW ApolloXI seen on OF:

#1: 31313986 - March 8, 1971 (EoA) - Japan
source @pdxleaf : https://omegaforums.net/threads/doe...eedmasters-were-produced.166302/#post-2267557)

#2: 31006193 - ? ?
same source as #1

#3 : 31328143 - May 19, 1971 (EoA) - Japan
source @befobe : https://omegaforums.net/threads/doe...eedmasters-were-produced.166302/#post-2275319

#4: 31619XXX - July 2, 1971 (EoA?) - Japan
source @n-theory : https://omegaforums.net/threads/doe...ters-were-produced.166302/page-2#post-2282420

#5: 31006222 - ? - ?
source @OneTwo : https://omegaforums.net/threads/doe...ters-were-produced.166302/page-3#post-2296651

#6: 31313536 - March 10, 1971 (EoA) - Japan
source @pdxleaf : https://omegaforums.net/threads/doe...ters-were-produced.166302/page-4#post-2297470

#7: 31622096 - ? - ?
source @pdxleaf : https://omegaforums.net/threads/doe...ters-were-produced.166302/page-4#post-2297471

#8: 31317410 - March 1971 (EoA?) - Japan
source @Ron_W : https://omegaforums.net/threads/doe...ters-were-produced.166302/page-4#post-2297479

#9: 31637332 - July 1, 1971 (EoA) - Japan
source @abrod520 : https://omegaforums.net/threads/ome...raight-writing-apollo-xi.110430/#post-1517971

#10: 316????? - July 1971 (EoA?) - Japan (?)
source @queriver : https://omegaforums.net/threads/straight-writing-eye-candy.111341/#post-1469490

#11: 31622878 - July 1, 1971 - (EoA) Japan
source @pdxleaf : https://omegaforums.net/threads/doe...ters-were-produced.166302/page-4#post-2302889

#12: 2960???? - July 2 , 1972 (Warranty-sell date) - Japan
source @Ron_W : https://omegaforums.net/threads/doe...ters-were-produced.166302/page-4#post-2325777
* particularity : has a DON ! *

#13: 31?????? - July 2 , 1971 (EoA) - Japan
source @pdxleaf : https://omegaforums.net/threads/doe...ters-were-produced.166302/page-4#post-2325836

#14: 31313984 - August 3, 1971 (EoA) - Japan
source @amphib44 : https://omegaforums.net/threads/doe...ters-were-produced.166302/page-4#post-2328094

#15: 31622115 - japanese paper (1975?)
Source: @Ron_W on ch24
https://chrono24.app/omega/omega-sp...ers--id37897801.htm?SETLANG=fr_FR&SETCURR=EUR

*************************************************************************
#10, #13 and #15 could be doubles, but pics seem let think they are not
*************************************************************************

#?? : no serial, only 1 pic of the back - ? - ?
source @ortope : https://omegaforums.net/threads/doe...eedmasters-were-produced.166302/#post-2268079
 
Ron_W
Posts
1,103
Likes
2,106
Thanks !
and that year 1975 is doubtful indeed, the Japanese translater has it April 16th 1950 ! on that paper.
 
M
Posts
477
Likes
853
Ron_W Ron_W
Thanks !
and that year 1975 is doubtful indeed, the Japanese translater has it April 16th 1950 ! on that paper.
The document pictured is a warranty claim card, not a warranty card.
The warranty claim card is to be filled out by the purchaser and submitted to the dealer, who will later send the warranty card.
It contains the personal information of the original purchaser.
Perhaps the purchaser stated it and left it as it was.
The date is written in Japanese era name. The year is Syowa 50, so the year is 1975 in the Western calendar.
Also, the date says the date of purchase.
Edited:
 
Ron_W
Posts
1,103
Likes
2,106
M mountainunder
The year is Syowa 50, so the year is 1975 in the Western calendar.
Great explanation, thanks ! Did not know about that diffferent calendar - obviously 🙄 . So very cool to have the original owners paper with it, and i am very surprised that must have sat in a shop window for + 3 years.
 
pdxleaf
Posts
5,386
Likes
18,756
Looks like there were three batches of serial numbers. Just a guess, but it might show that SWA11 were built with movements from bins that came off of the assembly line at the same time, as opposed to being made of anything between 31006193 through 31637332.

Of course, there are too few samples to make any conclusions but it is interesting to see clumps of serial numbers thus far, especially as it has been said there were only 300 or so SWA11s.

31006193, 31006222

31313536, 31313984, 31313986, 31317410, 31328143

31619XXX, 31622096, 31622115, 31622878, 31637332
 
SpeedyPhill
Posts
6,370
Likes
11,769
Great caseback Speedmaster ( insert " Popcorn eating " gif here )
 
Ron_W
Posts
1,103
Likes
2,106
Another FQ SW #31625xxx with a story to weaken the heart as i visited that village a few times ...

"Bought from its first owner in Luxembourg, this Speedmaster was given to him by his mother and grandparents, on the occasion of his first communion in 1973. The watch comes with its original papers, a copy of period photographs where we can see the Speedmaster, Omega service papers and a letter explaining its provenance. "

Apollo Straight writing FQ 31625xxx.webp
 
Ron_W
Posts
1,103
Likes
2,106
And another FQ SW #321947xx and the price looks decent but the dial seems to have lost all its lume unfortunatly, or a bad picture ? Maybe the Flat link bracelet with nr 16 `s !! is also worth a shot ?

SW FQ 321947xx.webp
 
Ron_W
Posts
1,103
Likes
2,106
pdxleaf pdxleaf
31313536, 31313984, 31313986, 31317410, 31328143

31619XXX, 31622096, 31622115, 31622878, 31637332

If we take 70% of these batches dedicated to Speedmasters chronographs, the rest for Seamaster and De Ville, you would have 10224 for the first and 10665 for the second batch ( from 31622096 ) as total SW Speedmasters production from 1970 to 1973/4. If that is fair assumption i am not surprised you see them pop up so often.
 
pdxleaf
Posts
5,386
Likes
18,756
Ron_W Ron_W
Wowwww....

But they come in al shapes and prices 😄 this seller states ;
The daily error is about 30 seconds
It is a movement that maintains perfect accuracy

sw3162.webp
Filthy dust cover but correct 1116 bracelet and pretty good caseback. What's the dial look like? That's a good price.

Original paperwork?
 
tigertom
Posts
78
Likes
280
First batch (MK1 or pointed „A“ type), movement nr. 30.596.760, delivered to Argentina on October 10th, 1970. Coincidently equipped with 220 bezel 😉

IMG_2205.webp IMG_2741.webp IMG_4902.webp
Edited:
 
Ron_W
Posts
1,103
Likes
2,106
tigertom tigertom
(MK1 or pointed „A“ type)
MWO does not make that type distinction, just shows 3 different fonts for the SWA11 - 3 producers or the engraving tool broke down at least 2 times ? so i am not in favor of calling it MK1, 2 or 3.

Your movement number is a 1970 production but delivery in 1970 or 1971 ? Either would not be with an SW caseback. MWO writes "deliveries were postponed waiting for NASA permission for using their name" and production of these caseback is mentioned as 1971. It could be your watch was delivered later and Omega made use of whatever was lying around still and then the 220 bezel would be a left over one in 1972 when the SW caseback was mounted ?
So for me the 220 bezel is not the coincidence here ( in line with the movement nr ), but the caseback is.

You have an anomaly, and an attractive one !, but it is not the most logical combination of parts.
 
35 More Posts...
Sign up or log in to reply...

Similar threads

skspeedandtime

Does anyone know how many of these 44.25mm Moonwatch "Numbered Edition" enamel dials were made?

skspeedandtime Modern Omega Watches
skspeedandtime
skspeedandtime
Posts
0
Views
2K
Marsimaxam

Does Anyone Know How Many Omega Speedmaster Transitionals Were Manufactured

Marsimaxam Vintage Omega Watches Help, Discussion and Advice
Enchanted
Enchanted
Posts
12
Views
4K