Which of the Pre-Pro 321's do you prefer and why?
105.012-65 with it's two-step case and history as the first Omega on the moon?
105.012-66 CB with its faceted lugs?
145.012-67 for it's place as the last c.321 and shorter production?
I think the 66-CB is still my favorite, but the 65 is a close second.

 

Rather than use memory I'll wait til I can check the vault. Snow storm rolling in, so likely won't get to them for the next few days...or so

 

What do you mean by two step case? the caseback?

 

Two step case at the top, single step at the bottom. Single step first came in on the 105.012-66 I think

 

105.003 closely followed by the 105.012-66.

I love the straight lug speedmasters. The subtlety of the case holds an edge over the twisted models models Imo. Couple this with the space connection and its a winner for me.

Similarly, I find the CB cases are the most attractive of the twisted lug cases.

Saying all that, I now keep having my head turned by 2998's so all this may change....

 

Understood.

Well if the 105.012 is the "real" Moonwatch, i still need one of the them. I do like the CB Case too for its speciality.

 

I'll confess I am the only guy in the entire galaxy that does not prefer the straight-lug Pre-Moons! Hence the "professional" qualifier.
If this were a survey of all pre-moon Speedies, I suspect the ol' twisted-lug, crown-protectin' variety might get overlooked completely!

 

Aha, only the professional 321's?

105.012-66 for sure!

 

I'm partial to 145.012-67, but, I would LOVE to have a straight lug pre-pro.

 

105.003 for me. Love the straight lugs, prefer the stick hands to the 2998.

 

The 105.012 reference was the only confirmed reference on the moon, and has an interesting NASA influence in its development, and indeed as it was first produced in 1963 the modified case to protect the crown and pushers must have been an early idea, much earlier than the moon landings.

So it has an interesting if cloudy early history as well as a very strong NASA connection.

Then there is the considerable changes through the production run, exhibiting dial changes as well as two case manufacturers and two caseback designs.

So as an anorak "completist", I could spend all my time and money just on this reference and have a varied collection.

Luckily, for the moment, my anorak has some deeper pockets.

 

As a student of design, I am absolutely fascinated by the product design development aspect of the Speedmaster. From the 2915 all the way to the 145.022, the Speedmaster went through a whole lot of rapid (relatively speaking) improvements (and that is subjective if functionality is not the main criteria). From the 2915 with its hard to read tachymeter, cumbersome hour hand that could block concise chrono reading to the 105.012 with its its white stick hands, black rehaut ring and subtle surface differentiation to perfect its legibility, the Speedy line has a very linear evolution and thus make it very collectible to me. I guess what I am trying to say is that I am having a really hard time picking a vintage favorite. Plus almost no two are alike as demonstrated from Spacefruit's pick above. That said, I don't have much interest on most of the modern pieces but that is a whole other thread.

Ok, so I am not going to cop out on this. IF I must pick just for the sake of this thread, I will have to pick the 105.003. I think the size and symmetry is just perfect for me and super legible, it is that simple. Thanks for letting me ramble on. Now that there are a contingent of bikers here I like this forum even more.

 

Early 105.012-63 or 105.012-66 CB case

 

I did kind of cop out, didn't I? Just went back to the OP and saw that 105.003 was not a choice...If I must pick from those 3, I will pick the 105.012-66CB because I like the short pushers and the faceted lugs.

 

Ya know, I didn't even mention the 66 HF case. Nothing wrong with it. No two step case back, looks like a 67 with old hands (presuming original). Just doesn't seem to have a stand out quality to it.
Other than the fact it is simply another example of one of the greatest wrist watches in history,...

 

Just to nitpick, none of these are Pre-Pro.

 

True. I used to be fluent in Speedmasterese as recently as a year ago. Now I bust in here showing off my fancy nicknames, and get 'em mixed up!
I'm slowly building up again for a Speedy. I have been distracted by Hamilton and their irresistible prices (my last one cost $499 new/old stock for a 7750 chrono!) I may even get sidetracked by a member of the Omega family in the automatic tree (cal. 104x, x=0, 1, or 5). I always get ahead of myself! And I know I'm not alone here

 

I guess OP means pre MOON.

 

Yes, seems everyone understood that. I just wanted to stir it up a bit.

 

Pre-moon with caliber 321 to be precise.