Flightmaster as a daily wear...plus other questions

Harriet · Nov 5, 2024

Hello everyone, this is my first post on the forum. I am hoping to dive into the rabbit hole of vintage Omegas, in particular the first generation Flightmasters.
I'm in the very fortunate position of being able to purchase for myself a watch that I would use as my daily, with restrictions, and appropriate respect, of course! No water, no gym time, would hate to chip a crystal on the weights rack!

Do you think a Flightmaster would be robust enough, bearing in mind they are now 50 odd years old? I have been wearing Seiko divers for years, and Speedtimers too which have served me very well but there is just something amazing about the Flightmaster.

A sub question for you too, please if I may...on the MK1 's, what were the clasp variants, if indeed there were variants?

Are the later versions with the running seconds considered more desirable? Is the movement better (stronger/more reliable)?

My search is beginning, and it has brought me here. Thanks in advance to anyone who might like to comment.

JwRosenthal · Nov 5, 2024

There are two of them in the sales section here.

I don’t own one, would love to have one- they appear to be door knockers though akin to the Soeedy MkIII. Can you wear them daily- sure. Thw question is, do you have shirts with a gracious enough cuff, jackets you don’t mind tearing up the sleeve and door frames you want to repaint regularly?

Harriet · Nov 5, 2024

Hiya, the gracious heft is something I really love about them!
I’m female but have always worn men’s watches, so actually loving the dimensions at least on paper!

TexOmega · Nov 5, 2024

All of the above is true, but how cool they look on your wrist overcomes these concerns for me. I wear mine every 3-4 weeks and as a daily wearer, I would say it is very robust for that type of wear.

ATWG · Nov 5, 2024

They can absolutely be worn as daily, I used to wear my 910 for years. The movement is robust and parts are readily available, so no issues with maintenance. They are wonderful watches and there is a great thread dedicated to FMs with wealth of information.

The larger question is wether your wrist will withstand the massive size and weight as a daily. They’re not the most comfortable watch, with age I have gravitated to smaller watches. I sparingly wear my 910/911’s and Anakin due to size.

Harriet · Nov 5, 2024

TexOmega
All of the above is true, but how cool they look on your wrist overcomes these concerns for me. I wear mine every 3-4 weeks and as a daily wearer, I would say it is very robust for that type of wear.

TexOmega, stunning example there! With my favorite clasp…do you know if this is the standard one?

Harriet · Nov 5, 2024

ATWG
They can absolutely be worn as daily, I used to wear my 910 for years. The movement is robust and parts are readily available, so no issues with maintenance. They are wonderful watches and there is a great thread dedicated to FMs with wealth of information.

The larger question is wether your wrist will withstand the massive size and weight as a daily. They’re not the most comfortable watch, with age I have gravitated to smaller watches. I sparingly wear my 910/911’s and Anakin due to size.

Thank you! Great to know they are robust and parts are available, super reassuring!

Makesbelieve · Nov 5, 2024

Hey Harriet, this watch is a real monster, and something that I would definitely recommend trying on before you make a purchase. As @JwRosenthal says it's so thick, and sits so proud of the wrist that it often comes in contact with door frames. That being said, as part of my watch rotation, I wear mine once or twice a month and love it... but it's not to everyone's taste. If you like the look of the flightmaster but have doubts about its size then a 'baby flightmaster' Ref. 166.090 might be more to your liking, it's a very different watch but might suit smaller wrists and is a much cheaper option. I've added a photo of both my flightmaster and baby flightmaster for comparison. When looking for a nice flightmaster, keep an eye out for an example with its case brushing intact and an original (non service) dial and outer 60 minute ring.

By the way, I'd never wear either of these at the gym... but that's just me.

https://www.watchfid.com/understanding-the-flightmaster-pre-series/

Harriet · Nov 5, 2024

Makesbelieve
Hey Harriet, this watch is a real monster, and something that I would definitely recommend trying on before you make a purchase. As @JwRosenthal says it's so thick, and sits so proud of the wrist that it often comes in contact with door frames. That being said, as part of my watch rotation, I wear mine once or twice a month and love it... but it's not to everyone's taste. If you like the look of the flightmaster but have doubts about its size then a 'baby flightmaster' Ref. 166.090 might be more to your liking, it's a very different watch but might suit smaller wrists and is a much cheaper option. I've added a photo of both my flightmaster and baby flightmaster for comparison. When looking for a nice flightmaster, keep an eye out for an example with its case brushing intact and an original (non service) dial and outer 60 minute ring.

By the way, I'd never wear either of these at the gym... but that's just me.

https://www.watchfid.com/understanding-the-flightmaster-pre-series/

Super watches here, the both of them!

TexOmega · Nov 5, 2024

Harriet
TexOmega, stunning example there! With my favorite clasp…do you know if this is the standard one?

A great Thread here on the Forum as mentioned above....

Yes, my bracelet/buckle was the first issued, #1159, but mine has the transitional end links # 172 instead of the first # 155.

The # 1162/172 bracelet came about a year after the flightmaster was introduced.

Thank you for your comments.

Harriet · Nov 5, 2024

Harriet
Super watches here, the both of them!

Makesbelieve
Hey Harriet, this watch is a real monster, and something that I would definitely recommend trying on before you make a purchase. As @JwRosenthal says it's so thick, and sits so proud of the wrist that it often comes in contact with door frames. That being said, as part of my watch rotation, I wear mine once or twice a month and love it... but it's not to everyone's taste. If you like the look of the flightmaster but have doubts about its size then a 'baby flightmaster' Ref. 166.090 might be more to your liking, it's a very different watch but might suit smaller wrists and is a much cheaper option. I've added a photo of both my flightmaster and baby flightmaster for comparison. When looking for a nice flightmaster, keep an eye out for an example with its case brushing intact and an original (non service) dial and outer 60 minute ring.

By the way, I'd never wear either of these at the gym... but that's just me.

https://www.watchfid.com/understanding-the-flightmaster-pre-series/

Thanks for the pointers re the non service dial, case brushing and original inner ring…last couple of evenings I have been trawling through eBay and Chrono24 to just look at what’s out there. Lots of nasties tbh, especially on the Bay.
Service dials up the wazoo, cases polished so there’s no brushing left…aftermarket pushers…

Harriet · Nov 5, 2024

And yes, the watchfid.com link is GOLD, thank you!

JwRosenthal · Nov 5, 2024

I appreciate your determination to remove paint wherever you go. Don’t negate the two that are for sale here (not affiliated). Both are from members of this forum and you don’t need 200 posts to DM a seller and start a conversation.
I personally am not a fan of the baby Flightmaster (aka Seamaster Lord Helmet). Part of the allure to these watches is the polychrome and all silver kind of negates the joy.
Keep up the research and keep us posted.

Harriet · Nov 5, 2024

JwRosenthal
I appreciate your determination to remove paint wherever you go. Don’t negate the two that are for sale here (not affiliated). Both are from members of this forum and you don’t need 200 posts to DM a seller and start a conversation.
I personally am not a fan of the baby Flightmaster (aka Seamaster Lord Helmet). Part of the allure to these watches is the polychrome and all silver kind of negates the joy.
Keep up the research and keep us posted.

Agree, there’s a certain playfulness amid the logic and legibility of the color which is maybe what attracted me in the first place…I was about to pull the trigger on a Ploprof but then “found” the Flightmaster. A different kind of heft but all the joyous color.
I am having the best time garnering knowledge and this forum is a trove.

JwRosenthal · Nov 5, 2024

The Speedmaster MK40 is another polychrome that’s very fun- I feel a modern interpretation on this theme.

It doesn’t have much love from the hard core vintage guys and some turn their noses up the modular movement. They were also cheap and chips until Hodinkee did a reissue colab and the older ones went through the roof. But they are reliable and fun and still worth a look.

Makesbelieve · Nov 5, 2024

JwRosenthal
I personally am not a fan of the baby Flightmaster (aka Seamaster Lord Helmet).

I don't know why but this comment sort of hurt my feelings... 😢

JwRosenthal · Nov 5, 2024

Makesbelieve
I don't know why but this comment sort of hurt my feelings... 😢

May the Schwartz be with you

qazwsx1 · Nov 5, 2024

I wear it once a month.😀

Pastorbottle · Nov 6, 2024

My Flighty has defiantly been through the wars, it has copped many a whack, without any problems. I wore as a daily for many years and it got knocked about all the time.
I even managed to knock large chunks out of the crystal on more than one occasion, once the crystal got damaged water got in, that was the only thing that stopped it, that and broke a few crowns and pushers over the years. but not bad considering the abuse it had.
(I've had it from new) I was @ 16 when I bought it, so still too young and silly to look after shit.
I suspect it would need to take a direct hit from a RPG to do any lasting damage.