Stop trying... it’s an emotional connection, not a logical one.

Just Enjoy.



Not a Speedmaster fan? I feel for ya....

 

I think this should be pinned.

 

Looking into the future.

FIFY

 

I knew I should have ™ or ® that title.

BTW, if I were still moderating I would have changed that title in a second. Urology might have been a better word IMO.

 

Bingo!

 

You should have put © and all your problems would be solved

 

Might be time for a top 25 speedmaster list.

A few nominations (in no order):

 

And..

 

While I don't have quite the same visceral reaction as Dennis to all the Speedmaster love, I do find it ironic that they have gained such exalted status in spite of a fundamental design flaw.

 

Out of all the Speedys that I’ve had a chance to own, I’ll nominate this one:

 

You mean that misplaced dot next to the 90 in the pre-moon models?

 

I would like a 101 from you with the history and variations on these.

 

Great idea! That's never been done...

 

No. I refer a much more fundamental flaw: there is no (design) distinction made between the chronograph functions and basic time functions.

This is not something that most buyers or collectors think about, as chronographs are almost invariably used today as fashion accessories, and not serious tools. But given that there was at least the pretence that watches such as the Speedmaster were originally designed to be serious tools, I cannot excuse what I consider to be such a fundamental flaw.

For the benefit of those who may not be clear about what I am talking about, consider, in contrast, that these Roamer Stingrays (left and right) feature red chrono hands that match the red chrono sub-dial hands, while the hour, minute and (sub-dial) second hands are all finished in contrasting colors. What that means, from a practical standpoint, is that at a quick glance, typically all that was possible when used under pressure (think auto racing in the case of the Roamer), the eye is immediately drawn to, and can quickly focus on the two or three crucial hands.



The understanding of the significance of separating the two basic functions was not lost on other companies, either, as you can see with this Movado. Although the stop-second hand is not red, it is a different color than the sub-second hand, and so a form of separation still exists.



There are many other examples and variations, and while my criticism may seem pedantic, I actually consider it to be fully justified in the context of a watch such as the Speedmaster, given how it has long been marketed as a serious tool watch.

 

In all fairness, they did correct this flaw on the Racing versions

 

Fie on thee, wretch. 'Tis pity that thou liv'st. To walk where any honest men resort.

 

@Tony C. the car races in the day, Le Mans and the like we're all so long the need for a red hand was not needed.

The 42mm in the day of 35-38mm was brilliance

 

Wait – you are arguing that chronographs were only used by drivers to record the final time of races?!

 

And the Alaska Project.