I had all the same thoughts until I actually bought one and wore it for a few days. Then I sold it.

 

If you collect Omegas, a reduced should not be missed. If it fits your wrist, it’s a great watch to wear. You get a great watch for a small money. If you only can afford one watch, I would stay with the real Speedmaster. But there is nothing to say against a great reduced automatic

 

If the 'reduced' was a dog...

 

Look at his eyes, don't you think this would be lovely and honest friend?

 

I've got 3 watches with that hybrid D&D module movement. I found a watchmaker that would service them and they are running fine. I enjoy wearing them because 1) the 38mm size is almost perfect for me 2) I think they look fantastic. I think I'm going to buy a yellow Schumacher next.

 

Size did it for me too, but then I started wearing a Heuer with a 36mm ⌀ well over 4 decades ago. It took some persuasion that 38mm would be OK. Don't care automatic or not, those decades have been spent winding my watch every day I was going to wear it.

There was a worry it might be too busy for a long-term Carrera wearer's taste, but I like the Reduced much more than I thought I would, and so would like publicly to thank all the detractors for saving me money

 

Depends if there is any Terrier in the ancestry. Looks can deceive. When I was a teen we had a Whippet / Terrier cross. Not deliberate, his mother could climb garden walls I couldn't. The looks and speed of a Whippet and the bad-ass attitude of a Terrier!

 

If that someone is that watchmaker it does mean something. At least with my watchmaker (he is the person who talked me out of it).

Is that red one a reduced? Must admit it does look great.

 

I can only assume you're thanking the group for a job well done.

 

If it were a cat...

 

That's not a cat, it's a squirrel wearing disguise it borrowed from Inspector Clouseau!

 

It's a perfectly nice watch and, IMO, anybody with a specific concern about it being "too small" might have some other issues going on. As far as servicing costs go, I had a 3510 (3220 Cal.) overhauled by my local independent jeweler in 2009 or 2010 for $270.

 

Although that’s quite a few years ago, that is VERY inexpensive for a full chronograph service. When I see a price like that, it makes me wonder if only the base 2892 portion of the movement was serviced, and the chronograph module was simply removed and set aside, and put back on after the base movement was done.

I would suggest anyone using an independent watchmaker for these ask clear questions about the scope of the service, because only servicing the base movement is only 1/2 a service.

Cheers, Al

 

Is there a specific reason why servicing aspect of Reduced is so looked down upon? Parts availability or just working on them is tougher? I'm curious to know what the price range is for them for a full service from both Omega and independent watchmakers.

 

Not to mention every time someone puts price reduced Speedmaster on their pre moon FS makes it look like Speedmater Reduced.

 

Things vary depending on the market, but yes parts are not easy to get, and the movement is a pain to work on. Even when serviced properly, they can have hands that wiggle around or move when the chronograph is started, etc. and those are things that a fully integrated chronograph typically will not have.

As has already been stated in this thread, Omega charges the same price for the reduced as they do for any chronograph service. I don’t work on them personally so I can’t say what an independent charges for a full and proper service. If the Watchvault guy says he gets them done for the same price as any other chronograph by his local guy, maybe he can tell you the costs...

In many Omega service centres (like here in Canada) they don’t service these, but instead send the movement back to a central facility in Switzerland for service, and puta completely refurbished movement in your watch that was previously removed and sent in from some location around the world. So you won’t get the same movement back in your watch.

Again if people like these, that’s great. Just understand what you are buying before you jump in.

Cheers, Al

 

Thanks, Al. Makes sense now.

 

When I was first looking to buy a Speedmaster, I was thinking about the automatic. Then I came here and decided against it.

I must say, I am definitely happy with the decision!

 

Well done OP, you've blown the lid on the great Speedmaster Reduced market manipulation scheme. The bad-mouthing of the Reduced is to keep prices down while the insiders quietly buy them in the shadows. When set, they'll get the media on board to hype the Reduced and, in the blink of an eye, it'll become the next big thing. Prices will skyrocket like a Silver Snoopy strapped to the side of a Saturn V and they plan to make a killing selling them to the unsuspecting. It'll make the Speedmaster LE flipping game look like a kindergarten sport. Expect the bubble to start inflating after the Apollo XI 50th hype is behind us. Now you know, make sure you keep this on the quiet.

BTW, beware, there is a slight risk the scheme won't work. The insiders actually LOVE their Reduced's so they're torn between selling for profit and holding as treasured collectibles.