When I first saw the new Basel FOIS, I really liked it...
Not necessarily a must have for me, but one to consider...






Then, thumbing through the moonwatch only book... I find this :


Limited to 40 pieces, exclusive to the Japanese market, released in 1997 to celebrate 40 years of Speedmaster ....
The "Golden Panda"

I still don't know what I think of this....
My initial reaction is disappointment...

 

I like the original FOIS better than the new one personally. It certainly does look a bit uninspired along side that Japanese LE.

The new FOIS is not something that will be on my wrist me thinks. If anything from Basel 2015, it would be the '57.

 

The milking of the Speedmaster is not going to end any time soon....it's Omega's bread and butter.

 

The one nagging issue I have with watches that are updated is that I am often left torn between wanting the original version and up dated one. I was having this dilemma with the Omega Bullhead, but in the end I decided that when I have saved enough money I am going to go with the modern one because I like it more.
In general I also think it gives people the chance to buy a model that they might not have been able to buy because of rarity, silly prices, or in the case of speedmasters, both. A case in point being the '57.

 

I think I would have had more respect for it had they called it " the Golden Panda - Re-release"...

I have no problem with the '57, the Broad Arrow, SM300, or the Globemaster - all modernized re-editions...

But this seems like they were trying to get away with something...
to offer this watch , call it a First omega in Space" and not even mention a near Identical watch produced almost 20 yrs ago seems wrong.

Especially when the Original Golden Panda was not meant to commemorate the space connection, but the birth of the Speedmaster - which was a racing watch. This design was later adapted into the Schumacher Special edition, which to me highlights the Racing feel to it.

I like the Watch, I just think that it "feels wrong"... the Ultimate "paint job"..

of course how many people even know or care about the Golden Panda... so it is a non-issue to most...but none of those people are on this forum...

 

I'm working on it...

 

I'm not a fan of two tone watches but i did quite like the new straight lug this year and I agree, it's dissaponting to find out that it's at least partly, a rehash of an older design.

However, a bigger disappointment for me is the fact they completely overlooked the anniversary of Ed Whites EVA. Everything was there; the FOIS case and dial, the normal batton hands, the nasa style strap that comes with the new speedy pro and having seen what they did with the snoopy caseback, they could've done an amazing job with a mission patch caseback.

I guess the marketing pull with Apollo 13 is just too strong.

 

When given a choice between a modern reinterpretation/re-issue at silly money and a real deal vintage version at silly money I would always go with the vintage choice. Two reasons: style and capital depreciation.

 

A YG cased Speedmaster just feels wrong to me..

 

Sorry but no. Nice box though

 

Tools shouldn't be made of gold. Speedmasters are tool watches, so they should no more be made of gold than a hammer or drill.

 

To each his own...but I have to agree with Dennis!

 

how about this kind of golden hammer pants that is....

 

Going back to the yellow panda re-issue I think we should slowly rid ourselves of the impression that Omega and other mid-high level brands are run by horological Jedis that hold the force and truth in their hands. These are global watch companies with huge international sales quotas to fulfill. If they could sell a "dark side of Ed Whites shorts" (limited edition of course) they would.

Uninspired , yes, but as long as the 0,s keep adding up on the right side of the dot they're going to keep at it, as they always have. But every now and then they hit the target in such a way that it resonates beyond the board room. We just have to wait for those times and enjoy the ride.

 

Hey...Have I mentioned I'm still really bitter about this little slight to Gemini 4?

 

I don't usually look too hard at the new offerings from Omega.

Is the two hashes per second a recent development or specific to this watch?
I assume it's a purely aesthetic decision, and one that won't affect the timing of 99.99999% of owners, but it's beginning to look a little odd to me.