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Insight on “Japan-exclusive International Collection”

ShWood
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Hello the forum, hope everyone is safe and well.

My question: I have seen a few vintage (circa 1990s) Omega Speedmasters for sale that claim to be from the “Japan-exclusive, International collection.” What does this mean? Is it a real thing? If so, are these watches deemed a lesser model of the Speedmaster? They seem to be less-expensive in many cases. Thanks for your help.
Edited:
 
ShWood
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watchyouwant watchyouwant
And ? What does your own research show? Let us know.
My own research only yields a lot of these watches for sale. No details. Is there anyone on the forums that actually wants to help? Pretty sure that’s implied in the title of this forum directory.
 
ShWood
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ShWood ShWood
My own research only yields a lot of these watches for sale. No details. Is there anyone on the forums that actually wants to help? Pretty sure that’s implied in the title of this forum directory.
Yep, just double checked the title: “Vintage Omega Watches Help, Discussion and Advice”… no mention at all of snobby or snarky responses.
 
Scarecrow Boat
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ShWood ShWood
no mention at all of snobby or snarky responses.
Not to be snarky, but I googled "omega speedmaster japan exclusive edition" and the second link (below the Chrono24 ad & link) was :
https://www.watchbooksonly.com/articles/watch-reviews/the-japanese-limited-editions/
And a couple links below that one was
https://wornandwound.com/coolest-strangest-omega-speedmasters-japan/

The reason you got your above response is because it was quite simple to put your own question into google and yield a response. Yes, this forum is for discussion and advice as you have pointed out, however, there are many members on here that appreciate when someone seeking advice shares what they have learned in addition to asking for more help.

ShWood ShWood
What does this mean? Is it a real thing?
Japan has a huge watch market and Omega is is quite popular. Japan has seen a number of limited editions, as you will find in my link above. If you have question on a specific watch authenticity, it is best to either include a watch you are looking at or reach out to our valuable watch maker member or Omega with the serial number for a reference check. For example, the MITSUKOSHI - The dial and hands for this LE were largely available for purchase and many people bought them to convert their standard Speedy into one. Obviously, this conversion would be a mod and not be the real deal, and the serial number will back this up. There are likely just as many, if not more, modded Mitsukoshi's available than original. So, to round off my example. You will need to do your due diligence to figure out if what you are purchasing is in fact real.

ShWood ShWood
If so, are these watches deemed a lesser model of the Speedmaster?
If you are asking if a Japan exclusive model is lesser than any other Speedy... absolutely not.
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ShWood
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Thank you for such a comprehensive answer. Appreciate your time.
 
tyrantlizardrex
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ShWood ShWood
Hello the forum, hope everyone is safe and well.

My question: I have seen a few vintage (circa 1990s) Omega Speedmasters for sale that claim to be from the “Japan-exclusive, International collection.” What does this mean? Is it a real thing? If so, are these watches deemed a lesser model of the Speedmaster? They seem to be less-expensive in many cases. Thanks for your help.

Hey @ShWood,

If you're seeing "Japanese" Speedmaster models that are less-expensive than other Speedmaster models, the watches you're finding are probably either Speedmaster Reduced (Auto) or Speedmaster Date (Auto).

The Speedmaster Professional models (full size, manual wind) that were sold exclusively in Japan tend to have quite a high premium attached.

And over the last few years, the prices being asked for Speedmaster Reduced and Speedmaster date models have crept up (no matter which market they were originally sold in).

Assuming again, that the watches you reference are either reduced or date models - then it is fair to say that some collectors see these as "lesser" than the professional model. And some other collectors love them.

Either way, when you're trying to compare Speedmasters sold in different markets, for sanity's sake it's best to try and compare apple to apples, and oranges to oranges.

A Speedmaster Professional is not the same thing (specification/size/movement/price) as a date/reduced.

Good luck. 👍
 
ShWood
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tyrantlizardrex tyrantlizardrex
Hey @ShWood,

If you're seeing "Japanese" Speedmaster models that are less-expensive than other Speedmaster models, the watches you're finding are probably either Speedmaster Reduced (Auto) or Speedmaster Date (Auto).

The Speedmaster Professional models (full size, manual wind) that were sold exclusively in Japan tend to have quite a high premium attached.

And over the last few years, the prices being asked for Speedmaster Reduced and Speedmaster date models have crept up (no matter which market they were originally sold in).

Assuming again, that the watches you reference are either reduced or date models - then it is fair to say that some collectors see these as "lesser" than the professional model. And some other collectors love them.

Either way, when you're trying to compare Speedmasters sold in different markets, for sanity's sake it's best to try and compare apple to apples, and oranges to oranges.

A Speedmaster Professional is not the same thing (specification/size/movement/price) as a date/reduced.

Good luck. 👍
 
tyrantlizardrex
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ShWood ShWood
Good to know! It is a Speedmaster Date… Thanks very much!


I had this version (which is supposedly Japanese market… but I’ve not seen anything that really confirms that one way or another). They also made a black dial version.

B7253B1E-B2B9-4FC5-BCED-21C61AEDAB50.jpeg
 
efauser
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These are a few Japan market Speedy Dates

ST 175.0043
Speedmaster Automatic "Date" steel case with leather strap, white dial (3811.20) or pink dial (3811.60) and special edition for the Japanese market with yellow dial (3811.12.00) and burgundy dial (3811.61), then blue laquer dial (3811.81) since 1995

DP 175.0043
Speedmaster Automatic "Date", steel case with leather strap, rose gold bezel, special edition for Japanese market (PIC 3717.50)

DP 375.0043
Same as above but with bracelet , special edition for Japanse market (PIC 3317.50)
These and many more Japan edition are listed here, too. http://www.chronomaddox.com/omega/tables/mr/20050105_speedy_table.htm

IMG_2274.JPG 856586-ef9f582e5e8ed12d11ecaf694d8b5072.jpg
 
MikeMan2727
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ShWood ShWood
My own research only yields a lot of these watches for sale. No details. Is there anyone on the forums that actually wants to help? Pretty sure that’s implied in the title of this forum directory.

A fairly common response from this member. Best to ignore.

watchyouwant watchyouwant
And ? What did your own research tell you ? Let us know.

watchyouwant watchyouwant
Tell us , what your research showed and come back with that.
 
Foo2rama
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MikeMan2727 MikeMan2727
A fairly common response from this member. Best to ignore.
Hey Mike how often do you help people? I don’t see it. Whereas the person you are calling out is very free with information if the poster has shown some basic research and shared what they found.
 
MikeMan2727
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Foo2rama Foo2rama
Hey Mike how often do you help people? I don’t see it. Whereas the person you are calling out is very free with information if the poster has shown some basic research and shared what they found.

Not sure how my post history or amount of time spent on OF has anything to do with being consistently unpleasant to new members.

I feel like I have been pretty open about sharing my collection and information about watches that I find. And I have done this without being rude or sarcastic.
 
Foo2rama
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MikeMan2727 MikeMan2727
Not sure how my post history or amount of time spent on OF has anything to do with being consistently unpleasant to new members.

I feel like I have been pretty open about sharing my collection and information about watches that I find. And I have done this without being rude or sarcastic.
I didn’t comment on your post count, or time here. Nor did I comment on you sharing your watches.

I commented about you helping people with questions. Which I don’t recall you doing much.

when people ask for help, it’s considered common courtesy to share what you have already discovered. 1 to show your trying yourself, 2nd so we know what you know or are confused about.

The OP basically asked for a dump of all info on Japanese LE’s. Why should we do that for someone that is just going to bail and didn’t brake thier own time to attempt to research?

@watchyouwant very often helps people that come here with questions, and generously gives up his time and hard earned knowledge to people.
 
eugeneandresson
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ShWood ShWood
“Japan-exclusive, International collection.” What does this mean?

To me that’s an oxymoron. It’s like when the Flat Earth Society state ‘The Flat Earth Society have members all around the globe’…

I realize that doesn’t help 😀
 
rkman11
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Foo2rama Foo2rama
Hey Mike how often do you help people? I don’t see it. Whereas the person you are calling out is very free with information if the poster has shown some basic research and shared what they found.

I don’t have info to add on this particular thread’s question, but I do have info to add about how helpful Mike has been. To me, many times over the years, and I know the same is true for other members. Sharing information, helping find parts, weighing in on purchases, watchmakers, all of it. Disagree on this thread all you want, but to call out Mike for being anything less than an asset to members of this forum, that’s just incorrect.
 
Foo2rama
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rkman11 rkman11
I don’t have info to add on this particular thread’s question, but I do have info to add about how helpful Mike has been. To me, many times over the years, and I know the same is true for other members. Sharing information, helping find parts, weighing in on purchases, watchmakers, all of it. Disagree on this thread all you want, but to call out Mike for being anything less than an asset to members of this forum, that’s just incorrect.
I never said he was not an asset. I was saying before he criticizes and belittles someone who helps lots of people for how they help people he might want to help more people himself. That is all I said. I never insulted him, he insulted someone else.
Edited:
 
rkman11
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Foo2rama Foo2rama
I never said he was not an asset. I was saying before he criticizes and belittles someone who helps lots of people for how they help people he might want to help more people himself. That is all I said. I never insulted him, he insulted someone else.

I never said you insulted him, I said that he does help people. Me and other members I know. I saw him help often which is why I originally started PMing him with purchase questions.You said that’s not something you’ve seen. You said that in two different replies, and I’m telling you that’s incorrect.
 
jumpingsecond
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I think its okay to help people asking for help without having to school marm them. Ymmv.
 
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