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Is It Time For A New Omega Speedmaster? What About A New Mini-Moonwatch?

Robert-Jan
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and-Steel-and-Moonshine-Gold-and-Steel-High-Res-12.webp

Last year, Omega treated us (Speedmaster enthusiasts and collectors) to a generous selection of new models. The brand introduced the white-dial Speedmaster Professional, a new Speedmaster FOiS, two bicolor Moonwatch variations, and the Speedmaster Pilot. And let’s not forget about the first introduction in 2024, the Speedmaster Dark Side of the Moon Apollo 8 update. […]

Visit Is It Time For A New Omega Speedmaster? What About A New Mini-Moonwatch? to read the full article.
 
ErichKeane
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IMO all of the smaller speedy watches lost the proportions of the Speedmaster, or messed with it some way. There were quite a few where the flat bezel was done as a downturned bezel, which removed one of the sharpest/most iconic parts of the speedmaster.

The closest to me was the late-80s/early 90s Reduced (as shown in the article), but the subdial spacing was pretty awful and ruined the shape of the watch. Additionally the internet-rumors of "its just a chrono bolted onto the front of a normal movement, so service is impossibly expensive!" was harmful to it.

IMO, if they could get the subdial spacing right, that Reduced could be really popular.
 
padders
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ErichKeane ErichKeane
IMO all of the smaller speedy watches lost the proportions of the Speedmaster, or messed with it some way. There were quite a few where the flat bezel was done as a downturned bezel, which removed one of the sharpest/most iconic parts of the speedmaster.

The closest to me was the late-80s/early 90s Reduced (as shown in the article), but the subdial spacing was pretty awful and ruined the shape of the watch. Additionally the internet-rumors of "its just a chrono bolted onto the front of a normal movement, so service is impossibly expensive!" was harmful to it.

IMO, if they could get the subdial spacing right, that Reduced could be really popular.
Rumors? That pretty much sums up the movement used in the Reduced. It was in my view an expediency to make a cheap baby Pro but a cut corner too far. Plenty of other manufacturers who should know better have done the same it must be said. I’ve seen Tag, Hamilton, Gucci, Breitling, Cartier etc with compound movements like these. None have a great rep, well perhaps the Chronomatics have their fans I’ll admit.

I sincerely hope that is one aspect of the Reduced which remains in the history books.
 
ErichKeane
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padders padders
Rumors? That pretty much sums up the movement used in the Reduced. It was in my view an expediency to make a cheap baby Pro but a cut corner too far. Plenty of other manufacturers who should know better have done the same it must be said. I’ve seen Tag, Hamilton, Gucci, Breitling, Cartier etc with compound movements like these. None have a great rep, well perhaps the Chronomatics have their fans I’ll admit.

I sincerely hope that is one aspect of the Reduced which remains in the history books.
Rumors, in that I have no personal experience, and not heard it from an authoritative source. Not saying it that way to DOUBT it is the case, just to show I don't have evidence of it.
 
apsm100
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ErichKeane ErichKeane
IMO all of the smaller speedy watches lost the proportions of the Speedmaster, or messed with it some way. There were quite a few where the flat bezel was done as a downturned bezel, which removed one of the sharpest/most iconic parts of the speedmaster.

The closest to me was the late-80s/early 90s Reduced (as shown in the article), but the subdial spacing was pretty awful and ruined the shape of the watch. Additionally the internet-rumors of "its just a chrono bolted onto the front of a normal movement, so service is impossibly expensive!" was harmful to it.

IMO, if they could get the subdial spacing right, that Reduced could be really popular.
My 95' reduced was my first speedy in 2019.
I think I paid around $1000usd with bracelet. Looking back at the photos, it was darn near mint.
I oddly miss it though I couldn't wait to upgrade to a pro.

IMG_9815_Original.webp

I think the subdial spacing isn't as bad as people make it out to be, it's just a little cramped.

Omega could bring it back.
Edited:
 
pdxleaf
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Personally, if I wanted a reduced size Speedmaster I'd get another Speedmaster Day-Date 3520.50.
omega-speedmaster-day-date-35205000-0969ab.webp

They aren't a mini-moonwatch, but I don't think there's a big market for a reduced moonwatch.

This mark 40 triple calendar is a great wearing watch. With a Valjoux 7751 based automatic movement, it's not a modular like the aforementioned reduced. The calendar features are surprisingly easy to read, once you adjust to them being on a Speedmaster. And the bracelet is solid feeling but with enough play to be comfortable on the wrist.

Hard to imagine an improvement over this in a new Omega smaller Speedmaster.
 
dscoogs
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Went to the recently re-opened Omega Boutique in Houston and tried on the new FOIS. That might be my future Speedmaster "Reduced" ...
 
bsowers34
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pdxleaf pdxleaf
Personally, if I wanted a reduced size Speedmaster I'd get another Speedmaster Day-Date 3520.50.
omega-speedmaster-day-date-35205000-0969ab.webp

They aren't a mini-moonwatch, but I don't think there's a big market for a reduced moonwatch.

This mark 40 triple calendar is a great wearing watch. With a Valjoux 7751 based automatic movement, it's not a modular like the aforementioned reduced. The calendar features are surprisingly easy to read, once you adjust to them being on a Speedmaster. And the bracelet is solid feeling but with enough play to be comfortable on the wrist.

Hard to imagine an improvement over this in a new Omega smaller Speedmaster.

pdxleaf pdxleaf
Personally, if I wanted a reduced size Speedmaster I'd get another Speedmaster Day-Date 3520.50.
omega-speedmaster-day-date-35205000-0969ab.webp

They aren't a mini-moonwatch, but I don't think there's a big market for a reduced moonwatch.

This mark 40 triple calendar is a great wearing watch. With a Valjoux 7751 based automatic movement, it's not a modular like the aforementioned reduced. The calendar features are surprisingly easy to read, once you adjust to them being on a Speedmaster. And the bracelet is solid feeling but with enough play to be comfortable on the wrist.

Hard to imagine an improvement over this in a new Omega smaller Speedmaster.
I love my 3523.80, as much if not more than my four 3861s.
IMG_5413.webp
 
salami4
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I think the Speedmaster reduced is long overdue for an integrated chronograph movement instead of the add-on module. Something simple like a valjoux 7750 based cam-operated movement would work to keep the cost low, in the spirit of the reduced.
 
Trog
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This is the Speedy I want:

Full Pt Pro case, full lunar meteorite dial, 321 movement.

1752187452856.webp
 
Canuck
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I’ve been wearing my Speedmaster 345.0808 for several days. But all this talk about Speedmaster reduced models gave me a hankerin’ to dig my reduced out of the vault for some overdue love. This one is 37 years old, 18-karat rose gold bezel, rose gold subdials, shown on a black bison strap. Model 175.0088. I am the second owner. The guy I bought it from, bought it while on a honeymoon in Germany in 1988. Within a year, his wife became ill and had to quit her job, then he lost his job. So he had to divest himself of a few treasures, this being one of them.

IMG_3265.webp
 
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