My dealer informed me today, that in the foreseeable future the new Speedmaster moonwatch with the new movement will be released on the market.
Unfortunately, he could not tell me the exact time. But she would be 600 euros more expensive than the old one. If you are looking for another one, you should strike now.

 

That's nothing new. It's inevitable.

 

Just 600 euros is a bargain considering the new movement

 

all relativ! I would not consider it a bargain! But it‘s justifiable...

 

I wonder in what sense design elements will change/adapt...

 

I’m holding out for applied logo, stepped dial and dot over 90. Bonus would be applied indexes.

I know I shouldn’t hold my breath though.

 

Baselworld has been put back to April, SIHH in May and Apollo 13 was April 11. So my guess would be around that time. I think that you are little light in the price. I would guess at £5,000 ish

 

This (above adapted) is also on my wish list, but will certainly not come for the basic version... Maybe for the 321 but with double price. Or the Snoopy / Apollo 13 (also the double price)...

 

I presume you mean 3861, right? And how does they know the price and timing of release not yet? A bit strange to me. IMHO it looks to me as a wild guess of something everybody knows but does not when.

 

Omega is posting these sort of photos on Instagram, so who knows. I'm not too sure if they would change the look of the default moonwatch though..

 

What do you think? Will they keep hesalite/solid back version or it will be discontinued together with 1861? And there will only be sapphire/solid and sapphire/sandwich versions?

 

I think Omega would want to continue to be flight certified so that NASA can take a Speedy to Mars. So hesalite, solid caseback would most likely be the standard issue to regain flight cert. The rainbow of variations to follow the standard.

 

Do you think flight certified is being carried on? Who cares wearing a mechanical watch in outer space if there are so many electronic systems available?

 

https://nepp.nasa.gov/docuploads/392333B0-7A48-4A04-A3A72B0B1DD73343/Rad_Effects_101_WebEx.pdf

Probably good to have a backup (for spacewalks etc outside the vehicle)...

 

Omega told Hodinkee that if the 3861 were to replace the 1861, they could "imagine" requalifying it.
https://www.hodinkee.com/articles/o...-11-50th-anniversary-limited-edition-in-depth

I submitted a FOIA request to NASA last week for any information concerning the 3861 and/or flight qualification of any Omega movement/watch. I do not expect a quick response, but will share whatever I learn.

 

Agreed. Tasteful update with the applied Omega and same case, new movement. Id want one.

 

I finally heard back from NASA. No recent correspondence from Omega about flight qualification of any new movement/watch.

Of course, this does not mean it won't happen, just that it may not happen in the immediate future.

I will probably go ahead and pull the trigger on the 1861 now. It (along with the 861) have worked well enough for astronauts for my whole life anyway!

 

Conversation with my AD and a few other watch aficionado's over a coffee a month or so back and the consensus was that this year could be the last for the 1861 in a Speedmaster, the 3861 will become the basis for the new watch which will launch in 2020. This is simply because the new movement is Master Chronometer certified and Omega wants all watches to meet this standard. The group agreed that there was no reason why NASA wouldn't certify the new movement as it works for both parties.

The conversation also agreed that the 321 movement will be used in some expensive LE's, based on Platinum or Moonshine Gold watches with the 3861 used in the Stainless Steel versions.

Now, all this is pure speculation, there is no grounds to state that anything is based on any facts from anywhere, but there was good discussion and some valid points raised which made sense.

Anyway, that's my 10 cents of opinion.

 

Hope the 50th Apollo 11 bracelet makes it's way to new models...

 

I was in the Bluewater Boutique, last week before I went on holiday, looking at the current Speedy Pro & new blue SMPC, (which I must say is stunning in the flesh)



Was dealing with Sean, who was great seemed to be a real WIS rather than sales. He mentioned next year the Speedy Pro movement is being replaced with a modern version (321 rings a bell, but I've had a lack of sleep since then & not clued up on Omega movements) everything else to stay the same & to be roughly £5k. Also was letting me know the current Speedy Pro was increasing the next day by 5% (which we all knew).

Still undecided on what will be my 1st Omega purchase, older SMPC, new SMPC, (or the next Bond Film SMPC next yr) Speedy Pro or new Speedy Pro next year. Guess I'll give it some more thought, but an interesting decision to make.