After all these years, curious as to what our Omega crowd thinks about the 2007 OMEGA Speedmaster 1957 50th Anniversary Model Reference 311.33.42.50.01.001. I know this watch was quite polarizing and a bit awkward but, also very cool. It was limited to just 1957 pieces and, interestingly enough, was actually introduced in the very same year as the OMEGA Speedmaster Professional 50th Anniversary model with the Seamonster logo printed on the dial. Finally, who can forget that presentation box with all the watchmaker tools..........fantastic!!!

Now that so many years have passed, is there a greater appreciation for this watch or not??? Sound off!!!!!

 

Give me a cal.1863 or a cal.321 with an open case back anytime but certainly not this movement.

 

Objectively, the best LE Speedmaster, which is why I bought one. Let the flames begin...

 

I see a black column wheel on that caliber?... What's the origin?

 

This is a manual wind version of the Cal. 3313, so this one is a 3201. Based on an F. Piguet chronograph movement.

In this version, instead of the usual polished steel column wheel, it has another version - regular version is about $30, and this one is about 3 times that...

 

Didn't that LE have an enamel dial? I imagine it is lovely in the flesh.

I can see why the Moonsnobs pass this one by, but taken in isolation it is a nice piece with a lot going for it. If I had one criticism it is the the movement is in conception at least just the 3313 hobbled by removing the auto winding mechanism which seems a little perverse and retrograde, but when seen objectively the 3201 is more impressive than the 321 or 1861 on many levels (apart from not having been to the Moon!). Note Omega is now moving to a free sprung balance and coaxial escapement for the 3861, which is now chronometer rated, well guess what, these had them 15 years ago. A column wheel too, something Omega currently reserve for their mega money 321 models.

I don't expect any of the 33X3 models will be setting auction records anytime soon though, firstly because they lack the Moon connection and also because of an ill conceived smear campaign that existed when these were current. The teething troubles that afflicted these have for the most part been designed and serviced out though it can't be denied that they had problems back in the day.

The so-called Grail has jumped in value though and that uses a much more agricultural auto solution than the Broad Arrow series so perhaps there will be a day when these are seen for their true worth. Perhaps the LE above will be the first to be shown some love.

I have a close cousin of OP watch, also released I believe in 2007 and seen below. It gets a lot of wear.

 

I do think this is somewhat of an underappreciated model. I rarely see them come up for sale with the full box set. The dial is made of black enamel. The movement isn't much to look at it, but the package as a whole, is nice.

 

Enamel dial, Sapphire sandwich, limited edition to 1957, limited edition movement, Column Wheel, Vertical Clutch, Coaxial, Chronometer, 100m water resistance, Hacking seconds, thinner profile, best box, bracelet and strap, higher finished components...

But some of the other sought after Speedys were less limited, had some red on the dial and caseback, or a cartoon dog on the face. Makes perfect sense...

 

ps if you want to invite members in to chat about this ref, I would think a title change to something like 'Speedy Enamel Dial 50th Anni LE' might be more enticing than the current stream of numbers!

pps here is an earlier thread discussing these:

https://omegaforums.net/threads/spe...namel-dial-50th-anniversary-from-2007.109162/

 

Was searching about this watch and read this comment, have to fully agree with this post, this watch is just the perfect speedmaster in my opinion. As far as I know it is the thinnest 42mm speedmaster at 12.9mm. It just wears very well, I coupled it with the 50th Apollo bracelet and it is just perfect.

 

This might be the only co-axial Omega that doesn't say co-axial on the dial...

Anyone know of another?

 

modern CK859?

 

Looks like it!

 

Speedmaster Professional 3861

 

Yep. Look about 9 posts back

 

On the 50th flat link, OEM end links and spring bars

 

What was the original price for this one ?

 

Lovely watch ~!

 

This clocks in at 12.9mm ? how did Omega manage that? and for what reason haven't they repeated it?

 

Because they no longer widely use this movement, whose ancestor, when first introduced as the F Piguet 1185 was I believe the world’s thinnest automatic chronograph. Partly due to an unjust smear campaign this family never got the respect it deserved and Omega chose to replace it with the 8500 based 9300 chrono movement which is about 2mm deeper and needs a boat anchor case to house it. Thanks Chuck. Thanks also to the other idiot whose name I can’t be bothered to remember.

As I said earlier in the thread, these had teething troubles when introduced which were finally ironed out. Rather like nearly every other Omega movement launched since 1999 in fact.

To be fair, Omega now have a range of smaller manual wind chronos which use this trick and have gained thinness at the expense of the 9300’s rotor. These are the 2 counter Chronoscopes and are pretty thin, around the same as the watch above so in a sense they have repeated it!