Omega Speedmaster Apollo 11 50th Anniversary in Steel - Expectations

STANDY · May 11, 2019

Lurk41
Not using the 321 for this very special edition, after having announcing they can reproduce it the same year of the anniversary? Does not make any sense... With this announcement, they knew the expectation to have it for the anniversary watch will be huge.
So for me, they will fit it with an upgraded 321 : at least with the new material, so silicon hair spring & titanium balance. And given what we had with the 3861 Moonshine Gold LE, they could go as far as fit it with the coaxial escapment. So in the end, maybe not the 321, but a "3321" Any other caliber choice would be a huge mistake. 3861 was the historically correct choice for the Moonshine Gold, "3321" would be the correct one for the Steel version. And it fits both rumors about the caliber: a 321 that is not a 321.
BTW, Omega 321 resurrection was announced the 8th of January. 1969, January 8th: the Apollo 11 LM arrived at the Kennedy Space Center. Maybe I'm searching for clues too much 😁

So you missed the bit where they said it’s not going to be a 321 and that the 321 will be a very limited production per year.

So they didn’t put the 321 in the gold $36k one they will put it in the steel $10k one ( not going to happen )

It’s going to be a 3861

As mentioned before it’s not going to be a different movement to the gold one already released.

Archer · May 11, 2019

Lurk41
Am I out of my mind with all this? or do some of you buy the idea?😟

Case is steel and yellow gold (3N), dial is black, blue, with yellow colour traces (this can refer to printing) with applied markers and lume. Hands are yellow gold (3N). Bezel insert is ceramic and black, but with gold lettering I believe. Sapphire crystals front and back. Back crystal will have an Apollo 11 medallion. Movement is 3861.

Lurk41 · May 11, 2019

If that is true for 3861, then it is a missed opportunity. Not saying it won't be a great watch but given the next big anniversary for Apollo 11 will be in 50 years, they should have think bigger.

STANDY
So they didn’t put the 321 in the gold $36k one they will put it in the steel $10k one ( not going to happen )

Why would they put a 321 in the 50th anniversary edition of the Commemorative gold while the original commemorative gold had a 861? 321 would have been a mistake for that one.
I did not miss the part where it was said it won't be the 321. But a "3321" would not have been a 321 either.

STANDY · May 11, 2019

Lurk41
If that is true for 3861, then it is a missed opportunity. Not saying it won't be a great watch but given the next big anniversary for Apollo 11 will be in 50 years, they should have think bigger.

Why would they put a 321 in the 50th anniversary edition of the Commemorative gold while the original commemorative gold had a 861? 321 would have been a mistake for that one.
I did not miss the part where it was said it won't be the 321. But a "3321" would not have been a 321 either.

The new gold is a 50th anniversary of Apollo 11 not a 50th anniversary of the watch.

There was a mention there will be 3x 50th anniversary watches
One in platinum
One in gold
One in Steel

( The 321 is going to be a 20k watch minimum in my rumours )

dscoogs · May 11, 2019

Archer
...dial is black, blue, with ...

Blue ? That's new to me. Which part of the dial is blue, if you can share 🍿 thx.

Archer · May 11, 2019

dscoogs
Blue ? That's new to me. Which part of the dial is blue, if you can share 🍿 thx.

I can't say for sure, but the "background" colours are listed as black and blue in the dial details...

Lurk41 · May 11, 2019

Could be a dark blue, kind of a full moon sky? Should look great with gold script and hands.

Or... to do this:

STANDY
The new gold is a 50th anniversary of Apollo 11 not a 50th anniversary of the watch.

Yes, I know that. The 1969 Commemorative BA 145.022 was created to celebrate the success of Apollo 11. They produced 1014 of them and it was fitted with a 861. The 50th anniversary Gold LE has a 3861 which is a modernized 861, and they produced 1014 of them. IMO they got this one perfectly.

Now, the First watch on the Moon was steel with 321. So why a 3861 on its 50th anniversary steel LE when you already announced you are able to produce a 321? (and we know they are capable of modernizing it, so possibly a "3321"?)

Thinking about it, the problem may lay in the announcement order.

The very first announcement of this 50th anniversary year of Apollo 11 was "Omega is bringing back the 321". If they do not intend to use it on the anniversary steel edition, what is the point of doing that as you first announcement? They could have tease us with all the LE, then announce the return of the 321. The 321 comeback would have been the cherry on top of the cake and it would not have harmed the other announcements. On the contrary, announcing the 321 first, knowing you will build a lot of expectation around it, and not fulfilled them in your later announcements about the LEs... That is a huge communication mistake.

As there will be a platinum LE, they could still use the 321 (or modernized 321) for it, if they decide to build this Platinum LE from the 105.012 the same way they did with the Moonshine Gold from the BA145.022. In that case I could understand (still a communication mistake IMO, but a smaller one)

abrod520 · May 11, 2019

Archer
Case is steel and yellow gold (3N), dial is black, blue, with yellow colour traces (this can refer to printing) with applied markers and lume. Hands are yellow gold (3N). Bezel insert is ceramic and black, but with gold lettering I believe. Sapphire crystals front and back. Back crystal will have an Apollo 11 medallion. Movement is 3861.

Hmm, sounding weirder and weirder with the blue and yellow - possible they meant gold (as in gold lettering as seen in the marketing materials)?
Ceramic bezel is cool though, and I still maintain a "wait and see" position re. the gold accents since they can be pulled off, but I'm disappointed to hear it'll have a sapphire crystal. Any indication whether they've managed to dome it like they did for the Seamaster and Railmaster Trilogy watches? Because if it's a box sapphire I'm not likely going to enjoy wearing the watch, regardless of how I think it looks :/

STANDY · May 11, 2019

Could just be this

With a blue background on the seconds subdial 😗

dscoogs · May 11, 2019

Archer
Case is steel and yellow gold (3N), dial is black, blue, with yellow colour traces (this can refer to printing) with applied markers and lume. Hands are yellow gold (3N). Bezel insert is ceramic and black, but with gold lettering I believe. Sapphire crystals front and back. Back crystal will have an Apollo 11 medallion. Movement is 3861.

Perhaps something (75%) like this for the dial - pic from RJ Apollo 17 gold 45th LE:

And (75%) like this for the case back - also pic from RJ - but Apollo 11 medallion :

uwsearch · May 11, 2019

SAPPHIRE ???

ARE YOU SERIOUS?

MCG555 · May 11, 2019

Lurk41
Could be a dark blue, kind of a full moon sky? Should look great with gold script and hands.

Or... to do this:

Yes, I know that. The 1969 Commemorative BA 145.022 was created to celebrate the success of Apollo 11. They produced 1014 of them and it was fitted with a 861. The 50th anniversary Gold LE has a 3861 which is a modernized 861, and they produced 1014 of them. IMO they got this one perfectly.

Now, the First watch on the Moon was steel with 321. So why a 3861 on its 50th anniversary steel LE when you already announced you are able to produce a 321? (and we know they are capable of modernizing it, so possibly a "3321"?)

Thinking about it, the problem may lay in the announcement order.

The very first announcement of this 50th anniversary year of Apollo 11 was "Omega is bringing back the 321". If they do not intend to use it on the anniversary steel edition, what is the point of doing that as you first announcement? They could have tease us with all the LE, then announce the return of the 321. The 321 comeback would have been the cherry on top of the cake and it would not have harmed the other announcements. On the contrary, announcing the 321 first, knowing you will build a lot of expectation around it, and not fulfilled them in your later announcements about the LEs... That is a huge communication mistake.

As there will be a platinum LE, they could still use the 321 (or modernized 321) for it, if they decide to build this Platinum LE from the 105.012 the same way they did with the Moonshine Gold from the BA145.022. In that case I could understand (still a communication mistake IMO, but a smaller one)

They will not be able to do 6969 pieces of the 321.
It‘ll be - and that was clear from the beginning way back in January - the 3861.

VjaceCZ · May 11, 2019

With announcement of bringing back the 321 movement, there was a statement they do not intend to use 321 with LE this year. That was the official statement directly from Omega.

Ree · May 11, 2019

uwsearch
SAPPHIRE ???

ARE YOU SERIOUS?

I think they've been using mostly sapphire on the recent LE releases. Exception being truthful reissues like the 60th Speedmaster or collaboration input ST projects.

Evitzee · May 11, 2019

And the frenzy continues, it never takes a day off, even on the weekend. Keep the silliness coming. ::stirthepot::

MrJKLFoams · May 11, 2019

The 50th anniversary speedy
Gold already revealed
SS/2tone coming
Platinum 50 pcs with 321 mvt and lunar module box

balmung0 · May 11, 2019

yeah my AD told me that it's two tone Speedmaster LE for 10k and wont use 321 movement for this. She told me that 321 will be likely release next year or so. I was already inform this info and about gold edition 2 months ago before they announce on public. You can find my post in open discussion 2 months ago. My AD was asking full deposit for these pieces.

Jokr · May 11, 2019

I should stop following Omega's instagram account for a while. These little teasers are not making me more exited for the final presentation, they are starting to get on my nerves.
Don't get me wrong, I'm still looking forward to seeing a (hopefully) beautiful watch. But that's just too much for me at the moment.

Archer · May 11, 2019

abrod520
Hmm, sounding weirder and weirder with the blue and yellow - possible they meant gold (as in gold lettering as seen in the marketing materials)?
Ceramic bezel is cool though, and I still maintain a "wait and see" position re. the gold accents since they can be pulled off, but I'm disappointed to hear it'll have a sapphire crystal. Any indication whether they've managed to dome it like they did for the Seamaster and Railmaster Trilogy watches? Because if it's a box sapphire I'm not likely going to enjoy wearing the watch, regardless of how I think it looks :/

In the watch and watch repair world "yellow" refers to gold or gold tone, and "white" refers to SS, white gold, platinum, etc. So if you for example ask your local parts supply house for a generic crown for a watch, you specify "white" or "yellow". Same thing for an acrylic crystal with a tension ring in it - it will be Y for yellow (gold) or W for white (silver). It's just the particular lingo in this industry - all industries have their own.

Here's what I can tell you about the sapphire crystal shape:

Diameter - 34.2 mm
Height - 4.8 mm
Shape - convex
Outside radius - 145 mm
Inside radius - 143.4 mm
Thickness to the center - 1.6 mm

Lurk41 · May 11, 2019

@MCG555 6969 being a too big volume, that part I can understand it. Just keep in mind that production of Steel LE was not known (at least by me) from the beginning
About the 3861, it wasn't announced before March. So they cannot have made it clear since January that they will use the 3861

@VjaceCZ where did you find that official statement? The only one I can find about the 321 is the one about its come back...
These are the list of the official press releases made by Omega this year: https://www.swatchgroup.com/en/news?year=2019&month=1&field_news_type_target_id=All&ref_brand=67
The only thing I can find on educated websites is that the 321 production will not be limited. Nothing about not use it in some LE watches on top of a low numbered but unlimited version of a 321 watch

I even managed to find in this very forum some posts about the LE (in general) back from February and with "confirmation" that the 321 will be used.

So, sorry about that but it is clear that back then there was no announcement about the movement that will or will not be in the LE. So yep, communication mistake if they do not use the 321 in a 50th anniversary LE...

Omega Speedmaster Apollo 11 50th Anniversary in Steel - Expectations

STANDY

Archer

Lurk41

STANDY

dscoogs

Archer

Lurk41

abrod520

STANDY

dscoogs

uwsearch

MCG555

VjaceCZ

Ree

Evitzee

MrJKLFoams

balmung0

Jokr

Archer

Lurk41

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