Omega Speedmaster BA345.0802: Gold Apollo 11 Guide

Posts

218

Likes

250

Gael.Bx

·Jun 6, 2026

Do you think that if I screenshot a text in French it will be easier for you to read?
Do you only frequent English forums?
I'm registered on a whole bunch of forums that aren't in my native language; luckily for me, Google can still translate unknown dialects...
Anyway, if it had been a simple post, I would have already translated and published it.
Unfortunately, it takes longer than that, and it includes pics.
So, if registering on a forum requires too much effort for you, maybe I'll do it, but transferring it here will take time I haven't had available yet...

 

Posts

162

Likes

183

Raskolnikov

·Jun 6, 2026

That is the request, thank you.

 

Posts

402

Likes

2,246

watchstick_81

·Jun 7, 2026

Gael.Bx

i think you can register to read

Thank you, I've registered and awaiting approval. Do you think I can share the info here?

 

Posts

42

Likes

26

Kronos

·Jun 7, 2026

What a brilliant post and congratulations on realising your dream watch- Thanks for sharing, especially with those stunning pictures

 

Posts

218

Likes

250

Gael.Bx

·Jun 7, 2026

watchstick_81

Thank you, I've registered and awaiting approval. Do you think I can share the info here?

I won't have time to do it before next weekend at the earliest,
so if you find anything interesting, feel free to post it....

 

Posts

402

Likes

2,246

watchstick_81

·Jun 8, 2026

Kronos

What a brilliant post and congratulations on realising your dream watch- Thanks for sharing, especially with those stunning pictures

Thank you for the kind words! Appreciate it and it's still one great experience wearing it.

Gael.Bx

I won't have time to do it before next weekend at the earliest,
so if you find anything interesting, feel free to post it....

Still waiting for approval so if it's not provided, your input is very welcome!

 

Posts

402

Likes

2,246

watchstick_81

·Jun 15, 2026

Last week, I was finally able to visit the French forumm after receiving approval from the forum admin.

@Gael.Bx conducted some very interesting research after he found out his BA345.0802 has a blank caseback. Here's a summary of his excellent work; all credit goes to him. Please feel free to correct me if I've misunderstood anything:

1) @Gael.Bx owns a BA345.0802 with no engraving, as shown a few posts above.

The caseback also lacks the reference number 145.0039 on the inside. It does, however, have the following engravings:

2a) Multiple versions have been spotted without a case number, meaning they lack the Axx engraving. This explains why some case numbers are not registered in the archives.

2b) A caseback without a case number is also blank on the inside. It is not known whether this applies to all versions without a case number.

3) A differently engraved caseback. Custom?

 

Posts

1,235

Likes

7,286

hansmaulwurf

·Jun 17, 2026·Senior Snoopy Owner

watchstick_81

Jumbo Board-Script, the 1981 edition

Since last week, I’ve been the very proud owner of a beautiful Omega Speedmaster BA345.0802 (42mm diameter and 13.7mm thickness) from the 80s. This is the second-generation 18K gold Apollo 11 tribute Moonwatch, released after NASA requalified the Omega Speedmaster for the upcoming Space Shuttle missions in 1978.
[...]

But first, a shout-out to Aludic, also known as Speedybirthyear on Instagram. He was the one who pointed out the perfect example to me. It was a German advertisement I had somehow missed. He’s a great guy and is always happy to help you find your birth-year Speedy. I was actually looking for one myself, but I ended up going with the year 1980, as it has more emotional value to me (personal story I'm not going to share publicly) than my actual birth year. My new acquisition was produced on 17 December 1980 - less than one month away from my birthday! So it's actually a double win!

[...]

Hi,

this thread and this post is so nice, that i was forced to put my fingers on two examples today.
I saw no. 17 and no 94. Both are in good condition and nearly had the ame price level. What can i say?
I bought one of them and will share some pictures in the future.

Keep this thread going,
Hans

Edited: Jun 17, 2026

 

Posts

402

Likes

2,246

watchstick_81

·Jun 17, 2026

hansmaulwurf

I bought one of them and will share some pictures in the future.

Congrats Hans! Looking forward to the first wrist shot!

ps: Maybe edit your post and exclude the complete first thread, as it demands quite some forum real estate haha ;-)

 

Posts

1,235

Likes

7,286

hansmaulwurf

·Jun 17, 2026·Senior Snoopy Owner

Quick shots giving some first impressions

More pics when the light is better and cleaned Speedys 😎

Best regards,
Hans

 

Posts

162

Likes

183

Raskolnikov

·Jun 18, 2026

This is excellent! Congratulations Hans. Patiently waiting for more photos.

 

Posts

1,502

Likes

6,556

Aludic

·Fri. 7:34am·@SpeedyBirthYear

With a huge thank you to @hansaboy whom I've met in Sweden earlier this week (report to follow)... Here's mine.

To be continued over the weekend. (HAGWE!)

 

Posts

1,502

Likes

6,556

Aludic

·Fri. 8:02am·@SpeedyBirthYear

watchstick_81

Mk2 dial
Then there’s a version with a longer S and R and “Swiss made” above the minute track, as also shown in Moonwatch Only: the Mk2 dial. Mk1 and Mk2 are not official Moonwatch Only details by the way.

Photos: Amsterdam Vintage Watches (Mk2 dial)

From my observations of all the catalogs, sales ads, auctions and magazine advertisements from 1980/1981, they all feature the Mk1 dial. From 1982 onward, we also start to see the Mk2 dial.

From observation of all other BA 345.0802's sporting the Mk2 dial, including my own; they all come with a slightly shorter hour hand compared to the Mk1 examples. The production variances for such a small production are absolutely crazy in the light of Omega's operations today, things must have been very different at the time, and this reference very special (by today's standards as well)!

 

Posts

1,502

Likes

6,556

Aludic

·Sat. 5:41am·@SpeedyBirthYear

watchstick_81

2b) A caseback without a case number is also blank on the inside. It is not known whether this applies to all versions without a case number.

Even that is not a solid rule with these. Mine doesn't have a case number, but does have all the markings including 145.0039 on the inside. It also bears the 109 producers mark.

Edited: Sat. 11:54am

 

Posts

402

Likes

2,246

watchstick_81

·Sat. 3:44pm

Aludic

From observation of all other BA 345.0802's sporting the Mk2 dial, including my own; they all come with a slightly shorter hour hand compared to the Mk1 examples. The production variances for such a small production are absolutely crazy in the light of Omega's operations today, things must have been very different at the time, and this reference very special (by today's standards as well)!

Mega congrats on your very first yellow gold Speedy my friend and on being part of this crazy fact hunt!

Thank you for sharing your insights. Looking at all the variations after the initial German batch, maybe the 150 pieces delivered to Germany were the originally planned production run, just like the 20 white gold versions. Then Omega might have decided to make another batch of 150 for the world market in 1981 and beyond.

But let's not forget that the price of gold dropped massively around that time, so they might have started shopping around for different suppliers to get a better deal. That could explain all the odd differences.

I haven't done any research on the case makers. Who was behind the 190?

 

Posts

7,233

Likes

23,476

M'Bob

·Sat. 8:45pm

Anyone know what happened to Bradley Jacobs, who in years past had written a definitive article on the yellow gold Speedmasters?

 

Posts

1,502

Likes

6,556

Aludic

·Today at 6:07am·@SpeedyBirthYear

Well, post 1500 on this forum should be somewhat special, right... So here's a bit more on my recent acquisition. I'll focus on the watch itself and leave the story about how I got hold of it to another, dedicated thread.

Some key characteristics if my example:

• Mk2 dial (with Swiss Made above the minute track)
• Correspondingly slightly shorter hour hand (as observed on the few Mk2 dialed BA 345.0802's surfaced thus far)
• No AXX LE number on the case back, but a 109 Hammer Head mark on the inside (more on that below)
• According to the EoA, this watch was delivered to the United States in november 1981, making it one of the last delivered according to the Archives.

Nothing better than pictures, of course, but as @watchstick_81's macro photography quality is quite unbeatable, I'll stick to some overall pictures and detail where needed.

The bracelet has hardly got any stretch.

Sizing it is a little nerve-racking given the soft 18K screws, but works well...

And as sizing is easiest with loose bracelet, it brought the opportunity to take pictures of the case, which shows a lovely tarnish.

Notably, there's no tarnish on the brushed parts, something which I've observed more often and as the brushing does carry some light wear marks in line with the full watch, I like to believe it's not been rebrushed, but the brushing helps prevent tarnish, perhaps?

The Mk2 with differently placed SWISS MADE script

And another beauty shot to conclude.

... did you (also) notice that this ad refers to the moon landing being 13 years ago? So it's an '82 advertisement in spite of most of these watches having been delivered in '80 or latest end of '81. Perhaps a clue as to how slowly they sold at the time?

watchstick_81

I haven't done any research on the case makers. Who was behind the 190?

I suppose you mean 109? It's this one:

Source: https://www.vintagewatchstraps.com/swisspdm.php

That's all for now, back to enjoying the object itself. I can barely keep my eyes off gazing at my wrist. 🤩

 

Posts

3,409

Likes

9,003

blufinz52

·Today at 7:31am·Hears dead people, not watch rotors.

Simply fantastic! Enjoyed every word and the photos are outstanding! Well done sir!