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padders
··Oooo subtitles!I recently picked this up and thought I would share some pics and see if anyone else on here has one. It is a model you don't see often in the flesh, and in a quick search I can't find much about it on here either so it rather fell between the cracks as some Omega models do. Hopefully I can right that wrong a little.
This is Speedmaster model 321.10.42.50.04.001, quite a mouthful I know. I think I'll stick with Broad Arrow Olympic Edition, though there are other quite different watches that also claim that title.
This was one of several Olympic tie ins that Omega released around 10-20 years ago, milking their long history of timekeeping for such sporting events. This model dates to circa 2012 and was I think launched just before the London Olympics. It's hard to be sure since I've looked hard but can't find a press release for it. My own example was sold much later than this suggesting it didn't exactly fly out of the showrooms, that and the fact I've never previously see one in the wild is also suggestive that wasn't a quick seller.
It was based on the then current Broad Arrow Speedmaster which rather than the familiar 1861 Lemania movement seen in the Moonwatch, instead uses a F Piguet derived column wheel auto movement, the 3313. This movement had teething troubles initially when first released in 2002 as calibre 3303 partly due to the constraints of being much thinner than any other mass produced integrated chronograph movement but by the time the second iteration of its later coax development came around it was widely considered by those that know to be a solid performer. This watch has the ultimate 3313C spec, I'm not certain whether this was from new, probably, or perhaps it received an upgrade along the way as the earlier A and B versions of this movement are routinely given the C spec triple layer escapement when serviced in official channels. It is running at +2s per day with little positional variation so I'm very impressed from a timekeeping perspective. This isn't my first 3313, and they have always impressed me on this score.
One thing that attracted me to it is the pure white dial which appears to be enamel in the style of the classic pocket watches of yesteryear, though I can't find a source to back up that suspicion, it might just be glossy white paint. It does however have a glowing translucent look which is quite beguiling and near impossible to catch in a pic. The numerals and logo have a paint-like 3D depth to them also. Note the chrono second has the Olympic rings as a counterweight, this may be seen by some as a little gimmicky I know, but isn't too obtrusive when viewed by eye, you have to look for it.
One interesting point is that the sapphire crystal used here seems to have a different more curved profile than the more boxy one used on the usual Sapphire Speedies inc other Broad Arrows which may explain why there is less milky ring effect than usually seen with Omega sapphire crystals. It is more like the profile of Hesalite crystals or perhaps the sapphire crystal seen on the modern 321 model.
Like with the contemporary FOIS, also a 2012 design, the hands are coordinated to match the function, blued for the chrono feature and chromed for the timekeeping. Not all love this quirk on the FOIS it's true as it is leads to asymmetry but it is valid from a functional perspective. It’s a bit less obvious here than with the FOIS though as it’s the hand finish that differs, not the shape. One final observation, the bracelet clasp text is black infilled on mine, I've not noticed that on any other example so makes me wonder why. Are there any other similar models with infilled clasp text like this?
If anyone knows more about this model or can find links to the launch info I'd be grateful to hear it.
Edit: something that I forgot to mention is these are water resistance rated to 100m which is 2-3 times higher than the Moonwatch line…
This is Speedmaster model 321.10.42.50.04.001, quite a mouthful I know. I think I'll stick with Broad Arrow Olympic Edition, though there are other quite different watches that also claim that title.
This was one of several Olympic tie ins that Omega released around 10-20 years ago, milking their long history of timekeeping for such sporting events. This model dates to circa 2012 and was I think launched just before the London Olympics. It's hard to be sure since I've looked hard but can't find a press release for it. My own example was sold much later than this suggesting it didn't exactly fly out of the showrooms, that and the fact I've never previously see one in the wild is also suggestive that wasn't a quick seller.
It was based on the then current Broad Arrow Speedmaster which rather than the familiar 1861 Lemania movement seen in the Moonwatch, instead uses a F Piguet derived column wheel auto movement, the 3313. This movement had teething troubles initially when first released in 2002 as calibre 3303 partly due to the constraints of being much thinner than any other mass produced integrated chronograph movement but by the time the second iteration of its later coax development came around it was widely considered by those that know to be a solid performer. This watch has the ultimate 3313C spec, I'm not certain whether this was from new, probably, or perhaps it received an upgrade along the way as the earlier A and B versions of this movement are routinely given the C spec triple layer escapement when serviced in official channels. It is running at +2s per day with little positional variation so I'm very impressed from a timekeeping perspective. This isn't my first 3313, and they have always impressed me on this score.
One thing that attracted me to it is the pure white dial which appears to be enamel in the style of the classic pocket watches of yesteryear, though I can't find a source to back up that suspicion, it might just be glossy white paint. It does however have a glowing translucent look which is quite beguiling and near impossible to catch in a pic. The numerals and logo have a paint-like 3D depth to them also. Note the chrono second has the Olympic rings as a counterweight, this may be seen by some as a little gimmicky I know, but isn't too obtrusive when viewed by eye, you have to look for it.
One interesting point is that the sapphire crystal used here seems to have a different more curved profile than the more boxy one used on the usual Sapphire Speedies inc other Broad Arrows which may explain why there is less milky ring effect than usually seen with Omega sapphire crystals. It is more like the profile of Hesalite crystals or perhaps the sapphire crystal seen on the modern 321 model.
Like with the contemporary FOIS, also a 2012 design, the hands are coordinated to match the function, blued for the chrono feature and chromed for the timekeeping. Not all love this quirk on the FOIS it's true as it is leads to asymmetry but it is valid from a functional perspective. It’s a bit less obvious here than with the FOIS though as it’s the hand finish that differs, not the shape. One final observation, the bracelet clasp text is black infilled on mine, I've not noticed that on any other example so makes me wonder why. Are there any other similar models with infilled clasp text like this?
If anyone knows more about this model or can find links to the launch info I'd be grateful to hear it.
Edit: something that I forgot to mention is these are water resistance rated to 100m which is 2-3 times higher than the Moonwatch line…
Edited:
