I recently purchased a Speedmaster Triple Date Chronometer (ref #3221.30.00) a/k/a Speedmaster Day-Date Chronometer from an authorized dealer. It had been hanging around the shop a while (as it is a discontinued model) but it is new. This the newer Chronometer version, not the older Triple Date that was not a certified Chronometer.

I've realized that Omega seems to have made a subtle change to the dial that I can't find documented anywhere and I'm curious how many others might have this variation as well.

The change is to the 12 hour Chronograph dial at "6 o'clock". On almost every photo I can find of this model, including on Omega's site, the 12 hour chronograph dial is numbered at 3, 6, 9 and 12 hour positions, with 'tick marks' at each hour in between. So between 12 and 3 there would be 2 tick marks for hour one and two.

However on my watch, there is only one tick mark between the numbers, so the tick marks only mark 1 1/2 hours, 3 1/2 hours, 6 1/2 hours and 9 1/2 hours. Frankly, this makes it almost impossible to accurately time anything over 30 minutes, because the chronograph only has a 30 minute timer and you must then reference the 12 hour dial to determine if you are at say 2 hrs 01 mins or 2hrs 31 mins.

I've attached a photo of my watch and an example of the more common version as well.

How many people out there have the 1 1/2 hour sub-dial that I have?

 

That's interesting. I have this exact watch and mine does have the tick markers at every hour, as in the official Omega photo you posted. I bought it new from an AD in the Summer of 2008. Unfortunately, it's in for service right now and so I can't post a decent photo of it. I am expecting it back by the end of the year though and will post then.

 

It slowly moves but I see your point that is odd. It can be done but it’s annoying.

 

I just Googled and found an old thread about this on watchuseek:

https://forums.watchuseek.com/f20/replica-omega-speedmaster-amazon-com-301129.html

The thread starts out scary (suggestion of fake) but scroll down and a poster says that a photo in their Omega 2007 catalog matches your watch

 

I have the model released in 1999 (39mm, ref 3523-80-00) with a blue dial and it does have 2 markers between the stamped hour digits. Here goes a photo (is the same watch as my avatar):

 

The other day I was finally able to find in the web a photo of its caliber (cal 1151, based on Valjoux 7751):

 

For a list of triple dates using the cal 1151:
https://watchbase.com/omega/caliber/1151

 

I wasn't aware that a cal 1151 could achieve chronometer certification. Maybe it uses another caliber?

Update: it uses another caliber (Omega 3606) (https://www.omegawatches.com/en-us/...-day-date-chronograph-40-mm-day-date-32213000) that is based on a Valjoux 7751 (https://watchbase.com/omega/caliber/3606).

May I ask how well it is running? (i.e. +/- secs/day)

 

Thanks for the responses so far. I'm quite sure its not a fake. I bought it from an AD with box and papers and because I was concerned that my serial number was not embossed on my warranty card I called Omega and they verified that my serial # was for this model and my watch was sold to my dealer and also that even though its a discontinued watch I still get the new full five year warranty which is great.

As to how its running - I have not kept super close track ( I guess I should) but it seems to be generally about +3 or +4 sec per day right now.

I'm just trying to figure out when they made the change and if most of this reference # are like mine or if more are like the other version. Just from looking online, I have found only one other photo that has the hour subdial mine has.

 

Didn't mean to cause alarm - I'm sure it's not fake as well. On page two of that watchuseek thread a poster suggested they had some insight into why Omega made the change to that sub dial. They wrote: "I remember reading an article recently that explained the 12 vs 8 markers. I believe it was a piece on the history of the Speedmaster, and there was actually a reasonable explanation, or at least a feasable one. I'll try to find it again. If I do, I'll post a link to it"

Unfortunately, it looks like they never followed up with the link though - but hopefully an Omega aficionado reading this thread will be able to tell us all more about this.

 

Got it back from service, so here's the promised pic...

 

This sunburst blue dial is truly gorgeous!

 

@gblaz: How does the hand on that dial advance? Is it gradual or does it jump each time the 30 minute register goes past the top position? I've got the more colorful version of the watch, prior to it being certified as a chronometer. Mine advances gradually. Can't imagine why Omega changed the dial to the version you showed at the beginning of thread. Anyone have an idea?

 

I also have the 8 marker version that I bought from an AD.

 

It’s gradual.

It’s a change to reflect the more dressy nature of the watch. They order dial is batches so I’d assume later batches had a change. Nothing unusual.

 

I have the same watch that I bought from an AD. I don't use the stop watch function often, so it doesn't bother me that much.

 

Hello.

this is what I purchased. It’s similar to yours but not the same. Could this be a fake