This watch popped up for sale by the original owner a little while ago and while I wasn't sure how I felt about its overall wearability day in / day out, I couldn't deny that it was unique and eye-catching. I had never even heard of a two-tone 145.022 prior to this one showing up, and after Googling, it didn't take much to see that many others have not heard of it either (i.e. you'd have to know what you were searching for to come across it). So what do we know? Well, thanks to the good folks at Omega, some of the info is there if you want it (https://www.omegawatches.com/planet-omega/60th-anniversary-speedmaster/bicolor-1983)



- It was produced for the German and Italian markets in 1983
- It was not a limited edition, but rather a 145.022 variant with a short production run (I have seen three years mentioned but have no idea where that came from), as the Omega site says they don't know how many were made and not many have since surfaced.
- The 1171 bracelet that accompanied these is the only known two-tone vintage bracelet, with folded 14kt center links that extend to the end links.

This particular example came from a private pilot who wanted a chronograph in order to time fuel burn and flight time, and bought it in Saudi Arabia in 1988. That gap between production date and the purchase of this one probably says something about the market appetite for these oddballs back then! This example is not a safe queen by any means, but was worn daily for nearly 30 years and retains some battle scars that the prior owner relayed when we were talking about the watch. For example, those two dents on the left side of the bezel came when he was taking off and had the watch on the dashboard. When he pulled back on the stick, the the watch slid down and fell into an A/C vent, which he couldn't retrieve until eventually landing at his destination.

So what does the peanut gallery say? Are these destined to be oddballs forever, or will the two-tone revival that seems to be taking place across modern watches also extend to the DD145.022?

 

I saw that for sale recently here and it really caught my eye. I wish I had the funds to purchase it at the time. Perhaps I may get lucky in the future to see another. I personally found it different and appealing.

 

I’m strangely drawn to the bicolor as well, with an even more niche version —- the 145.0040 Teutonic. Similar dial, not so similar case.

 

Oh, wow. Now that looks cool! What is the finish on the case. It’s it a matte derived from a certain finishing of the metal or a coating?

 

It’s a bead blasted finish — has a slight texture but basically matte.

 

Neat pieces one sold here awhile back for about a 2k premium at the time over a regular pro of that age.

https://omegaforums.net/threads/198...color-moonwatch-dd-145-022-golden-dial.42955/


As it’s not an OM dial nor carries a lot of gold outside the 14k bracelet your not going to see a huge premium on these for the Gold content.

I personally don’t see a bi color resurgence, just they tend to go to men of a certain age... hodinkee is pushing the full gold watches though.

That being said it’s a neat piece with the correct bracelet ( I hope it’s big enough for you as extra links may be unobtainable) also note it’s a DNN on a gold bezel if your thinking about replacement. Also note the stretch on the bracelet which might not be cheap to have fixed.

I can’t wear gold personally it just doesn’t match my skin color but if this piece speaks to you and it’s a good price why not?

 

Every time one of these pop up I really considering snatching it. It would make very unique birth year speedy and I’m not a gold person at all but for some reason I’ve always liked this model. Nice catch.

 

My Speedisease started with a birth year watch...



A full set with box and papers. Indeed ten years ago nobody was interested by this and the prices reflected no interest quite well.

Wears quite good on leather, too :



With yellow gold coming back, I am sure bicolore watches will also gain some interest, no doubts on that. But I don’t really care, this one is a keeper no matter what.

PS : I am still looking for a set of bicolore 633 end-links. If somebody has a set in a drawer, please hit me up

 

This is not really correct. There’s nothing similar to the DNN bezel. The insert is different from the DNN (golden font) and the bezel itself is yellow gold. But it’s not a problem, still available from Omega.


OP photograph

The DD casebacks are also different from the regular moonwatch from the 80s. Might think it lost the black paint from the letters, but no, indeed they were only engraved, not painted

 

Yeah I like these maybe one day if the right 1983 pops I’ll snag it for a birth year watch too.

 

@kov are you the one in the article missing the endlinks and tried to order from Omega?

Thanks for the clarification on the bezel, didn’t know it was still available, does the cost reflect its gold?

 

I love a watch with a good back story, and I can see that this watch would be attractive to many people. Still reminds me too much of the 80s though, it would have gone well with my perm and leg warmers .

Is the 50th anniversary Moonwatch going to be the reverse of this, with their new gold finish for the subdials and bezel, and a sparkly silver for the dial?

 

I like this two-tone Speedys...something special for sure...

 

It’s look like faboulos

 

Where you been all this time son? Have seen a couple of these for sale here, as well as a couple touted by our fine members.

None the less, two tone is back, so enjoy your beaut and wigh...

 

TT is not my thing - sorta gross. To me it sends a message that either you could not decide between gold and steel, or could not afford all gold...

 

There are other variants:

 

Congrats with this beauty, this has been one of my top 3 watches alltime!
The steel crown and pushers keep it sporty wich i really like

 

Ha, I don’t know where I was! With that said, I think if I saw it randomly for sale on OF, I probably wouldn’t have bought it. Whenever you can talk to the original buyer and hear their stories, it makes the watch more interesting to me, particularly in this case.

Despite a handful being sold here over the past 3-4 years, there’s also not much out there other than a few threads, a quick post by RJ on Fratello, and the Omega site. So I wasn’t that ignorant

 

love it! not sure if I can pull off the a two tone watch though.