Speedmaster Apollo 11 50th Ann. Steel or Gold? Experiences and opinions, please!

Alex87

I have the steel version and love it. The new bracelet is so comfortable to wear and it looks great. The gold just makes the whole watch pop and the contrast makes reading the time very legible. The ceramic bezel is just lovely. I'm waiting on the gold version, fingers crossed it'll come soon.

FinWatch

Update:
The full gold version is not possible to get anymore from Omega AD’s&Boutiques.
1014 pieces—completely sold out.
Makes my decision a lot easier...

Boony

You can get one on Chrono24.

Alex87

At least 10% mark up though...

MTROIS

Can’t go wrong with either… 😁

Congratulations @FinWatch for getting the SS!!

MTROIS

Can’t go wrong with either… 😁

Congratulations @FinWatch for getting the SS!!

EricCsN

Full of regrets that I didn't get the gold when offered to me at OB, now only from grey, kicking myself.

C csf

UPDATE:

I have had my stainless steel 50th anniversary about two weeks now. As I posted previously, I have never owned an Omega (or any other premium watch), and never owned a manual winding watch. I bought this watch only because I just liked the way it honors NASA and Apollo 11. All the accents some here found "over the top" on this watch are exactly what I love about it. I am also now becoming an Omega fan as I read and learn about their history here. So here are just a couple of notes about my new watch. ( I assume each watch will be a little different.)

1) Power reserve is about 2 1/2 days, so around 60 hours. Pretty good !

2) Winding . . . a bit of a learning curve. When the watch is totally unwound, twisitng the crown is initially pretty easy and I can hear little clicks as I twist it. As the winding continues, the tension increases slowly and the clicks become quieter. When the watch is fully wound, its very easy to feel the crown stop . . . so I have no worries about overwinding it.

I have large fingers, but it takes about 60-70 "twists" to fully wind it from a totally stopped position . . . . I can't really see it but I think each twist of mine is probably about a half a revolution of the crown..

If I fully wind it, and then try to wind it again after only 24 hours, the crown is still pretty tight and there is not that much twisting available yet . . . so I am winding it every other morning. Hopefully this is not a problem.

3) I am storing the watch at night with the dial flat and up toward ceiling, and the watch has not really lost or gained any major time . . . I have not checked actual seconds yet, but only the minutes, which are still spot on..

4) The top pusher of the chronograph is a little bit looser than than the bottom one which resets the hands. But pulling the crown out to set the time is very smooth and easy.

5) The hands and markers do not stay illuminated very long once the room is dark, fading quickly.

6) The bracelet is very comfortable and lightweight but the clasp seems pretty flimsy . . . I know its fine but it feels weak. I believe a NATO band or leather band is in my future.

7) I love the look of the watch and all the special accents, but in certain light it can actually be hard to read. But I still love it.

8) Finally, the lunar landing packaging is certainly special and fun . . . . but the thick red owners manual I received lists directions for many many Omega calibre movements, including the 1861, but I cannot find the number 3861 listed anywhere in that document. I am confident my watch was given to me exactly as received from Omega, with the actual factory packed owners manual. But, I am sure I am operating the watch correctly, so no big deal.

That's a summary of life with my new Apollo 11 50th Anniversary stainless steel Speedmaster after 2 weeks. Hopefully this all sounds normal. Absolutely no regrets. In fact, there is something sort of satisfying about winding the watch.

Craig

Craig

C csf

UPDATE:

I have had my stainless steel 50th anniversary about two weeks now. As I posted previously, I have never owned an Omega (or any other premium watch), and never owned a manual winding watch. I bought this watch only because I just liked the way it honors NASA and Apollo 11. All the accents some here found "over the top" on this watch are exactly what I love about it. I am also now becoming an Omega fan as I read and learn about their history here. So here are just a couple of notes about my new watch. ( I assume each watch will be a little different.)

1) Power reserve is about 2 1/2 days, so around 60 hours. Pretty good !

2) Winding . . . a bit of a learning curve. When the watch is totally unwound, twisitng the crown is initially pretty easy and I can hear little clicks as I twist it. As the winding continues, the tension increases slowly and the clicks become quieter. When the watch is fully wound, its very easy to feel the crown stop . . . so I have no worries about overwinding it.

I have large fingers, but it takes about 60-70 "twists" to fully wind it from a totally stopped position . . . . I can't really see it but I think each twist of mine is probably about a half a revolution of the crown..

If I fully wind it, and then try to wind it again after only 24 hours, the crown is still pretty tight and there is not that much twisting available yet . . . so I am winding it every other morning. Hopefully this is not a problem.

3) I am storing the watch at night with the dial flat and up toward ceiling, and the watch has not really lost or gained any major time . . . I have not checked actual seconds yet, but only the minutes, which are still spot on..

4) The top pusher of the chronograph is a little bit looser than than the bottom one which resets the hands. But pulling the crown out to set the time is very smooth and easy.

5) The hands and markers do not stay illuminated very long once the room is dark, fading quickly.

6) The bracelet is very comfortable and lightweight but the clasp seems pretty flimsy . . . I know its fine but it feels weak. I believe a NATO band or leather band is in my future.

7) I love the look of the watch and all the special accents, but in certain light it can actually be hard to read. But I still love it.

8) Finally, the lunar landing packaging is certainly special and fun . . . . but the thick red owners manual I received lists directions for many many Omega calibre movements, including the 1861, but I cannot find the number 3861 listed anywhere in that document. I am confident my watch was given to me exactly as received from Omega, with the actual factory packed owners manual. But, I am sure I am operating the watch correctly, so no big deal.

That's a summary of life with my new Apollo 11 50th Anniversary stainless steel Speedmaster after 2 weeks. Hopefully this all sounds normal. Absolutely no regrets. In fact, there is something sort of satisfying about winding the watch.

Craig

Craig

C csf

UPDATE:

I have had my stainless steel 50th anniversary about two weeks now. As I posted previously, I have never owned an Omega (or any other premium watch), and never owned a manual winding watch. I bought this watch only because I just liked the way it honors NASA and Apollo 11. All the accents some here found "over the top" on this watch are exactly what I love about it. I am also now becoming an Omega fan as I read and learn about their history here. So here are just a couple of notes about my new watch. ( I assume each watch will be a little different.)

1) Power reserve is about 2 1/2 days, so around 60 hours. Pretty good !

2) Winding . . . a bit of a learning curve. When the watch is totally unwound, twisitng the crown is initially pretty easy and I can hear little clicks as I twist it. As the winding continues, the tension increases slowly and the clicks become quieter. When the watch is fully wound, its very easy to feel the crown stop . . . so I have no worries about overwinding it.

I have large fingers, but it takes about 60-70 "twists" to fully wind it from a totally stopped position . . . . I can't really see it but I think each twist of mine is probably about a half a revolution of the crown..

If I fully wind it, and then try to wind it again after only 24 hours, the crown is still pretty tight and there is not that much twisting available yet . . . so I am winding it every other morning. Hopefully this is not a problem.

3) I am storing the watch at night with the dial flat and up toward ceiling, and the watch has not really lost or gained any major time . . . I have not checked actual seconds yet, but only the minutes, which are still spot on..

4) The top pusher of the chronograph is a little bit looser than than the bottom one which resets the hands. But pulling the crown out to set the time is very smooth and easy.

5) The hands and markers do not stay illuminated very long once the room is dark, fading quickly.

6) The bracelet is very comfortable and lightweight but the clasp seems pretty flimsy . . . I know its fine but it feels weak. I believe a NATO band or leather band is in my future.

7) I love the look of the watch and all the special accents, but in certain light it can actually be hard to read. But I still love it.

8) Finally, the lunar landing packaging is certainly special and fun . . . . but the thick red owners manual I received lists directions for many many Omega calibre movements, including the 1861, but I cannot find the number 3861 listed anywhere in that document. I am confident my watch was given to me exactly as received from Omega, with the actual factory packed owners manual. But, I am sure I am operating the watch correctly, so no big deal.

That's a summary of life with my new Apollo 11 50th Anniversary stainless steel Speedmaster after 2 weeks. Hopefully this all sounds normal. Absolutely no regrets. In fact, there is something sort of satisfying about winding the watch.

Craig

Craig