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DrDan
·I've been following reports and photographs from Speedmaster GTGs for quite some time, particularly those featured on Fratello. Seeing so many Speedmasters gathered in one place always fascinated me, although I never really imagined I'd find myself attending one of these events.
That changed earlier this year, thanks to fellow Omega Forums member @Aludic.
What started with conversations about vintage Speedmasters and the occasional hunt for period-correct parts gradually turned into regular exchanges about our collections.
At one point, we even discovered that two of our 145.022-74 Speedmasters have consecutive movement serial numbers. Sometimes this hobby produces the strangest coincidences.
Then, sometime in July, @Aludic mentioned the upcoming Speedmaster GTG in the Netherlands and offered to put me in touch with its organiser, @watchstick_81.
One conversation led to another, an invitation followed, and suddenly I was going to my very first watch collectors' GTG.
To say I was excited would be something of an understatement.
The Anticipation
Over the following months, I found myself thinking about the event more often than I'd care to admit.
What would it actually be like? How would the collections be presented? What was the etiquette when examining someone else's watches? And perhaps most importantly, what would it feel like to spend an entire day surrounded by people who share this rather peculiar fascination with tiny differences in dials, bezels, hands and case shapes?
The upcoming GTG even gave me the final push to create a separate Instagram account dedicated entirely to my Speedmaster collection.
Fortunately, @watchstick_81 had already been in touch with me several times and made the whole thing feel very approachable.
One particularly nice idea was sharing the Instagram handles of the participants beforehand, giving everyone an opportunity to get to know each other before the event.
I soon found myself exchanging messages with fellow collectors, sometimes only realising afterwards that we'd be meeting in person in November.
I remember describing the whole thing to @watchstick_81 as a kind of blind date, just with Speedmasters. And in a way, that's exactly what it was.
Sunday, November 8 - Finally!
After months of anticipation, the day had finally arrived.
The venue was Parc Broekhuizen, a beautiful historic estate in Leersum, the Netherlands.
Parc Broekhuizen, Leersum - November 8, 2026
Photo: @watchstick_81
@watchstick_81 had told me beforehand that his family would be helping with the event, and that he hoped to create a personal, welcoming atmosphere.
His wife gave me an incredibly warm welcome as soon as I arrived. Shortly afterwards, I finally met @watchstick_81 himself.
We'd been exchanging messages for months, but this was our first meeting in person. It was good to finally shake hands after all those conversations.
The official GTG poster
Photo: @speedmasternotes
Two Rooms Full of Speedmasters
The GTG occupied much of the first floor of Parc Broekhuizen, with two beautiful rooms, the Serre and the Blauwe Kamer, dedicated to the collections and a separate salon for the presentations.
The organisers had been expecting around sixty enthusiasts from sixteen countries.
And what an assortment of watches they brought.
Display cases, watch rolls, original boxes, period catalogues, accessories and memorabilia covered the tables. Some collections were carefully organised by reference or period, while others were eclectic. You could easily spend half an hour at a single table.
One of the many collections on display
Photo: @speedmasternotes
For someone with a particular weakness for vintage Speedmasters, this was quite a sight.
From the CK 2915 and CK 2998 to the 105.012, 145.012 and later 145.022 references, decades of Speedmaster history were laid out in front of us.
Early references, including a 2998-2 and two 105.012 case variants
Photo: @speedmasternotes
There were well-preserved examples alongside watches with decades of genuine ageing, and dial and bezel variations that photographs don't always capture.
Of course, I could happily spend an entire afternoon discussing nothing more than the shape of a case or the position of a dot on a bezel. But I suspect I'm not alone in that particular affliction around here.
An early Speedmaster on the wrist
Photo: @PloProfesseur
One of the real pleasures of having so many watches in one place was the opportunity for direct comparisons. An original Ultraman alongside its modern Speedy Tuesday counterpart, for example, is not a pairing you encounter every day.
And the variety certainly didn't end with the classic Moonwatch.
Vintage Omega Speedmaster Professional ‘Orange Racing’
Photo: @PloProfesseur
Omega Speedmaster ‘Alaska Project’ (2008), with its red heat shield
Photo: @PloProfesseur
There were Speedy Tuesday editions, unusual dial configurations, special editions, precious-metal Speedmasters and models representing some of Omega's more adventurous design decisions over the decades.
One display brought together thirteen Speedmasters in a dedicated Speedy Tuesday presentation case.
A dedicated thirteen-watch Speedy Tuesday display
Photo: @PloProfesseur
And then there were the collections that went well beyond the watches themselves. Original packaging, old advertisements, historical documentation, mission patches and other space-related memorabilia added another dimension to the displays.
Period Omega literature and memorabilia
Photo: @PloProfesseur
They showed how differently collectors explore and preserve the history surrounding these watches.
The People Behind the Watches
But as impressive as the collections were, the highlight for me was something else entirely: the people.
Suddenly, conversations that had started online were continuing face to face, with the actual watches right there in front of us.
Examining a watch with its owner, hearing how it was acquired, or finding out why a tiny detail matters to them is different from scrolling through photos.
A photograph can show you a beautiful Speedmaster. It cannot quite convey the enthusiasm of the person explaining what makes it special to them.
Throughout the day, watches were compared, examined and occasionally exchanged between wrists for a closer look.
A spontaneous comparison of watches on the wrist
Photo: @speedmasternotes
Several PloProfs even found themselves together for a little GTG of their own.
A mini PloProf GTG within the GTG
Photo: @PloProfesseur
Put enough watch enthusiasts in one place, and sooner or later they'll start arranging watches into groups and comparing the smallest details.
Something to Learn, Too
The afternoon programme also included three short presentations, each followed by a Q&A session.
An Omega product manager discussed the technical challenges and possibilities of ceramic watchmaking. The co-authors of Moonwatch Only offered a first glimpse of the upcoming fourth edition of their book. And a presentation from Moonwatch Universe explored the history of NASA-issued Omega Speedmasters, supported by historical spaceflight photography.
The presentation salon during the afternoon programme
Photo: @watchstick_81
For me, the Moonwatch Only presentation was of particular interest. Those books have accompanied my own journey into vintage Speedmasters and have certainly contributed to my fascination with all the small details.
I also had the pleasure of a longer conversation with one of the co-authors during the GTG.
After countless hours with the books, it was a pleasure to talk watches with someone behind that research.
That's another aspect I hadn't fully appreciated beforehand: the opportunity to meet people whose research and knowledge have helped shape the way so many of us approach collecting.
My Own Little Contribution
Of course, I had brought a few watches myself.
Well, perhaps a few more than originally intended.
Being a first-time participant, I wasn't entirely sure how many Speedmasters would be appropriate to bring along. Apparently, my solution was to stop worrying about the number and bring two cases.
For the larger case, I'd even prepared a custom illustration of the Apollo 11 mission trajectory for the inside of the lid, specifically for this GTG.
My two cases, with the custom Apollo 11 mission graphic
Photo: @PloProfesseur
It was great fun sharing parts of my collection with fellow enthusiasts, particularly when someone recognised a reference or wanted to have a closer look.
But having spent so much time preparing my own little display, I quickly discovered that the really interesting part was wandering off to see what everyone else had brought. And there was certainly no shortage of distractions.
Six Hours Weren't Nearly Enough
One thing I completely underestimated was how quickly the day would pass.
Between examining watches, meeting fellow collectors, discussing fascinating references and simply enjoying the atmosphere, the hours seemed to disappear.
There were still so many watches I would have liked to examine more closely. And quite a few people I would have liked to spend more time talking to.
By the time it was over, I felt I had only begun to take it all in.
Looking back, I think what impressed me most was how naturally everything came together.
Collectors from many countries, two rooms filled with watches and an impressive programme - yet the atmosphere stayed relaxed and personal.
@watchstick_81 had told me beforehand that he wanted the GTG to feel like a gathering of one big watch family. Having experienced it for myself, I now understand what he meant.
A huge thank you to @watchstick_81, his wife, his family and everyone who helped organise such a memorable day.
And a special thank you to @Aludic for introducing me to this group of collectors in the first place.
Thanks also to everyone I had the pleasure of meeting and talking to throughout the day, and to @PloProfesseur and @watchstick_81 for sharing their photographs.
After months of looking forward to this GTG, I left feeling that I'd barely scratched the surface.
If I could ask for just one thing at the next one, it would be simple:
More time.
That changed earlier this year, thanks to fellow Omega Forums member @Aludic.
What started with conversations about vintage Speedmasters and the occasional hunt for period-correct parts gradually turned into regular exchanges about our collections.
At one point, we even discovered that two of our 145.022-74 Speedmasters have consecutive movement serial numbers. Sometimes this hobby produces the strangest coincidences.
Then, sometime in July, @Aludic mentioned the upcoming Speedmaster GTG in the Netherlands and offered to put me in touch with its organiser, @watchstick_81.
One conversation led to another, an invitation followed, and suddenly I was going to my very first watch collectors' GTG.
To say I was excited would be something of an understatement.
The Anticipation
Over the following months, I found myself thinking about the event more often than I'd care to admit.
What would it actually be like? How would the collections be presented? What was the etiquette when examining someone else's watches? And perhaps most importantly, what would it feel like to spend an entire day surrounded by people who share this rather peculiar fascination with tiny differences in dials, bezels, hands and case shapes?
The upcoming GTG even gave me the final push to create a separate Instagram account dedicated entirely to my Speedmaster collection.
Fortunately, @watchstick_81 had already been in touch with me several times and made the whole thing feel very approachable.
One particularly nice idea was sharing the Instagram handles of the participants beforehand, giving everyone an opportunity to get to know each other before the event.
I soon found myself exchanging messages with fellow collectors, sometimes only realising afterwards that we'd be meeting in person in November.
I remember describing the whole thing to @watchstick_81 as a kind of blind date, just with Speedmasters. And in a way, that's exactly what it was.
Sunday, November 8 - Finally!
After months of anticipation, the day had finally arrived.
The venue was Parc Broekhuizen, a beautiful historic estate in Leersum, the Netherlands.
Parc Broekhuizen, Leersum - November 8, 2026
Photo: @watchstick_81
@watchstick_81 had told me beforehand that his family would be helping with the event, and that he hoped to create a personal, welcoming atmosphere.
His wife gave me an incredibly warm welcome as soon as I arrived. Shortly afterwards, I finally met @watchstick_81 himself.
We'd been exchanging messages for months, but this was our first meeting in person. It was good to finally shake hands after all those conversations.
The official GTG poster
Photo: @speedmasternotes
Two Rooms Full of Speedmasters
The GTG occupied much of the first floor of Parc Broekhuizen, with two beautiful rooms, the Serre and the Blauwe Kamer, dedicated to the collections and a separate salon for the presentations.
The organisers had been expecting around sixty enthusiasts from sixteen countries.
And what an assortment of watches they brought.
Display cases, watch rolls, original boxes, period catalogues, accessories and memorabilia covered the tables. Some collections were carefully organised by reference or period, while others were eclectic. You could easily spend half an hour at a single table.
One of the many collections on display
Photo: @speedmasternotes
For someone with a particular weakness for vintage Speedmasters, this was quite a sight.
From the CK 2915 and CK 2998 to the 105.012, 145.012 and later 145.022 references, decades of Speedmaster history were laid out in front of us.
Early references, including a 2998-2 and two 105.012 case variants
Photo: @speedmasternotes
There were well-preserved examples alongside watches with decades of genuine ageing, and dial and bezel variations that photographs don't always capture.
Of course, I could happily spend an entire afternoon discussing nothing more than the shape of a case or the position of a dot on a bezel. But I suspect I'm not alone in that particular affliction around here.
An early Speedmaster on the wrist
Photo: @PloProfesseur
One of the real pleasures of having so many watches in one place was the opportunity for direct comparisons. An original Ultraman alongside its modern Speedy Tuesday counterpart, for example, is not a pairing you encounter every day.
And the variety certainly didn't end with the classic Moonwatch.
Vintage Omega Speedmaster Professional ‘Orange Racing’
Photo: @PloProfesseur
Omega Speedmaster ‘Alaska Project’ (2008), with its red heat shield
Photo: @PloProfesseur
There were Speedy Tuesday editions, unusual dial configurations, special editions, precious-metal Speedmasters and models representing some of Omega's more adventurous design decisions over the decades.
One display brought together thirteen Speedmasters in a dedicated Speedy Tuesday presentation case.
A dedicated thirteen-watch Speedy Tuesday display
Photo: @PloProfesseur
And then there were the collections that went well beyond the watches themselves. Original packaging, old advertisements, historical documentation, mission patches and other space-related memorabilia added another dimension to the displays.
Period Omega literature and memorabilia
Photo: @PloProfesseur
They showed how differently collectors explore and preserve the history surrounding these watches.
The People Behind the Watches
But as impressive as the collections were, the highlight for me was something else entirely: the people.
Suddenly, conversations that had started online were continuing face to face, with the actual watches right there in front of us.
Examining a watch with its owner, hearing how it was acquired, or finding out why a tiny detail matters to them is different from scrolling through photos.
A photograph can show you a beautiful Speedmaster. It cannot quite convey the enthusiasm of the person explaining what makes it special to them.
Throughout the day, watches were compared, examined and occasionally exchanged between wrists for a closer look.
A spontaneous comparison of watches on the wrist
Photo: @speedmasternotes
Several PloProfs even found themselves together for a little GTG of their own.
A mini PloProf GTG within the GTG
Photo: @PloProfesseur
Put enough watch enthusiasts in one place, and sooner or later they'll start arranging watches into groups and comparing the smallest details.
Something to Learn, Too
The afternoon programme also included three short presentations, each followed by a Q&A session.
An Omega product manager discussed the technical challenges and possibilities of ceramic watchmaking. The co-authors of Moonwatch Only offered a first glimpse of the upcoming fourth edition of their book. And a presentation from Moonwatch Universe explored the history of NASA-issued Omega Speedmasters, supported by historical spaceflight photography.
The presentation salon during the afternoon programme
Photo: @watchstick_81
For me, the Moonwatch Only presentation was of particular interest. Those books have accompanied my own journey into vintage Speedmasters and have certainly contributed to my fascination with all the small details.
I also had the pleasure of a longer conversation with one of the co-authors during the GTG.
After countless hours with the books, it was a pleasure to talk watches with someone behind that research.
That's another aspect I hadn't fully appreciated beforehand: the opportunity to meet people whose research and knowledge have helped shape the way so many of us approach collecting.
My Own Little Contribution
Of course, I had brought a few watches myself.
Well, perhaps a few more than originally intended.
Being a first-time participant, I wasn't entirely sure how many Speedmasters would be appropriate to bring along. Apparently, my solution was to stop worrying about the number and bring two cases.
For the larger case, I'd even prepared a custom illustration of the Apollo 11 mission trajectory for the inside of the lid, specifically for this GTG.
My two cases, with the custom Apollo 11 mission graphic
Photo: @PloProfesseur
It was great fun sharing parts of my collection with fellow enthusiasts, particularly when someone recognised a reference or wanted to have a closer look.
But having spent so much time preparing my own little display, I quickly discovered that the really interesting part was wandering off to see what everyone else had brought. And there was certainly no shortage of distractions.
Six Hours Weren't Nearly Enough
One thing I completely underestimated was how quickly the day would pass.
Between examining watches, meeting fellow collectors, discussing fascinating references and simply enjoying the atmosphere, the hours seemed to disappear.
There were still so many watches I would have liked to examine more closely. And quite a few people I would have liked to spend more time talking to.
By the time it was over, I felt I had only begun to take it all in.
Looking back, I think what impressed me most was how naturally everything came together.
Collectors from many countries, two rooms filled with watches and an impressive programme - yet the atmosphere stayed relaxed and personal.
@watchstick_81 had told me beforehand that he wanted the GTG to feel like a gathering of one big watch family. Having experienced it for myself, I now understand what he meant.
A huge thank you to @watchstick_81, his wife, his family and everyone who helped organise such a memorable day.
And a special thank you to @Aludic for introducing me to this group of collectors in the first place.
Thanks also to everyone I had the pleasure of meeting and talking to throughout the day, and to @PloProfesseur and @watchstick_81 for sharing their photographs.
After months of looking forward to this GTG, I left feeling that I'd barely scratched the surface.
If I could ask for just one thing at the next one, it would be simple:
More time.
