Here on Speedy Tuesday we like to cover vintage Speedmaster watches as well as modern models. A question we often receive though, is which current models we think will be the classics of tomorrow. By modern, we mean the models that can be bought new today. Models like the Omega Speedmaster Pro Snoopy Award (2003) and Apollo XIII (1995), the panda dialed Mitsukoshi (2003) and Apollo 11 35th Anniversary (2004), there are still relatively modern and became very sought after. Not from the start I have to say. Some of these models were in the shops for a long time […]

The post Speedy Tuesday – Will the Speedmaster Apollo XI 45th Anniversary And Tintin Be The Classics Of Tomorrow? appeared first on Fratello Watches.

 

Wow I had no idea Tintin was an Omega ambassador.
Too bad his creators aren't on board.

Kinda making me rethink my time-only sub-seconds addiction.

 

I didn't do so as it is not really in the current collection But that is definitely a solid buy as well for sure.

 

First off, I absolutely love Speedy Tuesday, thank you Robert-Jan, keep up the great work.

As owner of both pieces in this article, I'm biased and couldn't agree more with RJ about their strong potential to be highly collectable later, of course you never know, we enthusiasts and collectors can be a fickle bunch. I'll throw some additional information/speculation/rumor into the mix regarding Tintin, my source is someone at Omega: I've also been told the Tintin is going out of production. When they first began this project, they had a set number of movements but no product idea... a person at Omega that had tried to pitch a Tintin collaboration in the past and had been shut down brought it back up and this time the powers-at-be liked it. Of course, we all know, Herge in their infinite stupidity^H^H^H^H^H^H^H wisdom elected not to join this project, but no matter, the pattern and colors are not protected, they dropped the rocket emblem but kept the outer band checkerboard pattern, and we all know this watch by its popular designation - Tintin ! This watch hasn't been produced in large numbers, and has been a slow seller completely under the radar with no marketing at all by Omega, that's always a great combination for collectors. I've seen Tintin's in a couple of the boutiques in the last few months including Houston and San Diego, but you better hurry if you want one.

 

I recently saw the Tintin watch at the boutique in Florence and have to say it was a great looking piece in person. Much more attractive on the wrist than in the pictures I have seen.

 

My first visit to an Omega boutique a couple years ago had the Tintin on prominent display. I knew about the Speedmaster heritage but this watch really said "Spaceship!" to me and I wasn't sure why.

Only later reading the Speedy Tuesday article did I realize the color scheme came right from the Tintin Destination Moon comics that I enjoyed as a child.

Now it's on my list, collectable or not...

 

When I went to pick-up my watches, the boutique manager I deal with told me in no uncertain times that the TinTin has been discontinued and has been out of production for sometime.

Max

 

Me too! On both counts.

 

I don't see Tintin or the 45th ever being that hard to get, and therefore the price won't inflate that much.

Even a 35th Apollo 11 can be had for 4200, and that was one of the best ever.

I think only 321s and pre-moons, etc, in fantastic original condition are worth collecting. EVERY other speedmaster is too easy to get (thankfully).

 

Even the various short run LEs?

 

Don't think that i.e these are easy to get
- 376.0822
- 345.0809
- apollo soyuz 1975

 

The fact you compared those three to Tintin is funny.

 

And IMO, it's the moonphase that's getting phased out, not Tintin. They updated Tintin's ref # to reflect the new system, and didn't update 3576.50.

 

Completely agreed! Join the fun:

 

3, 2, 1...

 

Great shot!

 

I love all the limited edition Speedy's. I think supply and demand drive most of the value proposition of the watches. Take the 1975 Apollo Soyuz, nothing special at the time but only 500 pieces made, completely overlooked and almost panned... now, good luck trying to find one on the open market for anything but a crazy price. When I look at the LE's, I have to love the watch first, and second, I consider how many pieces were made, if we skip the gold and platinum variations, and the "mission" watches, we have the common LE's as:

1975 Apollo-Soyuz: 500
1989 Apollo XI 20th: 6,250
1994 Apollo XI 25th: 2,500
1995 Apollo XIII: 999
1999 Apollo XI 30th: 9999
2002 LAST MAN ON THE MOON: 3000
2003 SNOOPY: 5,441
2004 Apollo XI Panda 35th : 3,500
2004 FROM THE MOON TO MARS: Number unknown, not strictly limited
2005 Gemini IV: 2005
2006 APOLLO XV 35th: 1971
2008 ALASKA PROJECT: 1970
2009 APOLLO XI 40th: 7969
2010 Speedyorite: 1975
2011: APOLLO XV 40th: 1971
2014: APOLLO XI 45th: 1969

Highest mintage LE's are: Snoopy and some of the Apollo XI's (20th, 30th, 40th). Not surprising you see those a lot more frequently on the secondary market. The lower mintages, anything under 2000, tends to be harder to find in great condition, and pricey, and I like going after those. Gemini and Panda are definitely two on my hit list.

Nobody knows for sure how many Tintin's were minted... If anybody has a clue, please share. If the rumors are true, it is somewhere in the same range as these LE's.

 

Great info.