The Omega Speedmaster "TinTin"...

rob#1 · Sep 26, 2018

When I purchased my plain old bog-standard Speedy I actually came across two Tintins from different dealers. I often wonder if I should have got one instead as I loved the look of the original racing dial Speedies, and the red writing on the case back is a nice touch. However, I felt that the watch just wasn’t ‘me’ and went with the classic design...
Has there been any clarification on the total number produced (maybe they’re still making them!), as I can understand the ST prices holding or increasing as they were relatively small batches? I really can’t see how they can be worth the extra $$$$

Pun · Sep 26, 2018

This watch and it’s related information is shrouded in mystery since it’s launched five years ago, therefore, it’s not strange that we still can’t say for sure about the numbers of watches produced or are still being produced, as you feel, but all this adds to the strange aura this watch is gradually gathering around itself. That may be the reason behind it’s price increase. Just my 2 cents.

davy26 · Sep 27, 2018

rob#1
When I purchased my plain old bog-standard Speedy I actually came across two Tintins from different dealers. I often wonder if I should have got one instead as I loved the look of the original racing dial Speedies, and the red writing on the case back is a nice touch. However, I felt that the watch just wasn’t ‘me’ and went with the classic design...
Has there been any clarification on the total number produced (maybe they’re still making them!), as I can understand the ST prices holding or increasing as they were relatively small batches? I really can’t see how they can be worth the extra $$$$

Always best to go with how you 'feel' - as you say, 'it just wasn't me,' - rather than buying because others are creating hype around a particular model. I was myself tempted by the Tintin for quite a while, but I realised that it would be a poor substitute for what I really craved, a 3570.40 Racing. The Racing dials are considerably 'richer' in detail and much nicer aesthetically than the Tintin.

Whether or not production was limited to quite a small number would to me be not too important. For its long term collectability I'd suggest a downside is the fact that the design concept was not fully implemented - surely there's something else, (often said to be a rocket image), missing on that dial? I know some are suggesting the 'story' around the halting of the project as originally planned makes the watch collectible, (like a postage stamp with a printing error), but that's something that 'exists' only conceptually - and not visually - outside the watch itself, and is not an especially interesting matter in any case.

Lonestar · Sep 27, 2018

To me the Tintin is a perfectly decent substiture to the 3570.40 indeed... The Tintin value started picking up when the Japan Racing value started hitting 5-figure USD prices. It all makes sense... and both are lovely 😀

Pun · Sep 27, 2018

davy26
Always best to go with how you 'feel' - as you say, 'it just wasn't me,' - rather than buying because others are creating hype around a particular model. I was myself tempted by the Tintin for quite a while, but I realised that it would be a poor substitute for what I really craved, a 3570.40 Racing. The Racing dials are considerably 'richer' in detail and much nicer aesthetically than the Tintin.

Whether or not production was limited to quite a small number would to me be not too important. For its long term collectability I'd suggest a downside is the fact that the design concept was not fully implemented - surely there's something else, (often said to be a rocket image), missing on that dial? I know some are suggesting the 'story' around the halting of the project as originally planned makes the watch collectible, (like a postage stamp with a printing error), but that's something that 'exists' only conceptually - and not visually - outside the watch itself, and is not an especially interesting matter in any case.

Yes you have a valid point in view of the story behind TinTin. Only time will tell if collectors remain interested in that story and therefore in the watch or not.

Skipper_S · Sep 27, 2018

this is the (yearly price progress) that chrono24 gives:

BlackTalon · Sep 27, 2018

That is pretty cool. I did not know they track sold prices.

Skipper_S · Sep 27, 2018

This tool is included in your "Watch Collection" section on chrono24.
You can add your watch, price, condition etc and then you can see this chart.
You can try it even if you dont own the model... and it will be in your language too 😉

actually they give a price range for your watch by taking into consideration the previous sold prices and current listing prices...and they give you the median which today is 5467€ (4878€ low - 6056€ high)

septentrio · Sep 27, 2018

Never liked the tintin, kind of neglects the understated Speedy look if you ask me. I do see prices steadily increasing.

Redbirdsfan70 · Sep 27, 2018

davy26
Always best to go with how you 'feel' - as you say, 'it just wasn't me,' - rather than buying because others are creating hype around a particular model. I was myself tempted by the Tintin for quite a while, but I realised that it would be a poor substitute for what I really craved, a 3570.40 Racing. The Racing dials are considerably 'richer' in detail and much nicer aesthetically than the Tintin.

Whether or not production was limited to quite a small number would to me be not too important. For its long term collectability I'd suggest a downside is the fact that the design concept was not fully implemented - surely there's something else, (often said to be a rocket image), missing on that dial? I know some are suggesting the 'story' around the halting of the project as originally planned makes the watch collectible, (like a postage stamp with a printing error), but that's something that 'exists' only conceptually - and not visually - outside the watch itself, and is not an especially interesting matter in any case.

I think the story behind Tintin is exactly what makes it interesting to collectors along with the fact that it looks pretty damn cool in the metal. There is enough information out there from RJB as well as others in this thread to make the story stick. Collectors love stories like these and with documented articles on reputable sites like Fratello, it's not just speculation.

The Father · Oct 1, 2018

Tintin on EBay with box/papers sold for $5900. It appears the bottom is falling out if the market

mokofoko · Oct 4, 2018

rob#1
When I purchased my plain old bog-standard Speedy I actually came across two Tintins from different dealers. I often wonder if I should have got one instead as I loved the look of the original racing dial Speedies, and the red writing on the case back is a nice touch. However, I felt that the watch just wasn’t ‘me’ and went with the classic design...
Has there been any clarification on the total number produced (maybe they’re still making them!), as I can understand the ST prices holding or increasing as they were relatively small batches? I really can’t see how they can be worth the extra $$$$

I forgot who it was, but one of the higher-ups at Omega (the same guy who has one of the two prototypes with the rocket on the dial) said there were roughly ~3000 made. That's probably about the most accurate answer we'll ever get on the matter. 3000 actually feels a bit high, but that's still a pretty low number considering we're unlikely to ever see this dial reprinted again.

mokofoko · Oct 4, 2018

Lonestar
To me the Tintin is a perfectly decent substiture to the 3570.40 indeed... The Tintin value started picking up when the Japan Racing value started hitting 5-figure USD prices. It all makes sense... and both are lovely 😀

I love the Japan Racing dial. That color scheme is just beautiful.

Skipper_S · Oct 4, 2018

mokofoko
I forgot who it was, but one of the higher-ups at Omega (the same guy who has one of the two prototypes with the rocket on the dial) said there were roughly ~3000 made. That's probably about the most accurate answer we'll ever get on the matter. 3000 actually feels a bit high, but that's still a pretty low number considering we're unlikely to ever see this dial reprinted again.

I would bet that the number of production is between 1950 up to 1954 based on the below comics' published years.

"Tintin Destination Moon" is the sixteenth volume of The Adventures of Tintin, the comics series by Belgian cartoonist Hergé. The story was initially serialised weekly in Belgium's Tintin magazine from March to September 1950 before being published in a collected volume by Casterman in 1953. (Source: Wikipedia)

"TinTin Explorers on the Moon" is the seventeenth volume of The Adventures of Tintin, the comics series by Belgian cartoonist Hergé. The story was serialised weekly in Belgium's Tintin magazine from October 1952 to December 1953 before being published in a collected volume by Casterman in 1954 (Source: Wikipedia)

It was supposed to be a LE as a tribute to those two stories made by Herge so Omega could use those years ( 1950-1954) for this LE code.

Ree · Oct 4, 2018

mokofoko
I forgot who it was, but one of the higher-ups at Omega (the same guy who has one of the two prototypes with the rocket on the dial) said there were roughly ~3000 made. That's probably about the most accurate answer we'll ever get on the matter. 3000 actually feels a bit high, but that's still a pretty low number considering we're unlikely to ever see this dial reprinted again.

FYI The other thread has been updated with the following information:
https://omegaforums.net/threads/speedy-tintin-information-gathering.33387/

repoman
EDIT: In July 2018, Robert-Jan Broer asserted there were less than 2000 made. RJ is very credible, so I'm once again revising my estimate here, based on his assertion.

mokofoko · Oct 4, 2018

Skipper_S
I would bet that the number of production is between 1950 up to 1954 based on the below comics' published years.

"Tintin Destination Moon" is the sixteenth volume of The Adventures of Tintin, the comics series by Belgian cartoonist Hergé. The story was initially serialised weekly in Belgium's Tintin magazine from March to September 1950 before being published in a collected volume by Casterman in 1953. (Source: Wikipedia)

"TinTin Explorers on the Moon" is the seventeenth volume of The Adventures of Tintin, the comics series by Belgian cartoonist Hergé. The story was serialised weekly in Belgium's Tintin magazine from October 1952 to December 1953 before being published in a collected volume by Casterman in 1954 (Source: Wikipedia)

It was supposed to be a LE as a tribute to those two stories made by Herge so Omega could use those years ( 1950-1954) for this LE code.

Very nice, this is the first time I've seen this idea floated about, but it certainly is logical. Omega has done things like that before. That's assuming they didn't increase production after they decided to make it a normal edition. But I'm quite happy going with the lower-end of the spectrum 😀 I'm sure they also created a number of service dials as well, but there's no guessing how many of those were made. I know I've seen at least two generic moonwatches sporting tintin service dials.

Ree
FYI The other thread has been updated with the following information:
https://omegaforums.net/threads/speedy-tintin-information-gathering.33387/

Thanks for that! I haven't been very active here in the last year, so I missed that update. He certainly is a credible source, so I'm satisfied with that number!