The Tardigrade Omega Speedmaster

Post 1; Intro

Dear Ladies and Gents

I’m new here on Omegaforums and the owner of a Speedmaster ’57 Omega Co-Axial Chronograph 41.5mm Caliber 9300 (331.10.42.51.03.001).

It has been great reading about other people’s watches so I intend to give it back with this thread, however my intention is to only have this one about this particular watch, let’s see how it goes.

I find it uncomfortable to spend 4-8000 Euros on a wristwatch that a 3-400 Euros watch can solve just as efficient but life would be dull without these things - I also have a pair of Italian shoes and a Zippo, which neither makes much sense but feels good.

For the last 15 years my wrist have had a great relationship with a Seiko Arctura Kinetic where the rotor charges a battery which runs the Quarts movement with a power reserve of 4-5 weeks, the first battery lasted 10 years and I never felt for measuring its precision since it wasn’t an issue. I like things that has quality and see ageing as a measurement of quality, something a Tardigrade appreciate.


(More posts will follow)

Post 2; Why Omega Speedmaster?

Years back I studied Mech. Eng. with a guy, an Omega watchmaker, who explained me a bit about the mechanics behind the sapphire crystal, this never really left my mind and a few years ago I decided it was time for the watch of my life. I have always liked watches and measurement instruments so a mechanical chronograph seemed as a good mix and something to help ease my mid-life crisis (not really).

So after reading the Internet from A to Z and finding all the answers I wanted and needed (of course ignoring those I didn’t like) I decided for this particular Omega watch because of:

- “Modern” Co-Axial escapement, reduced friction is something we try to achieve everywhere and it’s a cool name.
- Silicon balance-spring, love the idea of new materials, my preference for materials are always about which gives the best results and this seemed a good choice.
- Date window - is a must for me, and this one is not entangled in one of the sub-dials.
- Chronograph - it’s an instrument, I have never needed one but decided I would now.
- 10 years since 9300 introduction, which mean birth defects by now should have been identified and corrected.
- Watertight to 100m/10bar, I swim daily and have absolutely no intention of not using my wristwatch in water (and I didn’t want a screw down version)
- 42mm case size with the simple 3-piece wrist chain, it overall seemed lighter than the others I looked at and I have spaghetti arms.
- The GMT function, I travel a bit more than average and hate to set my watch each time.
- The Blue dial, also liked the white and if black was the only available I would probably have decided to like that too…
- It has been to the Moon - Nope! I’m actually not impressed, even Tardigrades can survive there, send it to Venus and I will be - I dare you Omega!
- [feel free to fill in other things I should like about this watch and help me with motives for spending this amount of money]

I could probably have got similar functions with a Seamaster but I just don’t like the design, so never looked in that direction.

A Rolex Daytona is also super cool but the price is too much for what I believe a (my) wristwatch should cost.

(More posts will follow)

Nice blue color dial in the sunset

Using the watch to keep track of lap times,

The luminosity is incredible strong

Nice watch, welcome ! Are you happy with the thickness ?

Thanks!
I would have preferred 2mm thinner, but when that is said the thickness is not a subject of annoyance and due to the recessed back it doesn't look foolish either.

Post 3; Buying it

Since I have been in Qatar every month for the last two years, and the country is without VAT it seemed obvious I started looking here. I also looked in airports, all prices seems to be the same, and I would have to claim TAX-refund after.

I simply went around Doha and asked in the shops for price and available models, also used.

What I found out is that the used market don’t have many Omega Speedmaster’s and even less with caliber 9300 or 9900 - not to mention availability of box, certificate, service, etc… (there’s a shitload of used Rolex here but only found one Daytona)

On Qatarliving.qa there are sometimes some really good offers, but you need to be around when they announce.

I went with the Omega Boutiques; being new into mechanical watches, I preferred a new watch with box, receipt, certificate and full warranty. So the work began; how to get as low price as possible? I found out there is often un-announced discounts set by the shop management at 10 to 25%. 25% is only around Eid, Qatar National day or some special event.

The shops don’t announce this, so I just asked every time I came by, sometimes they also told when the next discount was; like “come back next week and we have 20%”. However, the seller cannot give you more discount than allowed by the management and it’s a waste of time to even try. Apparently, the sellers get a fixed reward for selling a watch so they quickly give you the full possible discount - sometimes like in 5 seconds.

They also have these annoying discount vouchers to get discount for your next watch…. What to use that for? Wait a second!.... If I get a 50% discount voucher… and find another who can use it…. Hmmm what a hassle… What person know about another person who want to buy a watch soon?

The salesman does. If you give him a day or three to find another buyer (and another, this is can be a chain for him) he will give you e.g. 35% and use the voucher for the other buyer which also gets 35% etc. etc.. The salesman takes the 15% for himself and a loss with the last voucher, but done right its good business for him.

Long story shorter: I got the watch for 5000 Euros (price in Qatar is 7600 Euros, similar to 7500 in Vienna Airport), with receipt, certificates and all. Without any hassle of TAX-refund or internet purchase, I liked this setup. It’s not a bargain but neither easy to find it much cheaper - I think.

And I used two years to decide and find right price….. LMAO

(More posts will follow)

On my trip visiting watch shops I stumbled upon this Bling Bling Seamaster caliber 9900.
Selling price was 85,000.00 Euros (350,000 Qatar Riyal), it is special made for Qatar and the back is decorated with diamonds and ruby in the Qatar flag color scheme. Also note they have added diamonds everywhere there is room for it on the case and the "thingy" you turn.
The wrist band is leather and sewn with titanium thread and cost itself 4000 euros (as I remember, it's a while ago looked at it). It's an original Omega build and not aftermarket added bling bling.