Hi everyone, just got this little beauty delivered today, a watch I bought at Chrono24 from a Japanese seller. The watch is in a fantastic condition with a very nice patina and well preserved.

I am trying to find out the production year of this watch and it is hard to say. I have looked at
http://www.chronomaddox.com/speedy_history_cm.html#Reduced_Speedmaster
Looks like from the watch is from 1988? But not sure because it has a 53xxxxxx engraved on the caseback. Maybe the caseback has been changed ?

Caseback OMEGA serial number 53032018
Movement: Brass OMEGA movement 45 Jewels, 1140
Stamped with 2990-2 + inscription B2A
Inside the caseback: ST.175-0032

I will appreciate your advice or thought about this watch.

Many thanks!!

 

Can`t answer for your other questions but for age you can check here:
http://www.chronomaddox.com/speedy_history_cm.html#DA_175.0043

 

Most of the online serial lists including Chuck's really aren't much use on newer pieces ie those from after ~1980.

I would estimate that piece at around 1993 give or take a year. Nothing seems to be out of place for that era.

 

Looks to me as if the back has been machined off and the serial & signature re-engraved. It should have the stamped hippocampus. If that's the real serial number I'd say 1992/3. My 54,555xxx normally comes out to 1993/4 on the latest lists of serial numbers.

 

Thanks MRC for your reply.
When we look at the Omega DB serial number it stated "OMEGA SERIAL NUMBERS EXCLUDING SPEEDMASTER". I wonder if the speedmaster reduced is considered or not in this section. If yes that could explain my mystery. Also my watch has 45 jewels not 46?

 

I have no idea if the full-size "Automatics", "Reduced", "Schumacher" etc are included -- and probably neither do the internet pundits. Are you familiar with Sturgeon's law? For stuff on the internet we should consider the thought that he was an optimist.

In a 5 minute surf of the 'net I have seen 42, 45, 46 and 47 quoted. Who counted, or just took a WAG?

I've noticed another anomaly with your case-back. Tomorrow I'll take the bracelet off mine and get a decent picture. Sorry not this evening, I'm a drink or two down and not about to pull out the spring-bar tool

 

The heavy weight spring bar tool can wait..... I was trying to see if there is a relation between the production year and the 42 jewels if this make sense.

 

The Cal. 1140 had 45 jewels, and the newer caliber 3220 has 47.

 

This what the back should look like:


Notice that the serial number is curved to follow the change in surface.

 

It may well have looked like that by 54.5m serial models, but earlier ones did have text only casebacks AFAIK so I don't think there is anything odd about the OP watch personally. It is a little unusual to see the serial stamped on the back like that on a very early one, but as we agree, this isnt one of the very earliest. The OP watch was presumably a transition between plain text (no seahorse) back, then plain text plus serial then onto full Hippocampus back.

An examples of the earliest backs are shown below, it was also discussed here with another example:

https://omegaforums.net/threads/no-serial-number-on-the-speedmaster-reduced.23345/#post-255391

 

Interesting observation, mine is not curved. I will investigate and see if I can find other caseback with the OMEGA engraved logo and serial numbers. Most of similar caseback I have seem do not have a serial number engraved.

 

Looking at your bracelet and comparing to my bracelet. Your bracelet has the 811 stamped on the 2 links and mine is not. The 811 stamp is on the clamp only? Is isn't weird ?

 

I hope someone tied one end of a ball of string to the entrance of this Rabbit Hole. And still has hold of the ball



On the clasp of a bracelet is the number in a circle the last digit of year plus month? My bracelet is 32 in a circle (1993 February?) with 1469 only, and 811 on the end-links. I don't own a Rolex but know more about their (Gay Freres) bracelets than Omega's.

Puzzled of Tunbridge Wells.

 

No the number in the circle is generally the clasp number (not bracelet number) and certainly not date related. As I think you already suspect, you are overthinking things.

ps the watch I show above isn’t mine, I pulled it from the ether as an example of an early back. During the 1980s Omega did use these ugly plain backs on several pieces eg the Pre-Bond but they soon realised that a bit of decoration was a good idea.

 

Make sense for me. But it is commun on the reduced speedmaster bracelet by not having the 811 stamped on the 2 endlinks ?

 

Exactly like the one on my watch.

 

@PATLONG that’s a peach of a watch. I’m a big fan of these. May I ask what that brown leather strap is? Thanks

 

It is a 18mm calfskin vintage leather strap made by BisonStrap. It is black but looks chocolate brown. You can get it from Amazon.