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Variations of the Schumacher Reduced

Marcello130
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Hi everyone
I was recently looking for a Schumi reduced and noticed that there are many different versions referred to as “Schumachers”, some more common than others, and some even called so on the case vs others stemming from Schumacher advertising rather than an official dedication to Schumacher by Omega.
I own an MK40 for example, which is somehow referred to as Schumacher but seems to be one of the examples that are “unofficially” referred to as such.
The most common seem to be those with the red/blue/yellow dials, but then there are even some rare variations like the ones presented in this thread, which I have Personally never seen on the market.
So does anyone have a definitive answer on what is the official Schumi?
And has anyone ever seen one of the variations like the green or black one?
Cheers!

IMG_4522.webp IMG_0889.webp IMG_1376.webp
 
lucreative
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Depends on how limited you want the Omega Schumacher to be. The yellow and red dial, (maybe blue as well) Speedmaster Reduced Schumachers from 1996 with the rubber tire cases are the first original ones, but they were made in unlimited quantities. I consider them the official Schumachers. Then came the more limited edition Schumachers.
 
lucreative
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I actually think the original Rubber Tire case full set is the official one, which finding is much more rare than just the red, yellow, or blue Schumacher Reduced only.
 
Marcello130
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lucreative lucreative
Depends on how limited you want the Omega Schumacher to be. The yellow and red dial, (maybe blue as well) Speedmaster Reduced Schumachers from 1996 with the rubber tire cases are the first original ones, but they were made in unlimited quantities. I consider them the official Schumachers. Then came the more limited edition Schumachers.
Okay - and have you seen any of the black / green ones?
 
lucreative
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Marcello130 Marcello130
Okay - and have you seen any of the black / green ones?
The only black Schumachers I've seen are special/limited edition dials that came after the yellow/red/blue Reduced. The green one, some say yellow, looks like a different shade of yellow that someone tried to sell on watchuseek as the alleged 1st Schumacher. However, I have never heard or seen that variant. And it just looks like the Speedmaster Reduced with a date window at 9, instead of the no date yellow/red/blue with the white track around the dial. I still think the Rubber Tire case is what makes the original Schumacher.
 
069FFM
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lucreative lucreative
The only black Schumachers I've seen are special/limited edition dials that came after the The green one, some say yellow, looks like a different shade of yellow that someone tried to sell on watchuseek as the alleged 1st Schumacher. However, I have never heard or seen that variant. And it just looks like the Speedmaster Reduced with a date window at 9, instead of the no date yellow/red/blue with the white track around the dial. I still think the Rubber Tire case is what makes the original Schumacher.
The green one from that screenshot I can confirm as existing, as it keeps my red one company. The black & white one I have never seen for sale anywhere, but I figure these watches are from a time when promotional photos weren’t photoshopped, so at least one probably exists.

IMG_5497.webp
 
069FFM
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….by black & white I’m referring to the second from the left in the screenshot from the link in OPs post.

IMG_3587.webp
 
Marcello130
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Ah that’s interesting; so now we only need to find the black one 😉
But the one in green seems to be much rarer .. at least I haven’t come across one before.
Alright so I understand the only original Schumacher is the one came in the rubber wheel set, plus those that have Schumi written on them, of course.
The MK40 is then not at all a “Schumi” even if many refer to it as such …
 
lucreative
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Marcello130 Marcello130
Ah that’s interesting; so now we only need to find the black one 😉
But the one in green seems to be much rarer .. at least I haven’t come across one before.
Alright so I understand the only original Schumacher is the one came in the rubber wheel set, plus those that have Schumi written on them, of course.
The MK40 is then not at all a “Schumi” even if many refer to it as such …
This recommened thread popped up below this thread. May answer some questions as well.

https://omegaforums.net/threads/mk40-schumacher-on-ebay.177557/ Cover Image
Thread 'Mk40 Schumacher on eBay' ·
I've always wanted a Mk40 Schumacher, and came across this on eBay - it comes with the 'Authenticity Guarantee' which gives me some comfort, but nothing else in terms of papers, receipts or box...
Impgreene ·
 
Archer
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Marcello130 Marcello130
The MK40 is then not at all a “Schumi” even if many refer to it as such …
It’s not a “reduced” either…
 
Marcello130
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Archer Archer
It’s not a “reduced” either…
Yes not in terms of branding but it has the reduced case ?!
 
Archer
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Marcello130 Marcello130
Yes not in terms of branding but it has the reduced case ?!
No. All “reduced” models use a modular chronograph movement. The watch known as the Mk. 40 uses an Omega variant of the ETA 7750 integrated chronograph movement. It would be a Speedmaster date to auto model, not a reduced. Different case than the reduced.
 
Marcello130
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I understand what you mean. For it to be a reduced, it would need to have the “sandwich” architecture where the crown does not sit in a straight line with the pushers, correct?
These models also have a different bracelet. I modified the endlinks of my 7750 so the 1469 fits correctly.
 
Evitzee
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There was the reduced Schumacher black Racing dial, Ref 3518.50, commemorating his year 2000 championship, a 6,000 piece edition. That watch had "2000 Championship" and Schumacher's signature on the back along with a signed black box and accompanying literature. That came out in early 2001. That was his first win with Ferrari and he was heavily promoted by Omega after that. The earlier colored dials from 1996/97 were low keyed affairs because Schumacher wasn't as famous then and he was just starting driving for Ferrari. The watches didn't carry any Schumacher markings, only the trick tire box had his signature. A former Benneton champion driver just doesn't have the same cache as a champion Scuderia Ferrari driver.
Edited:
 
Marcello130
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Evitzee Evitzee
There was the reduced Schumacher black Racing dial, Ref 3518.50, commemorating his year 2000 championship, a 6,000 piece edition. That came out in early 2001.
Yeah but that one is much different from the one seen above.
 
padders
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There are also Scumacher branded Broad Arrow Speedmasters from around the same period. Personally I’d seek out one of those over any flavour of Reduced or Mk40. Particularly since the latter only has a tenuous link to the man himself but is still preferable to the Reduced in some ways.

In reality Omega applied a scatter gun approach to the tie up with Schumy, and as such diluted the claim of any one watch to be the definitive special IMO.
 
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