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Who/what got you into Speedmasters?
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gearjockey
·I bet it was Stafford Jewelers…which is no longer…they were an Omega AD.
Thinking about it…brains of the operation (Wife) says OSTERMAN
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josiahg52
·My mother had a stroke when I was in high school. On a break from the hospital one afternoon, our father took my brothers and I to a mall nearby to kill some time. I don't remember the jeweler - it might have been Zales or Ben Bridge - I saw a beautiful Omega Seamaster chronograph, a ref. 2296.80.00. I wanted it. I wanted an Omega.
A few years later, I joined the Navy and set about getting one. I got a Flying magazine subscription and every issue had a Speedmaster ad in it. I looked it up and couldn't understand why they were still building and selling a manual-winding watch with a plastic crystal and only 50m water resistance. The Moon connection did nothing for me.
Watches and life are weird. I finally came around to the Speedmaster but I don't remember exactly what prompted my desire in ~2012. When I finally decided I wanted one, I knew I didn't want a "Moon" watch so that meant one before ~1970 which meant a 145.022 which actually covers a lot of years and versions. Then I round out about step dials and DON and pusher styles and etc. . . . I was hooked. Found a 145.022-69ST that needed a service but appeared all original. It was my first Omega. Later, I got my Replica. Ah, back when these things were "cheap". Don't think they cost me much over $2000 as a pair. Definitely less than $3000.
I never got that titanium chronograph I saw when I was younger but ended up with a ref. 2298.80.00 after different watches - and a few Omegas - passed through my hands or kept. I'd like to send the Speedmaster away to fully restored, made completely watertight, made to look perfect, etc. but it's good as it is.
A few years later, I joined the Navy and set about getting one. I got a Flying magazine subscription and every issue had a Speedmaster ad in it. I looked it up and couldn't understand why they were still building and selling a manual-winding watch with a plastic crystal and only 50m water resistance. The Moon connection did nothing for me.
Watches and life are weird. I finally came around to the Speedmaster but I don't remember exactly what prompted my desire in ~2012. When I finally decided I wanted one, I knew I didn't want a "Moon" watch so that meant one before ~1970 which meant a 145.022 which actually covers a lot of years and versions. Then I round out about step dials and DON and pusher styles and etc. . . . I was hooked. Found a 145.022-69ST that needed a service but appeared all original. It was my first Omega. Later, I got my Replica. Ah, back when these things were "cheap". Don't think they cost me much over $2000 as a pair. Definitely less than $3000.
I never got that titanium chronograph I saw when I was younger but ended up with a ref. 2298.80.00 after different watches - and a few Omegas - passed through my hands or kept. I'd like to send the Speedmaster away to fully restored, made completely watertight, made to look perfect, etc. but it's good as it is.
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FCA
·I was hooked the first time I saw a speedy, it was in the mid 80s when I passed a Omega dealers window.
The speedy was my first "expensive" watch but it took me 30 years to pull the trigger 🤨
The speedy was my first "expensive" watch but it took me 30 years to pull the trigger 🤨
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mydeafcat
·Who cares about Speedmasters? I do, and my near-overnight conversion was described in this post from a little over 4.5 years ago.
https://omegaforums.net/threads/speedmasters-like-who-cares.83180/
I thought the beautifully symmetry of the dial - and sub-dials - to be just too busy. That is until I realized how perfect these watches are. Alongside the countless enablers on OF, Dunkin Donuts gets the blame for getting me into Speedmasters; if not for them providing @Mad Dog with both the fuel and platform to showcase these beautiful chronographs, I’d be richer by a few grand.
https://omegaforums.net/threads/speedmasters-like-who-cares.83180/
I thought the beautifully symmetry of the dial - and sub-dials - to be just too busy. That is until I realized how perfect these watches are. Alongside the countless enablers on OF, Dunkin Donuts gets the blame for getting me into Speedmasters; if not for them providing @Mad Dog with both the fuel and platform to showcase these beautiful chronographs, I’d be richer by a few grand.
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watchyouwant
·Who cares about Speedmasters? I do, and my near-overnight conversion was described in this post from a little over 4.5 years ago.
https://omegaforums.net/threads/speedmasters-like-who-cares.83180/
I thought the beautifully symmetry of the dial - and sub-dials - to be just too busy. That is until I realized how perfect these watches are. Alongside the countless enablers on OF, Dunkin Donuts gets the blame for getting me into Speedmasters; if not for them providing @Mad Dog with both the fuel and platform to showcase these beautiful chronographs, I’d be richer by a few grand.
Richer by a few grand .... Which would you have spent on more donuts which made you fat and give you Diabetes and years of Gym subscriptions and misery .... Only to get back to the status before you saw the Speedy. Now you are happy, have a Speedmaster and avoided misery..... Big Win-Win !
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DoctorEvil
·Don't know if the Speedmaster FOIS counts but here goes...
It was 2019 and my wife wanted to get me a nice watch for my upcoming 50th Birthday. I was keen on getting an aviation inspired chronograph. Looked at the IWC pilot chrono and Breitling Navitimer, but both were way too big for me. Spotted the FOIS on Omega's website and that planted the seed. Later tried one on at an OB and I was smitten. Loved the straight lugs and alpha hands which made it look a bit more dressy than the Pro, which was important to me because I was planning to wear the watch with both casual and neat attire. It shared the Cal 1861 movement with the Pro, which gave it enough of an aerospace connection for me. Also preferred the sapphire crystal, and the lower price point compared to the Pro clinched the deal. It was just a happy coincidence that the chrono which best fit my wrist was also one of the most famous and iconic. It set me off on researching other references and learning more about the history. Today the FOIS is my daily wearer and I don't think that I'll ever sell it...
It was 2019 and my wife wanted to get me a nice watch for my upcoming 50th Birthday. I was keen on getting an aviation inspired chronograph. Looked at the IWC pilot chrono and Breitling Navitimer, but both were way too big for me. Spotted the FOIS on Omega's website and that planted the seed. Later tried one on at an OB and I was smitten. Loved the straight lugs and alpha hands which made it look a bit more dressy than the Pro, which was important to me because I was planning to wear the watch with both casual and neat attire. It shared the Cal 1861 movement with the Pro, which gave it enough of an aerospace connection for me. Also preferred the sapphire crystal, and the lower price point compared to the Pro clinched the deal. It was just a happy coincidence that the chrono which best fit my wrist was also one of the most famous and iconic. It set me off on researching other references and learning more about the history. Today the FOIS is my daily wearer and I don't think that I'll ever sell it...
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lillatroll
·I didn’t really like them, or at least couldn’t understand the fuss about them.Heading back to Malawi in 2017, I had a few hours to kill in Heathrow and saw one in the shop window. It was the first time I really understood for myself how well balanced the design was. I have little interest in the technical aspects of watches, it’s 99% the aesthetics of a watch where my interest lies.
Anyway, a few weeks after my Airport awakening the ST1 was released, and I reserved my first speedy. But I had to have a regular moonwatch and ended up buying a 1989 Apollo 20th anniversary edition.
I am not sure which watch would be my one watch if I had to have only one watch, but I think the classic moonwatch would be a top contender.
Anyway, a few weeks after my Airport awakening the ST1 was released, and I reserved my first speedy. But I had to have a regular moonwatch and ended up buying a 1989 Apollo 20th anniversary edition.
I am not sure which watch would be my one watch if I had to have only one watch, but I think the classic moonwatch would be a top contender.
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Togri v. 2.0
··Wow! Custom title... coolWas looking for a birthyear watch for my 30th birthday and not many brands had a model from 1985 that I wanted (that has since changed, now I find several of the 80s designs quite cool). And since I really wanted an Omega, a Speedy was the obvious choice. Got a really nice one from an OF seller.
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josiahg52
·
I think Chuck Maddox had quite a bit to do with my journey, as well, come to think of it.
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gbesq
·My stepfather wore one, I always admired it, and he knew it. When I graduated from high school, he and my mother handed me a gift wrapped box and inside was a brand new 1976 Speedmaster. I don’t own that watch anymore, but I’ve had a Speedmaster ever since. At the moment, it’s my 1969 Straight Writing.
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Archer
··Omega Qualified WatchmakerMy customers. To be honest, the whole "space" thing isn't meaningful to me at all in the context of Speedmasters. It's an off the self item that "failed the least" out of a bunch of off the shelf items, and I have much more respect/fascination with the things that had to be made specifically for the space program, where a real engineering challenge had to be overcome.
As a watch guy, I used to look at the Speedmasters and think "meh" and wondered what everyone was so excited about. It's only when I started servicing them, and seeing some vintage models, did they grow on me enough that when one of my customers decided to sell one, I made a deal and bought it. I then gifted that one to a friend of mine, and bought one here on the forum, that I wear more than any other watch I've ever owned.
As a watch guy, I used to look at the Speedmasters and think "meh" and wondered what everyone was so excited about. It's only when I started servicing them, and seeing some vintage models, did they grow on me enough that when one of my customers decided to sell one, I made a deal and bought it. I then gifted that one to a friend of mine, and bought one here on the forum, that I wear more than any other watch I've ever owned.
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pdxleaf
·My customers. To be honest, the whole "space" thing isn't meaningful to me at all in the context of Speedmasters....
You make a good point, but can't "Like" this.
As a watch guy, I used to look at the Speedmasters and think "meh" and wondered what everyone was so excited about. It's only when I started servicing them, and seeing some vintage models, did they grow on me enough that when one of my customers decided to sell one, I made a deal and bought it. I then gifted that one to a friend of mine, and bought one here on the forum, that I wear more than any other watch I've ever owned.
+ Like This 👍
Can only give half-like 😁
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eugeneandresson
·10/10 for effort Maddog…1/10 for not having Archibald-Nutsack-The-Third’s Ozzie twang 😁
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gbesq
·Remember that girl in high school? You know the one. She was in several of your classes. She wasn’t the most stunning girl in school, but she was beautiful. She wasn’t the valedictorian, but she was smart. She wasn’t trendy and didn’t follow fashion, but she always looked great. She wasn’t slutty, but she was sexy. She was straightforward, honest, to the point. Her smile was genuine and when she smiled at you, you felt a rush of adrenaline. You dreamed about her. Wondered if you were good enough for her. And if you were ever lucky enough to be with her, you somehow knew that she would rock your world and that she was the girl who you would someday marry. She was the female equivalent of the Speedmaster.
