Who/what got you into Speedmasters?

Dad gave me his 1969 Speedy when I was around 13, @1974-75
I wore it daily until I bought my Flighty in 1977, then they shared wrist time for many years. He took it back @ 25 years ago and sold it to bet on the horses.
Only relatively recently over the last 4 or 5 years have I really got back into watches.

I got into Speedmaster because once I saw one in person I just couldn't get the image out of my head.

It really is so much more stunning in person than the photos, so it was a no brainer to get the watch with such am amazing history.

My first Speedmaster, a basic ‘90s 861, was purchased in 1999 or 2000. For me back then it wasn’t really about getting interested in the Speedmaster… If you were a watch collector in New York City, hanging out with the sport/military watch collector’s crowd at the 26th St. flea market, it wasn’t really a matter of if you were going to own a Speedmaster, but when. I purchased mine based on price and condition only. There was nothing majorly special about it, other than the $1200 or $1300 price, which was pretty reasonable for a mint Speedy back then.

Every serious collector at the market owned one, be it an Ed White, a pre-moon, etc.

Sadly, the 1st watch was stolen during a break-in in 2001 or 2002. A bunch of watches were taken. I managed to retrieve a few at a local pawnshop with the help of the police. The Speedmaster actually turned up at the same flea market I visited every weekend. A Russian dealer had bought it. The police were brought in, but ultimately I couldn’t prove it was mine, because I was too stupid to document the serial number. I knew it was mine, and the dealer knew it was mine but he wasn’t about to eat the money he paid for it. The dealer couldn’t produce the paperwork to prove he bought the watch from a legitimate owner, so the cops confiscated it. I followed up a few times with them, but eventually that led nowhere. Somewhere out there is a retired desk sergeant wearing my watch.

I bought and sold the Speedy ‘57 Replica a couple of times in the interim years.

Fast forward to 2019. I had moved out of New York City the previous year. It was July 16 to be exact, when I found myself back in Manhattan for a quick visit. I had kept my eye out for the better part of two decades for a reasonably priced Speedmaster to replace the one I was robbed of. I was particularly interested in a birth year model… 1968.

On that hot July day, 50 years to the day of the Apollo 11 launch, I ventured up to 47th St., wandering among the dealers and stalls.

To my surprise, I found a 321 Speedy 145.012-67 in quite good condition, all original, at slightly below market value. I made it mine. There was some initial confusion as to its production date. Omega indicated in the Extract that it was 1969. I wrote to them asking them to double check and they confirmed it was actually 1968.

These days I don’t wear it much. It’s running great but I dread the idea of getting it serviced and a watchmaker messing up the gorgeous dial or damaging the hands. Then there’s the cost…

Eventually I’ll let it go, to another who can appreciate it as much as, or more than, I have.

For me, it started 11+ years ago. I was looking to buy my first luxury watch, as I wanted to upgrade from the Invicta. As I was researching, I came across Archie Luxury and a video where he compared 5 watches. I believe it was the sub, Reverso, speedy and two others I can't recall. I ended up buying a 3572.50 because I wanted the sapphire case back.

I still own it.

Then I found OF and became more hooked on Speedmaster watches. So much so that I started what I call the Speedmaster Decades Collection. Which is a Speedmaster from each decade one has lived. At some point I will add the 2220-2029 Speedmaster. Hopefully I can add three or four more.

My dad gave me his his 69 speedie when I was about 13…… about the best hand me down ever!…..apart from his Jaguar XJ12!

Growing up my dad had a Speedmaster that lived in his sock drawer. He said it was the same model as the Apollo astronauts used, and that it was the pinnacle of mechanical watches. I thought that was all cool, but the watch never really grabbed me. I was more interested in an old pocket watch he had. I think part of the issue was that it had a very poor redial and was on a weird 70s bracelet with ill-fitting endlinks.



This was the type of bracelet:



My father passed in 2019 and I inherited the watch. I did some research and found @Spacefruit's site and the forums. I got to researching and then was really hooked on Speedies. I wanted to restore the watch. Pretty quickly I was able to find a replacement dial and an 1171 which made a big improvement:



The watch is currently at the watchmakers for a 5-year service and to have this correct step dial installed:



At some point I would like to pick up an 1175 for the watch, but I am in no big rush. I'm not sure if the watch originally came on an 1175 or 1039. It is debatable, but I prefer the price and durability of an 1175. You can register your opinion based on fuzzy old photos here:

https://omegaforums.net/threads/which-moonwatch-bracelet-is-this.155479/

I grew up in the 1960's I remember watching all the space lunches from Mercury to Gemini then Apollo to the moon. I remember watching the moon landing live I remember all the gulf gas TV commercials when all that stuff was on TV. A teacher I had gave me her collection of newspaper clipping of the space race. That history made me want an Omega Speedmaster since it was the issued watch the Astronauts used. The price stopped me until I went to a NAWCC reginal and got this one for 1700 bucks some years ago. Kind of sad space lunches have lost their luster were the whole family not grouping around the TV to watch it anymore. That might change if NASA ever lunches a manned moon landing to prep us for mars.

Look who started a thread.

My first Speedmaster was a 105.003 purchased in 1989 from a retired clanker. It had been ridden hard and put up wet, and the lum showed it, but it still ran and kept good time. It's one of a few that escaped me over the years. I paid 350 usd for it, which seemed like a lot at the time. I bought it because I had passed on a Daytona a few years earlier while in the Philippines. The exchange catalog had them for 650 usd brand new. Too much for me. So the Speedmaster was meant to fill that void. It led to a few more 321s by 1995, and the next twenty years brought many, many more. They remain my favorite watches, no matter how. many others I own. Understated, tough as nails, and handsome. And the watches are pretty nice, too.

I owe my Speedmaster foray to a great number of you. If I listed names, I’d surely leave someone unintentionally out.
I knew nothing of Speedys…not the history, the splendid mechanics, the understated rugged beauty, the BadAss Card…none of that until I found my way here 6 months ago looking for help on an old 52 bumper.

I watched, read, looked, all of which turned into a lust. And I owe you all a big hat tip and thank you. The biggest one to @gbesq who graciously made it possible and sold me one of his excellent examples. Thanks!

Whilst I'd liked Omega since my first Seamaster 300 chronograph back in 1999, I found them just too much money when I ventured out into the working world in the early 2000's.

Fast forward to the 50th anniversary of the moon landing and all the hype around it, had my Dad pulling out his relatively unworn/unused Speedmaster my Grandfather bought him back in 1967 for £300. As it turns out, it was only the best damn Speedie that I think has ever been produced and my research into it got me hooked on Speedmasters and this wonderful forum!



Funny thing is.... he no longer has his, but I'm now a tad stuck in this wonderful "hobby" and have acquired a few too many of both the 42mm and 44mm beauties.

I have always liked watches and always wanted a proper wind up watch. Whilst on holiday I found a book of 1000 watches and bought it for just a few pounds. Proceeded to look through it and the only image that jumped out at me was the Apollo XI 35th anniversary. This was in about 2005-6. Obviously none left to buy so set about looking for one. One came up on a forum for a great price and hardly worn. Drove a 350 mile round trip the following evening and it was mine. Kept it for about 10 years and wore it extensivly, even when camping. A change in circumstance forced a sale that I immediately regretted, literally the minute after it was done. I will buy one again but prices have moved up greatly since I sold it.
It did though open up doors in unexpected ways. During lockdown it was my 25th wedding anniversary and 50th birthday. Unbeknown to my my wife had called up the OB to see if she could buy the Apollo XI 50th anniversary watch as a combined anniversary and birthday present. Obviously none were available. She proceeded to tell the story of my 35th anniversary watch I had to sell and how much I regretted it. She asked about the Silver Snoopy but again not available. In hope she asked if she could let her know if one came in second hand to let her know.
Well, long story short, on my 25th Wedding anniversary my wife presented me with a 50th Anniversary Apollo XI Moonwatch. The wonderful lady at the OB had managed to get one and had it delivered. This was all done over the phone without visiting the store due to the COVID restrictions. I could not put into words how happy I was. What a wonderful wife. We have both visited the OB a number of times and met the wonderful lady in question.
To add an extra bit of happiness to the story, the lady at the OB also put me on the list for a silver snoopy. With not having a huge history I knew the wait would be long and indeed it was. It took until recently but I now have 2 omegas in the collection.
These watches will always be kept to eventually be handed down for the next generation to enjoy. Would love to collect all the Apollo XI anniversary watches but it’s an expensive hobby. First just need to get a 35th anniversary one again. Still love that dial.

That's a beauty - what is it?

For me it was getting into watches properly in a general way, learning as much as I could about all the houses and models... but when I bought the Moonwatch book, that's what got me into Speedies.

I decided I loved the first series of the 345.0808, the Japan Racing 2004 model, the Apollo-Soyuz and the Mitsukoshi models.

Managed to get excellent examples of the first two, not the last two! (not yet anyway) Actually, I think I'd just be happy with my 345.0808 although I do love the Japan Racing dial too. The Soyuz would be cool though! 😉