According to Roman Hartmann's list of Speedy models and serial number ranges (among other sources), the 105.003 and 105.012 were manufactured at the same time from 1963 to 1966. Were each available for purchase at the same time depending on the buyer's preference? Any idea why?

At first I thought the .003's were left-overs that overlapped the production of .012's. But a 4-year span seems to kill that theory.

I suspect this has been asked before, but I must be using the wrong search terms!

Thanks!

 

True, but by the list it appears to be the only pair that overlap for 4 years. Or is that information not true?

 

Or to rephrase my question:
Did Omega intend to offer both the .003 straight-lug and the .012 crown-guard case types at the same time?
Or did Omega just happen to have a four-year stock of straight-lug cases on hand when they created the .012?

 

My view on this is that Omega intended both of these models to be made and sold concurrently. I think the 105.012 was always meant to be an alternative "professional" version of the speedmaster, i.e. there were to be two versions of the speedmaster to be sold at the same time. For various reasons, I don't subscribe to the view that Omega added the words "professional" after the they found out about the use of the watch by NASA.

 

I have never understood the NASA-"Professional" connection. What does such a generic term have to do with NASA, and what is the evidence for the connection?

 

I hate to put stuff out here without citing my source (forget where I have read it, and don't really know if it is fact or fiction), but FWIW.... I "heard" the development of the case with protected pushers and crown guard was in response to users (NASA?) who suggested it.

I can't imagine the force necessary to damage a pusher or crown on a 105.003, but I'm not about to try...

As I make up history in my head from the info I read here and elsewhere, it nearly makes sense that Omega would market a "Professional" model as an upscale or dedicated alternative to the standard model.

Many thanks for the responses. Please keep then coming!

 

You will have surprises in the book...

 

Teaser! AAARGH!
Spill it! SPILL IT!

 

It has pop-ups.

 

Hey! Great idea! The Speedmaster Pop-Up book for small children! My daughter would be asleep in (click! reads the Speedy on the wrist) 3 minutes and 32 & 3/5 seconds!

And so would my wife. But I would read it over and over and over....

 

i have seen bent pushers on both straight lug cases and asymmetrical cases!

so far, the cases remain undamaged and replacements were straight forward.

 

Omega themselves assert the connection. Omega's website says:
"In 1965 the line was divided into two products, the Speedmaster with round case and the Speedmaster Professional with asymmetric case. This differentiation came as the result of the Speedmaster 's selection by NASA for all manned space flights and the decision by NASA at the end of 1965 that though the 105.003 was the watch tested it would adopt the 105.012 as the astronaut chronograph due to its more robust case."[emphasis added] http://www.omegamuseum.com/node/97.

My main reason for doubting this assertion is that, if it were true we would expect to see a significant number of 105.012-63 and 64s with pre-pro dials, as this is how they would have left the factory for over a year. In my experience, it is extremely rare to see a pre-pro dialed 105.012-63. Over the years I have only ever seen 1 and the dial, in my view, was not original to the watch. It looked to me to be a watch with different parts from different era put together in a 105.012 case.

If all 105.012 came with "Professional" dials, this would make sense in the context of to distinct speedmaster being launched by Omega at the end of '63/64.

The interview you are referring to is here: http://www.watchtime.at/archive/wt_2009_06/WT_2009_06_114.pdf

If this account is accurate it would mean that NASA involvement with Omega started in '63. This could fit in with the launch of the 105.012 and 105.003 together. However, there does appear to be some inconsistencies with this account.

 

It's beginning to sound to me like the 105.003 is less of a Pre-Pro and more of a Non-Pro....

 

Challenge? Concur? Bored with the thread?

 

I agree. A non-Pro is probably a more accurate description. I think the problem is Omega itself has been part of the misinformation/confusion, so it is difficult to get a proper understanding of what the intention was in '63/'64.

 

How about an unPro?