‘Oval O’ Dial 2998-1 Omega Speedmaster

The 2998-1 is a one of the last great values in watches. It is, arguably, every bit or more the chronograph a 6234 is. The straight lug case is also a beautiful, completely separate and thing to what came after. Perhaps most of all desirable of all, though, for the very earliest references, we see alpha hands. They just make everything better. Now, Omega forums will continue arguing whether the broad arrow or alpha handset looks best. But whether you side 2915 or 2998 (or early 105.002), we can all agree that these are seriously important watches and that the early Pre-moon, even pre-baton hand aesthetic is something rather special.

In a recent Hodinkee radio ep, Malaika correctly said something to the effect of, and I’m paraphrasing here, ‘All guys have a hard on for the Speedmaster.’ She’s right. Not just because they’re beautiful, but I think on some instinctual level every guy respects and admires that generation of astronauts willing to strap themselves into tin cans full of jet fuel that may or may not explode for the advancement of mankind. The 2998 kicked that whole thing off, not a Moonwatch but the one that got to space first, on the wrist of Wally Schirra during Mercury Atlas 8 in 1962. This was before the Apollo missions, NASA hadn’t even put the Speedmaster through testing. This was just Schirra’s personal watch, one he liked most. That later a Speedmaster 105.012 won top place during the NASA’s chronograph testing gauntlet is pure happenstance, but a beautifully symmetrical happenstance.

The 2998 evolved quickly. You’ll note this hour hand has wider lume and a longer reach than some. Many debate to this day whether this longer 2915 hour hand was ever used by Omega on 2998s as we see many examples with them. I still don’t have an answer. Up to -3 use leaf hands in subdials, after we see straight. -1 though -3 can be found with lollipop seconds as well. The first two dashes have the super lovely base 1000 bezel. Only these first two marks can have this dial, with a wide oval O in Omega. This early wide O, in dash one, is the same dial as the 2915-3. It’s a confusing watch, but worth the effort. Because, well, look at it. And then contemplate what it began. Yeah, Malaika’s definitely right.

This example has a great case, great dial with beautiful radium, great everything really. The bracelet dates correctly. It’s a dream. Perhaps most impressively, it has an Extract noting delivery to France with an original warranty booklet in French.