2998 Pre-Moon Military Speedmaster

Omega-Speedmaster-2998-Pre-Moon-Military

Give me alpha hands, a dot over 90, caliber 321 and I’m a happy man. However, when you add an interesting history I’m not happy, I’m obsessed. This 2998 is simply as good as they come for me. I don’t look for pristine safe queens or box and papers. I like pieces that tell a…

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Another Value Proposition: the Standard Speedmaster Mark 4.5

Omega-Speedmaster-Mark-4.5-Chronograph-Stainless-Steel-176.0012

I find that, when I really try, I can make the case for almost any watch as a value proposition. It is a skill carefully honed over many years of convincing significant others that watches are investments—they arent—to justify absurd purchases. However, in the case of the Mark 4.5, I don’t think I really have…

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70s Crystallized: Tropical Omega Flightmaster

Omega-Flightmaster-145.013-Tropical

At the start of the 70s, Omega set their sights on the growing GMT-Master market. They aimed to create the perfect pilot’s watch for professional use. The result was a highly-practical chronograph with a GMT, AM/PM indicator, and inner rotating bezel. The 1970s and advent of jet travel introduced pilots to much quicker flight times…

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An Exceptional Omega Chrono-quartz ‘Montreal’

Omega-Chronoquartz-Montreal-396.0839

This is the opposite of a Fashion watch. The Omega Chrono-quartz, occasionally referred to as the Montreal or Albatros colloquially, was a truly innovative piece. Omega was contracted as the Official Timekeeper for the 1976 Montreal Olympics. Ahead of that duty, they created the first ever ani-digi (analog or mechanical and digital hybrid) watch. This…

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Two-Tone Moon Swoon: Apollo 15 35th Speedmaster

Omega-Speedmaster-Apollo-15-35th-Anniversary-3366.51.00

I often find that the designs which are most controversial upon initial release age the most gracefully, slowly gaining greater and greater commendation. The Ducati 916, Sagrada Famillia, and Tom Ford suits all spring quickly to mind. Of course, not all controversial designs age so well. The recent BMW M3/M4 nostril, I think, will surely…

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Scarce Speedmaster: White Gold Apollo XI 3692.30

Omega-Speedmaster-Apollo-XI-White-Gold-3692.30

In today’s edition of rare Speedmasters you probably won’t see again this year, here’s the white gold Apollo XI. The lovely thing about white gold Speedmasters, as platinum, is the stealth wealth. If you’re not a fan of metallurgy, and most aren’t, it looks like a steel Moonwatch at a glance. Only you know it’s…

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Grail-Level Speedmaster: the BA145.022

Omega-Speedmaster-BA145.022

In my theoretical holy trinity of Speedmasters, this BA would feature alongside the radial Alaska III. Third place is yet to be decided between the Silver Snoopy or original CK2915 broad arrow. Why does a 145.022 in gold carry such weight? It’s the story. To commemorate the moon landing, the US government hosted a dinner…

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Omega 321 Seamaster 2451-7

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321 Seamasters must be amongst of the most under-rated Omega models of all time. Maybe that’s grandiose, but I ask you: what other reference offers the mechanical elegance, timeless design, and present-day value that it can? It’s one of the subtler choices you can make in vintage Omega. Here, a very restrained 35mm case contains…

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Mk3 A386 Zenith El Primero

A386-Zenith-El-Primero-Mk3

Few chronographs don’t get the credit they deserve like the A386. Because I try to be a bit professional here once in a while, I threw the search terms ‘Rolex Daytona, Omega Speedmaster, Heuer Carrera, and Zenith El Primero’ into Google Trends to approximate the relative interest (specific vintage references don’t have enough volume). Over…

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Mk1 Enicar Sherpa Jet GMT

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A small but vocal section of the vintage watch collecting community has for years tried to make the case that Enicar’s sport watches from the 1960s and 1970s measure up to their counterparts from Rolex and Omega. This Sherpa Jet can and should be Exhibit A in their case. This reference 126/002, circa 1964, was…

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