| Post: 50th anniversary speedmaster question By: roberto, May 12 2007,13:02 PM Hello, Can somebody pls clear up the following for me: -what are the differences between the 50th anniversary speedmaster with the seahorse icon vs the other ones that have a number on the dial? Well, the 50th anniversary "Patch" model is simply a conventional moonwatch with a 50th Anniversary dial similar to the jacket patch, which I had posted pictures of back in February...   - While the one's with the numbers on the dial are the c.3201: "dumbed-down"/rotor-less variant, of the c.3313 base movement.
-how many of each, in what metals? Well, I posted this [ok, I added the line numbers for easy reference/discussion] over @ TZ back on the 24th of April... Maybe it'll answer some of your questions: | I just got off the phone with our favorite Omega AD and I have pricing & availability on the 50th Anniversary Speedmaster models... | Line #: | Model: | Movement: | Case Material: | # Produced: | MSRP: | Availability: | | 1 | 50th Anniversary | c.3201 | White Gold | 57 | $34,000 | June/July | | 2 | 50th Anniversary | c.3201 | Red Gold | 57 | $28,000 | June/July | | 3 | 50th Anniversary | c.3201 | Yellow Gold | 57 | $28,000 | June/July | | 4 | 50th Anniversary | c.3201 | Stainless Steel | 1957 | $ 9,800 | June/July | | 5 | 50th Anniversary "Patch" | c.1861 | Stainless Steel | 5957 | $ 4,000 | June/July | | For Reference Purposes: | | 6 | 3570.50.00 Moonwatch | c.1861 | Stainless Steel | unlimited | $ 3,000 | Now 'til... ? | Pre-emptive reply: I do not know what extras, if any, come with the 50th "Patch" model over a traditional Moonwatch, only that it costs $1,000 more.
Discuss or not... Just don't punish the messenger. Oh, and if you want to get one from our Favorite Dealer, you'll probably have to order it. I don't believe he plans on stocking them in advance, with hopes of selling them. Good Hunting! | -which is theone with the large box, tools, leather strap etc.? I believe the numbered limited editions [items 1-4 in table above] do come with the fancy tool-laden box.I'm assuming the it's possible that the $1,000 premium over the conventional moonwatch is put into the box and the dial. But I do not know this to be the case. You'll have to contact Omega or an Authorized Dealer and inquire about this. Apologies but the Omega website is unclear on this. That's not your fault. No apology is necessary. Thanks, I hope this helps! Roberto Roberto.....as i understand it..... By: Andy, May 13 2007,07:13 AM and if anybody dissagrees please jump in. The 50th Speedmaster Pro has a co-axial escapement (no other Speedy Pro has this), Nope, only the numbered editions have the Co-Axial escapement. The "Patch" edition is a non-Co-Axial c.1861. [This was the disagreement part I mentioned in the title of this reply...] highly finished movement compared to the regular Speedy Pro, enamel dial, and available in white gold or SS. I believe there are 57 white gold models and 1957 SS models, I don't know the price of the white gold but the SS I think is way over priced (E-mail me for the figure if your interested). I don't know if I've blown any forum guidelines by posting the table above. Of course Bill has my complete permission to adjust my post as needed to fit within the guidelines, but I am assuming repeating MSRP's isn't verbotten here. Both models come with the big box, spare leather strap, tools, magnifying glass in the shape of an apollo space craft etc etc. As Andy and I are describing different things, I'll let him clarify his thoughts and I'll clarify mine after that, if necessary. I'd waited months for this and it has everything i could have ever dreamed of I on the other hand have been waiting for years and was exceedingly disappointed. Basically, Omega phoned this anniversary's editions in with very little imagination or effort... I'll post some of my previously posted thoughts, but first, here are TinyURL links to the thread in question. I will not post direct nor active links because I haven't the faintest idea if posting direct or active links is permissible or not... [ Tiny URL number: 24dhl3 ]:
[Dialog between myself and Sam Hewett, Sam's thoughts will appear in this typestyle ]: Omega introduced only the third manual movement in Speedmaster history excluding moonphases, decorated movements and chronometer ratings) -- like it or not. This got only disappointment and at least 60% negative or neutral posts. Let me ask you a friendly question Sam: What kind of response would you expect from the forum[s] if Omega were to introduce a ,,new manual wind movement,, for the Speedmaster and it turned out to be a c.1040 or 7750 or an ETA/Dubois-Depraz without a rotor? I'd personally expect: Yawns, disappointment and indifference. Now maybe, maybe, there would be some excitement if Omega were to introduce a rotorless c.1045 in a moonwatch case. But that's only because folks really like the 376.0822, it would be a pretty cool watch [and people might be able to scavenge a c.1045 movement to upgrade that watch]. But what Omega did with the c.3201 was to take a c.3313 strip off the automatic "bits", put it in a moonwatch styled case, and put [reportedly [now confirmed] ] a hefty price on the result. I understand the reaction among the regulars here. Well, the 50th doesn't do it for me either, but it was better than several other alternatives. Present a better choice that doesn't involve the Lemania 2310/321 . . . I haven't heard any practical suggestions that weren't another repackaged 1861/1863/1866. I've presented several previously in various threads... But here are a couple: How about a c.910/c.910 revival [yes, I know that those are within the c.x86x family]. I think many many people would embrace a Speedmaster Moonwatch GMT, especially if it had a rotatable 12/24 bezel. How about a replica of the "Alaska Project"?
How hard would that be to do? What about that rotor-less 1045 like I mentioned above? It might even fit into a moonwatch case (probably would need a taller crystal though]. We know Lemania was making movements for Fortis, Sinn and Tutima fairly recently, I doubt they've destroyed the tooling. Isn't it sad that the last c.1045's that were made were for a brand other than Omega? Here is another practical suggestion... With the Hour Vision Omega is making cases with Sapphire inserts. How about making a Speedmaster with a Sapphire DIAL? Create a dial out of Sapphire and mark with black paint everything which is white on an ordinary moonwatch dial [logo, model, tickmarks, etc.]. Make it a Genevé Wave movement with a display back, that'd ROCK seeing that behind the dial and folks might say "It's really too busy for my tastes, but what a COOL idea!". Consider it a "poor man's Skeleton" watch. There are a lot of things that Omega could have done, even with a repackaged c.1861 that would have been better, and generated more interest, excitement and positive thoughts than what they did. What the passionate Speedmaster community here and on the other Omega discussion boards were thirsting for from Omega was something imaginative, exciting and worthy of the significance of the 50th anniversary of one of a select few watches [Movado Museum, IWC "Type", Rolex Sub and GMT] in continous production for such a long time, largely unchanged. What passionate Speedmaster fans received was essentially a failure of the imagination [a stripped c.3313 and a busy dial -- whoopie.]. As a result what we've seen here and in the other on-line Omega Communities, is the disappointment of what could have been... [end excerpt] - except the price which I'm not going to pay. After Jacks fantastic write up of the regular model I'm more than happy to get a regular Speedy Pro. I'm personally hoping that Omega will put more effort into the 40th Anniversary Apollo 11 Special edition in 2009 (or if they come out with an Apollo 8 40th Anniversary LE in 2008] than they did with the 50th Anniversary Edition or chances are I won't be buying any new Omega any time soon, if ever. Hope this helps, Likewise, I hope my post/my thoughts clarify rather than cloud the issue. Andy. -- Chuck |
