Posts: 110 From: San Antonio, TX Registered: Jan 2006
posted 01-20-2009 03:36 PM
quote:Originally posted by Whizzospace: Does anyone collect Omega Speedmasters as a space collectible, versus a timepiece collectible?
This was my very first post on cS, back in 2000, and I am amazed at how intertwined this timepiece and our spaceflight endeavors really are.
Since I first asked the question, I've managed to save enough pennies to add an X-33 "Mars Watch" to accompany the original Speedmaster Pro.
But doggone it, Omega just keeps cranking out beautiful and desirable Speedmaster special editions to keep the wish list alive!
mercsim Member
Posts: 248 From: Phoenix, AZ Registered: Feb 2007
posted 01-21-2009 07:46 AM
So now I'm stuck... Do I get this the or wait for the new X-33 next year? There is no way my wife will let me have both but I might swing one....
SpaceAholic Member
Posts: 5251 From: Sierra Vista, Arizona Registered: Nov 1999
posted 01-21-2009 10:24 AM
"New" X-33 next year?
Has Omega announced a forthcoming revision to this watch?
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 50580 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 01-21-2009 10:35 AM
See Omega president Stephen Urquhart's comments as posted above by 328KF.
kr4mula Member
Posts: 642 From: Cinci, OH Registered: Mar 2006
posted 01-21-2009 12:33 PM
I'm a big fan of the "Speedies," but has Omega let an anniversary - especially Apollo 11 - go by without issuing a commemorative watch? And nearly 8,000 of these doesn't exactly make it a rarity. That said, this one is nicely understated.
MrSpace86 Member
Posts: 1618 From: Gardner, KS Registered: Feb 2003
posted 01-21-2009 07:14 PM
I can't find the price...am I missing it? Help!
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 50580 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 01-21-2009 07:52 PM
The "Apollo 11 40th Anniversary" Speedmaster hasn't yet been formally released for sale. Omega will introduce the watch at Baselworld, March 26 to April 2.
That said, like most fine watch makers, Omega doesn't advertise their prices. The best way to learn about a particular watch is to contact your local Omega authorized dealer.
328KF Member
Posts: 1389 From: Registered: Apr 2008
posted 01-21-2009 08:57 PM
quote:Originally posted by Robert Pearlman: That said, like most fine watch makers, Omega doesn't advertise their prices. The best way to learn about a particular watch is to contact your local Omega authorized dealer.
And no one should pay the "sticker price" on any high-end watch. Local AD's have great autonomy in negotiating a price with a buyer, and in today's depressed market, most of the ones I talk to are offering deep discounts.
From this standpoint, the large production number of the Apollo 11 40th "limited edition" should heavily favor the buyer.
MrSpace86 Member
Posts: 1618 From: Gardner, KS Registered: Feb 2003
posted 01-22-2009 09:58 AM
I am pretty sure they will be way out of my price range then. They are nice nonetheless!
ricciardo New Member
Posts: 1 From: italy Registered: Jun 2007
posted 04-25-2009 05:16 PM
quote:Originally posted by spaceman: Flown Omega Speedmaster Professional Chronographs currently on public display...
I'm an Italian forum's newbie and a "flown" Speedmaster passionate; I am the author of an upcoming site concerning this specific space argument in which you can find my NASA flown Speedmasters Excel spreadsheet.
Your comments would be very appreciated at info@speedmaster.it
SpaceAholic Member
Posts: 5251 From: Sierra Vista, Arizona Registered: Nov 1999
posted 04-25-2009 05:33 PM
Anybody run across updated information on the X-33 replacement (details, timing of the release, retail pricing, etc.)?
328KF Member
Posts: 1389 From: Registered: Apr 2008
posted 04-25-2009 10:19 PM
quote:Originally posted by SpaceAholic: Anybody run across updated information on the X-33 replacement (details, timing of the release, retail pricing, etc.)?
Some expected the Basel show to be the event in which they announced it, but it didn't happen. Omega's president has made off-hand comments like this before that never panned out.
My guess is that they didn't want to overshadow all of the 40th anniversary Speedmaster publicity with the introduction of this new model. The best we can do is wait and see this time next year.
mikelarson Member
Posts: 293 From: Port Washington, NY Registered: Jan 2005
posted 04-26-2009 08:17 AM
When will prices be known on the A11 40th anniversary edition? Any guesses on price for the platinum edition that is limited to 69?
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 50580 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 04-26-2009 08:36 AM
According to Wired Magazine, the steel version is priced at £3500 ($5,100) and £53,000 ($77,800) for the platinum.
(With regards to at least the steel edition, I've seen a price of $3,700 cited as well, so as always, consult with your local Omega dealer.)
mikelarson Member
Posts: 293 From: Port Washington, NY Registered: Jan 2005
posted 04-27-2009 08:06 AM
The platinum version looks incredible, but that price is obscene. The steel version is also beautiful, but I wish they did an in-between model that was more limited than the the regular 40th edition but not completely out of reach like the platinum.
Any idea when they will hit the market? I'm guessing before mid-July?
micropooz Member
Posts: 1680 From: Washington, DC, USA Registered: Apr 2003
posted 04-29-2009 05:59 PM
My wife takes W Magazine, an uber-fashion magazine.
On pg. 40 of the May 2009 issue is an article about a new Omega Watch flagship store on Fifth Avenue in New York, to open in May, 2009. It concludes with the following words:
...and the store will be the first to offer the $125,000 Platinum Apollo 11 limited edition timepiece, released to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the first manned lunar landing. Omega's Speedmaster was aboard the famous rocket, making it the first watch to travel to the moon. Omega executives are surely hoping that their New York outpost will take off in a similar fashion.
At that price I think I will lay in 5 or 10 of them!
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 50580 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
The "Moon Edition" of OMEGA Lifetime magazine commemorates the 40th anniversary of the Apollo 11 mission. It was on the 21st of July, 1969 that Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin became the first human beings to step onto the lunar Surface.
This high-flying issue of Lifetime opens with an editorial from astronaut and OMEGA ambassador Eugene Cernan, the last man to walk on the Moon.
One of the lead articles includes a comprehensive history of the space program featuring anecdotes about the larger-than-life characters whose names became synonymous with manned space flight. It recounts in detail the seven lunar missions, including the much-storied Apollo 13. It didn't fulfil its central aim of landing on the Moon but was returned safely to Earth as a result of human ingenuity and the OMEGA Speedmaster Professional chronograph.
For the world's many Speedmaster fans, there are two articles about the watch which has been part of every manned spaceflight since the early 1960s. One is a history of the specific timepieces worn by the astronauts on their assorted missions; the other is about the brand new OMEGA Speedmaster Apollo 11 "40th Anniversary" Limited Edition watches.
It's been a significant year for OMEGA's new product releases including the Constellation Griffes Fine Jewellery Collection, the Seamaster Aqua Terra Annual Calendar Watch, and the Seamaster Aqua Terra "White Jewellery" watch and they all have their own articles in the new edition of Lifetime.
The most talked-about watch at this year's BaselWorld trade fair was the Seamaster PloProf 1200M Co-Axial chronometer and an article by PloProf specialist Jon Wallis compares the legendary original with its updated, state-of-the-industry successor.
The 154 page magazine is rounded out with articles about lifestyle and space-age gadgetry. Tom Munro's stunning pictures of Cindy Crawford complement a reflective essay, "Why We Love Cindy".
In his closing letter, OMEGA President Stephen Urquhart recalls how, as a young staff member at OMEGA, he was responsible for monitoring the communications between the Apollo 11 astronauts and Mission Control and translating it for his colleagues.
The new Lifetime - available from the OMEGA Boutiques - will bring back memories of one of mankind's greatest scientific achievements to some readers and will allow those who are too young to remember the event through outstanding reportage and vivid photographs.
mikelarson Member
Posts: 293 From: Port Washington, NY Registered: Jan 2005
posted 05-16-2009 11:51 PM
Any word on the availability date for the A11 limited edition Speedmaster? Will it be before July 20th?
kr4mula Member
Posts: 642 From: Cinci, OH Registered: Mar 2006
posted 05-21-2009 10:51 AM
I wonder if the "history of the specific timepieces worn by the astronauts on their assorted missions" article contains anything new. As this thread shows, there are some significant gaps in the history of NASA's use of Speedies and of some of the specific watches worn on the flights. I'll be curious to see what it says if anyone here has a chance to read it.
Frederic Janik Member
Posts: 322 From: Helsinki, Finland Registered: Jul 2000
posted 05-21-2009 01:11 PM
quote:Originally posted by mikelarson: Any word on the availability date for the A11 limited edition Speedmaster? Will it be before July 20th?
I've seen it yesterday at a dealer (not an Omega boutique) at the Helsinki airport so it's already out.
I still prefer the "standard" one as I find it a closer replica to the actual watch that went to the Moon.
mikelarson Member
Posts: 293 From: Port Washington, NY Registered: Jan 2005
posted 05-23-2009 09:10 AM
Once someone can confirm the pricing on this let me know. I haven't seen it in Tokyo yet.
Philip Member
Posts: 6217 From: Brussels, Belgium Registered: Jan 2001
posted 05-25-2009 04:24 AM
Amazing how they could add in the Apollo 11 logo in the little space of the seconds dial.
Frederic Janik Member
Posts: 322 From: Helsinki, Finland Registered: Jul 2000
posted 05-29-2009 07:55 AM
Here in Helsinki the Apollo 11 limited edition is retailing at 3940 Eur, and the regular Speedmaster Professional is at 2830 Eur.
Spacefest Member
Posts: 1168 From: Tucson, AZ Registered: Jan 2009
posted 06-05-2009 02:10 PM
Jim McDivitt just brought in his Speedmaster for auction on Astro-Auction. We've sent it to Omega to have cleaned, and we'll post it in about a month.
Jurg Bolli Member
Posts: 1186 From: Albuquerque, NM Registered: Nov 2000
posted 06-08-2009 11:34 AM
On my latest Apollo trip to Huntsville and Pensacola I took a photo of Cernan's watch worn on Apollo 17 and his Ambassador moon rock.
The Naval Aviation Museum in Pensacola is great and has the first Skylab CM (Conrad, Kerwin, Weitz) on display.
AJ Member
Posts: 511 From: Plattsburgh, NY, United States Registered: Feb 2009
posted 06-08-2009 06:04 PM
quote:Originally posted by Spacefest: Jim McDivitt just brought in his Speedmaster for auction on Astro-Auction.
I think my heart just stopped a little. That's going to be quite an auction. can't wait!
mickapp New Member
Posts: 7 From: Pacific Grove, CA, USA Registered: Apr 2002
posted 06-21-2009 12:33 PM
I have an original Speedmaster which did go to the moon and the new ones have a slightly different band.
mikelarson Member
Posts: 293 From: Port Washington, NY Registered: Jan 2005
posted 06-28-2009 07:54 AM
Buzz was in town last week at the Omega store in Ginza to kick off a new exhibition for the 40th anniversary. I finally got a chance to go today and all I can say is WOW. They had several flown Speedmasters on display (Eisele, Stafford, and a few others) along with samples of every Speedmaster ever produced that related to the space program, including all the mission series (including the set with the briefcase). They also had three replica Apollo space suits and a lunar rover worked into the exhibition with lots of video.
Relating to the new watch, they were also in stock and available for sale. Buzz autographed the display boxes of the 40th anniversary editions they had in stock and they were priced around $5,500US. They also had one of the platinum watches on display priced at about $100K. I'll try and get some pictures posted later.
I also picked up some nice freebies, including a "Speedmaster" newspaper that was a combination of pictures, info, and advertisements for Omega's participation in the space program.
mickapp New Member
Posts: 7 From: Pacific Grove, CA, USA Registered: Apr 2002
posted 07-01-2009 02:58 PM
The Omega shown does not have the original band that came with the first watches worn by the Mercury Astronauts. I have one.
mickapp New Member
Posts: 7 From: Pacific Grove, CA, USA Registered: Apr 2002
posted 07-06-2009 10:40 PM
After a launch we always flew back to Houston and I was standing with the Omega rep at MSC during Apollo XI when Buzz, standing on the lunar surface, said something like "...my watch stopped..." I thought the rep was gonna go into cardiac arrest but Buzz quickly corrected himself and we all breathed a sigh of relief. This is all documented on the inflight transcripts and of course on the recordings.
JPSastro Member
Posts: 170 From: Tucson, Arizona Registered: Jan 2009
posted 07-06-2009 11:32 PM
Anyone else catch the Omega Speedmaster Apollo 11 tribute TV commercials?
Caught it twice on NBC. Starts with Kennedy's "we choose to to go to the moon" speech and then into a Saturn V launch and then the watch with the Apollo 11 emblem on the left side of watch.
Nice tribute. Maybe all of 30 seconds.
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 50580 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 07-06-2009 11:39 PM
Here's the commercial, via YouTube:
Spacefest Member
Posts: 1168 From: Tucson, AZ Registered: Jan 2009
posted 08-21-2009 06:42 PM
quote:Originally posted by Spacefest: Jim McDivitt just brought in his Speedmaster...
Can anyone tell me where to find the 8-digit serial #?
328KF Member
Posts: 1389 From: Registered: Apr 2008
posted 08-22-2009 10:56 AM
Those are usually found on the back side of one of the case lugs, adjacent to the strap attach point. From the photos it looked like there was some "crud" in these areas of McDivitt's watch, so it might take a little cleaning to see it there.
Spacefest Member
Posts: 1168 From: Tucson, AZ Registered: Jan 2009
posted 08-22-2009 04:21 PM
All it says (at the 7:00 lug) is "516"
Spacefest Member
Posts: 1168 From: Tucson, AZ Registered: Jan 2009
posted 08-23-2009 04:41 PM
I hear from an expert the serial # is on the inside.
328KF Member
Posts: 1389 From: Registered: Apr 2008
posted 08-23-2009 04:46 PM
I talked to an Omega "expert" myself and he said much the same. The serial numbers on the lugs did not appear until the mid-90's. Prior to that they were placed on the movement itself, so it would require opening the caseback to see it.
328KF Member
Posts: 1389 From: Registered: Apr 2008
posted 03-18-2010 07:32 PM
Omega has released a new version of the Speedmaster commemorating the 35th anniversary of the Apollo-Soyuz Test Project. The caseback is a nice 3D version of the mission patch, but the watch face and dials are carved from an actual meteorite. Looks pretty cool!
Kirk Jenks Member
Posts: 13 From: Madison, Wisconsin USA Registered: Nov 2009
posted 07-22-2010 05:50 PM
The OMEGA Speedmaster Professional Apollo-Soyuz "35th Anniversary"
Very cool!! What does it cost?
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 50580 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 07-22-2010 11:43 PM
quote:Originally posted by Kirk Jenks: Very cool!! What does it cost?
As with all high-end watches, it's best to call an Omega authorized dealer and inquire, but some online reports place it in the vicinity of $7,500.
posted 01-20-2009 03:36 PM
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