We are very proud to publish a 2020 article of the magazine “L’Orologio” by the Magister’s friend Andrea Schillaci
ON THE MOON AND IN THE WORLD
RECORD QUOTATIONS FOR THE FIRST OMEGa SPEEDMaSTER, 51 YEARS Makes THE FIRST WATCH ON THE MOON. THE SPINTO COLLECTING FROM THE FIFTH YEAR OF LAST YEAR by Andrea Schillaci
In 1957 Omega launched three new models on the market with an almost identical case and the reference with progressive numbers. These are the Seamaster 300 Ref. CK2913, the Railmaster Ref. CK 2914 and the Speedmaster Ref. CK 2915. All three, in different proportions, were very successful watches: the first, adopted by various armed forces, was a reference diver for many professionals; the Railmaster, like the Rolex Milgauss and the IWC Ingenieur, had a case that was insensitive to magnetic fields, and today it is rare and coveted by collectors; the Omega Speedmaster chronograph is the brand's most successful timepiece, also thanks to the fact that it went to the moon.
EQUIPPED WITH THE MANUAL-WINDING 321 CALIBER, THE FIRST SPEED-MASTER ADDRESSED MAINLY TO CAR DRIVERS, THEREFORE ITS NAME (“MASTER OF SPEED”).
The case was in steel with pump buttons, the bezel was first in steel with engraved numbers and then in black aluminum and was available with four different scales: tachymeter, telemetric, pulsometric and decimal. The lugs of the first models were straight then, from 1965, "helical". In the same year, the word “Professional” also appears on the dial. The first steel bracelet had some elastic links. In 1962, NASA, in search of a watch for the astronauts of the Gemini missions, bought ten chronographs of different brands to be subjected to very severe tests. On March 1, 1965, the Omega Speedmaster was the winner. From that moment on, it will participate in all missions in space, often proving to be decisive for the success of the same, until after July 20, 1969, it can boast the name Moonwatch. From the moment of its presentation, the Speedmaster had a great success all over the world, becoming the reference watch for Omega which continued to produce it by modifying the movement, declining it in many variations and creating numerous limited editions, appreciated by collectors. The value of vintage Omega, not only the Speedmaster but almost all the best-known models, has grown starting from a particular date and event: the auction organized by Osvaldo Patrizzi for Antiquorum in April 2007 and called Omegamania , a monothematic session with 300 lots chosen from among the most important available. The auction was a great success with awards never achieved by any timepiece of the Maison of Bienne. Since then, the prices of the Speedmaster have continued to rise to touch, in the last international events, figures above 200,000 Swiss francs for the very first models, Let's look at some of the awards in more detail. A 1958 Speedmaster Ref. 2915-1 was beaten by Phillips on 12 May 2018 at 408,500 Swiss francs and on 10 November 2018 at 200,000 Swiss francs. The next model, with Ref. 2915-2 from 1959, was also beaten by Phillips on 10 November 2018 at 225,000 Swiss francs and on 5 December 2018 at 150,000 Swiss francs. Two 2915-2s were offered at the famous Omegamania auction, the first at 106,200 Swiss francs and the second at 94,400 Swiss francs, and it was 2007. The 1960 model, Ref. 2998-1, which has a black bezel instead of engraved in metal, in March of this year by Antiquorum reached the figure of 51,250 Swiss francs. Subsequent references, but always from the 1960s, with caliber 321, are traded between 15,000 and 20,000 Swiss francs (14-19,000 euros): in 2019 a Ref. 145.003-65 was sold for 17,900 Swiss francs, about 17,000 euros... The later ones, with the 861 caliber, produced until the 1990s, range from 3,000 to 5,000 euros depending on the kit: bracelet, box, guarantee.
OTHER MODELS VERY REQUIRED BY COLLECTORS, HAVE STARTED A SLOW BUT CONSTANT GROWTH IN PRICES AND ARE TO BE KEPT UNDER OBSERVATION.
A rare Speedmaster made in 1987 in a limited edition, with the same case as the manual winding but with automatic movement, day and date: it is the Ref. 376.0822 and is called the “Holy Grail”. In 2019, two were awarded by Phillips, one for 20,400 euros and one for 22,300 euros. Among the gold specimens, a limited edition Speedmaster of 1,014 was made in 1969, Ref. BA 145,022, now highly sought after: Phillips beat four in 2019, one for 48,300 euros, one for 56,500 euros, one for 60,000 euros and the last, on 11 May, at 84,800 euros. Then there is the "Racing Dial", Ref. 145.012 from 1969, also in great demand: Phillips awarded one on 25 November 2019 for 32,700 euros and one on 28 May 2019 for 47.600 euros.
Finally, as mentioned, the limited editions of Omega are always in great demand by collectors who often put themselves on a waiting list for them. The 2019 model, made for the 50th anniversary of the birth of the Speedmaster Apollo XI and sold in a box with a lunar module and astronaut's footprint, for a list price of 9,250 euros, is no less than 11,000 euros.
