Vintage
G99 challenges commonly held beliefs about the Omega Speedmaster Professional's history, specifically the introduction of the 'Professional' dial. His acquisition of a 105.012-64 with a 'Professional' dial, dating earlier than widely documented, prompts a re-evaluation of Omega's timeline regarding NASA's involvement. This article delves into the nuances of vintage Speedmaster collecting, offering valuable insights for enthusiasts and historians alike.
This watch is one of those that possibly re writes Omega history so i will first of all bore you with some of the Speedmaster history as it is commonly known and then turn it on its head.
everything i've ever read about the Speedmaster, which is a huge amount, states that Omega had no knowledge that NASA were using the speedmaster in space until after Ed White's spacewalk in 1965 and as a result put 'professional' on the dial of the model of the time, the 105.012, in 1966. this it seems is not actually correct and i will enlighten the unenlightened in due course.
back to the aquisition of this watch. one day i was scanning my usual purchasing source and saw a 105.012-64 advertised. this in itself was strange as some books state this model was introduced in 1965 whilst another states 1963. the 105.012 is the first speedmaster with an Assymetric case and curved lugs like the sm300, 165.024. being an addict to any watch made that year i took a look at the pics and what i saw made me doubt its authenticity. the whole watch appeared totally correct except for the fact that the dial had 'professional' on it, which going on the information i had at hand, was incorrect. i made a few enquiries, firstly a post on this forum where i received some helpful confirmation that the watch might in fact be correct including a link to another one for sale for a huge amount of money. here's the post omega.watchprosite.com .
i then spoke to my watchmaker who is an ex- Omega employee and omega specialist, he in turn spoke to his mate who is the repairer in residence at Omegas only Vintage store in London. both of them confirmed to me that this dial was in fact available from the very beginning of 1965 so a late 1964 case and movement would have quite easily have been fitted with one of these new fangled 'professional' dials and everything was in order.
that was good news for me so i bid and won the watch which arrived this morning.
my initial impressions of this 45 year old watch are that the case has been nicely polished and brushed in all the correct places. the bezel is original with only light wear and a minor dent between 8 and 9. it is very slightly off centre, but can easily be refitted. i'm honestly not sure if the crown is original as it appears to stick out slightly, but it works and when it goes for a service it will be sorted out if needs be. the dial is very original with lovely patina to the lume and a steel applied Omega logo at 12. the hands are also original with some degradation to the lume and white paint (look at the dial close up pic). the movement is very clean and the time functions perfectly as does the chronograph except for one thing. the 12 hour totaliser hand doesnt move, but i've checked with my repairer and this is a fix requiring only a minor service. the seller has kindly refunded me the monies to pay for the work to be done rather than me send it back to him. it is something to do with the 'brake' not releasing correctly or being a bit gummed up. he claims it was in full working order when it was shipped and who am i to disagree. lots of things can happen in transit and it is not a big problem.
the next time you see a pre 1966 speedmaster with a professional dial dont dismiss it too hastily as it may be totally kosher. the main thing is that the dial must have the steel applied logo and not a painted one.
so overall, for the price i paid i am extremely happy. this model is certainly 'uncommon' and could even be classed as 'rare'. i have only seen 2 examples although i am aware that some forum members also have examples i havent seen.
enough of the diatribe, here's the pics taken this morning outside in the sun.
note the log on the glass indicating its originality. this picture over accentuates the degradation to the hands. in reality they dont look this bad.
a couple of obligatory wrist shots
i really do think that this is the last 1964 Omega i will be buying in the near future. i have 2 speedmasters, 3 seamaster 300's, a seamaster 321 chrono, a constellation 561 and en route a seamaster 600 with 601 movement. that doesnt include my UG Polerouter, Rolex Oyster perpetual and my King Seiko.
best
Graham
The Omega CK2998 is a chronograph model recognized for its robust design and functional aesthetic. It belongs to a lineage of chronographs that established a distinct visual identity for the brand, characterized by a clear and legible dial layout. This reference is notable for its early adoption of a tachymeter scale on the bezel, a feature that would become a hallmark of many subsequent sports chronographs.
This reference features a 39 mm stainless steel case, housing the manual-winding Caliber 321. This movement provides a power reserve of 45 hours. The watch is fitted with a Hesalite crystal and offers a water resistance of 60 meters. The fixed tachymeter bezel is a key design element, framing a black dial.
The CK2998 holds interest for collectors seeking early examples of Omega's chronograph development. Its design elements, including the case proportions and dial configuration, represent a significant period in the brand's history. The presence of the Caliber 321 further enhances its appeal among enthusiasts of vintage chronograph movements.
I love these watches and this one is really a superb addition to you 1964 family ! Cheers Jeff
thanks Jeff, its not perfect by any measure, but its 'uncommonness' makes it special and the faults can be fixed with ease. best Graham
thats a real find and as a Speedy fan I'm very jealous. I like the condition - it seems to be remarkably un-messed about with, just great in my eyes. Enjoy it - it's found a good home. Best. Vernon.
thanks Vernon. it needs slight work on the hour totaliser, but thats it really. best graham
Hi Graham, Congratulations on the new Speedy Pro . Looks good on the wrist. Always fun and more rewarding to do a bit of detective work. You will have to get a '64 'family' photo for us one day and perhaps even get a few '64 vintage Purists together as well. Andrew
thanks Andrew. i did a pic a little while back, but its well out of date now. i have a 601 cal seamaster 600 coming in and a bid on a Zenith handwind in 9kt gold London assayed case(64) so will do one soon. best graham
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