Posted on

Could Astronaut Wally Schirra’s UK Top Omega Speedmaster Fake Watches Set A Speedy Record?

Let me tell you about the coolest watch I’ve tried on this year. It was one of those commemorative gold “Apollo XI” Omega Speedmaster replica watches for sale, the ones Omega gifted to astronauts to celebrate the successful lunar landing of Apollo XI. This particular example had been given to Michael Collins, the astronaut who stayed back and flew the command module while Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin took that “one small step” onto the Moon.

Collins’ AAA UK fake Omega Speedmaster watches ended up selling for $765,000 in June, which, I believe, makes it the second most expensive Speedmaster ever, after that chocolatey Speedy that Phillips sold for $3.4 million about a year ago. But as luck and interplanetary travel would have it, another gold Apollo XI Speedmaster (ref. BA 145.022) is up for auction right now, this one gifted to astronaut Wally Schirra. If I had to bet, I’d guess Schirra’s Speedmaster is about to hit a similarly astronomical number.

You might know the story, but in case not: Omega gifted these gold Speedies at a fancy gala shortly after the successful Apollo XI mission. The first couple went to then-President and Vice President Richard Nixon and Spiro Agnew (who couldn’t accept them), while the next 28 numbered watches went to mission astronauts. In total, 1,014 of these best Omega Speedmaster replica watches were made, with most of the rest offered for commercial sale; it makes these first examples gifted to astronauts the most special.

By the time he was gifted the high quality Omega copy watches, Schirra was already an established badass, the first (and only) astronaut to go to space three times (being the only astronaut to fly in the Mercury, Gemini, and Apollo programs). Schirra was gifted commemorative Speedmaster No. 8 in recognition of his first spaceflight on the Mercury-Atlas 8 mission. On the caseback, it’s personally engraved “Astronaut Walter M. Schirra, Mercury 8—Gemini 6—Apollo 7,” along with the kind of corny phrase you’ll find on all of these commemorative Speedies: “To mark man’s conquest of space with time, through time, on time.”

Early this week – October 3 – actually marked the 60th anniversary of Schirra’s Mercury-Atlas 8 mission. If you’re into luxury Omega Speedmaster replica watches, you already know what that flight is famous for: Schirra had an Omega Speedmaster ref. CK2998 on his wrist, making it the “First Omega in Space.”

At the time, the Speedmaster wasn’t yet qualified for spaceflight by NASA – it was just Schirra’s personal watch, as he’d also explain in an interview with collector Chuck Maddox years later. With that Omega connection already in place, the commemorative gold cheap Omega Speedmaster fake watches was a nice bookend for Schirra’s career as an astronaut: He’d made his third and final visit to space a year earlier aboard Apollo 7, and he’d go on to serve as a TV anchor for subsequent Apollo missions.

Schirra the Pioneer

Lucky for us, Schirra’s gold Speedy is being consigned by world-class space historian and collector Larry McGlynn, who developed a long friendship with Schirra.

“NASA sent Wally in when things needed to be fixed,” McGlynn told me over the phone. As just one example: Schirra was called on to pilot that Apollo 7 mission a year after the fire that killed all three astronauts on Apollo 1. After Schirra died in 2007, his widow eventually contacted McGlynn to see if he’d be interested in buying the perfect Omega super clone watches. He was, and he bought it.

When talking about Wally, McGlynn kept using one word: pioneer. He was a Naval Academy graduate; a World War II vet; he flew 90 combat missions in the Korean War; he became a test pilot. A true “jet jockey,” as McGlynn put it.

“He was a pioneer. Wally was funny and he had a sense of humor, but he was also serious about what he did.”

Just A Big Gold Watch

This brings me back to trying on Collins’ Apollo XI Speedmaster earlier this year. Sure, it was cool just because it’s a big-ass gold watch, and those are always cool. I don’t get too sentimental about other peoples’ Swiss movements replica Omega watches, but something about snapping on Collins’ watch felt different than anything I’ve put on recently. This wasn’t a watch that went to space or anything – it was just a trophy watch, really – but still. It wasn’t a prop or some movie star’s watch, just a trophy from a guy who happened to earn it by going to space three freaking times.

I guess that history, or maybe just that big-ass gold watch, weighed on me – the weight of expectations and all that. After reading more about Schirra, looking at old photos, and talking to McGlynn, I know I’d have the same feeling if I put on Schirra’s 1:1 Omega Speedmaster fake watches.

As for Schirra’s Speedmaster: McGlynn had it cleaned by Omega and he was able to obtain one of the last original ’69 burgundy bezels directly from Omega (Schirra lost the original bezel years ago), but it’s otherwise original. The listing at RR Auction even has a few photos of Schirra wearing the watch over the years; McGlynn, too, said he had memories of Wally wearing the gold Speedmaster. Many of the astronauts viewed these China replica Omega Speedmaster watches, gold as they were, as just watches, and wore them quite a bit – we love to hear it.

I’ve enjoyed reading about Schirra these past few days and talking to McGlynn about his old buddy, so here’s one more story of how Schirra used his chronograph onboard, also from that interview with Chuck Maddox: “The real key was pre-setting them to T plus 20 seconds,” Schirra said. “Before we got into the spacecraft, before we tied up everything, we’d advance the stopwatch to 20 seconds. And then after liftoff, they’d say ‘Standby – Mark!’ and then you’d start the watch again because you were too busy with hands on switches to start the watch [at liftoff].”

I hope whoever wins Schirra’s best quality replica Omega Speedmaster watches, once in awhile sets the chronograph to 20 seconds, a little wink to how Schirra would use his Speedmaster during take-off. No matter what, at least they’ll get a big gold watch, and that’s always cool.

Posted on

James Bond Had ‘No Time To Die’ With His Latest Best Omega Seamaster Diver 300M Co-Axial Master Chronometer 007 Edition Replica Watches UK

“The name is Bond, James Bond.”

Those six words were not only my introduction to one of the greatest fictional heroes but also to the world of watches. While I had already developed a lingering interest in watches in my teens, it was the perfect replica Omega Seamaster Professional watches on the wrist of Pierce Brosnan as James Bond in Goldeneye that made me want to have the same watch.

While it wasn’t easy to get UK luxury fake Omega Seamaster Professional watches as I was still in school, a paper route and working on weekends and during vacations allowed me to prevail – with this year marking the twenty-second that it is proudly on my wrist, though these days on rotation with a few other timepieces.

While the literary Bond always remained faithful to Rolex, the cinematic Bond has varied between brands. He occasionally flirted with Seiko and Breitling alongside numerous “Bond girls” – and Moneypenny, of course – but Rolex and Omega have stayed attached to him the longest.

I don’t favor one over the other as both brands fit very naturally into his world. They are rugged though luxurious and sophisticated, yet also just another instrument in Her Majesty’s toolbox to get the job done by any means necessary.

For the 25th installment of the James Bond franchise No Time to Die, 007 became a victim of an enemy too big to fight: the COVID-19 pandemic pushed back the movie’s release several times, but now we remain in high hopes that it will finally have its premiere at the Royal Albert Hall in London on September 28, 2021.

This film marks Daniel Craig’s final appearance as the world’s most famous secret agent; he will retire from the role after this. This makes No Time to Die an important film as it brings together and concludes all the continuing storylines intertwined from the Craig era, a first in the franchise.

Seamaster, Omega Seamaster

A new adventure demands a new watch, and in the case of 007 that is still 1:1 Omega Seamaster replica watches. While in the past, Bond was simply more or less equipped with something from the regular collection, he is now treated to a watch designed especially for him.

Both Craig and people closely connected to the franchise worked with Omega on the watch’s design, tapping into Bond’s military side; he holds the rank of commander in the British Royal Navy.

The franchise did an outstanding job appropriating that segment of his (fictional) life as well as what Craig brings to the role, helping him to portray a version of Bond that is even rawer than Timothy Dalton’s representation.

The 007 edition of the AAA copy Omega Seamaster Diver 300M Co-Axial Master Chronometer watches keeps the best part of this famed diver’s watch yet serves it up in a slightly differentiated manner. A matte dial in very dark brown replaces the fancy ceramic wave pattern of the regular edition, and a “tropical” patina vibe was given to both the dial and bezel, adding a lot of beige and even Super-LumiNova in this color.

This is a perfect fit for Craig as no other Bond ever got as dirty and dusty in the line of duty as he has. While some might dislike the color combination as it could be seen as faux patina (or fauxtina), it is just a color combination – and a pleasing one in my opinion.

Also interesting to note is that the bezel is once again aluminum and not ceramic as has become Omega’s standard. While this is a detail, I feel that aluminum is just a tad more pleasing. Though I am biased based on the bezel insert in my own Swiss movements Omega Seamaster replica watches.

While I like the heft of stainless steel, I feel that the right choice was made to house this one in Grade 2 titanium. It suits a more militarily inclined watch, and Bond can do without carrying extra weight while once again saving the world.

Omega offers this high quality super clone Omega watches on a choice of NATO strap or titanium mesh bracelet. There is historical precedent for the former as Bond wore his Rolex Submariner on a NATO strap in Goldfinger. While very handy for military operations, Bond is usually too well-dressed to have this match his clothing very well.

I have the same issue with the titanium mesh bracelet. While very well made, it looks like an afterthought and not at all as slick and good-looking as the “Bond bracelet” that became part of the Seamaster signature.

Fortunately, Omega has forgone any obvious 007 branding on this Omega replica watches online site as it sometimes has in the past. Not that this Seamaster is very stealthy as it features a so-called “broad arrow” on the dial just above the 6 o’clock position. This arrowhead symbol is used by the British government to mark property. One could argue that this would make it quite possibly a bit harder for Bond to remain undercover, but that never seemed to have been part of his modus operandi anyway.

While I normally don’t mind a robust ETA movement like the one I have in my own Omega Seamaster fake watches for sale, the caliber in this latest Bond watch is more of a treat. Caliber 8806 is certified as a Master Chronometer and features technical delights such as a co-axial escapement and silicon balance spring.

It is also able to withstand antimagnetic forces up to 15,000 Gauss. For Bond a very useful feature as he has a tendency to be around strong magnets like the one he uses to toss Jaws into a shark tank in The Spy Who Loved Me.

As it should be, this finely finished movement is hidden behind a closed titanium case back. I have never been much of a fan of sapphire crystal windows in case backs as I like the understatement of going without. On a tool watch like this it makes even less sense.

What about the Bond women?

I guess the term “Bond girls” is not of this time anymore, although I personally have a different opinion. The Bond girls were all very feminine, but most of all they were strong characters. Pussy Galore (Honor Blackman) of Goldfinger was an aviator, squadron leader, and a foe who turned into a friend. She helped Bond save the U.S. gold reserve wearing a Rolex GMT-Master Reference 6542 on her wrist.

While May Day (Grace Jones) in A View to a Kill didn’t prominently wear a watch, she did prefer to be “on top of things,” even taking the lead away from James Bond in one of the bedroom scenes.

Bond fought side by side with Wai Lin (played by Richard Mille fan Michelle Yeoh) in Tomorrow Never Dies and KGB agent Anya Amasova (Barbara Bach), who has the rank of major in the Russian army, in The Spy Who Loved Me. I could go on and on with this list.

Despite a few sexist remarks that 007 would no longer be caught dead uttering, I feel that the James Bond franchise was full of strong, trailblazing women.

This is also why it surprises me that Omega didn’t put more focus on the ladies’ watches the brand also supplied part of the cast with. A missed opportunity, in my opinion, was not signing Judi Dench as an ambassador in her role as M. Even the luxury Omega replica watches worn by Halle Berry as Jinx in Die Another Day got as much time in the press as it did onscreen: you would think this would be marketing gold.

In No Time to Die, I’m afraid, it doesn’t get any better as the limited screen time of the ladies’ watches on Ana de Armas and Léa Seydoux is reserved for a 38 mm Seamaster Aqua Terra 150m and a very modest quartz-powered 27 mm Omega De Ville.

In particular, looking at the influential female roles that the Bond franchise has today, I am surprised that Omega hasn’t kicked it up a notch to give the leading ladies watches to match. It would not only be an opportunity to highlight some of their amazing ladies’ models such as the Ladymatic and Trésor, which get less attention than they deserve, but also to take inspiration from Pussy Galore and have one of the Bond women rock a Seamaster from the heritage collection.

For No Time to Die, it’s too late. But as James Bond will return, so hopefully will top Omega fake watches to make good on this.

Posted on

‘Holy Grail’ Apollo 11 Fake Omega Moonwatches UK Online Goes Under the Hammer

When sci-fi author J.G. Ballard suggested that the moon landings had exhausted the public appetite for space exploration, he couldn’t have been more wrong. Check out the figure that astronaut Michael Collins’ solid gold commemorative Swiss made Omega Speedmaster replica watches recently fetched. It went for an eyewatering USD $765,000 – proof that we still love anything to do with that era. And for once, this rare AAA UK Omega fake watches didn’t end up in Omega’s famed museum. Instead, it will take centre stage in a private collection making the huge price tag even more notable.

So why is this particular watch so desirable when Michael Caine’s Rolex Day-Date went for less than $40K a few years back? It’s because, aside from being solid gold high quality replica Omega watches, this piece has an unrivalled backstory. Along with Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin, Collins was part of the three-man team that pulled off the first moon landing. The Apollo 11 mission was a high point of human achievement and cheap copy Omega Speedmaster watches was NASA’s chosen watch. Omega had seen off competition from Rolex and Longines to be the official watch for the mission. Buzz Aldrin wore his on the surface of the moon, cementing the Speedmaster as one of the century’s most iconic watches.

Later, to acknowledge those who made the impossible possible, Omega created a unique line of solid gold luxury replica Omega Speedmaster chronograph watches (Ref BA145.022). These were presented at Houston’s Astronaut Appreciation Dinner with Michael Collins one of the 32 astronauts who received a watch. His was engraved with his name, the watch’s number and the two missions he completed – Apollo 11 and Gemini 10 – plus a poetic line referencing the moon landings. Only 1014 top Omega super clone watches were manufactured between 1969 and 1973, making this series a holy grail for collectors.

In 2019, to mark the 50th anniversary of those steps on the moon, Omega recreated this enigmatic watch with another limited edition of, you’ve guessed it, 1014 pieces. This perfect fake Omega watches wholesale again featured a gold case and a vertically-brushed gold dial, along with the distinctive burgundy bezel. It’s another rare and collectable watch, but still a more realistic buy than Michael Collin’s unique piece.

His watch went for a staggering price because it has everything. The China Omega Speedmaster replica watches was judged, at the time, to be the best watch on the planet when a watch was needed in space. And the watch sold at auction is gold, rare, engraved and was worn by one of space exploration’s bravest pioneers.