Tag: Black Dials Replica Omega Speedmaster Watches

We’ve covered the iconic Speedmaster every (Speedy) Tuesday since 2012. But Fratello goes back to July 2004, and between then and 2012, the luxury replica Omega Speedmaster watches was a recurring topic as well. This resulted in receiving a lot of questions about the Moonwatch and all of its variations. For this article, we have selected the most frequently asked Speedmaster questions and will answer them to the best of our knowledge.

This year, the Speedmaster is celebrating its 65th anniversary. Therefore, on the first Tuesday of 2022, Omega introduced the Speedmaster Calibre 321 in Canopus white gold. This watch was a white gold tribute to the very first Speedmaster CK2915. Despite the price tag of €80,700, Omega received quite a few orders. Later, in March, the brand introduced some additional AAA UK Omega Speedmaster fake watches. We got two Moonshine Gold Speedmasters (one with Panda dial and one with green dial) and a bunch of Speedmaster ’57 variations. The Speedmaster is hotter than ever, and with the new Moonwatch Master Chronometer, the watch has received a long-awaited upgrade.

As you might imagine, we receive several messages from our readers with Speedmaster questions. We get everything from the most common “What model should I start with?” to more in-depth questions regarding the type of bracelets, movement iterations, and dial versions. If you’re a die-hard Speedmaster fan, you might not find the following answers surprising. However, I do hope you will still pick up a fact or two that you didn’t know before.

1. What Speedmaster should I buy?

The most common question we receive is about what Speedmaster you should buy. That’s a difficult one to answer without knowing who you are. My first Speedmaster Professional was a vintage reference 145.012-67 from 1968. I purchased it in 1999 and still have it in my collection today. At that time, there wasn’t as much information out there on the 1:1 top replica Omega Speedmaster Moonwatches as there is today. And, honestly, I was more interested in a more modern Speedy Pro with caliber 861 or 1861, but those were pricier than a vintage one. Such a thing is unthinkable in today’s market.

In hindsight, I am very happy that I went for the 145.012-67 with caliber 321. Or rather, I’m glad I had to go for caliber 321 because my budget didn’t give me any other choice. In general, my suggestion is always to go for the Moonwatch with a hand-wound movement. Whether that’s a new Speedmaster Professional Master Chronometer or one of the previous references is less relevant. However, there are many more Speedmasters to choose from.

Collecting theme

Try to find out what you are after when building up a collection. Is it the Moonwatch only? Or do you want to go after the quirky stuff like a Speedmaster Speedsonic f300hz, Speedmaster LCD, or X-33? What about a Mark III or Mark V? Do you want to go vintage or only modern? These are things that I can’t answer for you but that you have to discover yourself. What makes your heart beat faster? By reading extensively about Speedmasters, you will eventually find out. Also, make sure to try on some different models.

2. How much should I pay for an Omega Speedmaster?

For a while now, Omega has shown the prices of its Swiss made Omega copy watches on the official website. Depending on the country you are in, you can see the actual retail price of your watch. That’s also the price that you can expect to pay in Omega boutiques. Other than in boutiques, you will also find Omega replica watches for sale at authorized dealers around the world. Unlike Omega boutiques, you may be given a discount on a Speedmaster at one of the authorized dealers. It also depends on the model, the relationship you have with the authorized dealer, and whether you purchased there in the past. Don’t expect miracles on the Speedmaster Professional, though. With the current high demand, there’s little to no reason to give a discount on them.

For pre-owned Omega Speedmaster super clone watches wholesale, prices are a different ballgame. It heavily depends on the model or reference and the demand and supply of these models. For pre-owned and vintage Speedmasters, the condition of the watch is incredibly important. A vintage 1970s Speedmaster Professional can be found for about €5,000, but it would also not be unheard of to find one for more than twice that amount. It all depends on the watch’s condition. Always do your homework and use Chrono24 for an indication of prices, or use the price chart from Speedmaster101 to get an easy overview per reference number. Speedmaster101 also updates its Speedmaster price chart regularly.

And what about a vintage Speedmaster?

My tip for buying pre-owned or vintage is this: buy the best you can afford with your budget! I would rather overpay for a perfect 105.012 or 145.012 than buy the cheapest 105.003 that is in poor condition. A vintage Speedmaster in good condition also increases your pleasure in wearing and owning the watch.

Starting with pre-owned replica Omega Speedmaster watches online site? Try a Moonwatch 3590.50 or 3592.50 from the early 1990s with a tritium dial and hands, a reference 1479 bracelet, and with box and papers. They look amazing with their beautiful yellowish patina, they use one of the best bracelets Omega ever made for the Speedmaster, and they are relatively easy to find with box and papers.

3. How often should a Speedmaster be serviced?

Normally, I would recommend a seven-year interval for having a Speedmaster Professional serviced, whether that’s a vintage reference or the latest model with the Master Chronometer movement. If you wear the same watch every single day, you might want to have it serviced more often. If it is part of a collection and not an everyday watch, you can increase the service interval a bit.

What’s more interesting, perhaps, is how much a Speedmaster service will cost you and where you should have it serviced. Omega has several service centers (including at its HQ in Bienne), and for a Speedmaster in steel, the brand will charge €750 for a complete service. Omega is very transparent about the cost of service, which is openly published on the brand’s website here.

A gold or platinum Speedmaster will run you €950 for a complete service. This includes the disassembly of the entire watch and the cleaning of all components. It also includes the replacement or overhaul of all worn parts in the movement. For vintage fake Omega watches paypal, ask for the special service form at the boutique. On it, you can indicate what you want to have done and, more importantly, what should be left untouched.

You can argue that this is a lot of money. However, not only is the service done to Omega’s high standards, but also all worn-out parts will be replaced. This includes the crown, tubes, pushers, gears, Hesalite crystal, hands (if necessary), etc.

From a watchmaker’s perspective

We inquired with our watchmaker Paul (@paul_divawatchmaker), who is independent and works for several boutiques and shops. He charges €400 for the disassembly, ultrasonic cleaning, and polishing (if requested) of external parts. His price also includes the replacement of worn parts, except for expensive inner components for which he needs to charge more. He told us that the mainspring will always be replaced, for example, as well as gaskets, etc. He let us know that the €750 for the overhaul at Omega isn’t that expensive given that the brand replaces everything that is worn.

That said, finding a skilled watchmaker is one of the things that should be at the top of your list when starting to build a Speedmaster collection. It’s not that they often break, but you want a reliable contact for these service overhauls and someone you can truly trust with your precious Speedmaster.

4. Can you take your Speedmaster swimming?

It would seem that this is quite a recurring question and topic of discussion for many of you. It is also a popular subject for countless Speedmaster memes out there. Most of the time, we find that people just assume it isn’t water-resistant at all. Since 1957, Swiss movements Omega Speedmaster replica watches has had the Hippocampus logo (which we explained here) on the case back. Although it was indicative of water resistance in the past, today’s standards are quite different.

Though it may be clear that the Speedmaster is not suitable for diving purposes, what is often not so clear is that you can indeed take your new Speedmaster for a swim. Even the Speedmaster Professional “Moonwatch”, with a water resistance of 50 meters, can be used in the water. But just take note that you shouldn’t operate the pushers or crown underwater. We’ve checked this officially with Omega, and the brand also let us know that the best quality Omega fake watches are tested for water resistance with a substantial margin (+25%).

Also — and this is very important — only do this when you are certain that the gaskets are still in good shape. If you use the Speedmaster in the water, replace the gaskets every 12 months. Some Speedmasters have greater water resistance, such as the Speedmaster Co-Axial Master Chronometer Moonphase models. These are water-resistant to 100 meters.

I wouldn’t recommend swimming with the older and vintage Speedmaster models that only have a 30-meter rating. Even if they are in pristine condition and have been recently serviced, you’re better off keeping them out of the water.

5. Is the Speedmaster still being used by astronauts?

A very common question that we receive is about the use of the Omega Speedmaster by astronauts, or if NASA still issues the Omega Speedmaster to astronauts. The answer to this is that all astronauts who are going into space via Russia (including NASA and ESA astronauts) receive China replica Omega Speedmaster Moonwatches as well as the digital X-33. Of course, you will see a lot of different watches on the wrist of astronauts in space. Some prefer their personal watches or have a connection with a brand other than Omega. However, the only watch that NASA ever qualified for manned space missions is the Omega Speedmaster. In recent space endeavors, such as the launch of the SpaceX Falcon 9 or even the Blue Origin New Shepard project, you could see the Speedmaster in action. In short, yes, the Speedmaster is still being used by astronauts today. Even the Speedmaster Silver Snoopy Award 50th Anniversary made it into space.

6. How often should I wind my Omega Speedmaster (Professional)?

Through the years, the Speedmaster Professional (and pre-Professional) models have used Omega’s hand-wound calibers 321, 861, 863, 864, 866, 1861, 1863, 1866, and 3861. And let’s not forget about the beautiful hand-wound caliber 3201 (F. Piguet base) that was used in the 2007 enamel-dialed Speedmaster made to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the watch. These fake Omega watches for men have a power reserve of between 48 and 52 hours, depending on the caliber. You only need to wind these watches when they are almost out of power, but if you prefer to do so every morning, that’s fine as well. What you shouldn’t do is wind them while they are on your wrist. This can cause unnecessary tension on the winding stem and the movement.

7. How accurate is the Omega Speedmaster?

This is another one of the most asked Speedmaster questions because, until recently, the Moonwatch was not a chronometer-certified watch. Thus, the answer depends on the movement inside. Omega uses a tolerance of +11/-1 seconds per day on average for a non-chronometer chronograph with a mechanical movement. This would be totally fine by me, but your watchmaker may be able to get it even more precise. If a Speedmaster is more than 10 seconds off per day, I would consider having it regulated.

A chronometer-certified Omega Speedmaster should be accurate to within +6/-4 seconds per day on average, which is the COSC standard. The performance might get slightly worse over the years after the watch is first purchased or after it is serviced. The current Speedmaster Professional Moonwatch is a Master Chronometer, certified by METAS (and COSC). These caliber-3861-powered cheap Omega Speedmaster replica watches have an accuracy of +5/-0 seconds per day. The watches are also anti-magnetic to 15,000 gauss.

8. Where should I buy an Omega Speedmaster?

You can buy directly from Omega via one of its boutiques or by ordering directly from Omegawatches.com. Other than that, Omega has a network of retailers where you will find a selection of the brand’s watches. If you want to buy a pre-owned Speedmaster, you can find tons of dealers and private sellers offering them. You will also find a lot of listings of vintage and pre-owned Speedmasters on platforms like Chrono24.

You will also find offers in specific Facebook groups or on the Omegaforums.net platform, for example. These are places with knowledgeable people and a lot of enthusiasts, so their sales forums are more or less “self-regulating”. Always take into account that you might need to deal with customs, and if you buy pre-owned, make sure to calculate the cost of a service into your budget or make sure the seller can provide paperwork for all recent service work. Remember, always make sure to do your homework. Hopefully, our Speedmaster buying guides will help you with that.

9. What is the difference between calibers 321, 861, 1861, and 3861?

Omega’s caliber 321 (both the original one as well as the new one) is a chronograph with a column-wheel mechanism. This was the movement used in the first Speedmasters from 1957 till 1968. It was succeeded by the caliber 861 for cost efficiency, mainly, as well as its higher ticking speed (21,600vph vs 18,000vph). Both are great movements, and neither holds a real functional advantage. Caliber 861 was replaced around 1996/1997 by caliber 1861, which had an extra jewel and a different finish. Nevertheless, the latest iteration of caliber 861 was already very similar to the later caliber 1861. For the 861 and 1861, there are quite a few additional variations, such as the (1)863 (nicer optical finish), (1)866 (moonphase module), and 864 (chronometer certification).

Caliber 1869 has also been around since 2018. This movement uses an 1861 base movement with a very special lunar-surface finish for the Dark Side of the Moon Apollo 8. Last but not least, in 2019, Omega introduced the new caliber 3861. Based on caliber 1861, the 3861 consists of approximately 50% new parts and receives the Master Chronometer certification from METAS. It has been used in the Apollo 11 in stainless steel and Moonshine Gold, as well as in the new Swiss fake Omega Speedmaster Professional Moonwatches Master Chronometer. Pictured above from left to right, you see the 3861, 1861, and (new) 321.

The new caliber 321 is available in a platinum Moonwatch version as the Speedmaster Calibre 321 (aka “NEW321”). It’s also available in the Calibre 321 Broad Arrow Canopus Gold. Although parts are interchangeable with the original caliber 321,  the new movement has a Sedna (rose) Gold finish, whereas the original caliber 321 has a copper-colored finish.

10. Where can I find my Speedmaster’s serial number?

Especially when someone is on the hunt for a pre-owned or vintage Speedmaster, the serial number can be very useful. When was the Speedmaster produced, exactly? To which country was it shipped and when? The serial number of the Speedmaster can give reveal these details. Omega has a pretty impressive archive, and using a serial number you can request an extract that gives you every bit of information about a specific watch. However, you do need to have the serial number in order to retrieve this information. Every Speedmaster has its serial number engraved on the movement. On modern perfect quality replica Omega Speedmaster Professional watches (reference 3590.50 and onwards) you will also find it engraved on the underside of one of the lugs.

11. Where is Buzz Aldrin’s Speedmaster?

I’ll wrap up this list of Speedmaster questions with one that keeps Speedy lovers’ minds turning. Buzz Aldrin was the first astronaut to wear his Omega Speedmaster on the surface of the Moon. He wore a Speedmaster Professional reference 105.012, to be precise. Former NASA engineer James Ragan, who was responsible for testing the cameras and Speedmasters of the astronauts, said that Buzz Aldrin supposedly donated his watch (with other equipment from the mission) to the Smithsonian. Alas, the watch never made it to its destination.

Neil Armstrong’s and Michael Collins’s Speedmasters (along with those of many other astronauts) are still around and classed as property of the US government. These flown AAA wholesale Omega Speedmaster fake watches can often be found on display in the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum. Omega’s own museum in Biel, Switzerland also has a number of flown Speedmasters watches on display.

In 1995, Ron Howard released his epic space film about heroes acting in the face of disaster and death. Apollo 13, starring Tom Hanks, Bill Paxton, and Kevin Bacon is more than just a big-budget Hollywood flick with big marquee names. It’s a film about a group of astronauts who believed they would be the third crew to step foot on the Moon only to have their spacecraft malfunction, forcing them to scrap their dreams and attempt to return home despite near-impossible odds.

Sure, the effects are dated, but the heart remains intact. What we get is a picture of American life in 1970, post-Moon landing when the greater public interest in space exploration had waned, but the determination of the astronauts themselves is at an all-time high. Of course, the space race and NASA are synonymous with particular AAA UK Omega replica watches brand – and this film has no shortage of a certain space-faring chronograph on the wrists of almost everyone, but especially on Tom Hanks who plays Jim Lovell, commander of the infamous Apollo 13.

Why We’re Watching

This weekend, many Americans will be turning on their grills and cracking open some ice-cold beverages to celebrate the Fourth of July. In honor of the holiday, I’ve chosen Apollo 13 to celebrate an event in American history where things didn’t turn out as expected. However, through determination – despite adversity – the impossible was overcome. And if you spend your holiday weekends in the cinema, you’ll also find the film’s lead, Tom Hanks, encountering a different kind of trouble in Elvis, the latest biopic from Baz Luhrmann.

What’s great – and admittedly expected – about Apollo 13 is just how many watches there are. In almost every scene, you can catch a watch on the wrist of every NASA employee at Houston’s Mission Control (as well as every astronaut). The majority of those timepieces are high quality fake Omega Speedmaster watches which, famously, became the watch of the NASA Space Program as it was the only watch officially flight-qualified for space flight.

Any movie about NASA has to get the details right because, well, space nerds are about as pedantic as watch nerds. Imagine tuning into any historical film about space exploration in the 1960s and ’70s and seeing any watch but the best Omega Speedmaster replica watches being strapped onto the suits of the mission-ready astronauts. Cinema is about suspending disbelief, but that would be a bridge too far.

The good news is Apollo 13 didn’t make that mistake. Today we are zeroing in on Tom Hanks’ Jim Lovell who, as mentioned, commanded the Apollo 13 mission. Lovell himself had a history in space exploration going back to the Gemini program and was a contemporary of space luminaries Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin. In this film, Hanks plays Lovell as only Hanks can. There’s no mimicry here, just an earnest performance. I’d venture to say that the only bit of copycat-ing was his watch – perfect Omega Speedmaster copy watches (likely the ref. 105.012 in real life, though it’s difficult to discern if the film got that 100 percent right). Hanks wears his Speedy both on Earth and in space throughout the film.

We see him wear the Swiss movements replica Omega watches with a blue Lacoste polo, strapped to the outside of his spacesuit, and tucked under the sleeve of his uniform while aboard the spacecraft. There’s a reason everyone loves a Speedy – it goes with everything.

But it’s also a tool watch, and it proved to be the most useful tool for the three heroes of our film. Shortly after recording a segment for live television, to greet the people of Earth from space (a video recording which, sadly, was never picked up by any national television stations), the crew encountered oxygen tank failure which set in motion a life-or-death course correction from the Moon back home. The crew had to retreat to the Lunar Excursion Module and use it as a lifeboat – instead of a vessel to land, and walk, on the Moon. On the fifth day of the journey, Lovell, Fred Haise (Paxton), and Jack Swigert (Bacon) needed to meticulously time an engine burn to reorient the LEM and get themselves on the correct course back to Earth – a task that, as it turns out, required a watch. As the film portrays this pivotal historical moment, we see Swigert time the burn with the super clone Omega Speedmaster watches for sale strapped to his wrist.

Interestingly, there’s some conjecture when it comes to just what watch the real-life Swigert wore when this actually happened. A good amount of photographic evidence shows that Swigert wore a Rolex Pepsi GMT-Master daily prior to the Apollo 13 launch. It’s believed that Swigert may have worn his GMT aboard Apollo 13 and used it instead of the luxury Omega Speedmaster replica watches to time the crucial burn. However, HODINKEE heard it from Jim Lovell himself that it was the Speedmaster. And since we’re talking about the film, and the film shows the Speedy, I’m going with the Speedy. As was once said in The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (1962), “When the legend becomes fact, print the legend.”

Speaking of Pepsi bezels, there’s a great spacey Easter egg of a watch courtesy of Ed Harris’ Gene Kranz (NASA’s Chief Flight Director) who wears a Seiko Speedtimer with a blue and red bezel. And you’ll also notice that Haise wears not one, but two cheap fake Omega Speedmaster watches. Double-wristing in space is serious business.

This film is yet another example of just how important the top replica Omega Speedmaster watches is in the history of space exploration. It’s also cool to see the astronauts wear it both professionally and casually – a sign that this wasn’t just a piece of issued kit, but a timepiece that they bonded with. And I can’t blame them.

When We’re Watching

Early in the film, we find Lovell sitting with his wife in their backyard after the Armstrong/Aldrin moon landing. They’re laying on lawn chairs, staring up at the Moon imagining the crew looking back up at Earth. As Lovell ponders the impossible made possible, enjoying the evening with his wife, we can see the Omega Speedmaster fake watches store site affixed to his wrist [00:06:59]. If only he (and the watch) knew what lay ahead.

Every space film has the hero Speedy shot, and this one is no different. As we watch the Apollo 13 astronauts get suited up for their mission on launch day, we see Lovell being fitted by the crew. We get everything from the suit to the oxygen system – and of course, the watch. The camera cuts to a close-up of Lovell’s wrist and we see the crew members affix China replica Omega Speedmaster watches over his flight suit with that oversized strap [00:29:36]. It’s a moment of excitement for the Apollo 13 astronauts and a celebration of the watch associated with the NASA space program.

The new owner of Ralph Ellison’s Speedmaster 145.012-067SP is the Omega Museum in Biel. The museum will display it beside an impressive line-up of special luxury Omega Speedmaster replica watches from noteworthy owners.

Its first owner, author Ralph Ellison, wrote the Invisible Man novel of 1952. It received the prestigious National Book Award in 1953. In 1998, the Modern Library ranked Invisible Man #19 on its list of 100 best English-language novels of the 20th century.

Ralph Ellison’s Replica Omega Speedmaster 145.012-67SP Watches

No one knows exactly how Ralph Ellison obtained the 1:1 UK replica Omega Speedmaster Professional 145.012-67 watches. Whether he purchased it himself or received it as a gift remains a mystery. Omega’s Extract of the Archives indicates that the watch had been produced on March 15th, 1968. That still doesn’t indicate when Ellison acquired the high quality fake watches, as there can be quite some time between production and sale. However, Phillips indicates in the listing that Ralph Ellison can be seen wearing the watch in a picture from the summer of 1968.

Reference 145.012-67SP

Omega’s Speedmaster reference 145.012 was the watch on the wrists of some of the NASA astronauts during the Apollo program in the 1960s and ’70s. Together with the Speedmaster reference 105.003 and Speedmaster Professional reference 105.012, Omega sent these best replica watches to NASA for Apollo astronauts to use. The 145.012 is the successor to the 105.012. The only difference between the models is the pusher construction (screwed into the case and having taller caps) and a case back with a single bevel instead of two.

Generally speaking, there’s a little bit more demand for the 105.012. This is mainly because it is the reference that was on the wrist of Edwin “Buzz” Aldrin. The Ellison 145.012-67 is the ‘SP’ version of this reference, which stands for “special pushers” (Special Poussoirs). According to Omega, it had better water resistance, but of course, this distinction is a relative one. Of the cheap Swiss Omega Speedmaster copy watches with caliber 321, reference 145.012 is the easiest to find on the market. However, finding one in good condition has become tough in recent years.

With a little help

Ellison wore this perfect replica watches for approximately 25 years until he passed away in 1994 at age 81. Various photographs spanning those years show him wearing the Omega Speedmaster Professional 145.012-67SP. In some, it was evident that the upper pusher was missing. After his wife passed away in 2005, the watch was offered in an estate sale. Before the Phillips auction, it ended up with a collector who was just looking for Swiss movements fake Omega Speedmaster Professional 145.012 watches in original condition. The sale indicated it came from the “Ralph and Fanny Ellison Charitable Trust”, but there was no further indication that either of them wore it. The buyer spent quite some time searching for definitive proof but for a long time was unable to find indisputable evidence. His watch also had the upper pusher missing when he received it, but that could have been just a weird coincidence.

Earlier this year, however, the owner — with the help of watch journalist and author Michael Clerizo — received paperwork that belonged to the Ellisons. It included an insurance policy listing all sorts of items. Among them was the Omega Speedmaster Professional replica watches for sale with a serial number. This number corresponded with the one on the movement of the 145.012-67 in his possession, and of course with the Extract of the Archives he had previously received.

Lot 138 with a low estimate

The Omega Speedmaster Professional 145.012-67SP that once belonged to Ralph Ellison was offered as Lot 138 on the Phillips auction on December 12th. Interestingly, it had an estimate of just $10,000 to $20,000. Now, I never understand these estimates or the purpose of them. A regular 145.012 in good condition would already fetch that amount. But this super clone watches wholesale online both belonged to and sat on the wrist of a renowned and influential American writer. Not only that, but it also had provenance to back it up. Before the watch went to auction, and even before the former owner had certainty about the previous life of this particular Speedmaster, it was serviced and received new (period-correct) pushers.

Why did it sell for such a high price?

For me, it is difficult to grasp why this replica watches shop site fetched the amount of $667,800. I do get that the author was very famous and that his novel was one of great literary importance. But it is still difficult to comprehend how far someone is willing to go to actually own such a timepiece. I completely blame myself for not fully understanding this, as I’m also unaware of the effect of this novel on people, or just how much praise Ellison received for it. So, who better to ask than Petros Protopapas, the Head of Brand Heritage at Omega in Switzerland?

Let’s ask Omega’s Head of Brand Heritage

Fratello: Omega won the Phillips auction of the Ralph Ellison Speedmaster 145.012-67SP last week. Why are you so keen to have this AAA top fake watches for the museum in Biel?

Petros Protopapas: This watch, with caliber 321, is a sought-after Speedmaster by collectors around the globe. But what makes this one incredibly special, is the connection with Invisible Man author Ralph Ellison. In his 1952 novel, 2021 replica watches, clocks and time are recurring motifs, so it is safe to assume that he had a thing for these themes. It has become clear to us that he cherished his best quality Omega Speedmaster replica watches, given the photographs showing him wearing the watch on many occasions.

As you can imagine, this watch doesn’t only attract watch collectors, or Speedmaster collectors specifically, but also a wider audience. An audience with a different interest than fake watches paypal, like literature buffs or those who are interested in social and cultural topics that Ralph Ellison wrote about in Invisible Man.

Fratello: The watch appears to be in good condition, especially given the fact it was worn for such a long time by one owner, assumably daily. What do you think of its condition?

Petros Protopapas: “Well loved” is how I would classify its condition. This Swiss made replica Omega Speedmaster 145.012-67SP watches had been on the wrist of Ralph Ellison for over 25 years, and I believe that today’s condition matches how it was on Ellison’s wrist. Except for the pusher that came off a long time ago, that Ellison did not replace. To conserve this watch in the best way possible, the Speedmaster has received new gaskets and a new crystal. That said, the original crystal does come with the watch, just for the sake of having it as complete as possible.

Fratello: Thank you, sir.

Completing the puzzle

The sale of this special Omega Speedmaster Pro 145.012-67 that was worn by Ralph Ellison shows once more that heritage and storytelling are very valuable. Real stories, that is. I can imagine how satisfying it must have been to complete the story around this fake watches for men and its previous ownership. It’s a puzzle that was completed with the help of other watch enthusiasts and collectors. In this case, the definitive answer came from insurance papers that were stored in a box filled with documents and photos at the Library of Congress (LOC) Photo Archives.