Two new chrono additions....one new....one rather older...
Discussion
I have gone for it and in the last few weeks obtained these two.......
...the first a SS Daytona because, well, I just had to and stuff the credit crunch.....and the other...one I looked long and hard for.....
....a 1966 105.012 Cal 321 Speedmaster....which I just love to bits.....
That WAS the REAL watch that went to the moon....
...the first a SS Daytona because, well, I just had to and stuff the credit crunch.....and the other...one I looked long and hard for.....
....a 1966 105.012 Cal 321 Speedmaster....which I just love to bits.....
That WAS the REAL watch that went to the moon....Nice watches, although the 321 was the first watch worn on the moon, the 861 was also worn on the moon on the later Apollo missions. The 861 was also flight tested by NASA as they ran out of the first small batch of 321s bought in Houston.
There was also a Waltham and possibly even a Rolex GMT worn on the moon.
There was also a Waltham and possibly even a Rolex GMT worn on the moon.
El stovey said:
. . . . . those really are a fine set of purchases.
That's the best looking 321 i've seen. Has it been restored?
Beautiful.
I think it's had the case lightly brushed at some point but it's clear when you look very closely it bears the patina of its' age. But everything ties in...the omega logo in the hesalite (which is scratched a bit but then how could it not be?), the dial, winder, caseback, movement no. all correspond. At least to this ameteur! I don't honestly know if the bezel is the original but it does bear a patina of age too.That's the best looking 321 i've seen. Has it been restored?
Beautiful.
It has taken a looooong time for me to find one this good. I suppose perhaps unlike a Rolex of period which may have been someone's pride and joy but perhaps not worn daily, speedys I reckon would nearly all have been used..so in a way it's harder to get one of this vintage that has not been messed with or worn considerably. Caseback condition reflects the rest of the watch, it must have lived in a drawer for some time indeed in it's life. Thankfully ! Keeps time to about 4 secs a day which I reckon is pretty amazing.
I paid equivalent £1900 for it in USD. Reasonable? Seems a bargain when it's roughly the same price as a new one !
El stovey said:
Nice watches, although the 321 was the first watch worn on the moon, the 861 was also worn on the moon on the later Apollo missions. The 861 was also flight tested by NASA as they ran out of the first small batch of 321s bought in Houston.
There was also a Waltham and possibly even a Rolex GMT worn on the moon.
Ahh well I have read sooo much about all this. There was also a Waltham and possibly even a Rolex GMT worn on the moon.
There is debate as to whether an 861 made it to the moon at all...because all the watches issued to Astronauts were apparently sourced by NASA before the landings. However it IS possible....and yes 861 flight qualified of course!
Jack Swigert on Apollo 13 almost certainly wore a GMT in addition to his std issue speedy but I don't remember reading that a GMT got to the moon.
A Waltham was worn on the moon though you are right...I think it was Apollo 15 Dave scotts crystal popped out of his speedy?
As you are obviously into Speedmasters - do you know someone who can fit a display back so I can admire the 321 movement?
I looked at fitting a display back to an [1]861 a while back and found lots of good instructions online. It's not just a case of swapping backs but you need spacers also. There are many articles by the late chuck maddox on this. I think I started a thread on timezone which got some great replies and photos from those who had done it.
I found many people who could fit non Omega casebacks but nobody who could do an Omega one, so I was going to do it myself. I even found some sapphire Omega display back case backs on ebay. The problem I found was that all the display backs I found were for the newer watches with the incorrect "first and only watch worn on the moon"
In the end though I just bought an older 3572.50 display back [1]863, which is just a tarted up [1]861 with the plastic parts of the movement replaced for aesthetics but with the correct case back and hesalite face.
All the newer casebacks (since 1997 I think) have the incorrect case back inscription.
Here's a nice photo of a display case on a two 361s,
The left one is an Omega display back but the far right one is an aftermarket one.
BTW it's easy to get new original 60/70s Omega bracelets for the Speedy.
I found many people who could fit non Omega casebacks but nobody who could do an Omega one, so I was going to do it myself. I even found some sapphire Omega display back case backs on ebay. The problem I found was that all the display backs I found were for the newer watches with the incorrect "first and only watch worn on the moon"
In the end though I just bought an older 3572.50 display back [1]863, which is just a tarted up [1]861 with the plastic parts of the movement replaced for aesthetics but with the correct case back and hesalite face.
All the newer casebacks (since 1997 I think) have the incorrect case back inscription.
Here's a nice photo of a display case on a two 361s,
The left one is an Omega display back but the far right one is an aftermarket one.
BTW it's easy to get new original 60/70s Omega bracelets for the Speedy.
Edited by anonymous-user on Sunday 10th August 12:23
BigAlinEmbra said:
Lovely watches, I'd take the speedmaster over the daytona any day! 
Huum they both have their merits....so I got both....the daytona is for day to day and speedy whenever I drive my 1969 corvette...which is the SAME motor the astronauts had, courtesy of Chevrolet 
You need this
plus this.....
Then all you need is this.....
My hat is off to you sir. Gassing Station | Watches | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff