Fit to Purpose - The Speedmaster Mark II Reissue
- rockmastermike
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Fit to Purpose - The Speedmaster Mark II Reissue
Oh, the irony.....the first Speedmasters were built as racing watches when Omega threw their hat into into the NASA testing and the rest, as they say, is history. After several missions, Omega got feedback from Astronauts and NASA about changes they wanted to make to the "Moonwatch"
1) a crystal that wouldn't be prone to "pop off"
2) a sturdier bezel insert
3) a case without as many edges
To which, Omega designed the MKII to address these requirements - unfortunately, time ran out and by time the MKII's were ready for evaluation, the was no longer a need. Ironically, the watch that became the Moonwatch was never designed or intended to go to the moon while the watch that was designed to meet NASA requirements never made it to testing.
The good thing is the Mark II's were released to the public and, not as popular as the moonwatch, became a cult classic with either the black/white or grey/orange dial configurations.
This review is not meant to be a "spot the difference" between the vintage and modern so I'll just touch on it briefly and then take a tour of the reissue.
1) Modern Tachy Bezel is not as wide giving more exposure to the beautiful dial
2) Both have orange markers on the racing track but the Vintage has an orange "lap" on the track, the modern has an orange ring beneath the bezel
3) Modern Movement upgraded
4) (very) slight difference in case specs
5) Date in the Modern dial
6) "professional" on the vintage dial replaced with "Co-Axial Chronometer" on the modern dial
Photo from ABTW:
Now that's covered...moving into the modern reissue
For the movement nerds:
Calibre 3330 is an automatic chronograph movement by Omega based on the ETA 7753 but with the addition of a column wheel chronograph switch and Co-Axial escapement, Free sprung-balance equipped with Si14 silicon balance spring. Officially certified chronometer.
Power reserve: 52 hours
The case exhibits a glorious combination of radial sunburst brushing on the top, a polished transition case line to a tradition brushed sides to another layer of polished case before hitting the case back - unimaginably well executed and beautiful (Also not the "new" bracelet with screws instead of pins)
Moving around the case to the back notice the Date corrector push button on the left side of the case (and the nice detail of a polished surface separating the side from the caseback - nice touch by Omega, in my opinion)
The caseback reveals the historic polished omega hippocampus and Omega symbol and text around the outer edge indicating Column Wheel, Si14, 100m, the anti counterfit globe
The Tachy bezel has lume underneath the track. The bezel is black with cut out numbers to allow the lume to shine up through the numbers - a sandwich bezel and really, really cool. Love the depth and 3-D effect
And the lume is amazing
Dial details: the orange ring beneath the tachy bezel is only visible at an angle (not straight on) and seems to "glow"
Honestly, I was not convinced about this before buying it but can 100% say it is way cool. It is not a gimick and ads to the overall experience
The subdials are sunk and have concentric rings - love and love
Hour and Minute hands are "blacked out" at their base giving them a "floating" appearance on the dial
Chronograph hands are all orange - central, minute and hour totalizers while the running seconds is in white for visual separation of functions
Depending on angles and lighting the tachy bezel can look solid black or translucent and the dial can go from light to dark grey
On the wrist it wears incredibly comfortable....I've worn SS, Ti, ceramic and this fits and wears well. The case size is:
42.4 across, 46.2 tall and 15.2 thick
1) a crystal that wouldn't be prone to "pop off"
2) a sturdier bezel insert
3) a case without as many edges
To which, Omega designed the MKII to address these requirements - unfortunately, time ran out and by time the MKII's were ready for evaluation, the was no longer a need. Ironically, the watch that became the Moonwatch was never designed or intended to go to the moon while the watch that was designed to meet NASA requirements never made it to testing.
The good thing is the Mark II's were released to the public and, not as popular as the moonwatch, became a cult classic with either the black/white or grey/orange dial configurations.
This review is not meant to be a "spot the difference" between the vintage and modern so I'll just touch on it briefly and then take a tour of the reissue.
1) Modern Tachy Bezel is not as wide giving more exposure to the beautiful dial
2) Both have orange markers on the racing track but the Vintage has an orange "lap" on the track, the modern has an orange ring beneath the bezel
3) Modern Movement upgraded
4) (very) slight difference in case specs
5) Date in the Modern dial
6) "professional" on the vintage dial replaced with "Co-Axial Chronometer" on the modern dial
Photo from ABTW:
Now that's covered...moving into the modern reissue
For the movement nerds:
Calibre 3330 is an automatic chronograph movement by Omega based on the ETA 7753 but with the addition of a column wheel chronograph switch and Co-Axial escapement, Free sprung-balance equipped with Si14 silicon balance spring. Officially certified chronometer.
Power reserve: 52 hours
The case exhibits a glorious combination of radial sunburst brushing on the top, a polished transition case line to a tradition brushed sides to another layer of polished case before hitting the case back - unimaginably well executed and beautiful (Also not the "new" bracelet with screws instead of pins)
Moving around the case to the back notice the Date corrector push button on the left side of the case (and the nice detail of a polished surface separating the side from the caseback - nice touch by Omega, in my opinion)
The caseback reveals the historic polished omega hippocampus and Omega symbol and text around the outer edge indicating Column Wheel, Si14, 100m, the anti counterfit globe
The Tachy bezel has lume underneath the track. The bezel is black with cut out numbers to allow the lume to shine up through the numbers - a sandwich bezel and really, really cool. Love the depth and 3-D effect
And the lume is amazing
Dial details: the orange ring beneath the tachy bezel is only visible at an angle (not straight on) and seems to "glow"
Honestly, I was not convinced about this before buying it but can 100% say it is way cool. It is not a gimick and ads to the overall experience
The subdials are sunk and have concentric rings - love and love
Hour and Minute hands are "blacked out" at their base giving them a "floating" appearance on the dial
Chronograph hands are all orange - central, minute and hour totalizers while the running seconds is in white for visual separation of functions
Depending on angles and lighting the tachy bezel can look solid black or translucent and the dial can go from light to dark grey
On the wrist it wears incredibly comfortable....I've worn SS, Ti, ceramic and this fits and wears well. The case size is:
42.4 across, 46.2 tall and 15.2 thick
Last edited by rockmastermike on Tue May 30, 2017 10:40 am, edited 3 times in total.
Re: Fit to Purpose - The Speedmaster Mark II Reissue
Uh Mike, your photos are...amazing
Excellent review as always. I actually never knew the history of these.
Excellent review as always. I actually never knew the history of these.
- Todd
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Re: Fit to Purpose - The Speedmaster Mark II Reissue
I really enjoyed the review and your awesome photos. I also learned something
Thanks Mike
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Thanks Mike
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Merde Alors! Et Vive Les Francais!
- streetracer101
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- Name: Mr Shackleford
Re: Fit to Purpose - The Speedmaster Mark II Reissue
You obviously enjoy writing these reviews and it shows. Have you thought about trying to get one of these watch blogs to publish them?
Sent from my XT1585 using Tapatalk
Sent from my XT1585 using Tapatalk
Re: Fit to Purpose - The Speedmaster Mark II Reissue
Nice Review Mike-- I have always liked this one...Any issues with changing the date?
Thanks
Mike
Thanks
Mike
Re: Fit to Purpose - The Speedmaster Mark II Reissue
^ I agree with Rob.
I've owned this watch and wish I'd have kept it.
I've owned this watch and wish I'd have kept it.
- mattcantwin
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Re: Fit to Purpose - The Speedmaster Mark II Reissue
Amazing how much of the watch I haven't "seen"; great post.
- rockmastermike
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Re: Fit to Purpose - The Speedmaster Mark II Reissue
Todd - thanks for the comments about the photos - iPhone 7 and an OlloClip that snaps onto the case
Brice -I learned a few things nosing around the web when doing "research"....if you call web surfing research and glad to return a fraction of the knowledge I've been given here
Matt - thanks, hopefully showing details can add alternative thoughts a "broad brush" or "crowd-think" opinion. Also, cool details on a cool watch are cool
Rob/Mike/Hop - thanks guys - yes, I do enjoy when I doing these when the spirit moves me and if any of them see these and want to cut and paste I think that would be great.
Brice -I learned a few things nosing around the web when doing "research"....if you call web surfing research and glad to return a fraction of the knowledge I've been given here
Matt - thanks, hopefully showing details can add alternative thoughts a "broad brush" or "crowd-think" opinion. Also, cool details on a cool watch are cool
Rob/Mike/Hop - thanks guys - yes, I do enjoy when I doing these when the spirit moves me and if any of them see these and want to cut and paste I think that would be great.
Re: Fit to Purpose - The Speedmaster Mark II Reissue
Great review! Does this wear much larger than the Speedy Pro? If I ever got rid of my Pro, this would be the reason.
- rockmastermike
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- Joined: Tue May 18, 2010 5:13 pm
- Name: WDE
Re: Fit to Purpose - The Speedmaster Mark II Reissue
it's been a long time since I've worn a Pro but the Pro wore longer lug to lug and the MKII is a little taller in the saddle but not by much.
It's the case shapes that factor more than just static specs but both wear comfortable to me.
The side profile of the Pro is case, bezel and bezel (the "edges" NASA wanted to address) while the MKII is flatter on the sides.
But again, they both are eminently wearable
Re: Fit to Purpose - The Speedmaster Mark II Reissue
awesome review and insane pix, RMM
definitely a winner of a re-issue... speaks a lot more to me than a regular Pro
definitely a winner of a re-issue... speaks a lot more to me than a regular Pro
‘I don’t worry about a thing, 'cause I know nothing’s gonna be alright’ Mose Allison
Re: Fit to Purpose - The Speedmaster Mark II Reissue
Great review
Killer pics
And totally fabulous watch
I'm never letting mine go. It's my second son's birth year watch and will be his when he's ready to appreciate it.
Your review pretty much nailed what I feel about it as well. Nicely done RMM
Killer pics
And totally fabulous watch
I'm never letting mine go. It's my second son's birth year watch and will be his when he's ready to appreciate it.
Your review pretty much nailed what I feel about it as well. Nicely done RMM
Re: Fit to Purpose - The Speedmaster Mark II Reissue
Great review!
Re: Fit to Purpose - The Speedmaster Mark II Reissue
Incredible pics and review.
"We'd better synchronize our watches."
- rockmastermike
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- Name: WDE
Re: Fit to Purpose - The Speedmaster Mark II Reissue
Thanks - now someone buy my PO
Seriously, I appreciate the kind words.
Seriously, I appreciate the kind words.
- greenlightning
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Re: Fit to Purpose - The Speedmaster Mark II Reissue
Great review, as always. I'd like to check this one out in person. I like the bezel cutout with Lume.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G891A using Tapatalk
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G891A using Tapatalk
Fit to Purpose - The Speedmaster Mark II Reissue
Your pics are incredible and I love the lume
DEATH FROM ABOVE
- 59yukon01
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Re: Fit to Purpose - The Speedmaster Mark II Reissue
Nice read and pics! You sure you're not a paid professional?
Re: Fit to Purpose - The Speedmaster Mark II Reissue
Great review.
I specifically remember this exact mkii popping like a beacon of light (with quoir in the background) at the Roseville, CA boutique window shopping case.
They nailed this one.
I specifically remember this exact mkii popping like a beacon of light (with quoir in the background) at the Roseville, CA boutique window shopping case.
They nailed this one.
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