Reply With QuoteAmazing find well done:-B
I recently read an interesting article on here by Tom, AKA Dikstar77, about a forgotten Omega prototype, the Alaska IV. Only 12 were made and they were supplied to NASA for spaceflight evaluation.
Original thread here: http://forum.tz-uk.com/showthread.ph...alaska+project
This information was based on one paragraph on the Omega website about watches in space, here: http://www.omegamuseum.com/space-exploration
Quoted from the Omega website:
"The next year OMEGA created a new prototype the “Alaska IV” based on the Speedmaster Professional Quartz reference ST186.0004 with a calibre 1621 movement which used a system called the BETA light that consisted of two tritium tubes behind the LCD display to illuminate the display. Twelve examples were sent to NASA astronauts who tested the watch in training and on the Space Shuttle. Ultimately, they chose not to adopt the watch."
Where is all this leading you're asking..........
Well, whilst browsing a certain auction website I noticed something odd, a listing for a "speedmaster 1621", somehow I remembered Tom's thread, and I got interested, very interested. I noticed some key features in the listing:
1 - the dial only has "split" next to the central pusher, a normal example should say "split, light" this stuck me as authentic since the "beta light" tritium tubes would presumably shining all the time, therefore the light pusher is not needed. When I looked at Tom's photo from the omega museum of the Alaska IV - sure enough, it's hard to see, but the dial only has "split" on it!!! At this point, my heart rate quickened a little.......
Also:
2 - 1621 is engraved on the inside of the case back - interestingly there isn't the usual info on there, case numbers, stainless steel and the usual logos etc - this chimes with the fact that it's a prototype, not a production model.... to me anyway.
3 - There is a large "1" engraved on the back, suggesting that this is no.1 of the 12 prototypes supplied to NASA.
So on the basis of the above, and a brief discussion with Mrs FRC - I put in a minimum bid with 10 seconds to go - and got it, that was some eBay rush, I can tell you!
The watch arrived on monday - the first thing I did was try to see if the light button worked, it didn't = result (a functioning light would indicate that the module had been replaced) - overall the condition is pretty ratty, with plenty of scratches, which would mean I'd paid over the odds for a watch that wasn't right. I sent some PMs out and had some encouraging discussions with Tom, who was highly interested and supportive, he suggested I contact STS to get their opinion on the watches authenticity. I was trying not to get excited, the watch looked good, but there was a total absence of glow from those trit tubes, had the movement been replaced by a service module???
We drove up to STS today and saw Simon, the head of their vintage section. He's a lovely chap, very nice to chat to, and very knowledgeable and clearly passionate about Omega. He took it away to take the movement out and have a look. when he returned, I could sense his excitement - his observations were:
1.) Case back engraved with ‘1’
2.) Inside of case back engraved with 1621, case reference not present
3.) Movement secured by case clamps, not present on 1620 calibre Speedmaster
4.) Plastic main plate and circuit modified to facilitate case clamps
5.) Inside edge of case has extra machined rebate to take case clamps
6.) Circuit does not have usual plastic circular calibre sticker
7.) Circuit is secured with rivets rather than screws
8.) Circuit does not have usual bulb found on 1620 calibre and soldered contacts for bulb appear untouched
This was all very encouraging, but what about the all important tritium tubes? Where were they? We reread the entry in the Omega website and realised that the trit tubes were located right behind the LCD screen, inside the module - Simon disappeared again to his workshop to see if he could find them. I spent a few minutes looking at the lovely Omegas on display (a gold Beta 21 really caught my eye, a real stunner) - Simon returned, even more excited this time - he's found the trit tubes - he whisked me away (I kid you not) to their very dark storage cupboard, shone an ultraviolet light on the display, and there they were, two faintly glowing rectangles across the width of the LCD display!!
Now I'm shivering with excitement - it's a genuine Omega prototype Alaska IV watch supplied to NASA, used in space missions on the Space Shuttle, and it's numbered no.1 of only 12. It doesn't get much better than this.
I'd just like to say a big thanks to Tom for his help and enthusiasm, without his initial post on the forgotten Alaska, I would never have spotted this watch. Also to Simon at STS, for his expertise, which was generously and freely given.
Last edited by futon river crossing; 16th August 2017 at 14:16. Reason: Broken links to images fixed!
Amazing find well done:-B
Fantastic! :)
It's just a matter of time...
wow what a great find!!
That's fab!
How much did you pay?
Very cool, congrats on the find, well spotted.
Any plans to pull the extract of the archives? That should confirm it without doubt.
Item 380665930595 Sold for £1,011
Surely up to the OP to reveal how much they paid, if indeed they wanted to!
Last edited by KJH; 10th July 2013 at 20:50. Reason: should not have compounded by quoting
Next step is to send it to Bienne.
Are you sure thats a good idea?Originally Posted by futon river crossing
They might decide it belongs to them and keep it.
You jammy, cakey b*stard!
Well done!
Very Cool!
Congratulations! What a wonderful find!
Excellent result and a bargain too. There is a lot of talk of rare this and that on forums, but this is the real deal!
1 of 12, Nice!
Regards
Great stuff. Congratulations!
Love this kind of story. Congratulations. Museum piece if ever i saw one.
Would love to know how the watch came to find itself on eBay being sold by what seems to be a totally oblivious owner.
J F Christ! Well done, well done!
Very nifty, and well done! (Good writeup. I enjoyed reading it.)
Best wishes,
Bob
I'm slightly jealous!
Great story, and a really significant and unusual find, well done indeed.
And thanks for writing it up so well.
Dave
That's a pretty amazing find - congrats!
Keep us posted on how you get on with the restoration.
Fantastic post, love how the story developed! Great eBay spot and superb bit of detective work, a well deserved punt that payed off!
I could sense the hairs on the back of your neck rising as STS ticked off the evidence list!
Hope you enjoy wearing all that history - lord knows what a 'flown' watch like that might be worth now you've proved it?!
Rob
Fantastic detective work! There can't be many Speedmasters (of any kind) out there that have been used in official NASA tests (and potentially on a Space Shuttle!).
What a great detective story and a beautiful watch too.
WOW ! Absolute dream of a story, I'm so jealous of the journey you've had. Now all I have to find is an HRV cased Doxa T-Graph and we are equal
Cheers
Simon
Ralph Waldo Emerson: We ask for long life, but 'tis deep life, or noble moments that signify. Let the measure of time be spiritual, not mechanical.
Lovely!
It's rare to hear about people picking up genuine rare bargains like this on eBay anymore. Too many people looking I suppose. I'm chuffed for you. Hope you enjoy it :)
These kinds of stories are what makes watch forums great. Great find and amazing detective work!
Gosh,that must have been exciting.!!
What a find - well done and thanks for sharing. Do keep us up to date with any further developments
ATBG
Jon
amazing find -well done , is this going to be re-listed with all the relevant information this time? :)
Great find , thanks for such a good post as well . Nice to see this sort of thing come to light . Congratulations on spotting it and following through !
Good luck everybody. Have a good one.
Congrats on your find; must have been a great feeling when STS confirmed everything.
I've no love for the Speedmaster Quartz's but there's no doubting that's a terrific story and sounds like a well deserved find / win by a real enthusiast. Well done :) I look forward to hearing more about this watch and what you end up doing with it. Would also love to know how it came to find its way out of NASA and end up being sold - maybe you'll be able to find more about it's history somehow!
Great story!!
Seems hard to believe that the seller didn't know, or investigate, it's significance as:
'a member of the National Association Watch and Clock Collectors (NAWCC) and the International Watch and Jewelry Guild for many years'
Not saying they mean anything necessarily but he's a watch dealer not a guy who found it in a sock draw or something??
Fantastic story, I just hope for your sake it wasn't stolen and they demand it back!
An interesting story... and a good one - it could easily have gone the rest of it's life without being recognised for what it is!
Catch of the year I think. Either keep it or auction it for 10x what you've paid.
Fantastic find and even better that such an iconic watch is now in the hands of someone who appreciates it.
What a find! Can't imagine how exciting the last moments of the auction were.
Holy freaking moly. What an amazing find - well done you.
That is definitely sub zero on the Cool Wall.
I just keep thinking - "This time next year Rodney, we'll be millionaires".
You must be over the moon!
Great story and a cool watch.
Be sure to keep us posted of any additional findings!
A fantastic story if there ever was one!
E-bay has it's moments so to speak.............
Daddel.
Got a new watch, divers watch it is, had to drown the bastard to get it!
Thanks everyone - It still hasn't sunk in to be honest!
I won't be restoring the watch, watches with this sort of history are better left alone I think. It is a concern that, if I send it to Omega, they will hold on to it! I will take that chance, as I want to have the official Omega authentication, also they may have other details or records regarding the Alaska IV.
The week of the listing was a very long one. I kept on checking to see if anyone had made a bid, as each day went by, the tension rose a little, still no one had spotted it....... half an hour before the end of the auction, I had a second conversation with Mrs FRC, just to be sure (we're not minted or anything) - I had 3 bids lined up, ready to go, fired in the first one with 15 seconds to go, then panicked - what if someone has a snipe in?? - fired in my highest bid, with 10 secs to go - but it was not needed, the watch had not been spotted.
Still on cloud 9.
Ash
Last edited by futon river crossing; 11th July 2013 at 11:32.
Amazing find, and congratulations for being brave enough to bid and win. As you say, there was a risk that it might not be 1 of the 12 and you would have paid over the odds.
Now with its history being proven, its easy for everyone to say: I wish I would have......
Well done.
Excellent story, well told.
It would be great if it proves possible to find out who it belonged to, especially if flown.
What an amazing find! And I thoroughly enjoyed the write-up as well, you really captured some of the drama. Keep us posted on what Omega themselves say...
Not sure I'd hand the watch over to Omega; not without some kind of guarantee.
It's just a matter of time...
That's a spectacularly unspectacular looking watch to be honest, but what a story, what a find and what a great write up. It's not everyday that you read something so genuinely exciting on the forums. Well done that!
Fabulous story and it sounds like you are doing everything right. If Omega provide you with a bit more provenance I think you have hit the Jackpot! Although there seams little doubt of its authenticity a bit of paperwork will obviously help massively at auction. A specialist NASA or space memorabilia auction at one of the large auction houses would be the place to go, and I would have thought that the sky's the limit? It will be fascinating to see how it does. Wonderful find and good luck with it!
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