The Omega appreciation thread

[watchmad]

That nato on the speedy looks very nice, what is the maker please?
Similar style here

The Speedy should live on a NATO.

[sish101]

That nato on the speedy looks very nice, what is the maker please?

Not too sure, I've had it a while. WatchGecko are where I usually go as I like their quality and price but they have nothing similar on their site.


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[jackjack]

A couple of shots of my vintage Connie’s and a ladies de ville I got for the Mrs. I don’t wear these much due to the warmer weather. Now it is getting cooler maybe These will get more wrist time.










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[Enrico]

My first one and my last one



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[MartynJC (UK)]

NTTD very poignant name at this time. I’m finding this Ti version so comfortable (and the full lumed bezel and hands light up through the night in a long gentle glow).

[Jon Kenney]

I have a few.

I’ll be letting most of these go later in the year or early next year.

I used to be passionate about Omega for a while but the hobby has now wained and I’ll be having a major clear out.
I think either the PO or the Speedy will be the lone survivor.

[Sinnlover]

I am rather partial to an Omega.

I have said it before but I love the Big Blue!

[Jon Kenney]

[IMG]I have said it before but I love the Big Blue!

I have to agree. I’d put it in the top three of the best looking Omegas ever produced.

[sish101]

^^^ superb. I'm sure that I have lusted after that having seen it previously on the forum. I reserve the right to lust again if it does come up for sale.

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[bobc]

Just the one for me.

[Jon Kenney]

BOOM! If your only gonna have one, make it The Holy Grail!

Not many of these come up on the forum. Thanks for posting.

Even an original B2 bezel.

Just the one for me.

[97BlackC5]

My 2006 Omega Seamaster 2531.80.00

[TAFKARM]

My 2006 Omega Seamaster 2531.80.00

Looks great, recent addition?

[Wallasey Runner]

BOOM! If your only gonna have one, make it The Holy Grail!

Not many of these come up on the forum. Thanks for posting.

Even an original B2 bezel.

I appreciate that collectors call this watch the holy grail, but why. I would have thought a genuine 60s Ultraman for example was far more of a grail than this. Am I missing something.

[Scepticalist]

If I recall, it's less about the rarity (although there are only 2000) and more about the perception that it's a "perfect" iteration.

[Sinnlover]

If I recall, it's less about the rarity (although there are only 2000) and more about the perception that it's a "perfect" iteration.

Yep I think it was Chuck Maddox’s grail and the term stuck
So it’s not the Grail for everyone it’s just known as the Grail because it was the Grail for the Speedmaster expert.
He liked Speedmasters and L5100s

[Wallasey Runner]

Cheers guys, so a name that stuck.

[Padders]

Yep I think it was Chuck Maddox’s grail and the term stuck
So it’s not the Grail for everyone it’s just known as the Grail because it was the Grail for the Speedmaster expert.
He liked Speedmasters and L5100s

This, Chuck named it that because he could never find one in his native US market (he got one from elsewhere eventually). Turns out it was because they sold very few there. If you open one up, they aren't all that pretty, rather workmanlike in fact.

[paneristi372]

The 'Replica' from 1997. Love it.

[McBeardy]

The 'Replica' from 1997. Love it.

Lovely, always thought fitting a black bezel on this model would look amazing. I’ve heard stories the hands and dial make it not very legible. Do you find this is the case?


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[paneristi372]

Lovely, always thought fitting a black bezel on this model would look amazing. I’ve heard stories the hands and dial make it not very legible. Do you find this is the case?


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I personally think the steel bezel makes this watch. As for legibility, never had an issue.

[Artistmike]

I've a few Omegas. This is one of my favourites, despite it being a little idiosyncratic.

[97BlackC5]

Looks great, recent addition?

Thank you & yes it is, picked up off SC about 6 months ago., I added the new style strap a few weeks ago, I think the rubber gives the watch a more up-to-date look.

[Stanford]

This, Chuck named it that because he could never find one in his native US market (he got one from elsewhere eventually). Turns out it was because they sold very few there. If you open one up, they aren't all that pretty, rather workmanlike in fact.

This is an extract from Chuck's own article "Speedmaster Automatic c. 1045 in Detail".
As can be read, he searched beyond the USA for examples:

376.0822 Moonwatch case

For the final (unfortunately) installment in the Omega experience with the Lemania movement, Omega decided to produce a model of the c.1045 line which is probably the model they should have produced in the first place. Choosing the Moonwatch case as it's inspiration, only offered in 1987, the 376.0822 nearly certainly had a production run (unnumbered) of under 2,000, probably under 1,600, possibly 1,300 or even fewer [¿1,000?]. The 376.0822 was the first Automatic movement offered in a full-sized (about 1mm thicker) moonwatch case, first time Omega offered Day-Date on a Speedmaster, a watch that is nearly as easy to read as a moonwatch under duress and it has a lot more things going on the dial than a moonwatch.

It's also a watch which has become known among collectors as "The Grail". Why? It's a long story...
A personal admission: I'm the one to blame for "the Grail Watch" moniker...

My first Vintage Omega eBay purchase was nearly a 376.0822 out of Germany in January of 1999. Because the 376.0822 was in Germany, I didn't know any German (hell anyone in Germany at the time), I went instead for a 176.012 (the most common of the 7-8 Speedmaster c.1045 variants which sports a Mark II/IV style case) out of Iowa for around the same money (about $600 USD). I had owned my Mark II for 15 years at this point, that style case was a known quantity to me, and if I had a problem with the watch I figured I could gas up my Explorer and drive out to Iowa if need be, I couldn't really do that with the German watch.

About a month later I realized I wish I had bought both examples... So I stared looking for another example to purchase. And I searched, and searched, and searched. The only one I found was listed at over $10,000 on a Japanese website and there wasn't a speck of English on that site aside from "Omega Speedmaster" and Arabic numbers. It took me a year and a half to find another one (aside from the Japanese origin one) offered for sale and it was on eBay out of Philadelphia. I got into a three way shootout for it with a fellow TZOFer and one of the well healed Japanese collectors and came out in 3rd place with an winning bid well north of $2,700 (this is summer 2001). I finally tracked one down about six to eight months later with the help of another TZOFer and brought home my example. During this quest I searched with the intensity that King Arthur searched for the Holy Grail and I began calling this model "the Grail" because I was that obsessed with it.

para removed

I know at least a half a dozen collectors who now own the Grail who can tell similar tales of the hunt, the near miss(es), the disappointment, the despair and the final joy of getting one. Hence, "the Grail"!

As for the 376.0822 (Grail) itself...

* It is considered one of the rarest of the c.1045 Speedmasters (only the Mark V comes close to the Grail's rarity).
* It is the first time Omega offered a Moonwatch case styled Speedmaster with:
an Automatic Movement
Day
Date in a window aperture (the 345.0809 had a date pointer)
24-hour indication
* It also utilizes the 1450 bracelet, which was by far the best bracelet Omega had used with the Speedmaster up until that time and is highly coveted by collectors
* It sports the most easily readable dial of the c.1045 Speedmasters. (frankly, the other c.1045's dial readability isn't even in the same league as the Grail. I've had owners of other c.1045 Speedmasters scoff at this assertion until I pull out my 376.0822 and bit tongues and cheeks rapidly occur)

[Wallasey Runner]

If you have a spare £20k:

https://www.vintagespeedmaster.com/p...nly-200-pieces

[Padders]

If you have a spare £20k:

https://www.vintagespeedmaster.com/p...nly-200-pieces

Rare for a reason maybe?

[Jon Kenney]

Rare for a reason maybe?

Indeed.

[Mr_Mac]

My 3 at the moment. Normally I’m not a fan of rubber straps and I do have the bracelet for the Seamaster but I’m giving it a try for now.

[Eddiex]

I've a few Omegas. This is one of my favourites, despite it being a little idiosyncratic.

That’s cool- really like that! I saw one that a friend has recently that piqued my interest so did a bit of reading - I also rather like the 3 handed Dynamic!


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[smashie]

I’ve got a thing for omegas







All photos taken with a potato

The last two I inherited from my father and grandfather. There was a pocket watch, but that vanished around the time of my divorce.

[andy111s]

Another 'grail', common as muck! [I also have the bracelet]

[Wallasey Runner]

Another 'grail', common as muck! [I also have the bracelet]

I prefer yours over one with a Johnny Foreigner day wheel in it

[Papa Hotel]

I've a few Omegas. This is one of my favourites, despite it being a little idiosyncratic.

What's the strap, Mike? I feel like I need one of those in my life.

[Padders]

Can't say from where it is sourced, but Eddie used a Black one of those on his Vincent Black Shadow Watch from a few years ago. Its lovely in the flesh.

[ozzyb123]

I have a few.

I’ll be letting most of these go later in the year or early next year.

I used to be passionate about Omega for a while but the hobby has now wained and I’ll be having a major clear out.
I think either the PO or the Speedy will be the lone survivor.

I bet there will be a fair few queueing up for that 60th anniversary model if / when you sell up.

The speedy and the PO might make a perfect two watch collection mind.


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[ozzyb123]

The 'Replica' from 1997. Love it.

Love the broad arrow hands. Remarkably difficult to find these in the wild now and haven’t seen one in the flesh for a very long time. They look amazing on grey croc straps too.


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[Stanford]

Another 'grail', common as muck! [I also have the bracelet]

I prefer yours over one with a Johnny Foreigner day wheel in it

I have the "Johhny Foreigner day wheel" stored away along with other service parts

[A440]

Rather nice...

[Jon Kenney]

I bet there will be a fair few queueing up for that 60th anniversary model if / when you sell up.

And it's never been worn. Sad but true.

[oldoakknives]

I have a few.

I’ll be letting most of these go later in the year or early next year.

I used to be passionate about Omega for a while but the hobby has now wained and I’ll be having a major clear out.
I think either the PO or the Speedy will be the lone survivor.

My money is on the PO. My first serious watch and will be the last to go.

[oldoakknives]

Just because Omega.

[kinyik]

Had always wanted to own a classic 1861 speedy but could never justify it with the ck2998 in the stable. With the prices the new 3861 are going for, looks like I’ll continue to enjoy the only speedy in my stable.


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[Artistmike]

What's the strap, Mike? I feel like I need one of those in my life.

I've dropped you a message.

[Darklel]

Some great views..the plane is nice too

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[OldHooky]

Great watch. But fabulous aircraft the GR1.

[magpie215]

Great watch. But fabulous aircraft the GR1.

I think it's an F-15....;-)

[OldHooky]

Damn my eyes!

[farmkid]

Still love the Ploprof

[Enrico]

Past


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[Enrico]

Present


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