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Omega Baselworld 2017 – Our Vision of What COULD Be The Speedmaster 60th Anniversary

| By Brice Goulard | 5 min read |
Omega Speedmaster 60th Anniversary Prediction - Omega Baselworld 2017

This year will be a very important year for Omega, as it will be the 60th anniversary of the iconic Speedmaster (1957 – 2017) – you know, the Moonwatchthe watch that went on the Moon and that is flight qualified by NASA… As you can imagine, the question won’t be if Omega will launch or not some dedicated watches, to commemorate this jubilee. They will, no debate! The big question is: what will they launch at Baselworld 2017? What could be the Speedmaster 60th Anniversary? We, at Monochrome, couldn’t let such an opportunity to make predictions without an answer. And here is our vision for the possible Omega Speedmaster 60th Anniversary… 

Note: this article is based on photoshop mockups, nothing comes officially from Omega. This is a prediction, based on our imagination and expectations.

Omega Speedmaster 60th Anniversary Prediction - Omega Baselworld 2017

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The original, the ONE… The 1957 Omega Speedmaster CK2915

The Original 1957 Omega Speedmaster CK2915

The story behind what is today one of the 5 most iconic watches ever created started in 1957, with the reference CK2915, the ultimate grail for every collector of Speedmasters. This watch was part of a collection of 3 pieces, the iconic 1957 trilogy: CK2913 Omega Seamaster 300, CK2914 Omega Railmaster and CK2915 Omega Speedmaster. The name ‘Speed’ was chosen because of the tachymeter ring that encircles the dial (this was actually a world-premiere, as the Speedmaster was the very first chronograph to take the tachymeter away from the dial and to have it on a bezel, outside the crystal). The rest of the name follows Omega’s convention: ‘Master’ was used for professionally oriented watches. Yet, don’t call this watch Moonwatch, as it’s only in 1969 that it gained this title. Neither it should be named Professional, as it came on the dial only in 1963 (with the ST105.012). For more of such details, please take a look at our in-depth history of the Speed

The 1957 Omega Speedmaster CK2915 is characterized by many details, the main one being the metallic bezel with engraved tachymeter scale (later models will show a bezel with black aluminum inlay and white printed scale). Then, you’ll find the typical straight lugs (that can be found on all early models, from 1957 to 1963), with no crown or pushers protection, with a case measuring 39mm. Then, the dial is pure, meaning that it only shows “Omega” and “Speedmaster” as well as the applied Ω at 12. The dial is flat (not stepped) and shows the usual 3 counters. For the hands, the first Speedmaster came with the iconic Broad Arrow hands (only found on this early model), a straight metallic second hand and 3 white Alpha hands for the sub-counters.

To summarize the CK2915:

  • steel bezel with engraved tachymeter scale
  • straight lugs, no crown protection
  • smaller diameter
  • clean dial with “Omega Speedmaster” only
  • metallic Broad Arrow hands and white Alpha hands in sub-counters

That’s exactly what we’d like to see in the upcoming Speedmaster 60th Anniversary (and, believe it or not, that’s what we’ll bring to you…)

Omega Speedmaster 60th Anniversary Prediction - Omega Baselworld 2017

Our Vision of What could Be The Speedmaster 60th Anniversary

For Baselworld 2017, we expect (and wish…) Omega to be as faithful as possible to the original 1957 Speedmaster CK2915. In fact, it could very well be the case, looking at the previous watches the brand showed, all based on historical models. Remember in 2012, Omega launched a vintage-oriented edition named the First Omega in Space. This watch was actually based on the CK2998 that Walter ‘Wally’ Schirra was wearing on the 3rd of October 1962, during the ‘Sigma 7’ mission of the Mercury Programme. This watch, property of the astronaut, was the first Omega to reach Space.

The 2012 Speedmaster FOIS showed impressive evolution compared to the classical Moonwatch: a smaller diameter (39.7mm), straight lugs, no crown protection, specific Alpha hands, applied Ω logo and a dial with minimal inscriptions. This numbered edition (non-limited and still in the catalogue) opened the door to upcoming historically-based models. Later, in 2015, Omega introduced a gold panda version and finally, at Baselworld 2016, they came with the CK2998, again a vintage-inspired piece with the same 39.7mm case, based on old “lollipop” watches, yet with a modern blue dial and bezel (in ceramic).

Omega Speedmaster 60th Anniversary Prediction - Omega Baselworld 2017

What about our prediction? For the Speedmaster 60th Anniversary, we expect Omega to use this same vintage “straight” case, yet with a more faithful interpretation. Thus, we find back the 39.7mm steel case, with straight and beveled lugs, protruding pushers and crown, polished flat surfaces and brushed casebands. What’s new is the use (of course) of Broad Arrow hands for the hours and minutes, a metallic second hand, white Alpha hands for the 3 sub-counters, the minimalistic logo and inscriptions and a matte dial (which of course won’t be stepped). Just for the occasion, a “1957-2017” inscription could be added. Now on the outside, we’d like this possible Speedmaster 60th Anniversary to feature the same bezel as the original 1957 Speedmaster CK2915, meaning a brushed steel bezel with engraved and black painted tachymeter scale (with “tachymètre base 1000” as the original).

Omega Speedmaster 60th Anniversary Prediction - Omega Baselworld 2017

What could be our main dream about the Speedmaster 60th Anniversary? There’s something that will certainly never happen, but that could be simply beyond cool: the re-introduction of the column-wheel calibre 321 (Lemania-based). This will certainly remain a dream, as the Speedmaster didn’t use this movement since the end of the 1960s (when the brand introduced the 145.022 with the cam-operated calibre 861). As all editions based on this 39.7mm, our possible Speedmaster 60th Anniversary could simply be fitted with the 1861 manually-wound movement… But who knows, we’re all allowed to dream a bit.


All images are under license of Monochrome-Watches and should not be used without agreement or copyright (©Monochrome-Watches, 2017).

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7 responses

  1. They’ll probably do something v.similar to this, except with a coaxial movement, date window and 44mm case …

  2. What you’re anticipating on is a 3594.50.00 with straight lugs. Slightly “déjà vu” between 1998 and 2004 and not a great commercial success either (though I own one and love it). If Omega wants to be serious about a Speedie revival model it’s high time they reintroduced an updated manual wind column wheel movement. Not the long gone 321 but a new movement which would break ground in the field of classical manual chronographs (column wheel, vertical clutch, co-axial escapement and a the traditional copper wash finish). Now that would be a celebration.

  3. Omega not only made a CK2998, they had already released a reedition of the 2915…
    It seems like you are describing it. That is anyway suprising you do not mention it in the article.

  4. I reckon they will do the same as what happened on the Seamaster 300. Close to the original as possible, Broad Arrow hands with a Master Coaxial movement sapphire caseback, liquid metal bezel.

  5. Thanks for your comment Michael.
    However, let me disagree. Sorry to tell you that it’s not obsolete at all… The ‘Racing’ Speedmaster is NOT the 60th anniversary watch. There’s much more scheduled for Baselworld!

  6. Are you interested in cars? Ever wondered, why there are so many ‘genuine’ Ford Mustangs out there, “restored’ to pristine condition? So many Eleanors? Damn, now I’m really disappointed! With the real watch(es) unveiled I must say, I do not let you disagree because it appears to me you had some inside information that helped you to come that close with your prediction. That’s it? A bunch of factory replicas with fake ‘vintage’ lume? Even your Photoshop-fantasy is more exciting.

    I do not understand all the hysteric comments on Omega’s Instagram channel and I do not share Monochrome’s opinion the trilogy is the star of Baselworld. To put it mildly, what I see on Omega’s website now is just a bunch of Hot Rods, steel reproduction bodies containing mass production technology or, to stay in the picture, some 1968 Ford Mustangs built using brand new Dynacorn crate bodies and the latest Ford parts to come up with some cars that look like being originally manufactured in the 60ies but are simply not, just posers.

    I would like to read John Whitney’s opinion because I had the same expectations. What I was expecting for an anniversary model would have been either something like the SpeedyTuesday-version of a Professional or the blue CK2998. In other words something mind blowing again. Even the current Speedmaster ’57 is more of what Omega calls a “Recall of an Icon”. Seems to me they all came too early?! I think they just came up now with reproductions of 3 Icons that can easily be mistaken either for genuine ones or (even worse) for some watches created in a Chinese copy shop. I wouldn’t be irritated if someone tries to sell one of these as ‘genuine’ on the bay for way more than the value.

    Now I feel encouraged to say the 2017 Speedmaster Racing is the true anniversary model for me! And thank God the reproductions are limited!!

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