To the moon
Quick facts
Brand: Omega
Model: Speedmaster Professional
Reference: 145.022
Year: 1970
Case: Stainless steel, 42mm, 13.8mm
Caliber: Omega 861, manual wound
What about it
Omega Speedmaster was designed as a sports and racing chronograph. Later in the 1965 it was chosen by NASA as watch for space flights.
This reference is often the initial choice for enthusiasts, and rightfully so. It embodies a perfect blend of age, historical significance, aesthetics, ease of maintenance, accessibility, and value. Even within this reference, there exist captivating variations. Notably, three case back variations and two distinct bezel styles add to its allure. The dials possess a remarkable aging quality, with some acquiring a charming chocolate brown hue, a trait frequently observed in the 2911xxx and 2960xxx serials.
This reference is relatively plentiful, and so with care you can find a nice one. Things to check as ever are the correct hand layout, correct dial and the case condition. With this reference we can afford to be selective. There is no reason to accept a worn case unless it is very cheap.
Production years:
1968-1988
References:
145.022-68, 145.022-69, 145.022-71, 145.022-74, 145.022-76, 145.022-78, 145.0022
42
Diametermm
20
Lug widthmm
21600
Frequencyvph
48
Power h
plastic
Crystal
Omega caliber 861
Lemania created a family of cam switching chronograph movements in the 1960s just as chronograph watches were becoming more popular in the mass market. The Lemania Calibre 1873 was part of a family of similar 12 ligne movements, running at 21,600 A/h and lacking modern features like hacking seconds or automatic winding. In 1968, Omega selected the Lemania 1873 as the basis for their Cal. 861, used in the Omega Speedmaster Professional line of watches. These feature a 30 minute chronograph counter at 3:00, a 12 hour counter at 6:00, and small seconds at 9:00.
What about the dial
Basically, the dials of the Speedmaster Professional 145.022 can be divided into two different variations — the step dial and the flat dial. The step dial comes close to the dial of the 145.012 and its predecessors, except for the differences in typography and the applied Omega logo (except for the transitional 145.022-68 reference). The 145.022-69 and 145.022-71 have the step dial. This is easy to distinguish as it divides the central part of the dial from the periphery where the minute track is. This flange disappeared with the 145.022-74.
Market
Availability: Good
Ca 100 watches on sale
Pricing: 5,000 - 25,000 €
(Dec 2023)
Check availability on Chrono24
References
Related
Straps
Some recommended strap options for this watch. External links to their webshops.
Racing Black Speedy
Bulang & Sons
€120,00
