Why This Watch Matters The reference 145.012 is the very last Speedmaster to house the legendary caliber 321 and to have a center chronograph seconds hand with the distinctive, drop-shaped tail. And ours comes full set, with original box, guarantee, and purchase papers from 1968 – an all-original, vintage Speedmaster from the same year that the crew of Apollo 8 spent Christmas in orbit around the Moon. The Full Story The Speedmaster Professional has been a legend since its adventures on the Moon. Delightfully enough, the Speedmaster has been in service in manned space flight since the Mercury era, all the way up to the present day; Speedmasters are still being worn to this day on the International Space Station, giving the Speedmaster a continuity of service in manned spaceflight that’s unmatched by any other watch. Our Speedmaster is the archetypal Speedmaster Professional vintage chronograph: lyre lugs, stepped dial, applied Omega logo. It also belongs to the last generation housing the mythical caliber 321, replaced on later models by the caliber 861. While the 861 is a solid movement (and flight qualified by NASA as part of the Speedmaster’s recertification in the 1970s) caliber 321 is a classic, column-wheel, lateral-clutch movement with Breguet overcoil – a true chronometer grade wristwatch movement of the old school. This reference was also the last to feature a seconds hand with a drop-shaped tail, which was replaced with the now-standard flat chronograph seconds hand in all later models. What you see is what you get here: a wonderful original example of the iconic Omega Speedmaster. The Fine Print Maker: Omega Model: Speedmaster Professional Reference: 145.012 Year: 1967/1968 Movement No: 25003XXX Material: Stainless Steel Dimensions: 42mm diameter; 13mm thickness Sapphire Crystal: No Lume: Yes, matching patina on hands and indexes Caliber: Manual-wound Omega caliber 321 Bracelet/Strap: Original Omega bracelet reference 1039 with end links reference 516 Lug Width: 20mm Box/Papers: Yes, original box and signed papers from September 1968 What we Love and What You Should Know This Speedmaster is in great condition for its age, with all original parts characteristic of the period, from the spaced T dial to the wide and tall pushers. The bezel is scratched in many places; however it is the correct Dot Over Ninety and Dot Diagonal 70 for this reference. The watch also comes with its original bracelet reference 1039, and even more importantly, the original box and papers.
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