Fifteen years after Marlon Brandon and ‘On The Waterfront’, there was the Omega Speedmaster Mark 2.
This improved 2.0 version of the Speedmaster was to be offered up by Omega for the Moon landing gig in 1969. NASA however, were up against a JFK set clock to complete this task by the end of the decade. They had already tested and passed one watch, they didn’t have time to test another.

“I coulda been a contender Charley.”

“I coulda been somebody.”

The rest as they say, is history. One hitched a ride to the moon, the other, a one way ticket to Palookaville.

Well, not quite.

Although the Mark II is seemingly unloved in relation to ‘The Moonwatch‘, it remains a beautiful Omega, with a history and provenance, however fateful.
The funky dial and tonneau shaped case mark it out as a 60’s watch emanating a near future 70’s vibe, and I love that!!. It feels robust and wears substantially with it’s original steel bracelet.
I have heard the term ‘Dad Watch’ bandied around in respect of the Mark II and I get it. Yet although I can see it on my father’s slightly gnarled and woolly wrist, I can see it just as easily on a younger, post ironic hipster wrist. Styles and fashions come and go but this is from 69′,Easy Rider, Woodstock!!, it ain’t going nowhere baby!!.

Inside the Calibre 861 moves dependably
and reassuringly despite it’s half century of steady graft.

All in all, the Omega Speedmaster Mark 2 is a wonderful vintage watch, wearable and most definitely collectible.

Palookaville ain’t so bad.