The vintage Omega Speedmaster Mark II has been reviewed on fifth wrist before but I’d like to tell this story as it is one of the many reasons I am interested in the hobby. My father purchased this watch in 1970 when he worked as a clerk and interpreter at the Diyarbakir air station (USAF) in Turkey. It was a 41-year-old American-Turkish military base near Diyarbakir, Turkey known as NATO’s frontier post for monitoring the former Soviet Union and the Middle East, during the Cold War. Unfortunately it closed in 1997.

My father watched the moon landing while at the base and bought the watch to commemorate this pivotal moment in history. The Omega Speedmaster Mark II sat on his wrist through numerous events in his life; working in oil refineries, getting married, having two children (an engineer and a doctor) and migrating to Australia and starting a small business in the inner west of Sydney, where he still works today.

One of the prominent features of the watch are the scratches and bruises on the case following years of being worn while working and raising children. He handed this watch over to me when I turned 40 and asked me to take care of it for future generations. It had some damage on the crystal which I had replaced for an original but made sure the personality of the watch (dial, hands, and scratches) was left untouched. Out of my entire collection the Omega Speedmaster Mark II is the watch I love and treasure the most.

Every watch enthusiast knows the first moon watch is and will remain the most iconic chronograph/watch in history. But I believe the original Omega Speedmaster Mark II is special in a different way. It had a short production time (ceasing in 1972), and it’s real treasure lies beneath its caseback, Omega’s Calibre 861 movement, highly sought-after by Omega fans. In addition, its tonneau-shaped case and tri-link bracelet carry a certain 60s retro charm, while appealing to the emerging exuberance of 1970s.

Omega’s growing awareness of its cult classic status among collectors led to the re-issue in 2014 of the Omega Speedmaster Mark II (Ref. 327.10.43.50.01.001). The new re-edition, however, has a co-axial calibre 3330 automatic movement but still remains externally, at the very least, faithful to the original design.

As we all know, the market for vintage sports watches is taking off. The Omega Speedmaster Mark II will always remain the little brother of the original moon watch. While original models still remain affordably priced, now might be a good time to invest in one of watchmaking’s true unsung heroes.

http://open.spotify.com/episode/3Gyb9MSLalNZ5nRDAkckpE?si=5BJLkubjTHyevOHqpYOm-w