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I know, I know. You were expecting RJ to bring you an article for this week’s Speedy Tuesday, but you are going to have to deal with me, the photographer. Remember me? I introduced you to my Rolex Explorer ref. 124270 in my first-ever article about my GADA watch, which you can read here if you haven’t already. But don’t worry; I will tell you the story of how I met your mothe-… Wait, no, that’s not it. I will tell you the story of how I got into perfect Omega replica watches, and it is going to be legen…wait for it…dary! Legendary!

In September 2023, I was part of the team that went to Japan for the Speedy Tuesday event that took place at the Nicolas G. Hayek Center in Ginza, Tokyo. If I could’ve told the 17-year-old me that such a thing was going to happen, I bet he wouldn’t have believed me. Because yes, the watch passion started for me when I was 17 years old in high school in Bretagne, France. And it all started with an Omega Speedmaster. True story! So take a seat, strap your Speedmasters on, and get ready for liftoff.

The Omega Speedmaster — It was love at first sight

I remember that day. It was a sunny day in early April 2008, and I was a 17-year-old student. As every student should, I was lying on the grass instead of doing my coursework when I saw my best friend coming toward me. He said nothing, but I saw a different watch strapped to his wrist. He was a stylish guy back then (and still is), and I enjoyed looking at his outfits to get some inspiration. I saw his stunning new watch and asked about it. He told me that he got it for his 18th birthday from his father. This was also the day that I learned his father was a watch collector. For his children’s 18th birthdays, he would gift them a watch of their choice from his collection. Obviously, my friend chose the high quality Omega Speedmaster fake watches.

A couple of years later, I was introduced to his father and his collection. I remember seeing watches like a Breitling Navitimer, a Panerai Luminor, an IWC Portugieser, and a JLC Reverso. Among these incredible pieces, my friend had been attracted to the Omega Speedmaster, and I understood why! He told me the story of that watch and how it became the first watch worn on the Moon. How could any 17-year-old boy not have stars in his eyes? From that day on, I was eager to learn more about AAA UK replica Omega watches with the dream that I would get an Omega Speedmaster of my own one day. All of that happened before Speedy Tuesday even existed!

A dream come true

As you probably know, when you’re 17, you don’t have money. So I knew it would take me some time to realize my dream. But isn’t the journey to get the watch the most exciting part of the hobby? That’s what I think. Anyway, lots of time passed, and even if I couldn’t buy expensive watches, there was not a day when I’d leave home with a naked wrist. I was constantly looking at cheap Omega copy watches and learning more about them. In the meantime, prices were increasing every year, and I felt like I would never be able to fulfill my dream! Things changed when I joined the military and started making a bit more money. In 2017, I was finally able to buy my first proper watch. Yes, you guessed it — a Tudor Black Bay 41 Burgundy! Wait, what? Don’t worry; you know how this story goes.

After that first big purchase, you think you are done spending a ridiculous amount of money on top Omega Speedmaster replica watches. Wrong. You are already thinking about the next watch you will buy. With the Speedmaster in mind for nearly a decade by then, I knew what I wanted. In July 2019, 11 years after I saw it for the first time, my dream came true. I gifted myself an Omega Speedmaster Professional ref. 311.30.42.30.01.005. It was moving because I finally kept the promise I made to my 17-year-old self. I bought the watch of my dreams. To be honest, the buying experience wasn’t the best. Before going to my AD, I called to make sure the watch was available, and the staff told me they would put it aside for me, which they did not. Fortunately enough, one Speedmaster was still available the day I got there.

The good and the bad

Now I have the watch of my dreams. But even if I love it to death, there are things that I don’t necessarily like about it, beginning with the bracelet. Yes, it is a tough, well-finished, and well-made bracelet, but I am not a fan of the design and the fact that it hardly tapers at all. Also, it only has two holes in the clasp to fine-tune the size, which, for me, makes it a bit too tight or too loose. There is no applied logo on the dial, and the dial itself can feel a bit flat sometimes. Also, the water resistance is not great. I know that the latest generation of the Omega Speedmaster super clone watches wholesale can solve those problems, but I am not keen on upgrading mine. I have too much of a connection with it.

On the other hand, there are many things that I love about the watch. First and foremost, it’s a strap monster. On a steel bracelet, a NATO strap, or a leather one, you can’t go wrong. It’s also an iconic watch that shows you’re a “watch person.” You probably won’t go over to talk to someone wearing a Rolex, but if it’s a Speedmaster, it’s different. I love winding the watch every morning before strapping it on my wrist. It’s a moment when I can “connect” with the watch. Finally, I am a fan of the Hesalite crystal. I love the fact that you can scratch it and polish it without a problem; it gives so much character to the watch. Well, maybe I say that because after five hours of ownership, I had badly scratched the Hesalite against a wall… It’s character, I tell you!

Final thoughts

As I write these words, I am wearing my Omega Speedmaster, which is the watch I have the most connection and memories with. I have sold and bought a few more Omega replica watches for men, but this one has never left the collection and will never. It embodies my passion and made me realize my dreams. I love the idea that owning a Speedmaster helped me in my journey as a photographer and becoming a world-traveling member of the Fratello team. Don’t forget, RJ is the instigator of Speedy Tuesday!

To end my story, I hope that my 1:1 Swiss fake Omega Speedmaster watches will find its way to my children’s wrists if I become a father one day. This is not only about the watch but also about the story. My friend coming into school with a watch that belonged to his father and that he saw on his wrist growing up is something that still speaks to me. This is now the dream that I want to fulfill. For now, I’ll try to add the most memories to the watch that I can before giving it to my children one day.

We’re not all lucky enough to have been able to buy the top Omega replica watches we wanted 20 years (or longer) ago. Everything has become much more expensive, not only watches, of course. But what if you want to own a vintage Omega Speedmaster today?

There’s good news and bad news. Let’s start with the bad news. Any Speedmaster with caliber 321 is, in collector’s condition, priced above €10,000. Even the last generation (reference 145.012-67) now commands a five-digit price. It’s a pity because a vintage caliber-321-powered luxury UK fake Omega Speedmaster (Professional) watches from the 1960s was, at least to purists, the watch that went to the Moon. For a long time, considering its historical significance, it was also an incredibly affordable chronograph.

Vintage Omega Speedmasters from the 1970s and 1980s

In the last decade or so, the demand for Speedmasters has drastically risen. Consequently, it has affected enthusiasts’ chances of buying a vintage Speedmaster with that famous column-wheel movement or even getting their hands on other special or limited editions. It’s also clear that the standard modern Omega Speedmaster Professional has seen greater demand and has rapidly increased in price in the past three years.

So, what do you do if you’d like a vintage Omega Speedmaster Professional that won’t break the bank? With the market for collectible cheap Swiss replica Omega watches softening slightly, prices for a nice caliber-861-powered Speedmaster Professional from the 1970s seem to have stabilized (for now). This might be the time to start your search for a Speedmaster Professional 145.022 in good condition. There are still plenty of these around with untouched and undamaged cases and bezels, for example.

For less than the retail price of the current Moonwatch

For less than (or, at least, the same as) the retail price of a modern Speedmaster Professional with caliber 3861, you should be able to find a Speedmaster Professional reference 145.022 in collector’s condition. I receive numerous emails from people looking for a birth-year Speedmaster, and many of those years land somewhere in the 1970s.

In that decade, the 1:1 online Omega Speedmaster Professional copy watches was simply one main reference — 145.022 — but it came in several iterations. The early 1970s models continued to have the famous step dial that we also saw in previous references. These early ’70s models included reference 145.022-69 (1971–1974) with the straight-writing engraving on the case back, as well as the 145.022-71 that was produced at the same time, already with the modern “Flight-Qualified by NASA for all manned space missions” engraving on the case back.

To clarify, the 145.022-69 had already come out in 1969 with case backs that only featured the hippocampus engraving. Some of these iterations were simultaneously in Omega’s catalog, which is unthinkable today, I would say.

Vintage Omega Speedmaster Professional 145.022 models

Some people think that the designator in the reference number (145.022-xx) has something to do with the production year, but that’s not entirely correct. Not every year has a unique designator, so searching for a 145.022-75 or 145.022-77 as a birth-year Speedmaster is pointless. Rather, Omega used these designators when Omega Speedmaster replica watches for sale received some sort of update. With the introduction of the Speedmaster Professional 145.022-74 (in 1975, mind you) Omega dropped the step dial for the iconic Moonwatch, only to see a return in 2018 with the Speedmaster Speedy Tuesday Ultraman and in the current Moonwatch references since 2021.

An example of a minor change resulting in a new iteration is the Speedmaster Pro with reference 145.022-76, which simply has a slight change in typography on the dial. The “S” in “Speedmaster” became longer than it was with the predecessors. This was subsequently replaced in 1979 by the reference 145.022-78 when Omega changed case manufacturers (Huguenin Frères ceased to exist). For those searching for a birth-year watch from the 1980s, that iteration was dropped in 1981/1982, and it was just reference 145.0022 until it became reference 3590.50 in 1988 when Omega changed its coding system for reference numbers. This often leads to confusion since “145.022” can still be found engraved on the inside of the case back. That’s because 145.022 became the reference number for the steel case itself, like a part number.

Exceptions with exceptional prices

Not all wholesale fake Omega Speedmaster Professional watches with reference 145.022 are priced the same. It depends on the production year, but mainly, it’s about the execution and the condition. A 145.022 with a straight-text engraving on the case back (-69 iteration) will fetch more than a later 145.022-71. But a 145.022-71 with no text at all on the case back — the so-called “Non-NASA” models, which are very rare — will fetch more than the 145.022-69 with straight text. The step-dial models are also somewhat more popular than the later (post-1975) models unless the condition of the latter is impeccable. When you add boxes and papers, it becomes a different game.

A Speedmaster 145.022-76 from 1978

A nice example of the least interesting best replica Omega Speedmaster Professional 145.022 watches is this one from 1978 (reference 145.022-76). “Least interesting” refers to its characteristics — this one has no Dot-Over-Ninety bezel, no step dial, no applied logo, etc. However, it’s simply in wonderful condition with the original 1171/633 bracelet (the first iteration with screwed links, not the 1171/1 replacement bracelet that came later) and with a nice creamy-looking patina on the hour markers.

This watch was initially delivered to Colombia in 1978, and based on the extract information, it was in the same batch as my very own 145.022-76. This watch is currently for sale at Davidoff Brothers in Geneva for CHF 6,500.

Speedmaster 145.0022 from 1988

If you were born 10 years later, in 1988, and are looking for a birth-year watch, our friends from Bulang & Sons have a beautiful AAA China super clone Omega Speedmaster Professional 145.0022 watches for sale. This one has the 145.022 case number engraved on the inside of the case back (see below).

This particular watch comes on the bracelet reference 1447, similar to the 1450 used on several models (including the Speedmaster Moonphase) during that time. The tritium material on the hour markers has taken on a beautiful yellowish tone. The price of this example is €5,950, and you can find it here.

Speedmaster 145.022-71 from the early 1970s

For many collectors, a more pleasing reference would be one with a step dial. Here’s a 145.022-71, the last vintage iteration to have a step dial. It’s offered by Brussels Vintage Watches and comes with the original reference 1171 bracelet, just like the 1978 model above.

The tritium hour markers and hands are discolored, and the watch is in worn but good condition. Also, with an asking price of €6,250, this model is available for less than a brand-new Moonwatch. The same seller also has several 1990s Swiss movements replica Omega Speedmaster Professional reference 3590.50 watches on offer for around €5,000.

The well might be drying up sooner than later

When I started buying and collecting Omega Speedmaster fake watches site in the late 1990s, the supply of 1960s Speedmasters — 145.012, for example — with caliber 321 was nothing to worry about. You could find honest pieces, meaning that they hadn’t been tampered with, without putting too much effort into the hunt. But that well has dried up in the past decade, for sure. The same will happen to good pieces from the 1970s and 1980s, for which the production number was probably relatively low compared to the decade before. I am sure that the supply of good, honest pieces will continue to dwindle.

Now that the prices of the 1970s and 1980s models in good or collectible condition are below the current retail price, they are very nice and realistic alternatives to a new one (or perhaps even preferable if you love vintage watches). Finding one that comes with its box and papers might be tough, though. In those years, not all customers were interested in bringing those boxes home as they didn’t see much value in them. Best quality Omega Speedmaster Professional replica watches from the 1990s, such as references 3590.50 and 3592.50, are easier to find as a full set. Also, those come with the nice 1479 bracelet, which Omega used as inspiration for the current Speedmaster bracelet. The tritium dials of the 1990s models (until 1997) also tend to turn yellowish over time, which does look nice.