I will dispense with the history and reputation of the watch and provide my personal recommendation and observations of the unit I purchased. For Omega Speedmaster history and product information, there is plenty of content on the manufacturers website and other related websites for you to perform your own research. Let's just say the watch has an illustrious and proven history and leave it at that.
First I must declare that this product was purchased from and shipped by Amazon.com, not by a vendor advertising in the Amazon.com marketplace. This is an important attribute because of the number of "knock off", "fake", or the overused term "replica" name brand watches being sold as the authentic article by some of these less than reputable `gray market' vendors. This is critically important because of the money you will shell out to obtain this fine watch. I was apprehensive about purchasing this watch online because of the high possibility of being scammed; however, I felt I could safely purchase a fine watch from Amazon.com because I had faith that their buyers sourced these watches legitimately in the wholesale watch market. I don't believe that Amazon.com wants to damage their reputation by scamming the public by passing off fake watches as genuine and would take reasonable measures to assure the authenticity of their products offered and sold.
Before I purchased the Omega Speedmaster Automatic Chronograph Reduced watch, I spent hours scouring the web for information regarding how to identify a fake Omega Speedmaster watch. What I found was occasionally a little contradictory, but there is enough for you to confidently verify and validate your watch as genuine without opening the case. As I said, information was contradictory occasionally, but more importantly, the characteristics to help determine a watch's authenticity are determined by the age of the watch itself and can bring authenticity in question when the wrong characteristics are applied to an inappropriate year or even the correct model. This is because minute changes have occurred over the nearly half century of the watch being manufactured.
The reason why you have to go through this nightmare of web research is that unless the watch was registered with Omega by an "Authorized" dealer, Omega will declare the watch a fake, regardless if it is genuine or not. This is to protect the "Authorized" dealer's network and sales. This is important because an Authorized reseller is NOT permitted to discount the price of the watch and must be sold at list price. I have read in some cases, that the "Authorized" dealer is permitted to discount the watch up to 15%, but this hasn't been confirmed. You'll need to confirm that yourself. If the dealer does discount the price, or discount it below the 15%, they may jeopardize their "Authorized Dealer" status. Amazon.com and other "gray" market vendors can discount the watches more steeply, however they may not register them with Omega. Because the watch is not registered with Omega, genuine or not, Omega will not honor their standard warranty. Amazon.com offers their own warranty for the Omega watches, which is actually a year longer than the manufacturer's, to compensate for this.
Upon receipt of the watch, I carefully unpacked my watch and left all protective materials in place until I was satisfied it was genuine. The watch arrived in the proper shipping box, inner red Omega box, instruction guide, and feature/serial number cards. It also had all the proper laser etchings, matching serial numbers, and bracelet nomenclature. My watch arrived with bracelet model 1471/815. This is a great bracelet because it has a similar locking mechanism to that of Omega Seamaster. After inspecting the watch, I brought it to a former "Authorized" seller of the Omega product line from which I purchased my 2002 Omega Seamaster Professional Quartz Midsize for his assessment of the watch's authenticity. (Note - He was an authorized dealer when I purchased my Omega Seamaster.) He declared, without opening the watchcase back, that the watch was either genuine or an extremely impressive fake. After this, I had the dealer remove some links to match my wrist size and began to wear it daily.
As for the watch itself, it is beautiful, rugged but formal looking, and functional. It has the attention to detail you'd expect from such an expensive wristwatch. The watch has the characteristics more of an airplane gauge than that simply of a luxury watch. I feel I am wearing a fine, precision engineered tool. I don't get from some of the other lessor brand watches I own alongside my two Omegas and Rolex.
I mentioned earlier, my Omega Seamaster, which has equivalent quality of the Speedmaster. I also own a 2000 Rolex Submariner I purchased new without the date function. Of all three watches, I appreciate the detail of this watch the most, but I like the sense of ruggedness I feel wearing the Rolex Submariner and the Omega Seamaster. The Speedmaster, while being a "professional" watch like the other two, seems more "dressy" due to the 1471/815 bracelet's highly polished links. The Rolex Submariner and Omega Speedmaster, can both be worn with a suit just fine, but they seem to me to be more appropriate worn with casual attire.
This model I purchased is the Omega Speedmaster Automatic Chronograph Reduced. This watch is a little smaller in size than the Omega Speedmaster. I purchased this model rather than the regular sized model because I have a relatively small wrist compared to the size of my forearms. This watch appears regular sized on me. If you have a larger wrist, this size watch may not be for you. You should opt for the normal sized model if you have any concerns about the watch size.
As to the function of the watch, I've only had it a month and haven't seen it lose time. What I have noticed, is that if the watch slips towards my hand and I arch my hand back far enough, like while driving, I occasionally depress the top button of the watch which stops the watch from moving. I was concerned until I caught it one day. This is a self winding watch, and I found that it lasts longer than a day off the wrist before needing to be manually rewound and the time reset.
The Reduced model watch (Omega Speedmaster Automatic Chronograph Reduced) is related and very similar to the "Moonwatch" (Omega Speedmaster Professional Mechanical Chronograph Watch) but is not THE "Moonwatch" model. The key differentiators between the Reduced and the "Moonwatch" models are(1)size, the "Moonwatch" is (2) a mechanical watch (requires daily manual winding) while the Reduced is automatic winding, and the "Moonwatch" (3) has a hesalite (plastic) crystal. The dials on the watch face are also in different locations between the two models. There are some other minor, subtle differences between the two, but they really aren't worth mentioning, except to the purist of the "Moonwatch". If you are a purist of the Moonwatch, spend the extra money and purchase the "Moonwatch". You won't be happy unless you do, regardless of price or the feature advantages that the Omega Speedmaster Automatic Chronograph Reduced model offers. Check the Omega website for the proper model number. It may have changed, but the most recent look was model 3570.50.00. If you want a wonderful, classy, professional watch that is a descendant of the "Moonwatch" lineage and prefer a smaller sized watch, than this watch is for you...should you have enough disposable money to lay down for such a nice watch and not get buyers remorse. If you want an automatic watch that is larger in size, you may be more interested in the Omega Speedmaster Date Automatic Chronometer Chronograph Watch model number 3210.50.00. This watch has date feature which is missing from the Reduced model. Happy shopping.
|
Omega Speedmaster Reduced
