Monochrome Watches » TAG Heuer

Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Geneve Award winners at Salon de Belles Montres

mono — Thu, 24 Nov 2011 15:49:25 +0000

Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Geneve Award winners at Salon de Belles Montres is a post from: Monochrome.nl

And the winner is… De Bethune with the DB28. The Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève is more or less the Oscars of the watch industry and the De Bethune DB28 won the Aiguille d’Or which can be seen as the most important prize. This weekend all winning timepieces will be on exposition at Salon de Belles Montres in Paris.

Besides the Aiguille d’Or (the golden hand) prizes where awarded in many other categories, just like at the Oscars. It must be said that the De Bethune DB28 is a remarkable watch and I’m not surprised it won. Technically at the forefront, a futuristic design and ergonomically unmatched.

De Bethune is a brand that is very different from other watch brands, or perhaps even very different from the entire watch industry. The relatively small manufacture is in the Swiss Jura and is run by David Zanetta and technical director (master watchmaker) Denis Flageollet. Although De Bethune is a relatively small independent brand, they keep amazing watch collectors with a constant stream of innovations. Besides the innovations at the technical side, they also innovate on the design side and aren’t scared to come up with a magnificent new case that is the most comfortable I’ve ever tried on my wrist.

The persons who handed over the award where Robert Greubel and Stephen Forsey who won the Aiguille d’Or last year for their Double Tourbillon 30 degrees Edition Historique. Another independent watch brand that pushes the boundaries of technical innovation and sets new limits for the beauty of finishing.

Besides the Aiguille d’Or there where prizes in other categories as well. Audemars Piguet won the Public Prize for the Millenary 4101, a well deserved prize for Audemars Piguet. Although the Millenary 4101 is maybe not the ‘talk of the town’ on the internet, we’ve always noticed that whenever we wrote about the Millenary, like our review of the fabulous Millenary Star Wheel, the responses where surprised and very positive.

Another magnificent prize winner, is made by Hermès. Not the usual watch brand however they are making very interesting timepieces and their new Arceau Le Temps Suspendu is not only beautiful, it has a very interesting feature to stop time How? Well, check out our report on the Arceau Le Temps Suspendu.

Personally, I would have had a hard time choosing between Laurent Ferrier‘s Galet Micro-rotor (left) or Kari Voutilainen’s Vingt-8 (right on the photo below) as best men’s watch. Both are extraordinary beautiful and elegant men’s watches and both have a movement that is simply stunning.

When it comes to design, there are several young and innovative watch brands who do such a great job. They know how to show us time in an unusual but very refreshing way. After Vianney Halter (awarded as Best Watchmaker), URWERK was also one of the first to shock the watch industry, and many collectors, with their out-of-the-box approach to telling time. URWERK winning the DesignWatch award for the stunning UR-110, is something that is simply meant to be and also very well deserved!

In order not to be distracted by the marvelous techniques, the UR-110 can comfortably be worn under the sleeve and it’s easy to let just a small part peek from under your sleeve to read the time.

The Petit Aiguille was won by Montblanc for the Star Worldtime GMT Automatic, a very nice watch that I saw at the SIHH earlier this year. A very nice execution of a Worldtime GMT watch and especially on the steel bracelet it looks ver nice.

At the Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève website you can see all winners in all categories and find much more information, even from previous years. Here is the list with this years winners:

“Aiguille d’Or” Grand Prix: De Bethune, DB28
Best Ladies Watch Prize: Boucheron, Hathi
Best Men’s Watch Prize: Hermès, Arceau Le Temps Suspendu
Best Design Watch Prize: Urwerk, UR-110
Best Jewellery and Artistic Crafts Watch Prize: Van Cleef & Arpels, Lady Arpels Polar Landscape
Best Complicated Watch Prize: Zenith, Academy Christophe Colomb Equation of Time
Best Sports Watch Prize: TAG Heuer, Mikrotimer Flying 1000 Chronograph
“Petite Aiguille” Prize (for models under CHF 5’000): Montblanc, Star Worldtime GMT Automatic
Best Watchmaker Prize: Vianney Halter
Special Jury Prize: Patek Philippe Museum
Public Prize: Audemars Piguet, Millenary 4101

If you’re in Paris or in the position to visit Paris in the next few days, you can see all the winning timepieces at Salon de Belles Montres. Salon Belles Montres is from Friday 25th until Sunday 27th of November in the Louvre in Paris.

Auction of vintage Heuer watches

mono — Mon, 13 Dec 2010 12:23:44 +0000

Auction of vintage Heuer watches is a post from: Monochrome.nl

Most auctions feature vintage Rolex, Patek Philippe or very complicated watches. Coming Wednesday, December 15, a very special collection of extremely rare and well conditioned vintage Heuer watches will be auctioned at Bonhams in London.

The collection of Arno Michael Haslinger has been built up with the aim of representing the best of Heuer. The collection of museum-quality comprises over hundreds of pieces, including the most iconic models such as the Silverstone, Autavia, Carrera, Daytona and Monaco. If you ever considered buying a vintage Heuer, this is the time to take action. The auction sale is organized in partnership with TAG Heuer to celebrate their 150th Anniversary. For more information you can look at the Bonhams website, which contains not only the entire collection, but also three movies about the collection.

Arno Michael Haslinger is a devoted Heuer collector and even wrote a book about vintage Heuer chronographs, that should be on every watch collector’s bookshelf. The first ‘expensive’ watch I ever bought was a vintage Heuer Autavia and since that time, I’ve been a fan of Heuer (and later TAG Heuer) chronographs. That’s probably why my second watch was a TAG Heuer Monaco.

The book Heuer Chronographs shows photos of Haslinger’s own collection of vintage Heuer chronographs and information about these watches, their timeframe and Heuer’s many relations with the race sport. There is for instance an overview of Heuer chronograph in the timeline (click on imagine to enlarge).

Although I’ve been a Heuer chronograph fan since I began collecting watches, it wasn’t until I read Haslinger’s book before I knew how much Heuer was involved in the race sport. Almost every new chronograph that has been released since the early 1960′s has the name of a famous race circuit or race car.

In the book you will find detailed descriptions, illustrations, photos and characteristics of 81 of Haslinger’s vintage Heuer chronographs. Numerous portraits, racing adverts from the time and some unpublished images make this definitive book an absolute delight for all motor sports fans, and remind of the Heuer watch company’s close link with the icons of Formula One racing, including Jacky Ickx, Niki Lauda, Clay Regazzoni, Jochen Rindt, Jo Siffert and Steve McQueen in the cult film Le Mans.

For me the rare Jo Siffert Autavia is still one I would love to ad to my collection. I once owned the re-issue of this particular model, the TAG Heuer Autavia re-issue, with similar white dial and black subdials. Unfortunately I resold the watch within days and already regretted to selling it before it was sent to the new owner by courier.

TAG Heuer have also created a unique watch especially for this auction. It is based on the newly launched Silverstone model and the dial will incorporate Jack Heuer’s signature, a true one-off for the discerning collector. All proceeds will be donated to the Green Cross International charity. Arno Haslinger will also donate his original Silverstone to this cause and Bonhams will add a further 20% to the hammer price.

The photo above is from Calibre 11, a blog entirely dedicated to Heuer and TAG Heuer watches. They wrote extensively about both Hasliner’s book Heuer Chronographs and the collection that will be auctioned. Our friends from Hodinkee invited collectors to the NYC preview and also wrote several times about the Haslinger collection.

The absolutely beautiful book can be bought online for 68 euro or 105 CHF and is perhaps an excellent Christmas present…

If you have a few bucks more to spent, do yourself a favor and take a look at the magnificent collection that will be auctioned this Wednesday by Bonhams.

TAG Heuer Monaco 55

mono — Wed, 30 Jun 2010 07:26:05 +0000

TAG Heuer Monaco 55 is a post from: Monochrome.nl

TAG Heuer and the Porsche Club of America launch the Monaco 55, a very limited collector’s edition.

Last month i wrote about my first ‘love’ in watches, my Heuer Autavia. However the first mechanical watch i ever seriously took a looked at, was a TAG Heuer Monaco, which is still one of my favorites. When i heard TAG Heuer released a (very) limited edition Monaco to celebrate the 55th anniversary of Porsche Club of America (PCA) i was surprised, because TAG Heuer does not makes a habit of such limited editions.The Monaco 55 shows some design elements we know from Monaco Vintage Limited Edition, TAG Heuer released in tribute to the Porsche-Gulf 917k race car in the movie Le Mans.

It’s of course no secret anymore (ahum) that Steve McQueen wore a Heuer Monaco in the movie Le Mans. Steve McQueen’s friend Jo Siffert, a Swiss racecar driver and the first driver ever sponsored by a watch brand. This probably inspired Steve to insist on wearing Heuer’s Monaco in the film, which had just been launched.

Perhaps it was McQueen’s influence, or perhaps it was Porsche driver Siffert’s, but the Monaco seemed to become the preferred chronograph of the racing and fashion worlds in the 1970s. This watch, whose unique and uncompromising design helped achieve its almost legendary status, is one of the most recognizable timepieces in the world.

Porsche Club of America (PCA) and Georg Bartkowiak, member of the Porsche Club of Germany, decided to create a limited collector’s watch for the PCA. Georg Bartkowiak, who is CEO of high-end luxury watch brand GRIEB & BENZINGER PLATINUM, has undertaken this project and with a very nice result!

Just take a look…

The official limited edition TAG Heuer Monaco manufactured for the Porsche Club of America can be ordered now. Although delivery will not take place until September, i think those interested should not wait too long… there are only 55 pieces!

Its special dial designed in red and black rally stripes and the racing number ’55′ as well as the PCA`s logo engraved on the back, underscore the uniqueness of this collector’s watch. This PCA limited edition TAG Heuer Monaco 55 has the usual Monaco features: an automatic chronograph movement in it’s recognizable square case, date and hands with applied superluminova so it’s legible in the dark. It comes on a special black leather strap with racing holes and red stitching that is not available at retail.

This TAG Heuer Monaco 55 is only available through the PCA in a limited edition of 55 pieces for the price of $5,500. I can’t imagine this watch to be found for less in the future. Personally i think the price for this collector’s piece will go up rather fast after it’s sold out… which will probably not take long!

The watch can be ordered online at www.PCA-TAG.com

My first love… Heuer

mono — Thu, 27 May 2010 20:58:52 +0000

My first love… Heuer is a post from: Monochrome.nl

I think every watch collector remembers that first watch that made an incredible impression. The watch was so beautiful and intriguing, you kept thinking about it. But why was it so expensive?

Over the years i’ve had quite a few watches. Sometimes when i look at the photos of the watches that came and went away, i see how my taste for watches changed. It also makes me remember watches that used to be on my wish-list, that never made it to be part of my collection. With some of them i wonder what attracted me in these watches. But not with my first ‘real’ watch… my Heuer Autavia.

It was before my vacation to Vietnam. I planned to do a scuba dive course, stay some days in the jungle, 6 weeks traveling from south to north and back south again. And i really needed a watch that would be up for such a task. So i started searching the internet, became a member of some forums and searched the online buy&sell websites. And there it was… somehow everything of this watch was perfect and i desperately wanted it.

It took me some internal debate and some time to raise the funds required, but in the end i bought this beautiful Heuer Autavia and i never stopped liking it. Of course i didn’t wear the Autavia during my trip to Vietnam. For that purpose i bought a Citizen automatic dive watch, that still accompanies me on all my vacations and is on my wrist during every dive i’ve made.

During Baselworld i met fellow blogger David, who is the man behind Calibre 11, one of my favorite wristwatch weblogs. At Calibre 11 he shares his passion for vintage Heuer watches, like his recently restored Autavia GMT, and modern TAG Heuer watches.

David told me he had a meeting with Jack Heuer. Wait… hold on… he was going to meet and interview the man who was responsible for the brand that made my beloved Autavia!! A month after Baselworld i received a package that contained something that put a smile on my face immediately…. and it still does now i write about it.

During his meeting David asked Jack Heuer for an autograph…

For me as an avid Heuer fan and proud owner of a vintage Heuer Autavia ref.11630 this was just perfect! Thank you David for this more than kind gesture.

Heuer was known for it’s excellent and ground breaking innovations on mechanical chronographs. No wonder they came with the first automatic chronograph, which they developed together with Breitling, Buren and Dubois-Depraz. To this day TAG Heuer is still at the frontier of innovative chronographs, an amazing achievement.

TAG Heuer caliber 1887

mono — Sat, 12 Dec 2009 13:30:59 +0000

TAG Heuer caliber 1887 is a post from: Monochrome.nl

TAG Heuer’s new caliber 1887 is already subject to discussion, only a few days after it’s release. Even TAG Heuer’s CEO J.C. Babin mingles in the discussion on the world’s biggest watch forum Watchuseek and weblog Calibre 11.

December 2nd 2009 TAG Heuer released a new automatic chronograph, caliber 1887. According to the press release, calibre 1887 is the fifth movement designed 100% in-house by TAG Heuer. Heuer and later TAG Heuer have the name of being pioneers in the field of chronographs. This time however, they tried to make reality a bit better in their communication….

TAG Heuer caliber 1887

What’s the case? TAG Heuer states the new caliber 1887 is designed 100% in house. On Watchuseek pictures of a Seiko caliber 6S37 where posted, that look exactly like the new TAG Heuer caliber 1887. In response Françoise Bezzola, TAG Heuer’s marketing director, says they TAG Heuer bought the exclusive rights from Seiko, to produce this movement in Europe and thus being able to call it Swiss made. J.C.Babin, TAG Heuer’s CEO, also mingles in the discussion on Watchuseek and on weblog Calibre 11, a watch weblog entirely dedicated to Heuer and TAG Heuer. He speaks about the modifications made on the Seiko Seiko TC78 platform.

Seiko caliber 6S37 - photo by 2manywatches

So what… Most watch brands use movements from other brands or make their own version through modifying a bought movement. Even brands like Patek Philippe and Vacheron Constantin have used Lemania (Swatch Group) movements for many years. Small bit significant difference is that they won’t state it’s a 100% in-house designed movement.

Patek Philippe & Vacheron Constantin with Lemania based movements

Read more… The forums and weblogs are very clear about TAG Heuer’s misleading information. Elisabeth Doerr wrote an excellent piece about ‘Caliber 1887′-gate on Worldtempus.com and Kyle Stults wrote a great piece on Perpetuelle Blog called ‘TAG Heuer shot itself in the foot on caliber 1887 launch‘.

Concluding… According to several sources on the internet, Seiko caliber 6S37, is a very well designed and accordingly performing automatic chronograph movement. Personally i’m curious to learn more about the improvements / modifications TAG Heuer made. Are they really improvements… or just a way to cover up buying a design instead of fully designing their own movement. I guess for now it’s waiting until the actual movement is put to the test… This is what really interests me!

And please TAG Heuer, no more little white lies!

Calibre 11 – Vintage Heuer watches

mono — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 08:42:24 +0000

Calibre 11 – Vintage Heuer watches is a post from: Monochrome.nl

Calibre 11 is the first automatic chronograph and the name of a new weblog dedicated to Vintage Heuer watches. If you’re into vintage Heuer watches, you might want to check it out.

Since my first ‘expensive’ watch, a vintage Heuer Autavia, i’m a huge fan of vintage Heuer watches. Especially their chronographs. The fact they made the first automatic chronograph ever, also adds to my admiration of these watches…. OK, they developed it together with Buren, Breitling and Dubois-Depraz. Although i must admit some of the Heuer dive watches aren’t bad either, i have a thing for chronographs. I ended up buying the diver’s version of the Heuer Autavia

My vintage Heuer Autavia

Unfortunately my biggest love (in watches), the independent watchmakers, hardly make any chronograph. Of course there are a few… the MIH Watch of course and the Habring² Chrono COS. Both beautiful chronographs and made by independent watchmakers.

If you’re into vintage Heuer, take a look at David’s weblog Calibre 11.

Vacheron Constantin for Only Watch 2009

mono — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 19:14:08 +0000

Vacheron Constantin for Only Watch 2009 is a post from: Monochrome.nl

On September 24^th the charity auction Only Watch will be held in Monaco. Many of the most prestigious Swiss watch brands created a unique watch for this charity event that is held during the Monaco Yacht Show.

All the proceeds of the Only Watch charity auction will be donated to the research of Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. The next Only Watch auction is organized in close collaboration with Patrizzi & Co and the Monaco Yacht Show, and is under the patronage of Prince Albert II of Monaco.

Only Watch 2009 Quai de i'Ile dial close-up

Especially for Only Watch 2009 Vacheron Constantin created it’s first tantalum watch. Vacheron Constantin decided to create a tantalum Quai de l’Ile. Christian Selmoni, head of Product Marketing, says this choice was made because it fits into the research spirit needed when fighting against a disease as Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy.

The case exists of 10 parts which are fixed to a titanium inner case. The function of this titanium inner case is to hold the movement in place. This inner case itself consists of 7 pieces. The case of the Quai de l’Ile is far more sophisticated than that of a normal case.

Vacheron Constantin Quai de i'lle for Only Watch 2009

The heart of the case, flanks and bezel sections are considered as three “interchangeable” components. On ‘normal’ Vacheron Constantin Quai de l’Ile models this allows personal customisation with three different metals – Palladium, Titanium and Pink Gold. This unique piece for Only Watch 2009 is entirely made of tantalum, except the flanks. The flanks of the watch are made of palladium.

Tantalum is a very rare and noble metal, not only because of the qualities of the metal but also because it’s unique, very dark, look. Unlike other metals used on watches, the dark color is not achieved by adding coatings or other treatments, but it is the metal’s natural color.

Only Watch 2009 Quai de i'Ile dial close-up

The dial and crystal are also far from usual. The Maltese cross symbol and the numbers 12, 3, 6 and 9 are linked into the sapphire by using multiple layers technology, called galvanic growth. The other numerals are laser engraved then inked in white ink.

Furthermore, the Only Watch Quai de l’Ile features a dark red minute track engraved and painted on a lower part of the whole dial. Finally, on the inside ring of the dial, there is an outer subdial which has a decorative 3D engraving representing the logo “Only Watch”. “Only” is engraved and “Watch” is in relief, so that when the light hits the sapphire crystal the name “Only Watch” appears in three dimensions.

At the Only Watch 2009 website all the 34 unique pieces and their specifications can be found.

Record price for Heuer Monaco and Rolex Submariner ref. 5512

mono — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 12:07:22 +0000

Record price for Heuer Monaco and Rolex Submariner ref. 5512 is a post from: Monochrome.nl

During the last Antiquorum auction, held at June 11th, several pieces that belonged to Steve McQueen sold for record prices.

Heuer Monaco worn in the movie Le Mans

Earlier this month Antiquorum auctioned 2 wristwatches and a motorcycle that belonged to Steve McQueen. Of course it’s always the question if McQueen really used the watches and motorcycle frequently or not. Fellow blogger Robert-Jan wrote about the McQueen Submariner last month. Looking at the price these pieces went for, the bidders apparently didn’t worry about that.

All McQueen’s pieces, the Rolex Submariner ref. 5512, the Heuer Monaco worn in the movie Le Mans and his old motorbike went for much more than initially estimated.

The vintage Rolex Submariner was estimated to sell between € 7.500 and € 15.000 and sold for, hold on to your panties… € 167.000 !! This is a record price for a Rolex Submariner ref. 5512.

Usually vintage Sea-Dwellers like the ref. 1665 double red or single red fetch extraordinary prices. Also the earliest vintage Submariners go for immense prices. BJSOnline made a short historical overview of the different Submariner models, including the early Submariners with gilt dials and no crown guards i’m referring to.

Another record price was set for the legendary Heuer Monaco, McQueen wore in the 1971 racing film Le Mans. This vintage Heuer Monaco ref. 1133 sold for around € 63.000. Never before a Heuer Monaco was sold for such a high price.

In addition, McQueen’s Scott Super Squirrel motorcycle, painted by Von Dutch, fetched an astounding € 198.000 — more than double its estimate.

Although we are in the middle of a severe economical crisis, it seems that prices paid for extraordinary watches increases more than ever before. Not only prices paid for very rare or very complicated watches rise, but now also watches owned by famous people fetch much higher prices than ever before.

Now i’m curious how the next auction will go… check the catalog of the upcoming auction in Hong Kong out on Antiquorum’s website!

(TAG) Heuer Monaco – plexi is sexy

mono — Sun, 24 May 2009 20:20:53 +0000

(TAG) Heuer Monaco – plexi is sexy is a post from: Monochrome.nl

The newest TAG Heuer Monaco Classic Chronograph is the first Monaco, since March of 1969 when the first Monaco was released, to have a sapphire crystal. Why… have they forgotten that PLEXI IS SEXY….?

Since the first Heuer Monaco was released in March of 1969, all of them had a plexi crystal. The Heuer Monaco reference 1133 was the first automatic chronograph to be released and it was the first chronograph ever to appear in a square case. So you can easily say it’s quite a remarkable watch.

Heuer Monaco - ref. 1133G

The Heuer Monaco reference 1133 is the original Monaco, designed by Jack Heuer. It had the word ‘Chronomatic’ at the top of the dial and ‘Monaco’ at the bottom. Later models didn’t have the ‘Chronomatic’ on the dial anymore. The watch was named in honor of the Formula One race and now a days is very popular because Steve McQueen wore it in the movie Le Mans.

Chronomatic - Caliber 11

In March of this year it was the 40th birthday of both the first automatic chronograph caliber 11, also referred to as Chronomatic, and the Heuer Monaco reference 1133. Caliber 11 was later replaced by the improved caliber 12. Monaco’s with this caliber 12 are also quite rare as most sources claim that no more than 800 where produced before this model was discontinued.

Heuer also made another Monaco, ref. 1533, with caliber 15, which has small seconds at 10 and 30 minutes counter at 3. In 1972 Heuer released a cheaper version, ref. 73633, with the manual wind valjoux 7736 movement, 3 registers on the dial and the crown at the right side of the case.

All vintage Monaco versions where available with blue dial or grey dial, in the same distinct square case. Except the Monaco Sixty Nine, all other versions had a plexi crystal… This year TAG Heuer released the new Monaco Classic Chronograph, the first Monaco with a sapphire crystal.

Heuer Monaco - ref. 1133G

This particular Monaco ref. 1133 G (G stands for grey dial) is in a superb condition. You can see on my photos that all edges are as sharp as when it came out the factory. On Chrono24 you can find them starting from around € 5.500,- and the cheaper version with manual wind valjoux 7736 starts around € 3.000,-.

Since plexi is sexy, I regret TAG Heuer’s choice to bring out the new Monaco Classic Chronograph with a sapphire crystal. Previous re-issues still had the plexi crystal. Although the crown is on the right side of the case, they do have an automatic chronograph movement. Here my TAG Heuer Monaco re-issue, reference CW2111, together with it’s ancestor

TAG Heuer Monaco ref. CW2111 & Heuer Monaco ref. 1133G

For more information you can check OnTheDash and Wikipedia.

Watch from my year of birth – part 2

mono — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 22:24:13 +0000

Watch from my year of birth – part 2 is a post from: Monochrome.nl

More about my quest for a watch from my year of birth. A few days ago i already blogged about this quest, now the story continues….

I’m considering (trying to find a reasonably priced) Rolex GMT Master 1675 or Submariner no-date ref. 5512 or 5513. But there are of course other options. Heuer and Omega also had some incredibly nice watches in that time. And although i’ve searched the internet, i’m sure there are many more nice watches from that time, that i haven’t stumbled across yet. So i’m open to suggestions. Mostly i prefer chronographs, divewatches and GMT’s, so toolwatches from the past

I’m a Heuer fan, but i just can’t think of many vintage Heuers that would meet my requirements in this case. Maybe a vintage Heuer Monaco would do, but somehow i would feel uncomfortable wearing such a watch on a daily basis. Most other Autavia models would only be less interesting as the one i already have and the vintage Carrera or Camaro are less appealing to me. The only one that rocks my boat big time is the Autavia Jo Siffert. The Autavia 1163T, also referred to as the Jo Siffert Autavia, was released in the same year as the first Heuer Monaco using the chronomatic movement i blogged about before. This one does have the chance of becoming a watchbox princess like my current Autavia, but maybe when it comes on the steel bracelet it would be easier to wear. I wouldn’t mind giving that a try

Heuer Autavia 1163T Jo Siffert

The last option i have been considering is the Omega Speedmaster Professional. The Speedmaster was a suggestion by Robert-Jan from Fratellowatches, who is a true Speedmaster addict. He started a website dedicated to the Speedmaster. Online there are many available, but finding one from 1971 seems quite difficult. Especially because many sellers state the wrong year because they thing the number in the caseback is the best way to tell it’s ago. This is wrong because Omega used to produce loads of casebacks in that year that where used on watches sold in years to follow. It seems that the best way to tell the age of a Speedmaster is the serial number of the movement. The late Chuck Maddox has written about it on his website Chronomaddox.

Omega Speedmaster Professional

If you have suggestion that might help me in my quest, than don’t hesistate to respond to this post or sent me an email.

For the best reference about vintage Heuer watches, check On The Dash.

Lots of information about Omega Speedmasters can be found at Omega Addict, another website started by Robert-Jan.