It is with great pride that we introduce you to the Omega Speedmaster Professional Speedy Tuesday limited edition to commemorate the 5th anniversary of Speedy Tuesday. Limited to 2012 pieces, referring to the year when it all started. For the very first time, Omega is offering this watch only via their own website. What better way to do this with the Speedy Tuesday limited edition Speedmaster, an initiative that started on-line as well.

Speedy Tuesday – How it all began

We’ve been asked very often how Speedy Tuesday started. The story is quite simple, I took a wristshot of my Speedmaster Professional somewhere in May 2012, put it on Facebook and only wrote ‘Speedy Tuesday’, as it was on a Tuesday. Only a few moments later, I realized that this could be a topic for a recurring item on Fratello Watches. At first, we wrote Speedy Tuesday articles once every three weeks or even once per month, but it turned into a weekly item very soon after those first two words. In the meantime, Instagram was also used to publish Speedmaster images with the now famous #SpeedyTuesday hashtag. This was not only by us, but also by many Speedmaster enthusiasts.

For many of our team, the love for watches started with a Speedmaster and if it didn’t, they bought one (or more) later. It is one of the most iconic watches with a real story, not something made-up and we’ve always found that the watch offers great value for money. Even without the NASA story it would be our favourite chronograph based on the design of the case and the readable dial. But the fact is that there is a story to the watch and perhaps the best one out there. It was used on the Moon.

Since 2012, we have written almost 250 Speedy Tuesday articles to date and the #SpeedyTuesday tag has been used over 41.000 times on Instagram by the Speedmaster community. For the 5th anniversary, we were thrilled that OMEGA took this inspiration to create the Speedmaster Professional Speedy Tuesday limited Edition.

Omega Speedmaster Professional Speedy Tuesday Limited Edition

Before we get to the juicy details, I think it’s appropriate that we put our cards on the table regarding the Speedmaster Professional Speedy Tuesday. Fratello Watches will not receive any of the proceeds related to the sales of this watch.  This watch was created by “watch fans” for “watch fans”.  It is a celebration of something that you, the Speedmaster community, have helped to grow. We owe a huge debt of gratitude to the team at Omega for embracing Speedy Tuesday and then, ultimately, bringing it to fruition. We think you’ll agree, whether you’re a #SpeedyTuesday fanatic, a Speedmaster collector, or simply someone who likes a great looking watch, this one ticks all the boxes.

Omega Speedmaster Speedy Tuesday Limited Edition

Omega Speedmaster Speedy Tuesday Limited Edition

Radial “Reverse Panda” Dial

In the past five years of Speedy Tuesday, one of the watches that impressed us most was an original Alaska Project III that we discovered in a private collection. Omega delivered only 56 of those watches to NASA for their Space Shuttle program after the re-certification in 1978. The watch stood out due to the radial dial and the specific NASA engravings on the caseback. This Alaska Project III watch was part of the inspiration for the Omega Speedmaster Professional Speedy Tuesday limited edition. This, together with the “reverse panda” dial, adds something new to the mix for the Speedmaster Professional. The “reverse panda” has been done by Omega before, for example in 1966, but never seen in a Speedmaster Professional.

Omega Speedmaster Speedy Tuesday Limited Edition

With those ingredients, Omega designed the Speedmaster Professional Speedy Tuesday limited edition. On top of that, they added more interesting details. The case has a brushed matte-finish, including the bezel, pushers and crown. The crown is also signed with the old-style Omega logo. The dial has white opaline-silvery subdials with large radial numerals. A little nod to vintage Omega pieces is the applied old-style logo at 12 o’clock. Another novelty for the Speedmaster Professional is the luminous written text, as can be seen below. The subdials are also luminous but very readable due to the small black hands.

Lumeshot Omega Speedmaster Professional Speedy Tuesday Limited Edition

Classics

Of course, this Speedmaster Professional Speedy Tuesday limited edition comes with the characteristic domed hesalite crystal, with central Omega logo. A different movement than the reliable hand-wound Omega calibre 1861 chronograph was not an option, really.

Omega Caliber 1861

Special Engravings

On the caseback, you will find a special engraved caseback stamped with the Speedmaster’s iconic Seahorse medallion. On the upper-half you will find “SPEEDY TUESDAY ANNIVERSARY” and “Limited Edition” and on the lower half it has the word “A TRIBUTE TO ALASKA PROJECT III” as well as the limited edition number (x / 2012). Circling the outer-edge of the caseback is the word RADIAL. Although it is a screw-in caseback, it is always in the same fixed position in such way that the text is aligned (top starts at 12 o’clock) correctly.

Omega Speedmaster Speedy Tuesday Limited Edition

Complete Package

Furthermore, the watch comes with two straps: a vintage-cut brown leather strap with vintage-style buckle and stitching as well as a black & white striped NATO strap with vintage-style-buckle. One of the keepers has been laser-engraved with #SpeedyTuesday. The Speedmaster Professional Speedy Tuesday limited edition is delivered in a special leather watch roll that contains the watch, the spare strap and strap-changing tool. On the backside, you will find cut-outs for the warranty cards.

Omega Speedmaster Speedy Tuesday Limited Edition

Ordering your watch

The Speedmaster Professional Speedy Tuesday Limited Edition reference 311.32.42.30.01.001 will retail for 5400 Swiss Francs (excluding 8% Swiss sales taxes) and is the first watch by Omega to be sold on-line. Omega features the watch on their Instagram account @Omega and ordering can only be done directly, via OMEGAWATCHES.COM/SpeedyTuesday