In the early 1970s, Omega had everything it could have possibly wanted when it came to its wildly successful and lunar-landed Speedmaster. But sometimes one just can't help but mess with success. So, in 1971, the iconic Swiss watch manufacturer decided to try something new and a little bit weird, tweaking that perfect NASA-approved recipe. The result was this: the Omega Speedmaster Professional Mark III, ref. 176.002.
Like the Mark II that was released two years prior, the new Omega Speedmaster Mark III featured a futuristic case shape with hidden lugs that are quintessentially 1970s. Unlike its predecessor, however, the ref. 176.002 featured Omega’s first-ever automatic chronograph movement: the Caliber 1040.
Created in conjunction with Lemania (the same movement manufacturer who helped produce the legendary Cal. 321), the new Cal. 1040 marked a crucial milestone for the Speedmaster collection, and the Mark III was the watch that ushered in a new era of self-winding Omega chronographs.
This is a stellar example of that weird and wonderful experiment, featuring a fantastic metallic blue dial that contrasts perfectly against the pops of white and neon orange throughout. It's a historic piece with neo-futuristic panache and a whole lot of wrist presence.
SPECS
| Stock # | OSMMKIII-3 | |
| Brand | Omega | |
| Style | Speedmaster Professional 'MARK III' | |
| Model | 176.002 | |
| Serial | 34XXXXXX | |
| Size | Men's | |
| Material | Stainless Steel | |
| Dial | Blue | |
| Millimeters | 41x52 | |
| Bracelet | Omega 1162 Bracelet W/ 172 End Pieces |
CASE & BRACELET
The on-wrist view displays the magnificent sunburst finish of the case and gives the appearance of a unique but elegant chronograph, however, the side of the case reveals the tall, volcano-like structure of the watch that is nearly 16mm thick. Despite that thickness, it is also surprisingly ergonomic on wrist, providing comfortable wearability for almost any wrist size. The case is believed to remain unpolished and remains extremely crisp, showcasing the factory precision of Omega from this era. The case exhibits honest signs of use but no notable damage is present. The case retains its original pump pushers and Omega-signed crown. The watch comes supplied on its original Omega 1162 / 172 stainless steel bracelet retaining 20 links that show minimal stretch and will fit up to a 7 1/2-inch wrist.
DIAL & HANDS
The original metallic blue dial is in exceptional condition and features a matching metallic blue deep-sloped inner tachymetre ring that is also in exceptional condition with only a few spots from age. The tritium lume plots all remain intact, with minor degradation present under UV light inspection, and have a charming creamy patina. Unlike many other Speedmasters, the MARK III features a date window at 3 o'clock, while on the opposite side sits a 24-hour sub-dial with a grey bottom half and blue top half to help users distinguish between day and night hours. The original tritium hands are in perfect condition, the lume has aged to a darker shade than the dial which is common and no degradation is present under UV light inspection.
ACCESSORIES
The watch is keeping time, but the service history is unknown. A movement service can be provided upon request.
