Alright, so I’ve been eyeing this OMEGA Speedmaster Professional Moonwatch for a while now, the one with the open case back. You know, the kind where you can see all the guts and gears working their magic? Yeah, that’s the one. I finally pulled the trigger and got it from the official flagship store. Let me tell you, the whole experience was something else.
First off, I did a ton of reading online. Forums, reviews, you name it. I found out a few things like to be careful about opening it yourself. Some guys messed up their watches trying to get the back off. They said to use a three-pronged opener tool, but even then, it’s tricky. Apparently, this specific Speedmaster model is a pain to get the back off without the right tools, and I did not want to buy a full bergeon!
Then there was this whole thing about different versions of the Speedmaster. I learned that the original ones had a solid case back, with reference numbers like CK2915 and CK2998. But mine is different because I wanted to see the movement. So I dug around and I guess mine’s inspired by the 4th generation that was actually worn on the moon, as it has an asymmetrical case. Cool, right?
I also stumbled upon some info about fakes. Man, you gotta be careful out there! Apparently, the spacing of the subdials and the markings on the bezel, which is the ring around the watch face, are key things to look out for. On the real deal, they’re supposed to be super precise. Plus, the overall quality, like the feel of the metal and stuff, should be top-notch.
Now, about actually getting the watch. I went straight to the official OMEGA store. Figured that was the safest bet to avoid any fakes and get the real deal. This specific model is a bit hard to find, so it was pretty exciting when the guy at the store brought it out. It was in good condition, a few tiny scratches on the plexiglass which I learned later that is called Hesalite crystal but I chose the second variation that swaps out for a display back and a sapphire crystal.
They had it in a display, and when they took it out, it looked even better in person. They told me it was inspired by the one worn on the moon, with that asymmetrical case. I was sold! I paid for it, they boxed it up all nice and fancy, and I walked out of there feeling like a million bucks.
I haven’t taken the back off or anything, and I don’t think I will. I don’t want to mess it up. But just knowing I can see the movement whenever I want is pretty awesome. It’s like having a little piece of history on my wrist, and I can even see it tick!
- Walked into the official store.
- Found the exact model I wanted.
- Checked for authenticity, looked for any red flags.
- Admired the watch, loved the open case back.
- Made the purchase, got it all boxed up.
- Now I’m a proud owner of a Moonwatch!
And I have been wearing it every day since.
It’s not just a watch; it’s a conversation starter, a piece of history, and a pretty darn cool piece of engineering. It has served the most lunar missions since 1969, and it is the first watch ever worn on the moon.
So far so good! I’m pretty happy with my purchase.
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