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Hello fellow Omega fans! I have been looking for a Speedmaster for a while, particularly a birth year model. I guess I must be a vintage model myself, because that meant I needed a vintage Speedy! 
Looking at the models from that era I was attracted to the 105.012-65, as it maximised the association with the space program. Quoting the late Mr Maddox:
"The majority of Speedmasters NASA acquired were 105.012s.."
"We can confirm that at least three different Speedmaster case references made it to the moon (along with a Waltham Chrono- graph). While we can exclude any models made after 1972, we can't confirm or repudiate other models made before then. The models we can confirm are 105.003, 105.012 and 145.012."
And we know that Neil Armstrong's Speedmaster was a 105.012-65, NASA #46 with movement number 24002981. Buzz Aldrin's was NASA #43, but it has been lost and so we cannot confirm the model, other than it was a calibre 321 based Speedmaster. Given the closeness in NASA batch number to Neil's Speedmaster, and given that the majority of the 97 Speedmasters purchased by NASA for Gemini/Apollo were 105.012's, then it seems quite possible that Buzz's watch was also a 105.012(?).
Gordon's NASA #57 on Apollo 12 is also a 105.012 and I have a picture of Ron Evan's NASA #61 105.012 from the final mission, Apollo 17. Both of these 105.012s have the "Professional" label.
You can imagine my delight when I stumbled across a completely original S105.012-65, with original "Made in Switzerland" box and papers. When I looked at the original purchase date on the papers I was stunned to see that it was within a few days of my birth! And opening up the watch revealed that it has a movement number very close to Neil's Speedmaster!
It has the proper 1506 bracelet, and all parts seem to display equal ageing and patina of wear. Here are a couple of pic's, taken with my iPhone, hope you like them:
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I think this one is going to be with me for a long time...
Looking at the models from that era I was attracted to the 105.012-65, as it maximised the association with the space program. Quoting the late Mr Maddox:
"The majority of Speedmasters NASA acquired were 105.012s.."
"We can confirm that at least three different Speedmaster case references made it to the moon (along with a Waltham Chrono- graph). While we can exclude any models made after 1972, we can't confirm or repudiate other models made before then. The models we can confirm are 105.003, 105.012 and 145.012."
And we know that Neil Armstrong's Speedmaster was a 105.012-65, NASA #46 with movement number 24002981. Buzz Aldrin's was NASA #43, but it has been lost and so we cannot confirm the model, other than it was a calibre 321 based Speedmaster. Given the closeness in NASA batch number to Neil's Speedmaster, and given that the majority of the 97 Speedmasters purchased by NASA for Gemini/Apollo were 105.012's, then it seems quite possible that Buzz's watch was also a 105.012(?).
Gordon's NASA #57 on Apollo 12 is also a 105.012 and I have a picture of Ron Evan's NASA #61 105.012 from the final mission, Apollo 17. Both of these 105.012s have the "Professional" label.
You can imagine my delight when I stumbled across a completely original S105.012-65, with original "Made in Switzerland" box and papers. When I looked at the original purchase date on the papers I was stunned to see that it was within a few days of my birth! And opening up the watch revealed that it has a movement number very close to Neil's Speedmaster!
It has the proper 1506 bracelet, and all parts seem to display equal ageing and patina of wear. Here are a couple of pic's, taken with my iPhone, hope you like them:
I think this one is going to be with me for a long time...
