Discussing this awesome, under the radar and under appreciate Omega Speedmaster Automatic!
I'm not an expert but I love this watch so much that the lack of online info really
bothered me so I decided to put together this visual and historical guide on how this watch came to be.
"The Omega Speedmaster Day-Date (aka Triple Date) was introduced in 1993 and this unpolished example is one of the early 3521.30 models. It's perfect for the Speedy enthusiast looking for something different along with a few extra complications.
It is powered by the original Omega caliber 1150. In addition to the standard chronograph function, you'll also get the a 24 hour indicator at 9:00, a date indicator circling the perimeter of the dial, as well as the day and month at 12:00.
In 1999, Omega updated the Day-Date Speedy with a bump in reference number to 3523.30 and caliber number to 1151. With even more upgrades in 2007, the Day-Date Chronograph became the 3221.90 with a chronometer rated 3606 movement and 40mm case diameter.
Omega's Speedmaster family comes in many different variations, but always with that special Moonwatch DNA. In the 1990s and early 2000s, one of the popular Speedmaster models were the Speedmaster Automatic 'Reduced' watches.
Omega Speedmaster Day-Date Mk40
There were a number of Speedmaster Reduced models but these Triple Calendar models were - to me - the most exciting variations. This particular Omega Speedmaster Day-Date has reference 3520.50 and was introduced in approximately 1996. It is also being referred to as the Speedmaster Mk40 or TDate. The TDate stands for Triple Date of course and Mk40 is a nod to the Mark series watches with their day and date indicators.
People who did not fancy a manual wound Omega Speedmaster Professional with Hesalite crystal had a number of options to buy a Speedmaster with an automatic movement and a sapphire crystal instead. This Speedmaster Day-Date 3520.50 model was one of them.
This Speedmaster Day-Date Mk40 has a diameter of 39mm, without the crown. Compared to the 42mm manual wound Speedmaster Professional it is a bit smaller. The dial of the Speedmaster Mk40 is completely different from a regular Moonwatch though, with its day, date, month and 24 hour indicators. The date is indicated by a large hand, that looks similar to the minute chronograph hand on some of the former caliber 1040/1045 Speedmaster models from the past (click here to read about the Speedmaster Mark III, Speedmaster Mark IV and Speedmaster Mark V).
The automatic movement of the Speedmaster Day-Date is Omega's caliber 1151. This movement is based on the famous ETA / Valjoux 7751 movement. A work-horse and different from the aforementioned Speedmaster Reduced (3510.50) that uses an ETA 2890-A2 with a Dubois-Depraz chronograph module on top. The Valjoux 7751 is a dedicated chronograph movement, whereas the Speedmaster Reduced uses a so-called piggybacking movement.
On the left side of the case, you will see the corrector for the date.
The Speedmaster Day-Date Mk40 is an interesting watch for those who are looking for a self-winding Speedmaster with a date feature. A modern interpretation of the Speedmaster Professional perhaps. Although this watch has been long discontinued from the Omega catalog, you can source them easily via eBay, Chrono24 or the various Sales Forums on-line.
Since these watches aren't that old, try to source a Speedmaster Day-Date that comes complete with the original Speedmaster bracelet in stainless steel (reference 1562 with reference 850 end-pieces) and box and papers.
The case back is a pressure-closed instead of screw-down on the Moonwatch models. On the inside of the case back, the case number is engraved (175.0084) and some brand marks (Omega Watch Co and Swiss Made). On the outside, the case back has the Seahorse logo embossed as well as the Speedmaster wording. Below, you will find the serial number of the watch. If there are no papers with the watch, you can request an extract of the archive at Omega in Switzerland using this serial number as well as the case (175.0084) or PIC number (3520.50)."
1942 1[SUP]st[/SUP] Omega Chronograph - Calibre 27 Chro 12 / 1946 Ref 321 ~32 - 38mm?
1957 1[SUP]st[/SUP] Omega Speedmaster Racing Inspired Ref 321 CK2915 39mm
1962 1[SUP]st[/SUP] Speedmaster In Space - Ref 321 CK2998-1 39mm Wally Schirra Mercury Mission
1969 1[SUP]st[/SUP] Speedmaster On The Moon - Ref 861 145.022 42mm Buzz Aldrin Apollo 11 Mission
1971 1[SUP]st[/SUP] Speedmaster Automatic Mark 3 Ref 1040 176.002 41mm/15.9mm
1974 Speedmaster Mark 4 Ref 1045 176.0012 41.6mm/15.5mm
1984 Speedmaster Mark 5 Ref 1045 German 43.75/14.2mm
1987 Chuck Maddox's Holy Grail 376.0822 Ref 1045 42.1mm/15.35mm
1988 Speedmaster Reduced 3510.50 Modular Chronograph 3220 Ref 1140 39mm/12.8mm
1990s Speedmaster Classics Ref 1150 39mm Valjoux 7750 Sapphire
1994 Speedmaster Classic Ref 1151 39mm Valjoux 7751 Sapphire
1996 Speedmaster Triple Date Mark 40 Ref 1151 39mm/13.6mm Sapphire
I'm not an expert but I love this watch so much that the lack of online info really
bothered me so I decided to put together this visual and historical guide on how this watch came to be.
"The Omega Speedmaster Day-Date (aka Triple Date) was introduced in 1993 and this unpolished example is one of the early 3521.30 models. It's perfect for the Speedy enthusiast looking for something different along with a few extra complications.
It is powered by the original Omega caliber 1150. In addition to the standard chronograph function, you'll also get the a 24 hour indicator at 9:00, a date indicator circling the perimeter of the dial, as well as the day and month at 12:00.
In 1999, Omega updated the Day-Date Speedy with a bump in reference number to 3523.30 and caliber number to 1151. With even more upgrades in 2007, the Day-Date Chronograph became the 3221.90 with a chronometer rated 3606 movement and 40mm case diameter.
Omega's Speedmaster family comes in many different variations, but always with that special Moonwatch DNA. In the 1990s and early 2000s, one of the popular Speedmaster models were the Speedmaster Automatic 'Reduced' watches.
Omega Speedmaster Day-Date Mk40
There were a number of Speedmaster Reduced models but these Triple Calendar models were - to me - the most exciting variations. This particular Omega Speedmaster Day-Date has reference 3520.50 and was introduced in approximately 1996. It is also being referred to as the Speedmaster Mk40 or TDate. The TDate stands for Triple Date of course and Mk40 is a nod to the Mark series watches with their day and date indicators.
People who did not fancy a manual wound Omega Speedmaster Professional with Hesalite crystal had a number of options to buy a Speedmaster with an automatic movement and a sapphire crystal instead. This Speedmaster Day-Date 3520.50 model was one of them.
This Speedmaster Day-Date Mk40 has a diameter of 39mm, without the crown. Compared to the 42mm manual wound Speedmaster Professional it is a bit smaller. The dial of the Speedmaster Mk40 is completely different from a regular Moonwatch though, with its day, date, month and 24 hour indicators. The date is indicated by a large hand, that looks similar to the minute chronograph hand on some of the former caliber 1040/1045 Speedmaster models from the past (click here to read about the Speedmaster Mark III, Speedmaster Mark IV and Speedmaster Mark V).
The automatic movement of the Speedmaster Day-Date is Omega's caliber 1151. This movement is based on the famous ETA / Valjoux 7751 movement. A work-horse and different from the aforementioned Speedmaster Reduced (3510.50) that uses an ETA 2890-A2 with a Dubois-Depraz chronograph module on top. The Valjoux 7751 is a dedicated chronograph movement, whereas the Speedmaster Reduced uses a so-called piggybacking movement.
On the left side of the case, you will see the corrector for the date.
The Speedmaster Day-Date Mk40 is an interesting watch for those who are looking for a self-winding Speedmaster with a date feature. A modern interpretation of the Speedmaster Professional perhaps. Although this watch has been long discontinued from the Omega catalog, you can source them easily via eBay, Chrono24 or the various Sales Forums on-line.
Since these watches aren't that old, try to source a Speedmaster Day-Date that comes complete with the original Speedmaster bracelet in stainless steel (reference 1562 with reference 850 end-pieces) and box and papers.
The case back is a pressure-closed instead of screw-down on the Moonwatch models. On the inside of the case back, the case number is engraved (175.0084) and some brand marks (Omega Watch Co and Swiss Made). On the outside, the case back has the Seahorse logo embossed as well as the Speedmaster wording. Below, you will find the serial number of the watch. If there are no papers with the watch, you can request an extract of the archive at Omega in Switzerland using this serial number as well as the case (175.0084) or PIC number (3520.50)."
1942 1[SUP]st[/SUP] Omega Chronograph - Calibre 27 Chro 12 / 1946 Ref 321 ~32 - 38mm?
1957 1[SUP]st[/SUP] Omega Speedmaster Racing Inspired Ref 321 CK2915 39mm
1962 1[SUP]st[/SUP] Speedmaster In Space - Ref 321 CK2998-1 39mm Wally Schirra Mercury Mission
1969 1[SUP]st[/SUP] Speedmaster On The Moon - Ref 861 145.022 42mm Buzz Aldrin Apollo 11 Mission
1971 1[SUP]st[/SUP] Speedmaster Automatic Mark 3 Ref 1040 176.002 41mm/15.9mm
1974 Speedmaster Mark 4 Ref 1045 176.0012 41.6mm/15.5mm
1984 Speedmaster Mark 5 Ref 1045 German 43.75/14.2mm
1987 Chuck Maddox's Holy Grail 376.0822 Ref 1045 42.1mm/15.35mm
1988 Speedmaster Reduced 3510.50 Modular Chronograph 3220 Ref 1140 39mm/12.8mm
1990s Speedmaster Classics Ref 1150 39mm Valjoux 7750 Sapphire
1994 Speedmaster Classic Ref 1151 39mm Valjoux 7751 Sapphire
1996 Speedmaster Triple Date Mark 40 Ref 1151 39mm/13.6mm Sapphire
