Omega Speedmaster Professional Moonwatch

Ref 3570.50

Rare Transitional Calibre 861 in a rare Full Set.

This is a really special example of the classic Speedmaster Professional and one of those watches where knowing the details makes all the difference.

Reference 3570.50, but importantly this is a very early transitional example fitted with the 18-jewel calibre 861, rather than the calibre 1861 normally associated with the 3570.50.

The movement serial is 48,348,704, placing it right within the small transitional batch of early 3570.50s known to have left Omega with the final generation of the legendary calibre 861.

And it’s a lovely one.

The original tritium dial has aged beautifully, with the hour markers developing a really attractive warm creamy patina. The hands have aged sympathetically alongside them and the whole watch has exactly the look you want from a mid-90s Speedmaster.

It’s also fitted to the lovely early 1499/842 bracelet. These are much nicer in my opinion than the considerably chunkier bracelet fitted to later 3570.50s. It has a beautiful vintage-style taper from 20mm at the lugs down to 16mm at the clasp, while still feeling substantially more modern and solid than the earlier vintage Speedmaster bracelets. They’re increasingly difficult to find separately too.

Condition is excellent throughout. The case remains very sharp, the bezel is superb and the bracelet is in similarly lovely condition. The dial is particularly nice with very even patina and no distracting marks.

Best of all, it’s a full set, complete with its original inner and outer boxes, warranty card, original swing tag and — rather brilliantly — the original Cal. 861 Speedmaster Professional instruction booklet, which is exactly correct for this unusual transitional watch.

For me this is considerably more interesting than a normal later 3570.50. You get the familiar, completely wearable modern Speedmaster reference, but with the tritium dial, beautifully aged lume, slimmer early bracelet and the last incarnation of the historic calibre 861 inside.