1990s Omega Speedmaster Triple Date MK40 175.0084
Ref: 175.0084
Specification
Lugs : 18mm
Condition : Pre-Owned
Box & Papers : None
Case Material : Stainless Steel
Warranty : 12-Months NON-Waterproof Warranty
Points of Mention
This watch is sold as "Watch Only" and, therefore, comes with no Omega box or paperwork. It comes paired with an 18mm quick-release leather strap, orange stitching and an Omega-signed pin buckle. The watch is from Circa 1990s and is sold in worn condition, as you can see, with scratches to the anti-reflective coating on the crystal. The watch comes with our 12-Months Non-Waterproof Warranty and comes fresh from a 2024 Service.
For more photos see here - https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1aTpcOH8PuqeyDFZk0pOp1RCUNPFdf9ga?usp=drive_link
4K YouTube video, skip to 10:17 - https://youtu.be/g8ab83BOcTs
The Watch
Here we have a 1999 Omega Speedmaster Automatic MK40 175.0084. The Omega Speedmaster Triple Calendar was first introduced in 1993, and in 2018, Hodinkee celebrated its 10th Anniversary with the introduction of the Omega Speedmaster HODINKEE 10th Anniversary Limited edition of 500 pieces, that model looked very similar, though it doesn’t have the triple date. With a 39mm polished and brushed satin-finished stainless steel asymmetric case that fits snuggly on the wrist thanks to its characteristic twisted lugs, a lug-to-lug length of 44.5mm and a case thickness of 13.5mm ensures a comfortable fit on your wrist down the right side, we have the chronograph pushers and a signed push/pull crown in the centre, on the left side a recessed pusher to set the day, a fixed bezel with a black Tachymetre bezel insert with silver etched numerals. The domed sapphire crystal protects a matte black dial, a date outer track with its indicator hand ending in a white-tipped pointer showing the correct date. baton indexes indicate the hours coated in luminescence; we have three sunken dials: a 30-minute dial that incorporates the Day and Month at 12 o’clock, followed by a 12-hour dial at 6 o’clock, and finally, a 24-hour dial and small seconds at 9 o’clock, perfect for the intrepid explorer or executive travelling around the world. White sword hands filled with lume and a white chronograph hand complete a very elegant dial, a screw-down case back complete with the Hippocampus, inside an automatic Omega Cal. 1151, 25 jewels, 28,800 beats per hour, a full calendar chronograph movement based on the workhorse ETA 7751.
Personal Note
The Omega Speedmaster Triple Date automatic series of watches has continued to be one of the most incredible value-for-money models out there from any major brand, the complication in an undeniably iconic reference that can be had in multiple variations and colours and often found around the £2,000 price-point, insane. This MK40 reference 175.0084 is wonderful on the wrist and can be had today, serviced this year, for under £2,000! Snap it up whilst you can!
The Brand
Formerly known as the La Generale Watch Co. in 1848, it was founded by Louis Brandt in La Chaux-de-Fonds. When he died in 1879, his sons carried on his dream. In 1880, they moved to 96 Rue Jakob-Stampfli, where they remain today. The brothers produced their first mass-produced calibre, the Labrador In 1885. Just a few years later, in 1892, they produced the first minute-repeater. In 1903, they renamed the company Omega until 1982, when they officially changed their name to Omega SA. During WW1, Omega watches were used as official timekeepers for the Royal Flying Corps and the US Army. In 1930, Omega and Tissot merged together to form Société Suisse pour l'Industrie Horlogère (SSIH). In 1931, another group was formed - Allgemeine Schweizerische Uhrenindustrie AG (ASUAG). Where SSIH was primarily French-speaking, ASUAG was founded by the more German-speaking members of the Swiss watch industry. In 1948, they introduced the first edition of one of its most symbolic watches: the Seamaster. Omega first introduced the Constellation in 1952. At the time, it was Omega's flagship timepiece. The first models had a Cal. 354 bumper movement in them. Later, in 1955, Omega introduced the Automatic Cal. 50x, followed in 1959 by the Cal.55x (no date) and 56x (date) versions. Many of the Constellations came with pie-pan dials, diamond indexes, and fancy lug configurations. All the gold Constellations of that time have the Observatory of Geneva's hand engraved on the back. The stainless steel and stainless steel/gold versions had a gold medallion on the back with the Observatory of Geneva. The eight stars above the Observatory stand for the many exploits of Omega in the world Chronometer competition. Celebrating the fact that all Constellations are Chronometer Certified. In 1962, when astronaut Wally Schirra wore a Speedmaster on his Mercury Sigma 7 Mission, making it the first Omega watch to enter space. After rigorous tests, NASA used Omega for all their Apollo missions, including the 1969 Moon landing of Apollo 11. Today Omega is still an astronaut's first choice. In 1969, President Nixon famously said it was “too valuable” and turned down the first-ever all-gold Speedmaster Professional Deluxe. As a response to the ever-growing threat of electronic watches to the manufacturers of mechanical watches, Omega and many Swiss brands such as Rolex and Patek Philippe formed Centre Electronique Horologer (CEH). Prototypes began to appear in 1967, and their production started in 1968. Then, In 1972, Omega introduced the reference 198.030, which included the Omega calibre 1250, a ‘tuning-fork electronic movement which was made under licence from Bulova. Later we saw a merger of SSIH and ASUAG into SMH, or Société de Microélectronique et d’Horlogerie. This merger took place in 1983. In 1992, the company acquired Blancpain, and in 1998 it officially rebranded itself from SMH to the Swatch Group. Then, in 1999, they purchased and integrated Breguet into the Swatch Group.