2008 Omega Speedmaster Automatic 40mm "Reverse Panda" 3210.51.00
Ref: 3210.51.00
Specification
Lugs : 19mm
Condition : Pre-Owned
Box & Papers : Box & Booklets
Case Material : Stainless Steel
Warranty : 12-Months NON-Waterproof Warranty
Points of Mention
This watch is sold with its Omega box and booklets. The watch comes paired with its original 19mm Omega polished and brushed stainless steel bracelet, push-button released folding clasp, which will fit up to a 7.15-inch wrist, and an additional 19mm leather strap. The watch is from Circa. 2008 and is sold in worn condition, but overall fair condition as you can see. The watch comes with our 12-Months Non-Waterproof Warranty.
For more photos see here - https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1gCjIjxAENUsR_rBoNDOALOyVksaS6t8w?usp=drive_link
4K YouTube video, skip to 13:47 - https://youtu.be/ko6_7hy3OPs
The Watch
Here we have a 2008 Omega Speedmaster Automatic "Reverse Panda" 3210.51.00 with a 40mm polished and satin-finished case that curves over your wrist with its characteristic twisted lugs, a lug-to-lug length of 45.5mm and a case thickness of 14.5mm give the watch an impressive wrist presence and comfortable fit. Polished and brushed surfaces transition with crisp lines. A black Tachymetre fixed bezel with silver numerals holds the domed sapphire crystal protecting a “Reverse Panda” dial, the white outer minute track is precisely executed with red highlights surrounding chamfer-edged applied dagger indexes indicating the hours coated in luminescence, at 3 o’clock a framed date window, we have 3 recessed silver dials, a 30-minute dial at 12 o’clock, followed by a 12-hour dial at 6 o’clock, and finally, a small seconds dial at 9 o’clock. Baton hands filled with lume and an arrow-tipped chronograph hand hit its mark, at 3 o’clock we have the Omega motif, a red “Speedmaster” and “Automatic Chronometer” complete this versatile sports chronograph, a screw-down case back complete with the embossed Hippocampus, represents Neptune the God of the sea, it was conceived by Pierre Borie after seeing a picture of Neptune riding a chariot pulled by seahorses, it is the reason why the seahorses are wearing a bridle. Inside an automatic Omega Cal. 1164, 25 jewels, 28,800 beats per hour, based on the ETA/Valjoux 7750. The watch comes fitted on its original 19mm Omega polished and brushed stainless steel bracelet with a signed push button folding clasp, plus a 19mm leather strap in the box, and the watch is sold with its Omega box and booklets.
Personal Note
There are certain Omega Speedmaster "Reduced/Automatics" that I feel are often overlooked and underrated and this reference 3210.51.00 is one of them! Featuring a "Reverse Panda" dial and subtle red highlights, this feels very much "Newman-Esce" in the best way! I wouldn't hesitate to snapping this gem up for your personal collection if you are interested!
The Brand
They were formerly known as the La Generale Watch Co. in 1848 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 with their production starting 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.