2020 Omega Speedmaster Professional Hesalite Discontinued
Ref: 311.30.42.30.01.005
Specification
Lugs : 20mm
Condition : Pre-Owned
Box & Papers : Box & Papers
Case Material : Stainless Steel
Warranty : 12-Months NON-Waterproof Warranty
Points of Mention
This watch is sold with its Omega presentation large box and paperwork, plus all accessories. It comes paired with its original Omega 20mm stainless steel bracelet with full links provided. The watch is from January 2020. As you can see from the photos, it is worn, but overall, it is in fair condition. A full case and bracelet overhaul can be offered at an additional cost. The watch comes with our 12-Months Non-Waterproof Warranty.
For more photos see here - https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1Dm91aGvuayiC78U8c7jlElcc-3X3EbEP?usp=drive_link
4K YouTube video, skip to 4:47 - https://youtu.be/MaxogIlTVEU
The Watch
Here we have a 2020 Omega Speedmaster Professional Hesalite, now discontinued, the 42mm stainless steel case has polished and brushed surfaces that lead to characteristic twisted tapering lugs, the crisp lines transition effortlessly around the case, and a lug-to-lug length of 48mm and a case thickness of 14mm ensures a comfortable fit on the wrist. A fixed tachymeter sits on its black bezel. The dial is protected by Hesalite crystal, an outer minute track with slim baton indexes that mark the hours. Three deeply recessed Sub-dials are 60 seconds, 30 minutes, and 12 hours. Sword hands and an elegant long central chronograph seconds hand that accurately hits the minute track, the dial has perfect symmetry. Hands and indexes are lumed with Super-Luminova. The screw-down case back is engraved with “Flight - Qualified By NASA for all Manned Space Missions” and “The First watch worn on the Moon”, which is a fitting testament to man's achievements in space. Inside, we have the Cal. 1861, 18 jewels, hand-wound chronograph beating at 21,600 bph, and it has a Rhodium-plated finish, as a manually wound movement, it is the direct descendant of the original moon watch that used the Cal. 361 movement. Fitted with a 20mm Omega Stainless Steel bracelet with a signed clasp, it fits the wrist comfortably, along with all the additions you would expect with a modern Speedmaster, including the original large Box & Papers, plus all accessories.
Personal Note
The classic Omega Speedmaster Professional with a hesalite crystal, this reference is the recently discontinued model featuring the calibre 1861, a workhorse movement, with the older generate bracelet which has more of a substantial feel on the wrist than the latest reference, it comes down to which you prefer personally. There is also the point of value, these references are some of the best value Speedmaster Professionals you can buy, especially with how much higher the RRP on the latest reference has gone, so snap this one up today and add it to your collection!
The Brand
They were formerly known as the La Generale Watch Co., founded in 1848 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). 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 the first choice of astronauts. 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.