James Lamdin – Pre-Moon UK Perfect Replica Omega Speedmaster Ref. 2915.1
The neo-vintage references that most consider “exotics” are excellent Speedmasters to collect, including the Tin-Tin, the Snoopy, and the Racing versions, according to James Lamdbin, founder of Analog Shift. But instead, he points to early references, especially the high quality replica Omega watches Ref.2915.1.
“The first five to seven years of the Speedmaster,” Lamdin says, are “properly significant.” This is before the moon landing, and Lamdin believes such pre-moon Speedmasters are undervalued at the moment. He feels that’s a shame, not so much because of the dip in monetary value but in general regard for the reference. He points to the high-profile controversies that have come up around vintage Speedmasters in recent years, including one that sold for $3.4 million with subsequent accusations of having been faked by former cheap super clone Omega employees. “This really hurt the market” for the 2915.1, Lamdin says, because it “undermined consumer confidence.”
The 2915.1 is the very first Speedmaster, produced only from 1957 to ’59. Lamdin thinks it’s wise to be careful when sourcing a 2915.1 because the previous high-water pricing around the 50th anniversary of the Moon landing in 2019 found many people piecing together full examples from parts. These problem children of devious sellers are known as Frankenwatches, and that’s exactly what got Swiss fake Omega and Phillips into hot water. But if you can find an honest example, you’ll own a significant piece of horological history.
Jose Vega – UK Best Replica Omega Speedmaster Ref. 145.022
Jose Vega is a watchmaker and avid collector currently working at Shreve Crump & Low in Greenwich, Connecticut, and he thinks the sweet spot for vintage Speedmasters is with the Ref. 145.022 because they’re “easy to find and affordable,” he tells Robb Report. Vega also stresses that these online copy watches are “vintage but also modern enough to wear, if you want a Speedy you can beat to shit.” He adds that a “pre-moon [Speedmaster] could be a little scary to wear around.” Given their value, his point is well taken.
These shop replica watches debuted in 1969, the year of the Moon landing, but were not the models that went into space first. The biggest difference between an earlier pre-moon Speedmaster and these second-generation 145.022s is the movement.
Vega acknowledges the Caliber 321 found in earlier models is “ideally better because there’s a nicer feel to the click and [the movement] carries more prestige.” The nicer click he mentions comes down to the column wheel actuator of the chronograph function. However, the 1:1 wholesale fake Omega Speedmaster he’s recommending uses the later caliber 861, which employs a cam actuator; collectors will debate the differences ad infinitum, but in actual use it’s an insignificant detail.
