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Luxury UK Omega Speedmaster Fake Watches Mysteries Unraveled! What Have We Learned During The Past Decade?

Are you about to get sucked into one of those shows about a lost artifact? Will it be an episode that plods on until the last minute to inform you that the lost city of “X” still hasn’t been found? Of course not! This is Speedy Tuesday, after all, and we’re here for you. Today, though, we thought we’d recap some of the Swiss made replica Omega Speedmaster watches mysteries that have been solved since the beginning of this series. (A special thanks to teammate Lex for his participation in our cover shot — he looks as though he’s unfurling the Dead Sea Scrolls!)

Balazs and I were recently podcasting, and we commented about the UK cheap fake Omega Speedmaster watches mysteries that have been solved since Speedy Tuesday first came to light in 2012. We then received a comment about this and decided to write about some of the facts that have surfaced over the past decade. For sure, there’s still plenty to learn, so the “gumshoeing” will continue!

Speedy Tuesday at a glance

Our podcast listener wasn’t necessarily asking solely about uncovered Speedmaster mysteries. The comment referred to how perfect Omega Speedmaster replica watches lore has been documented since 2012. For certain, week in and week out, this column serves as a reference point for all topics related to one of the coolest chronographs in the galaxy. Yes, this column does support yet another query we addressed on a recent podcast about whether Speedy fans are the most fanatical in the watch world. Like it or not, we’ve covered the Speedy exhaustively and will continue to do so. Along the way, some rather interesting details have come to light.

The Moonwatch contenders and the real McCoy

One of my favorite resolved Speedmaster mysteries involves the Speedy and some Speedy-adjacent news. Until January 2019 in Biel/Bienne, most felt that the lyre-lugged Speedmasters were the first intended Moonwatches. In actuality, the top Omega copy watches that passed the initial NASA tests was none other than the 105.003 (RJ has penned an incredibly concise story on how this occurred). The 105.012 and 145.012 models came later.

Also, the true identity of the other NASA-tested wristwatches was not public knowledge. We knew that a Rolex and a Wittnauer were in the hunt, but the exact models were a guess. While I don’t recall much speculation about the tested Rolex reference, the Wittnauer was often a topic of discussion. Collectors assumed that NASA tried the spacey reference 242T perhaps because of its all-black dial. However, it was actually the white-dialed 235T that attempted and failed to make it to a spacesuit. For good measure, we also learned that a Rolex 6238 “Pre-Daytona” also got a (moon)shot.

The gold BA345.0802 was limited to 300 pieces

In 2014, RJ met astronaut Thomas Stafford and had the opportunity to photograph his gold BA345.0802. This was a curious watch because it debuted in 1980 as an Apollo 11 commemorative edition. That’s 11 years after the Moon landing, which is an odd birthday. It turns out that it was also a celebration of Omega’s caliber 861 gaining NASA certification for use in the Space Shuttle program. Nearly 10 years ago, many believed the production run to be around 300 units. By 2019, this exact number was confirmed. This is one of those 1:1 replica Omega Speedmaster watches mysteries that hinges upon a small detail, but that’s why we love watches. Oh, and Omega also produced a white gold variant in a truly rare quantity of 20 pieces.

The First Omega in Space (FOiS) uses a new case

The discontinued First Omega in Space is one of the more popular modern AAA China Omega Speedmaster super clone watches. Fittingly, the watch debuted at Basel in 2012 for the 50th anniversary of Wally Schirra’s Mercury-Atlas 8 mission. This was an important mission because — you guessed it — Schirra wore his very own Speedmaster CK2998, and it became the first Omega in space. These numbered but not limited watches were beloved during their eight-year production run. Despite the use of a sapphire crystal, the “FOiS” features many vintage touches.

The key detail that fans loved was the use and return of a smaller 39.7mm case with straight lugs. This alone was enough to cause excitement, but many fans didn’t stop to realize that Swiss movements Omega replica watches wasn’t offering a 1:1 copy of Schirra’s CK2998. The lugs have bevels or chamfers, and unless they’ve been added to a vintage reference by an overzealous restorer, they’re not “correct.” Does that detract from the FOiS? Not at all, but it’s certainly worth mentioning!

The Apollo-Soyuz quantity confirmed

Back in 2016, RJ wrote about the reference 145.022 Apollo-Soyuz commemorative model that was produced in 1976. Omega produced this curious piece on behalf of Italian distributor De Marchi, and the run supposedly consisted of 500 pieces. However, there was rampant speculation that only 400 pieces saw the light of day. That may not seem like a huge difference, but these fake Omega watches for sale now easily crest €50K at auction, so facts are important. By 2022, though, RJ had spoken to enough experts, and the number of Apollo-Soyuz models now stands at 500. Per this article, confirmation of the larger run still didn’t hurt auction results. Perhaps it’s because this model is one of the earliest limited-edition Speedmasters. It also represents peace and happens to be quite attractive! Here again, this is one of those Speedmaster mysteries that is all about the details.

The Speedmaster X-33 (still) has real space chops

The Speedmaster X-33 debuted in 1998, and this watch was not some nod to modern trends around digital watches. No, the X-33 was tailor-made for space use, and astronaut Thomas Stafford was involved in its development. It had a titanium case and provided analog as well as digital information — local time, a perpetual calendar, a programmable alarm, a mission timer, a mission alarm, universal time (GMT), a universal alarm, a countdown timer (with alarm), and a chronograph. In other words, this wasn’t your astronaut grandfather’s high quality Omega Speedmaster replica watches!

It was certified for use by NASA on shuttle missions but was replaced in 2001 by the second-generation X-33. This watch contained some improvements that you can read about here, which also led to its NASA qualification. NASA still uses it for missions even though it was discontinued in 2010! What’s more, the third-generation X-33 Skywalker is the official equipment of all astronauts and cosmonauts who leave Earth via Russia. Perhaps knowledge about the X-33 doesn’t qualify as one of the Speedmaster mysteries, but I’d guess that few know that these fake Omega watches wholesale actually see action as official equipment.

Speedmaster mysteries still go unsolved

Has the watch community (or even Omega) solved all of the Speedmaster mysteries that exist? Of course not, and there are two topics that we (and countless others)would love to obtain answers on. First (and this would make international news) is the whereabouts of Buzz Aldrin’s Moonwatch from the Apollo 11 Moon landing. Apparently, Aldrin sent the replica Omega watches shop to the Smithsonian after the mission, and it was lost on the way. This is, arguably, the most important wristwatch in history, and no one knows where it is. Is Elvis roaming around with it somewhere in Montana?

The second mystery is far more nerdy and would definitely not make international news. However, it would end a lot of speculation from Speedy collectors. Simply put, we want to know how many Speedmaster “Tintins” are floating around within Earth’s orbit! This quiet release from 2013 took a long time to catch on with collectors, but it has achieved a cult-like status. If you read my 2016 article on this watch, note the statistical approach that one person took when trying to unlock the true number of Tintins. Fun stuff!

Only the beginning

If you’re a dyed-in-the-wool Speedy fan, today’s article wasn’t news. However, we have new Swiss top fake Omega Speedmaster watches admirers joining the fray every single day, and this can hopefully serve as a small primer on some of the information that has come to light since 2012. It may even inspire some to start detective work of their own to help the cause. After all, there’s always something to learn.

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How To Customise Your Best Quality Omega MoonSwatch Replica Watches UK: Colours, Straps, And More

So you finally got your hands on the coveted top replica Omega x Swatch MoonSwatch watches. Congratulations! You either paid a lot of money on the secondhand market or you waited really long in line. Perhaps, you even flew abroad to much easier get your hands on this precious timepiece. No matter how you got there, we aren’t here to judge. We’re here to help. Customising your MoonSwatch is just about the hottest thing you can do since actually acquiring your MoonSwatch. Here’s how.

There’s nothing quite like adding your own personal touch to a timepiece. Maybe you pair your high quality Omega fake watches with a cute beaded bracelet to off-set your serious office look, or maybe you added a few diamonds to the dial to up the glam for your next evening gala. Customisation is the cherry on top of owning a watch, and the cherry becomes even sweeter when it comes to a highly coveted timepiece.

Of course, the MoonSwatch isn’t your regular highly coveted timepiece. Launched last year, it is not a limited edition series, though it is sold only in limited amounts in select stores during certain periods. It was birthed through the collaboration of two of watchmaking’s greatest, perfect Omega replica watches and Swatch, who both normally play in very different fields of casual and luxury watchmaking.

Nevertheless, the collaboration was an instant hit. Even in Bangkok, queues outside Central World went around the block, as everyone wanted a piece of the space-inspired MoonSwatch. 11 unique cheap Omega copy watches make up the Bioceramic MoonSwatch Collection, with a special ‘Mission to Moonshine Gold’ edition launched in just a few countries. Designed to “reach for the planets” and inspired by various “missions” to the sun, the moon, and all of the planets in the solar system, it is a colourful collection that ranges from bright blues, yellows, and pinks, over to the very popular blacks, browns, and grey colour ways.

Yet selecting your chosen edition and bringing it home is only where the fun begins. Read on for how to give your MoonSwatch that extra pizzaz through customisation of straps and an interplay of colours, materials, and more.

How to customise your MoonSwatch like a pro

It starts with colour

The first step to finding the right MoonSwatch for your fit is working with colour. The 1:1 replica Omega MoonSwatch collection watches offers plenty of room to play, as it is already available in 11 different colour ways. This is where you need to ask yourself the big questions: Will you accessorise with contrasting or complementary colours? Do you want to play it safe or surf along the edge of madness? Will you go for monotone or pattern prints?

Play it safe with monotone

Experimenting with colour can add a fresh mood and tone to your timepiece. One of the most popular editions is the black ‘Mission to the Moon’ MoonSwatch, which is often customised with a suave black strap. This adds an elevated aura to the UK AAA Omega fake watches, compared to its original velcro strap, which can feel a little bulky.

In fact, taking the colour of the dial and applying it to the strap is a popular way to incorporate a sense of unity in your customisation. If you want to take things a little further, use the same tone as the chronograph display, as seen on the beautiful ‘Mission to Pluto’ MoonSwatch customisation below. The Bordeaux red chronograph is paired with a hatch grain Bordeaux red strap for a very chic new feel.

Get creative with contrast

Use the colour wheel to your advantage and experiment with colour blocking, and using contrasting colours for a bit of fun. The model below is the ‘Mission to Venus,’ which has been customised with a green fabric strap for a bold contrast and a youthful interplay with the pastel pink of the original case.

Dabble in prints

Perhaps you’re not quite ready to make a contrasting colour leap, or perhaps you want to get wacky with the leap you’ve already made. If you really dare, go for colourful prints or patterns on your strap and really stand out from the crowd. The ‘Mission to Uranus’ below is complemented by a rubber blue cameo strap for a touch of personality that seems to go well with pancakes.

If loud prints aren’t your thing, you can still get away with a touch of colour through subtle stripes. Below, the best super clone Omega ‘Mission to Uranus’ MoonSwatch watches is customised with a fabric strap and a touch of bright orange. Simple, yet so effective, and wildly different in personality to the one above. See how fun this is?

Fabric, rubber, or leather?

Beyond the details in the dial, it is often the strap that provides the tell-tale for what kind of watch you’re wearing, or what kind of wearer the watch inhabits. Rubber straps are commonly used for dive luxury Omega replica watches, whilst leather straps are most commonly used for dress watches. Fabric falls into a fashionable in-between.

The MoonSwatch boasts a relatively large case with a 42mm diameter, making it easy to pair with any of these materials. Whilst the original velcro strap is sporty, it does feel a bit stiff, and wearers often change the strap for both comfort and customisation for a more balanced wrist look and feel.

Fabric doesn’t mean you’re soft

Fabric straps are extremely versatile, as there are so many fabrics to choose from, and so many ways the fabric can be manipulated. The ‘Mission to Mercury’ edition above is contrasted by a light brown/green leather strap, and conveys a sense of adventure.

Rubber rules

Normally, only James Bond wears a dive watch with a suit, so rubber straps for everyday use are best reserved for secret agents. However, in the case of the 2023 fake Omega MoonSwatch watches, rubber straps seem to be the most popular.

Again, there is plenty of versatility with rubber, and it is the most fun material for experimenting with colour. The above ‘Mission to the Moon’ immediately stands out on the wrist with its daring red rubber strap, adding plenty of drama to your look.

There are also so many different types of rubber. Perlon, a type of nylon, is a beautiful way to incorporate rubber in a lesser obvious way. Below, the ‘Mission to the Sun’ edition catches a few extra rays with a strap suited to everyday wear.

Leather for the long run

Leather is applauded for its durability, and also for being one of the most classic types of wholesale Omega replica watches straps. There is something extremely timeless about a leather strap, and something extremely nostalgic, too. Whilst it is more difficult to care for than rubber, adding a leather strap to your MoonSwatch will give it an air of sophistication.

The ‘Mission to Earth’ below sees a turquoise gaucho strap that beautifully complements the dark dial of the timepiece for a handsome look and feel.

Again, don’t be afraid to experiment with the different kinds of leather. If you want to keep things classic in colour, you can still play around with texture. Below, the ‘Mission to Jupiter’ boasts an ecru croco strap for a sense of jungle mystery — that still very much works in the city.

Where to shop MoonSwatch straps

There are many international online stores where you can order watch straps for your MoonSwatch.

Horus Watch Straps has an entire dedicated page to MoonSwatch straps, available in a huge range of colours (and patterns!), all in rubber. Meanwhile, Delugs also includes leather options, and suggested colour pairings for the uninitiated. Several of the examples featured in this piece hail from Jakarta-based Etsy store, Seventh Creation. The biggest variety of straps come from Australia-based Strapify, with over 800 straps to choose from, and a huge selection of materials.

If you’re looking to keep it local, Bangkok offers plenty of China Omega fake watches straps in the leather department. Just check in with your local leather dealer, and be sure to opt for a 20mm strap width for the best pairing.

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Here’s What To Make Of Three Astronaut UK Top Fake Omega Speedmaster Watches Selling In One Week

It’s not every day you see an actual astronaut’s Omega Speedmaster. Perhaps the biggest Speedy trophy of all is the gold Apollo XI Omega Speedmaster replica watches for sale: The first 26 were given to astronauts to commemorate the first successful moon landing in 1969. (The first was given to President Nixon and the second to Vice President Agnew, who both had to turn them down.)

I saw one of these Apollo XI Speedmasters in person for the first time last year, when astronaut Michael Collins’ Apollo XI Speedy sold at Heritage Auction in June 2022 for $765,000, and it hit me for a bunch of reasons. A true piece of history.

But after that best Omega fake watches sold, something funny happened. Astronaut Wally Schirra’s gold Apollo XI Speedy showed up in October and sold for $1.9 million. Soon after that, Scott Carpenter’s Apollo XI Speedmaster came to market courtesy of dealer Eric Wind. Then last week, things got really nutty: The same auction house that sold Schirra’s brought three more of these astronaut Speedmasters to auction, from Gus Grissom’s family, Alan Bean, and Ron Evans. And it’s not over. Phillips just announced it’ll have Captain Pete Conrad’s Apollo XI Speedmaster (the commander of Apollo XII) at its Hong Kong sale next month.

That’s seven astronaut Apollo XI Speedies in the span of less than a year. Seven of only 26 (another eight or so were given to astronauts after the Apollo XI mission, meaning that about 34 of the 1,014 Apollo XI perfect UK Omega Speedmaster replica watches have genuine astronaut provenance; but still, seven of 34 is a lot).

It made me think: Is now the best time, or the worst time, to buy a gold Apollo XI Speedmaster?

The question could be answered in one of two ways. First, as a casual observer, and someone who writes about the oddities of our little world for a living, this is amazing! Only 26 of these exist in total, and we’ve seen seven of them, about 25 percent, in less than a year. If you happen to be a potential buyer, you also get the chance to evaluate each example and choose your favorite. Or if you’ve got a favorite astronaut, you can make a run at their Speedy.

On the other hand, does it take the novelty out of these Speedies, even just a little bit? After seeing six more parade to market after Collins’, it made me feel a bit like a fool for having been so moved when trying on Collins’ Swiss movements Omega Speedmaster copy watches last year.

There could even be some truth to this second perspective. Collins’ Speedmaster primed the pump – after selling at auction, I’m told the buyer (a well-known collector himself – think Talking Watches alum) quickly sold it again privately for about $1 million. And word got around. Then in October, Schirra’s Speedy set an auction record for luxury replica Omega Speedmaster Profesional watches when it sold for $1.9 million, the object of an intense bidding war between the Omega Museum and a high-profile collector.

But the trio that sold last week sold for decidedly less money: Bean’s for $302,500, Evans’ for $296,738. Grissom’s failed to meet its reserve at auction and I’m told it sold shortly after the sale via private treaty for about $375,000. It felt like collectors might be getting wholesale super clone Omega Speedmaster watches fatigue, even if these prices were still sky-high, surpassing the low end of the auction’s estimates, not to mention two or three times higher than results from just a few years ago.

To acknowledge the obvious: it’s kind of stupid to put three astronaut 1:1 replica Omega Speedmaster watches in the same auction back-to-back-to-back. It changes the narrative from a singular story about a heroic astronaut into one about how three of these Speedies are for sale at once, and isn’t that kind of odd? At least, that’s how I saw it – when Schirra’s sold last year I wrote about it before the sale, dug into Schirra’s life, and talked to the consignor, who knew Schirra personally. This time around though, the story was different.

First, Schirra’s Speedmaster hadn’t appeared at auction publicly before (nor had Collins’, coming from his estate after he died in 2021). As I’ve written before, a fresh-to-market watch can get even the most cynical of collectors excited. That consignor of Schirra’s was a known collector of space memorabilia and acquired the AAA China Omega fake watches from Schirra’s widow. Not only that, Schirra has long been an important figure in the watch community, known for wearing the “First Omega in Space,” CK 2998 during the Sigma 7 mission in 1962, before the Speedmaster was even NASA certified. All these factors contributed to that bidding war on auction day.

Meanwhile, Bean’s and Evans’ Speedmasters have both appeared at auction before, each selling for $50,000 in 2015 (here and here). Eight years later and the market seemingly primed after a few big results, these buyers were ready to move on and make a few bucks (nothing wrong with that). Big results have a way of pulling Omega replica watches shop out of the woodwork.

Grissom is perhaps the most well-known of these three astronauts – Omega awarded an Apollo XI Speedmaster to his family posthumously after Grissom died in Apollo I along with Ed White and Roger Chaffee. Even still, his watch failed to meet the reserve at auction.

An Astronaut’s Watch Is Still A Special Watch

I managed to find the two dealers/collectors who closed the private sale on Grissom’s watch post-auction. For them, their answer to my question – whether it’s a good or bad time to buy an Apollo XI Speedmaster – was easy: It’s a great time. They’re thrilled about the pickup and think it’ll prove to be a deal in the long run. They also viewed it as a positive that last year’s big results brought out these Swiss made fake Omega watches that might’ve otherwise stayed in private hands for a while longer.

They also said that, because of those results from the last couple Apollo XI Speedmasters, some bidders might’ve been scared away or just not taken the time to bid. The moral of the story? Always place a bid, you might get lucky.

I agree with them. Because even after seeing seven appear at auction in the span of less than a year, the Apollo XI Speedmaster is still objectively rare and cool. It’s my favorite Speedmaster, not only because it’s a big gold Speedmaster and those are always cool, but also because it was a real trophy for the astronauts who helped get us to the Moon.

I’ve heard of a couple more astronaut Apollo XI Speedmasters circulating that could appear at auction soon. But even if we’ve seen seven in the past year, it could be a while before we see any more astronauts’ Apollo XI Speedmasters after this deluge. There are still only 26. This could’ve been one of the last opportunities collectors had at some of the most important best quality replica Omega Speedmaster watches around.

Over the past few years, some market prices became briefly detached from reflecting what was truly rare and special and important and what wasn’t. But commemorative Omega Speedmaster replica watches for men given to astronauts after we successfully landed on the Moon? That’s always special.

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Making History In 14 Seconds: Best UK Replica Omega Watches’ Essential Precision During The Apollo 13 Mission

When Apollo 13’s mission came about on April 11, 1970, Omega had already been an invaluable support to NASA, with the perfect UK replica Omega Speedmaster watches’ pledge in “flight qualified for all manned space missions”. While it was the first watch worn on the moon in 1969 during Apollo 11’s first moon landing, it wasn’t until the Apollo 13 mission in 1970 that Swiss made Omega fake watches’ critical precision was best represented.

Commanded by veteran astronaut James Lovell, with Command Module Pilot Jack Swigert, and Lunar Module Pilot, Fred Haise; Apollo 13 was destined for the moon: the third human lunar landing to inspect, survey and sample selenological materials in the preselected Fra Mauro Formation (a formation of highlands on the near side of the moon) — the next successful chapter of the Apollo project.

“The watch was a critical backup,” said James Ragan, the NASA engineer who first tested and qualified the 1:1 online Omega Speedmaster fake watches in 1964; as the three astronauts were each equipped with Omega Speedmaster Professional chronographs — part of NASA’s official kit for all manned missions since 1965. “If the astronauts ever lost the capability of talking to the ground, or the capability of their digital timers, the only thing they would have to rely on would be the watches on their wrists. It needed to be there for them if they had a problem.”

Unfortunately, a major problem did occur for Apollo 13 just two days after launch, when an oxygen tank exploded on board, and crippled the Service Module, plunging the astronauts into a truly perilous situation.

The infamous “Houston, we’ve had a problem here” was transmitted back to Earth, and the mission to the moon was promptly abandoned. As part of the innovative rescue strategy directives from Houston, the astronauts were forced into the Lunar Module, where they had to shut down nearly all power to conserve energy, rendering their digital timers obsolete, and leaving them at the mercy of dark and freezing conditions.

Apollo 13 faced many serious challenges over the next several days, as NASA worked around the clock to overcome the increasingly volatile situation. By then, the aborted mission had drifted off course by roughly 60 to 80 nautical miles; this meant that the module would re-enter Earth’s atmosphere at the wrong angle, and bounce back into space with no chance of recovery.

During a time when there was simply no room for error, Omega’s essential precision was called for. Without their digital timers, Swigert instead used his cheap replica Omega Speedmaster chronograph watches to time the required burn of the engine for an exact 14 seconds, while Lovell guided the craft manually, using the Earth’s horizon as his guide.

Much to everyone’s relief, the maneuver back to Earth was carried out perfectly, and on April 17, Apollo 13 achieved a splashdown in the South Pacific Ocean, Southeast of American Samoa and 6.5km from the recovery ship USS Iwo Jima; 142 hours and 54 minutes after launch.

What started off as a mere backup, the luxury Omega copy watches came to play its crucial part in precise timekeeping, and performed exactly as intended. Mission Commander James Lovell later said: “We used the Omega watch that Jack had on his wrist, and I had to control the spacecraft. Jack timed the burn on the engine to make that correction to get us back home safely.”

Later that year, on October 5, 1970, Swiss movements Omega super clone watches received NASA’s illustrious “Silver Snoopy Award” — a 925 sterling silver pin that has become one of the highest honors for those in the aerospace industry, with no more than 1% of eligible recipients; as a mark of gratitude for its contributions to the success of human space flight missions, and the major role it played in the “successful failure” of Apollo 13.