Trying to find my Fathers watch

[JoePhilpot 1]

Hi   - I am looking for a replica watch which I doubt exists but let me see if anyone here can point me in the right direction.... My Dad had an Omega watch (lost ) which I have only childhood memories of (he's passed over 30 years) which he purchased sometime in the 1960's

 

I remember it was an Omega

I remember it had an orange second hand

He used to snap on calendars onto the band

 

I also think that his particular watch was the official watch of the 1964 Tokyo Olympic but this was something (I think) was  referenced by a family member a long time ago and again this could be hearsey

 

Anyhow, after enough research the watch is (I think)  a   1968 Speedmaster Professional 145.012  and I think this is what it looks like http://www.speedywatches.com/must-read-the-orange-hand-speedmaster-professional-buzz-aldrin/ 

 

I certainly don't have the money to buy the real thing hence the search for a replica! Assuming that there is no such replica available an Omega replica from this era with the orange second hand would be just as good so anybody can point me in the direction where I can purchase one it would be appreciated

 

I do know there are verified dealers on this board but I don't see any which specializes in replica vintage  - are there such dealers?

 

Thanks, Joe

 

[GingerApple 7,272]

Oooof, if he lost the watch you're thinking about, it looks like it's $100k worth of lost watch; only 50 such watches known to exist, the original Ultraman! Which makes me think it wasn't that watch tbh - but it could have been I guess.

Why not buy a cheap Speedmaster copy and paint the seconds hand orange?

What do you mean by, 'He used to snap on calendars onto the band'?

[tribefan 6,768]

This is the closest you will get to it through a trusted dealer:

https://jtime.io/us/speedmaster-speedy-tuesday-2-ultraman-omf-best-edition-on-leather-strap-manual-winding-chrono-movement.html

A few things to note:

- The 1964 Tokyo Olympics watch was a Seiko. The 1968 watch was an Omega Speedmaster, but it did not have an orange hand. Orange hand large 60's models are extremely rare.

- The watch linked above is not a vintage replica, but a replica of a reissue done based on that watch, commonly referred to as the Ultraman.

- Generally, there are no "vintage" dealers. There are vintage models that all dealers can get, but the vintage watch space is dominated by modders, or hobbyists, that modify watches to get them closer to vintage specs and appearances. It is as much art as science.

- Speedmasters are not particularly accurate replicas. The Omega movement is not cloned and therefore the sub dial spacing is generally "off" compared to gen. Someone who knows what they are looking at can 'tell' a rep by a quick glance at the dial. This may or may not be important to you.

[deju 1,859]

Fricking cool bracelet, for those of you not as old as @tribefan 

https://www.fratellowatches.com/speedy-tuesday-timely-wrist-calendar/

 

https://lunareplicas.com/collections/space-watches/products/h-style-wrist-calendar-set-2022

https://lunareplicas.com/products/forstner-jb-champion-reissue-watchstrap-horned-ends?pr_prod_strat=copurchase&pr_rec_id=c73930430&pr_rec_pid=4445295116382&pr_ref_pid=6888664105140&pr_seq=uniform

[APjumbo 3,031]

I’m just going to leave this photo here and try to make a quick exit.

 

[JoePhilpot 1]

Hi all = thanks for your feedback - I have more questions but memory can be a tricky thing so I'm going to reach out to family members and see if anyone has a photo with my Dads watch  (I checked with all of my pics but nothing which could aid identification)

[JoePhilpot 1]

Hi all   - so my mystery has been solved  - after reaching out to a family member and doing some further digging I have found out that the watch in question was a 1968 Omega Geneve Chronostop  much like this one https://morningtonwatches.com/products/1968-omega-chronostop-ref-145-010  and  the official Omega watch of the  1968 Mexico Olympic Games  -  its been 45 years since I last saw the watch so obviously some of the details got blurred but yes this is the watch.  It was a much less expensive version of the Speedmaster which makes sense as newly  graduated solicitors in 1968 cannot afford Speedmasters but Chronostops , yes!  @tribefan is there a replica version of this?

 

[GingerApple 7,272]

No chance!

[paccbet 7,176]

https://www.ebay.ca/itm/OMEGA-Geneva-Chronostop-145-010-Manual-One-Push-Chronograph-Watch-for-Drivers-/165023613665?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&_trksid=p2349624.m46890.l49286&mkrid=706-127636-26712-0
 

For what it's worth, I say get it  

[GenTLe 1,490]

7 hours ago, paccbet said:

https://www.ebay.ca/itm/OMEGA-Geneva-Chronostop-145-010-Manual-One-Push-Chronograph-Watch-for-Drivers-/165023613665?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&_trksid=p2349624.m46890.l49286&mkrid=706-127636-26712-0
 

For what it's worth, I say get it  

From the picture of the timegrapher I'd say the movement is healthy (that amplitude is great), it just needs a regulation (and probably a service, just to have it checked, cleaned and freshly oiled).

Edited July 6, 2022 by GenTLe

[APjumbo 3,031]

What event at the games needed a crooked watch dial. 
Driving? Olympics?

It does look pretty cool. 

[fatarms 7,758]

Don't see anything that references it being affiliated with the Olympics.   And it was meant to be worn on the underside of the wrist,  hence the dial and pusher configuration. 

https://www.wristchronology.com/vintage-ure/omega-geneve-chronostop-1968/

[Abe Fromen 1,619]

On 05/07/2022 at 19:25, paccbet said:

https://www.ebay.ca/itm/OMEGA-Geneva-Chronostop-145-010-Manual-One-Push-Chronograph-Watch-for-Drivers-/165023613665?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&_trksid=p2349624.m46890.l49286&mkrid=706-127636-26712-0
 

For what it's worth, I say get it  

Agree... that's cool. FWIW a former colleague had this very watch (that was his father's by coincidence) and he loved it very much. 

[JoePhilpot 1]

12 hours ago, fatarms said:

Don't see anything that references it being affiliated with the Olympics.   And it was meant to be worn on the underside of the wrist,  hence the dial and pusher configuration. 

https://www.wristchronology.com/vintage-ure/omega-geneve-chronostop-1968/

Here is the Olympic reference      "An official Olympic timer
Even though the Chronostop featured only one measurement function, it was selected as the official Omega timer at the Pan-American Games in Winnipeg and the 1968 Olympic Games in Mexico. Available in olive green, red, white, and blue, the Mexico Olympics versions of the watch used the cal.920 movement with the date function and included dial-matching leather straps."

and the link reference  to that https://danhenrywatches.com/blogs/journal/the-omega-chronostop -  I never knew about the different color faces and also that its an affordable watch  £1,200.00 from this retailer (and  ebay ) https://www.striacroft.co.uk/products/pre-owned-omega-chronostop-geneve-mens-watch?variant=37518610989232&currency=GBP&utm_medium=product_sync&utm_source=google&utm_content=sag_organic&utm_campaign=sag_organic

Edited July 7, 2022 by JoePhilpot