Ever since I logged onto Omega's website one day and came across this image,
I have been in love with this Omega Speedmaster '57. To me this watch exudes the classic 1960's space age with its alpha hands and deep subdials. Since then I have been waiting for this watch to be repped. When the first reps came out of this watch, they did not have a functioning chronograph subdial. To me a chronograph that did not function as a chronograph wasn't really worth owning.. I enjoy using the chronograph for menial tasks such as timing the coffee maker, etc. It just gets you that much more interaction with the watch. Finally OMF came out with the range of the Omega Speedmaster '57s with functioning chronograph subdials that actually functioned as gen. Meaning, this watch actually keeps 60 minute (not 30 as per 7750) subdial timing along with the trailing 12hr counter. I immediately placed an order for this version, although I really like the version with the broad arrow hands. Unfortunately the broad arrow hand version is the least accurate of the bunch (more on that later). On to the review:
The dimensions of this replica are as follows:
Width: 41.5mm
Height: 18mm
Lug to Lug: 50mm
Lug Width: 20mm
The dimensions of the gen are as follows:
Width: 41.5mm
Height: 16.6mm
Lug to Lug: 50mm
Lug Width: 20mm
As you can see, all dimensions are the same to gen except for the thickness. The rep is 1.4mm thicker than gen. In the picture that I took below of the gen vs rep, you can see that thickness is mainly made up in the mid-case, and the bezel. Having said that, this watch wears large period. I have tried on the gen at an Omega boutique, and even the gen wears like a large watch. Having said that, I have 6.75" wrists and it is probably the biggest watch I can pull off thanks to the curved lugs.
As you can see in the pic of the gen below, it wears high off the wrist
The case itself from OMF is actually very well made. The machining is well done, and the brushing/polishing is very crisp and well executed. OMF did a great job in the fabrication of the watch case. The bezel engravings are nice and deep and are close to gen in thickness.
The dial is also very well made. The subdials are the correct depth, all markings on the dial are correct, and the lume is excellent. One thing that I can immediately tell on any Speedmaster rep is the rehaut thickness. On the gen is is very thin, but on all reps the rehaut is way too thick. The dial should almost flow into the bezel on an even level. The OMF Speedmaster '57 nails this. The hands project up into the crystal and the dial is very close to the bezel. You can also see that due to the modified 7750, the date window does suffer from being sunken in. The other flaw on the dial is the markers at 3 and 9. If you look at the gen picture of this watch below:
The dials markers at 3 and 9 are rectangular vs the square markers on the rep. This is due to the subdial spacing from the Cal 9300 movement vs the 7750 this movement is based on.
The crystal on this rep is domed and absolutely beautiful. It is sapphire crystal with an acceptable quality of AR coating.
This is one of the major attractors of this watch to me. That big beautiful crystal that distorts the view of the dial depending on the angle you are looking at it. I can't decide on how I feel about the AR coating. The gen crystal almost disappears in certain light, and this crystal does as well, but not to the same degree. I think a trip to a modder to have a real double AR coating job done on this crystal will be in this watches future.
On to the caseback. This is one thing I think OMF does better than any other factory; the movement decorations. The decorative plating they put over the 7750 is excellent. It is very well machined and actually a pleasure to look at. They actually coated the balance wheel black to match the Cal 9300. The movement plate on my BP Planet Ocean is somewhat roughly machined and the engravings are not that clean. You can see below that due to this movement being an 7750, the balance wheel is not in the same location as the Cal 9300 movement.
The bracelet that comes with this is a nice throwback to the original bracelet that came on the first Speedmasters, but in modern form. OMF factory did a great job with this bracelet. It features the new screw and pin style links and is very solid. The bracelet actually didn't need the usual oil bath as it was smooth and squeak free out of the box, though this may vary depending on what you get.. One thing that was present in the gen that I am very happy got picked up in the rep is that the bracelet actually is inset into the lugs via a chamfer in the solid lugs. This allows you to wear this watch on the bracelet without actually making the watch wear larger because of the lug adding an additional length to the 50mm lug to lug measurement. Well done OMF.
The last thing that came with this watch was the rep strap and deployment buckle. While this is your usual rep leather strap, it is honestly a lot better than what comes with the Noob LMPO. It is softer and conforms to the wrist much, much better. Plus the deployment clasp is more flat, so it is much more comfortable than the LMPO deployment clasp. You can see below the difference.
To me the LMPO clasp has to fit on an exact spot on your wrist to be comfortable, whereas the clasp for the Speedmaster can be more flexible on its fitment to your wrist.
Overall this watch has its flaws, but you have to hand it to the Chinese for being innovative in coming up with this watch. I mean its a pretty cool achievement to modify the 7750 to function with the dual subdial counters and also retain its date function, even at the expense of thickness. If it wasn't for the decorative movement plates, this watch would be thinner than gen! I think it is a pretty good rep, and the 1.4mm difference isn't very noticeable on the wrist, especially when you are talking over 16mm for any watch. Most of the other flaws aren't noticeable other than those who know what to look for and I think it is a better rep than the current Speedmaster Moonwatch reps on the market. I think that this version of the Speedmaster '57 is the most accurate. The version with the broad arrow hands that I mentioned above is the least accurate due to a few things. The first is the the subdials are incorrect. They used the same dial from this version of the speedmaster '57 with alpha hands, when it should have a nice chamfered edge to them. Secondly the date wheel should also have a patina tone to match the lume, which it does not. Lastly the marker cut outs are way too big, and are too rounded, which gives the dial a sloppy look. If they ever come out with a version 2 of the broad arrow '57 correcting these issues I will definitely buy it.
Here is to hoping OMF comes out with the Co-Axial Speedmaster Moonwatch utilizing this 9300 7750 mod movement!
Cheers
I have been in love with this Omega Speedmaster '57. To me this watch exudes the classic 1960's space age with its alpha hands and deep subdials. Since then I have been waiting for this watch to be repped. When the first reps came out of this watch, they did not have a functioning chronograph subdial. To me a chronograph that did not function as a chronograph wasn't really worth owning.. I enjoy using the chronograph for menial tasks such as timing the coffee maker, etc. It just gets you that much more interaction with the watch. Finally OMF came out with the range of the Omega Speedmaster '57s with functioning chronograph subdials that actually functioned as gen. Meaning, this watch actually keeps 60 minute (not 30 as per 7750) subdial timing along with the trailing 12hr counter. I immediately placed an order for this version, although I really like the version with the broad arrow hands. Unfortunately the broad arrow hand version is the least accurate of the bunch (more on that later). On to the review:
The dimensions of this replica are as follows:
Width: 41.5mm
Height: 18mm
Lug to Lug: 50mm
Lug Width: 20mm
The dimensions of the gen are as follows:
Width: 41.5mm
Height: 16.6mm
Lug to Lug: 50mm
Lug Width: 20mm
As you can see, all dimensions are the same to gen except for the thickness. The rep is 1.4mm thicker than gen. In the picture that I took below of the gen vs rep, you can see that thickness is mainly made up in the mid-case, and the bezel. Having said that, this watch wears large period. I have tried on the gen at an Omega boutique, and even the gen wears like a large watch. Having said that, I have 6.75" wrists and it is probably the biggest watch I can pull off thanks to the curved lugs.
As you can see in the pic of the gen below, it wears high off the wrist
The case itself from OMF is actually very well made. The machining is well done, and the brushing/polishing is very crisp and well executed. OMF did a great job in the fabrication of the watch case. The bezel engravings are nice and deep and are close to gen in thickness.
The dial is also very well made. The subdials are the correct depth, all markings on the dial are correct, and the lume is excellent. One thing that I can immediately tell on any Speedmaster rep is the rehaut thickness. On the gen is is very thin, but on all reps the rehaut is way too thick. The dial should almost flow into the bezel on an even level. The OMF Speedmaster '57 nails this. The hands project up into the crystal and the dial is very close to the bezel. You can also see that due to the modified 7750, the date window does suffer from being sunken in. The other flaw on the dial is the markers at 3 and 9. If you look at the gen picture of this watch below:
The dials markers at 3 and 9 are rectangular vs the square markers on the rep. This is due to the subdial spacing from the Cal 9300 movement vs the 7750 this movement is based on.
The crystal on this rep is domed and absolutely beautiful. It is sapphire crystal with an acceptable quality of AR coating.
This is one of the major attractors of this watch to me. That big beautiful crystal that distorts the view of the dial depending on the angle you are looking at it. I can't decide on how I feel about the AR coating. The gen crystal almost disappears in certain light, and this crystal does as well, but not to the same degree. I think a trip to a modder to have a real double AR coating job done on this crystal will be in this watches future.
On to the caseback. This is one thing I think OMF does better than any other factory; the movement decorations. The decorative plating they put over the 7750 is excellent. It is very well machined and actually a pleasure to look at. They actually coated the balance wheel black to match the Cal 9300. The movement plate on my BP Planet Ocean is somewhat roughly machined and the engravings are not that clean. You can see below that due to this movement being an 7750, the balance wheel is not in the same location as the Cal 9300 movement.
The bracelet that comes with this is a nice throwback to the original bracelet that came on the first Speedmasters, but in modern form. OMF factory did a great job with this bracelet. It features the new screw and pin style links and is very solid. The bracelet actually didn't need the usual oil bath as it was smooth and squeak free out of the box, though this may vary depending on what you get.. One thing that was present in the gen that I am very happy got picked up in the rep is that the bracelet actually is inset into the lugs via a chamfer in the solid lugs. This allows you to wear this watch on the bracelet without actually making the watch wear larger because of the lug adding an additional length to the 50mm lug to lug measurement. Well done OMF.
The last thing that came with this watch was the rep strap and deployment buckle. While this is your usual rep leather strap, it is honestly a lot better than what comes with the Noob LMPO. It is softer and conforms to the wrist much, much better. Plus the deployment clasp is more flat, so it is much more comfortable than the LMPO deployment clasp. You can see below the difference.
To me the LMPO clasp has to fit on an exact spot on your wrist to be comfortable, whereas the clasp for the Speedmaster can be more flexible on its fitment to your wrist.
Overall this watch has its flaws, but you have to hand it to the Chinese for being innovative in coming up with this watch. I mean its a pretty cool achievement to modify the 7750 to function with the dual subdial counters and also retain its date function, even at the expense of thickness. If it wasn't for the decorative movement plates, this watch would be thinner than gen! I think it is a pretty good rep, and the 1.4mm difference isn't very noticeable on the wrist, especially when you are talking over 16mm for any watch. Most of the other flaws aren't noticeable other than those who know what to look for and I think it is a better rep than the current Speedmaster Moonwatch reps on the market. I think that this version of the Speedmaster '57 is the most accurate. The version with the broad arrow hands that I mentioned above is the least accurate due to a few things. The first is the the subdials are incorrect. They used the same dial from this version of the speedmaster '57 with alpha hands, when it should have a nice chamfered edge to them. Secondly the date wheel should also have a patina tone to match the lume, which it does not. Lastly the marker cut outs are way too big, and are too rounded, which gives the dial a sloppy look. If they ever come out with a version 2 of the broad arrow '57 correcting these issues I will definitely buy it.
Here is to hoping OMF comes out with the Co-Axial Speedmaster Moonwatch utilizing this 9300 7750 mod movement!
Cheers
