I have not done a post in a while and was trying to decide what would be a good topic. I am getting quite a lot of interest and questions about the Omega Speedmaster reduced that I have listed or sold on TamboWatches. So, I figured why not do one on the Omega Speedmaster Reduced.
It seems there has been a recent uptick in pricing for the standard Speedmaster reduced. Not quite sure why the standard Speedmaster Reduced is demanding higher prices. Maybe people are finally starting to realize it is a great stepping stone into the World of Omega without having to break the bank. This combined with the fact that watch enthusiasts finally seem to be getting away from wearing a wall clock on their wrist. Never really understood that fad.
This post will be focused on what to look for when buying an Omega Speedmaster reduced along with some of the different models.
What to look for when shopping for a Speedmaster Reduced
There are a few things that you are going to want to be looking for when shopping for a Speedmaster Reduced. First and foremost is whether or not the movement has been serviced by a watchmaker that actually knows how to service these movements. There are 4 different movements that were put in the Speedmaster Reduced. 1140, 1141, 1143 and 3220. They are all basically the same base ETA 2890-2 and later ETA 2892-A2 with Dubois-Dépraz chronograph module. That being said, I would not focus too much on the movement number. It is more important to know whether or not the watch will be functioning properly when you receive it.
Serviced?
Unfortunately, these movements have earned a somewhat jaded reputation. The main culprit for this is the information on the internet. We all know that everything on the internet is true. The other factor is the watchmakers’ lack of experience or knowledge servicing these movements. My experience has led me to believe that in the hands of a knowledgeable watchmaker with access to the proper parts, the movements are work horses. My advice is to ask questions if possible before you purchase. Ask the seller if watch has been serviced and if so who performed the service. Most of these watches are 20 to 30 years old and who knows what has been done to the movement in that time period.
Bracelet
The second thing you should pay attention to is the bracelet. Most of the Speedmaster reduced came with a steel bracelet. The all brushed fairly rare 1459/810 and the 1469/811 and 1469/813 which where polished and brushed. The 1469/811 and 1469/813 are essentially the same and are interchangeable with the different Speedmaster Reduced models. I have found on a few occasions where one bracelet is a little more difficult to install, but will work. Both of these bracelets can be found with or without solid end pieces. I prefer the solid end pieces, but they essentially look the same when installed. There is another reduced bracelet that came only on the 3539.50 which is the 1471/815. This bracelet will only work on the 3539.50.
The main reason I bring up the bracelet is that a majority of these watches for sale have a bracelet that is sized very small. If the seller does not specify bracelet length, Ask. You sure don’t want to receive you new purchase and realize you need to buy 4 links to accommodate your wrist size. May not seem like a big deal, but good luck finding decent links with pins and tubes included. You could always buy them from Omega, but you would spend about 200 US on 4 links plus installation.
The speedmaster reduced came with a hesalite crystal, so this should not be an issue. Hesalite is very durable and scratches are easily polished out. You may be asking whether or not you can put a sapphire crystal on a speedmaster reduced and the answer is no. Only one speedmaster reduced came with a sapphire crystal, the 3539.50.
Size of Speedmaster Reduced
The size of the Speedmaster reduced is probably one of the most debated aspects of the speedmaster reduced. Just to set the record straight, Omega lists the case size as 39mm and Omega’s measurement is in fact correct. This measurement does not include crown. However, where the measurement gets misunderstood is when you put it on the wrist. “This watch is Too Small” is a comment I have received countless times. On the wrist your eye is focused on the dial and bezel, not the actual case. The bezel is in fact 37mm as shown in the picture below. So, the watch case is 39mm and the bezel is 37mm.
To sum up what you should be looking for when shopping for an Omega Speedmaster reduced. Has movement been serviced, what size wrist will bracelet/band fit and are you comfortable with size of watch. If you have covered those three main issues and watch presents itself well, you should be good to go. As always if you have questions TamboWatches is here to guide you in your next purchase.
Notable Speedmaster Reduced Models
Above are just a few of the notable Omega Speedmaster reduced models, but there are quite a few more that I have not included. There is a whole series of Michael Schumacher speedmaster reduced and don’t forget about the line of Speedmaster reduced date models. Although the early speedmaster dates may not be considered a true “Speedmaster Reduced” model, they are the same size.
