Speedy Tuesday – Moonwatch Only – Speedmaster Identification Guide iBook Review

Quickly after the introduction of the new Moonwatch Only book (that we reviewed here), the authors showed us a little sneak preview of what was coming up. A mobile version of their book, for traveling collectors: Moonwatch Only – The Speedmaster Identification Guide iBook.

The Speedmaster Identification Guide iBook

It doesn’t include everything from the book, but it is a perfect method to have your crucial Speedmaster information at hand when traveling or visiting a watch trade show for example.

This Speedmaster Identification Guide can be downloaded as an iBook on your iPad or iPhone for example. It is an extension of the book, so to speak, where you can do a look-up of the Speedmaster models that are in the book as well, follow an identification program to find out which Speedmaster you’re looking at, an overview of the Speedmaster components (crown, pushers, bezel, dial, bracelet, case back etc.) and you can browse through a couple of tables that list all Speedmaster models showing their production year, reference number, name and (if available) production number.

You only get brief information about a model for example, with an image and the most crucial information (including specifications). Some specifications are rather cryptic, and need a look-up in the big red (or black 1st edition) book. However, if you already have the book (and I suggest you buy it now if you don’t have it already), some of the identifiers used in the mobile guide make perfect sense. Despite the steep price for a book (although watch enthusiasts are getting used to them), it will prevent you from making mistakes that are much more expensive. You should see the Moonwatch Only book (and other fine watch books) as investment more than as a high cost book for collectors. If this book can prevent you from buying a Speedmaster with the incorrect set of hands, bezel or dial, it will actually save you an amount that makes this book small change.

The Speedmaster Identification Guide iBook Step-By-Step

Let’s have a look at the different chapters of the Speedmaster Identification Guide. First of all, you need to download (and buy) the book using your iBook app. Go here to do that. Next, you will find the book in your iBooks app, besides your other books (if you have any). Tap it, and here we go.

Identification Program

Tap the first option, which is the Identification Program and tap Start. Now you will follow a step-by-step flow that starts with the identification of the Omega logo on the Speedmaster dial, either the applied one or the printed logo. Then, via the identification of the indexes (tritium or Super-LumiNova), step dial or flat dial you will be asked to identify the case back. From there on, you will be guided to the exact reference number of the watch. As can be seen in the 6-step program below.

Components

The components part is very useful if you are not familiar with all the differences and properties of the Speedmaster parts. You can view information about calibers, casebands, dials, bezels, hands, case backs, crowns, pushers, crystals and bracelets. Below, two examples are given. That of the Speedmaster movements and of the bracelets. With the movements, Moonwatch Only defined 5 categories (from A till E), starting at caliber 321. Category E is ‘Special Calibers’, so let’s tap that one. Here you will see a brief overview of six different movements. Since I have a watch with caliber 861L, let’s tap that one (categorized as E1. 861L). There, it gives you a nice clean image of the movement, when it was in production and in which reference number it has been used.

My other example is about the bracelets. A very useful guide, as many questions that we receive here on Fratello have to do with bracelets. All bracelets for the Moonwatch are in there, from the very first 7077/6 type bracelet till the latest 1958/957 that is being used in the standard Moonwatch model since 2014. I tapped the Holzer bracelet, which is a rare bracelet made in Mexico for some 145.022 models.

Models

To some, it can be very useful to just look up a specific Speedmaster model and go from there. Easy, tap Models and then you are being asked if you want to see the standard production Speedmaster models or the special and limited series, similar as how it is being categorized in the Moonwatch Only book.

Let’s tap Special and Limited Series. Here, you find an overview of these models in four different categories (Commemorative Missions, Commemorative Omega, Country Editions and Other editions). I will tap Other Editions. Here you will find an overview of precious metal pieces as well as stainless steel models. In these overviews you already see the names of these special editions. Let’s tap the latest, the Speedy Tuesday limited edition.

Tables

For the die-hards, the creators of the Speedmaster reference included a number of tables in the Speedmaster Identification Guide. Tap the type of Speedmaster of your choice, categorized to steel models with either solid case backs or display backs, Speedmasters with Moonphase complication and special and limited series. Here you will find large overviews with the production date, reference number, name and caliber. To my best knowledge the Moonwatch Only Speedmaster Identification Guide iBook appears to be quite complete.

Some Thoughts

To me, being a collector of Speedmaster watches, this Moonwatch Only – Speedmaster Identification Guide iBook is a no-brainer. I need this. Just like I need both the first and second edition of the book. I absorb everything Speedmaster. If I take one step back, and take the Speedmaster nerd out, the iBook Speedmaster Identification Guide is not a necessity if you already have a printed copy of the book. That one includes almost everything you need to know about the Speedmaster watch. Omega did their bit as well and verified as much as they could, so you can assume that all information in the Moonwatch Only book is correct and up-to-date (that’s why there is a 2nd edition).

Do you need the Moonwatch Only Mobile Guide if you don’t have the Moonwatch Only book? Sure, this ibook will give you great guidance when you are about the purchase a vintage or limited edition (discontinued) Speedmaster so you have all information at hand. You can use the identification program to see if all details are correct and make sure you don’t make expensive purchases. The problem you can run into when you have this ibook but not the printed Moonwatch Only book, is that you don’t know the exact explanation for some of the watches and their parts for example. Some of the context can be missing, but that’s what make this ibook also a bit of a teaser for the Moonwatch Only book.

This ibook has a price tag of 29,99 Euro (or $32.99 USD). More information can be found here.