Speedy Tuesday — OMEGA Speedmaster Mark III Revisited

Omega Speedmaster Mark III

Happy New Year everyone and Happy Speedy Tuesday! We started Speedy Tuesday somewhere half-way 2012 and it has become the most popular topic here on Fratellowatches. We are very thankful for your enthusiasm and submissions! This year, we will continue our Speedy Tuesdays and will have some great Omega Speedmaster related give-aways as a sign of our appreciation to you, our readers!

In one of our recent Speedy Tuesday topics we asked our readers about the Speedmaster Mark III. One of our readers, Santosh, submitted a couple of photos of his much beloved Speedmaster Mark III with black dial.

The Speedmaster Mark III (1971) was the successor of the Speedmaster Professional Mark II (1969). In the meanwhile, Omega was still producing the ‘original’ Speedmaster Professional a.k.a ‘Moonwatch’. This means that is safe to say that none of all these ‘Mark’-versions of the Speedmaster should considered to be a successor of the ‘Moonwatch’.

The Speedmaster ‘Professional’ Mark III of our reader Santosh is made after 1972. Why? Well, it has the wording ‘Professional’ on the dial. Something that wasn’t there on the dial of the Mark III when it came out in 1971. Omega decided to put the word ‘Professional’ (instead of ‘Automatic’) on the dial after 1972. In a way, it makes sense that they actually dropped the ‘Professional’ wording in the first place. It was never NASA approved (which led to adding ‘Professional’ to the dial of the Speedmaster) and second, because the Speedmaster Mark III used an automatic chronograph movement instead of the famous hand wound caliber 861 movement.

The picture below is of the non-Professional version, owned by Chuck Maddox (click here for our interview with him). He wrote a wonderful article on the Mark series, click here.

Anyway, the reference number 176.002 always stayed the same. In fact, there are three different Mark III models. Six if you take the update of the word ‘Professional’ instead of ‘Automatic’ into account. The Speedy Mark III was available with three different dial colors: black (as pictured), blue (sun beam) and grey.

As you can see, the case of the Speedmaster Mark III looks very similar to the one of the Flightmaster. If you compare the Flightmaster and Speedmaster Mark III side-by-side though, you will see that the case of the Speedmaster Mark III is more extreme in its shape and size.

The dimensions of the Speedmaster Mark III are 51.6mm x 41mm x 15.9mm and the watch weighs 157.2 grams. It is the heaviest and most extreme shaped Speedmaster of the Mark-series. Picture above is taken from Old-Omegas, your source for old Omega brochures and manuals.

Inside, Omega used caliber 1040. A movement based on Lemania’s caliber 1340. Later on, Omega did a chronometer certification for this movement as well and labeled it as caliber 1041. This movement only has been used in the Speedmaster ‘125’ though, only 2000 pieces made (click here). The lay-out of the Mark III dial is very similar to the dial of the Speedmaster ‘125’ of 1973.

The Speedmaster Mark III is certainly not for the weak hearted, as its dimensions, looks and weight will certainly not suit everyone. According to its owner Santosh though, it is a great conversation maker between watch enthusiasts.