1968 Omega Speedmaster Professional 'Pre-Moon' Ref. 145.012-67 SP Why This Watch Matters The 145.012 was the last Speedmaster to house the original caliber 321 movement. It was worn by more astronauts than any other Speedmaster. The Full Story The Speedmaster is one of the most important watches of all time. The chronograph has made history multiple times and has a cult following of enthusiasts and collectors. The ref. 145012 was made from 1967 to 1969. These are referred to as pre-Moon Speedmasters, because they came before the Moon landing on July 20, 1969. Just because these are "pre-Moon" does not mean they were not in space, as this reference was worn by several astronauts, including Michael Collins on Apollo 11, Alan Shepard on Apollo 14, and Tom Stafford on the Apollo-Soyuz mission. One of the key advancements found in these watches compared to its predecessors are the specially constructed pushers. Omega made the pushers more water resistant by screwing them directly into the case and making them a bit larger. According to the Omega Archives, this example was made in 1968 and originally delivered to Jamaica on March 3, 1968. References: Moonwatch Only by Grégorie Rossier and Anthony Marquié The Fine Print Maker: Omega Model: Speedmaster Professional Reference: 145.012-67 SP Year: 1968 Case No: N/A; Movement No: 25003868 Material: Stainless steel Dimensions: 42mm diameter; 14mm thickness Crystal: Hesalite Lume: Yes, tritium Caliber: Omega manually wound caliber 321 Bracelet/Strap: Omega stainless steel bracelet reference 1039 with end links stamped 516. Lug Width: 20mm Box/Papers: No What we Love and What You Should Know This Speedmaster is in great condition. The case is strong and has scratches. The caseback shows some signs of being opened. The bottom side of the case at nine o'clock has a very slight indentation. The crown appears to be a later Omega replacement. The lume on the hands and dial has developed patina. The lume plots on the dial show some normal signs of wear at the edges. The dial has developed patina. The tip of the seconds hand is a bit short, it looks like it has partially broken off. The base of the hour and minute sub-dial hands show some paint loss in the center. The bezel has faded a bit and has scratches and shows some wear. The bracelet clasp is stamped "1 71," indicating it is a later replacement. The bracelet is the correct type for this watch. The bracelet is fully intact, including the stretchy parts on both sides which retain some stretch. The crystal has some scratches and features the Omega symbol in its center.
