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Lot Essay
Not only one of the most desirable of all Speedmaster references, the present Speedmaster 2998-1 also sports a sublimely beautiful tropical chocolate brown dial. The tropical dial is a feature that is made possible by its individual aging process, the colour of the dial has evolved and changed over time, creating a chocolate tone. An early example with movement no. 17’301’145 (the earliest with movement no. 17’301’000), the present watch is fitted with the early type dial with oval ‘O’ and original early-type black aluminium tachymeter bezel graduated to BASE 1000 units. It is also fitted with the very rare and mysterious so-called ‘Mercedes’ crown, this crown type bears the usual Omega logo but with a small three-pointed star in its centre.
This highly attractive and incredibly rare Speedmaster is distinguished by its very good, original overall condition, it is certainly one of the most appealing examples of this much sought after reference to be offered at international auction and a superb acquisition for any serious collector.
The Dial
Type ‘A3’ in use between 1958 and 1960. The main distinctive features are the oval ‘O’ of Omega and high placing of the word ‘Omega’ in relation to the Omega symbol above.
The Hands
Known as ‘Alpha – Variant 1’ and in use on reference 2998-1 between 1959 and 1960, as the name suggest it features ‘Alpha’ hands, the hour hand with straight luminous field. The chronograph seconds is the correct straight white hand (also available with ‘lollipop’ hand), white ‘Alpha’ subsidiary hands.
The Case
Screw back engraved ‘Speedmaster’ and with the hippocampus emblem. Black ‘Style 2’ aluminium ‘BASE 1000’ bezel insert in use between 1959 and 1961. Original Omega ‘Mercedes’ winding crown with three-pointed star within the Omega symbol. Hesalite (shatterproof acrylic polymer), Type A2 -Omega symbol with wide loop and short feet.
The Movement
Caliber 321, 1st Generation, in use between 1957 and 1968, it features a symmetrical clutch bridge and an arrow-shaped adjustment index.
Reference 2998
The immediate successor to reference 2915, the 2998-1 was released in 1959. The new model adopted many of the features of the 2915-3, the final model of the earlier reference, including the black bezel and Alpha hands. Over only three years of production, eight sub-references of reference 2998 were introduced. Famously, the reference became the first Speedmaster to travel into space with Wally Schirra on the Sigma 7 mission of the Mercury program in October 1962.
This highly attractive and incredibly rare Speedmaster is distinguished by its very good, original overall condition, it is certainly one of the most appealing examples of this much sought after reference to be offered at international auction and a superb acquisition for any serious collector.
The Dial
Type ‘A3’ in use between 1958 and 1960. The main distinctive features are the oval ‘O’ of Omega and high placing of the word ‘Omega’ in relation to the Omega symbol above.
The Hands
Known as ‘Alpha – Variant 1’ and in use on reference 2998-1 between 1959 and 1960, as the name suggest it features ‘Alpha’ hands, the hour hand with straight luminous field. The chronograph seconds is the correct straight white hand (also available with ‘lollipop’ hand), white ‘Alpha’ subsidiary hands.
The Case
Screw back engraved ‘Speedmaster’ and with the hippocampus emblem. Black ‘Style 2’ aluminium ‘BASE 1000’ bezel insert in use between 1959 and 1961. Original Omega ‘Mercedes’ winding crown with three-pointed star within the Omega symbol. Hesalite (shatterproof acrylic polymer), Type A2 -Omega symbol with wide loop and short feet.
The Movement
Caliber 321, 1st Generation, in use between 1957 and 1968, it features a symmetrical clutch bridge and an arrow-shaped adjustment index.
Reference 2998
The immediate successor to reference 2915, the 2998-1 was released in 1959. The new model adopted many of the features of the 2915-3, the final model of the earlier reference, including the black bezel and Alpha hands. Over only three years of production, eight sub-references of reference 2998 were introduced. Famously, the reference became the first Speedmaster to travel into space with Wally Schirra on the Sigma 7 mission of the Mercury program in October 1962.