Omega Speedmaster ’57 Review

The original Omega Speedmaster from 1957

The first ever Omega Speedmaster was introduced in 1957 with the reference CK2915. One of the most distinct sport watches to ever be created, it was the first to feature the tachymeter on the bezel, a clever solution that was eventually copied by the rest of the industry, including the Rolex Daytona that was launched in 1963.

The CK2915 already had the unmistakable features of the classic Omega chronograph as we know it today: the tachymeter scale printed on the bezel, the recessed sub dials in the 3-6-9 position, the signature below 12 o’clock and the screw-down caseback. It also notably featured “broad arrow” hands and short, straight lugs — features that we see sporadically in the history of the Speedmaster.

It was also one of the first Omega watches to use the famed Caliber 321 movement, Omega’s execution of the Lemania 2310, a workhorse manual wind column-wheel chronograph used by the most revered watch companies in the 20^th century.

The Omega Speedmaster ’57 collects ion

For Baselworld 2013, Omega presented a modern take on the historic 50+ year old design. The Omega Speedmaster ‘57 collects ion is an aesthetic emulation of the original CK2915 – an unabashedly retro watch in a modern package.

Among the subtle nods to the CK2915 were the straight lugs leading from the watch case to the bracelet, the crown-guard-less polished case, a brushed stainless steel tachymeter bezel and alpha hands in the sub dials.

Some changes are also apparent. The case measures 41mm, larger than the original 38.5 mm. Instead of three subdials, the Speedmaster ’57 has two, made possible by the placement of both the 12-hour and 60-minute counters in the 3 o’clock register. The second sub dial at 9 o’clock keeps track of the running seconds.

t.mes keeping and chronograph duties are delivered by the caliber 9300/9301 automatic movement, the first of Omega’s Co-Axial calibers to incorporate a chronograph function. This revolutionary movement is visible through the watch’s sapphire crystal caseback.

Some say that the Speedmaster ’57 was perfect in every way, except that it didn’t have the most distinguishing feature of the original Speedy – the broad arrow hands used in the CK2915.

Two years after, Omega changed that by introducing a re-edition of the steel Speedmaster ’57 with the famous broad arrow hands. Also noticeable was the addition of the faux patina on the hands and markers.

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