Omega

The Omega Speedmaster might be one of the most famous watches of all time, and the reference 2915 is the genesis of this iconic model line. Launched in 1957, the 2915 Speedmaster was billed as the watch “For Men Who Reckon Time in Seconds” and marketed towards racing drivers and sportsmen. The 2915 also holds a very special designation in the overall history of horology, as it completely changed the format for what every chronograph would look like. It was the first model to put the tachymeter scale on an outer bezel. Prior to, all watches printed the tachymeter scale on the dial – which OMEGA felt was not the most efficient use of dial space. Using the outer scale allowed users to measure speed over distance in a faster and easier way.

The 2915 Speedmaster features two iconic and short-lived features, the ‘broad arrow’ handset and steel outer bezel. The broad-arrow handset continues to be in use by Omega to this day for various heritage models, while the steel tachymeter bezel tended to fade over time and become unreadable and was quickly discontinued after the first 2 years of Speedmaster production.

The present example is a reference 2915-2 that hails from 1958 and retains many of the desirable features of the earlier 2915s. The dial uses what is known as an ‘Oval’ O in the Omega signature, as well as the ‘Low’ text which places a space between the applied Omega logo and the dial signature. The case back is double-beveled with a simple ‘Speedmaster’ printed on the bevel itself, as these watches pre-date the use of the Hippocampus engraving of later watches. As with all ‘pre-moon’ Speedmasters, this 2915-2 is powered by the impressive caliber 321 movement. The movement is so important to the brand story of Omega that it was recently re-introduced into production, and its movement architecture is still used by the likes of Patek Philippe and Vacheron Constantin.

On the present lot, the radium dial presents in excellent condition, with slight lume loss at the 6 and 7 position markers, while the bezel is a later service component – as the original steel bezel was likely changed out over the course of this watches 65 years of service. Mated to its period-correct and date-stamped Omega 7077 bracelet with double-stretch links and rare surviving number ‘6’ end links, this watch is a true rarity and are seldom seen at auction. It occupies rarified air as both an important reference for the model and an important icon of watchmaking history.