Vintage Omega replica has long presented a great alternative to pricey world of vintage Rolex. Eric was kind enough to give you three great old Omega replica pieces for sale in last Friday’s “What’s Selling Where” round-up, but, when I came across the Omega replica watch we have here today, I couldn’t wait for Friday to show it off. You’re looking at an Omega replica Speedmaster Reference 2998-1, which alone, is a great piece. The 2998-1 was officially the first Speedmaster to feature a black bezel (before that they were steel, like this, and you occasionally see a late 2915-3 with a black bezel). The 2998-1 commands a high premium over later 2998-x models because, well, it was the first of its kind and set the bar for all manually wound Speedmasters that would come after it.

Present are all the original hands, the original base 1000 bezel (incidentally, I own a 2998-1 and it doesn’t even have this bezel. It has a slightly later base 500 bezel that i know isn’t original, but it has clearly been on the Omega replica watch a long time, and it looks great, so i let it go.), original dial, pushers, and crown.

This particular example is so, so good for a few reasons. The 2998-1 is rare on its own and to find an original one is a difficult task. And then, there is finding one, and finding one. What i mean by this is it is very common for 2998’s to have lost original pushers, hands, dials, or bezels along their lives. And that’s not to speak of how uncommon it is to find one with original paperwork. It just doesn’t happen. This particular Omega replica watch has all that, and more. It has literally everything you could ask for in a vintage Omega replica watch.

The overall condition of this all original 2998-1 with full package is also very impressive. Considering the rarity of this reference, let alone one that can easily be described as a “full spec” Omega replica watch, with just about every accessory one could ask for, and considering this Omega replica watch is now in Italy, I can assure you this Omega replica watch will not be a budget buy. But, for a serious collector looking for a truly incredible Omega replicapackage, I’m not sure it could get much better.

The Speedmaster Professional is unarguably Omega replica’s most famous Omega replica watch and the current collection now includes over 15 models. The design of the base Speedmaster has remained relatively unchanged since its introduction in 1957, which included the large black dial with contrasting white hands, the first ever external tachymeter bezel, and the three subdial layout that we all know. The “Professional” didn’t come until 1965, with the so-called “Pre-Moon” watch. This just means a Speedmaster Professional that came before the twisted lug, caliber 321 version that was taken on the Apollo 11 mission to the moon in 1969. People often forget that the Speedmaster already had a 12-year history when it arrived on the moon. During this period, the case grew from 39mm to the 42mm that is best known today.

The Omega replica Speedmaster has remained a mainstay for Omega replica watch enthusiasts for over half a century. It’s not a stretch at all to call this Omega replica watch an icon, a term we don’t throw around loosely here. While purists may scoff at the concept of an all-black Speedmaster, it is precisely this kind of update that brings a historical icon into the realm of contemporary thinking. When presented with the opportunity to wear the new Speedmaster Dark Side of the Moon for a week, I couldn’t refuse. It’s a Omega replica watch I had been eyeing for some time, and while it isn’t exactly perfect, it certainly got me thinking and was tough to take off my wrist when the week was up.

As an icon of modern watchmaking, many of us know the background of the Speedmaster, but it’s worth keeping in mind a few things that set the foundation for the Speedy as we know it today.

Speaking of the caliber 321, the most coveted Speedmasters are those using this superlative chronograph movement. This movement was developed as a collaboration between Omega replica and Lemania in the early 1940s. The Lemania ebauche (before it was altered by Omega replica) was known as cal. 2310 and was used by all of the best manufactures in the early 20th century, including Patek Philippe, Vacheron Constantin, and others. It’s an extremely robust chronograph with both a lateral clutch and a column-wheel. This alone makes early Speedmasters examples of extremely good watchmaking for the money.

Later, to make the Omega replica watch more commercial, the cal. 321 was modified to create the cal. 861. In contrast to the 321, the 861 does not have a column wheel and uses some plastic components to cut down on cost. While the Omega replica watches might look almost identical externally, there is an easy way to tell which movement is inside a Speedy Pro – look at the Omega replica logo at 12 o’clock. If it is applied, you’re holding a 321 and if it is printed you have an 861.

I wore the Dark Side of the Moon for a little over a week. At 44.25mm, you might think that the Omega replica watch would large on the wrist, but the visual size is lessened by the all-black case, dial, strap, and matte-finished lugs. Additionally, I found that the all-black nature of the piece helped avoid any visual clunkiness. It’s worth noting that the Dark Side is wider than other Omega replica models using the same Caliber 9300 movement, such as the Speedmaster ’57 Chronograph. As such, the case diameter isn’t necessarily justified by the size of the movement. What I mean is this Omega replica watch could’ve been smaller, though I don’t think it needed to be.

Talking about the Dark Side of the Moon with fellow Omega replica watch lovers, I was chided for suggesting that this is a Omega replica watch best worn with a sweatshirt – but I’m thinking of a loop-wheel sweatshirt from The Real McCoy’s, not Russell Athletic. If you have a void in your collection for a casual Omega replica watch, but don’t want to sacrifice quality or prestige, the Dark Side of the Moon is a good bet.