What time is it? Watches and horology

Excellent, good to hear.

Talking about Speedmasters. I absolutely love mine, it gets better the longer I own it (in my eyes) but, the practicalities .... if it was so good as a space watch how the hell did they wind it daily with space gloves.... but seriously, the lume is not that great. Wouldn't that have been a consideration at the time? thin hands, tiny markers etc. What if you're trying to time something whilst tumbling around in zero G or being shaken on re-entry?

The mission took around 8 days doesn't it? Not really long enough to need to adjust the times.

Were they in space suits 100% of the time?

Were they in space gloves 100% of the times?

Old watches that would be 8 winds.

Do any of forum Omega experts have an opinion on this ?

Old watches that would be 8 winds.

I thought they were automatic?

Just saw the spec; manual.

@ChainBreaker is right, they more likely to wear and wind it in the craft but don’t need to once they’re in their spacesuit as they don’t long enough time on the moon surface to need to wind it again.

What’s the power reserve tho?

Manual, I think the whole auto rotor in zero gravity was an unknown so they played it safe.

@TRA you have to remember how long ago this watch was conceived and what else was available, it repeatedly beat the best in competition in the NASA tests. There’s a ton of really good info out there about the test criteria and how the Speedy was used in space. I’ll post some links later but I’m out today.

@umop3pisdn

It’s OK money I guess, I think you can find tidier though. Notice all the lume pips except the ‘11’ have departed and the hour hand looks ripe to shed its tritium. At least it’s had it’s date wheel replaced - the originals get brittle and lose a tooth - mine sticks on the 28th every month...

I joking about that part. The genuine question was about the lume and legibility

There’s a ton of really good info out there about the test criteria and how the Speedy was used in space. I’ll post some links later but I’m out today

Cool, thanks, I'll Google around too. Tends to be lots of anecdotes but yeah, I am interested in the criteria they used.

I found this which is a good start, do anyone have other recommendations?

https://monochrome-watches.com/exclusive-truth-real-armstrong-aldrin-speedmaster-references-how-omega-speedmaster-became-moonwatch/

I like the Bulova Lunar which is a good alternative and had been in space.

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I thought they were automatic?

Not possible while in either micro or no gravity. It has to be either manual or battery. The rotor requires gravity to work

That’s what they thought when they were first looking for watches to go into space but pretty sure they’ve discovered that automatics will self-wind in zero gravity (cos of inertia).

Ah! Fair point....

I take that back. Looks like I was born in the 50s.

I hear ya. My lazyness coupled with high exposure to baths, baby vom and washing up have meant all my watches have ended up on rubber straps.

On the sailcloth straps, I got this one - https://www.watchgecko.com/sailcloth-watch-strap. It’s fine for the money (and the QR bars make life super easy) but it’s thin, so would recommend you go for the padded version if you want some mass.

That's a good read. The testing procedures seemed pretty tough... Funny because I bet the majority of Speedmasters get babied.

Forgot to ask - which one are you liking, the B&R or the Tron PAMs? Have you seen them in the flesh?

anybody interested in Casio G-Shock GA-2100-1AER? worn for a couple but my ageing eyes don't get on with the day/date!

Original box, tags included

£75 plus postage?

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Nggggggg must resist. Get @ChainBreaker to buy it.

I got a nice gift from @Tenderloin

@ChainBreaker get @Howard to buy it.

Also would anyone like this? The day / month hands broke off (Ansal tell me the stems snapped so it can't be easily), but otherwise it works perfectly. @Stonehedge kindly gave it away for free, so if anyone does want it (and isn't in a rush) I'll happily post

Keen! PM incoming

Quality bit of kit that 😂