For nearly 70 years, the Speedmaster has remained Omega’s most important model. With an unmistakable design and DNA that continues through for seven decades, its historical significance is tightly tied with space exploration particularly, as the first wristwatch to ever land on the moon.

What makes collecting Speedmasters especially interesting are the special nuanced editions that were released throughout its early history and sometimes for specific regions only. A particularly cherished reference that is today, highly sought after was a very rare variant that was produced and featured in the 1970s Japanese TV show, The Return of Ultraman. Nicknamed after the show, the Ultraman utilized a 145.012 case but fell in a small series batch and with two distinctly telling features - an unusually long bright orange chronograph hand and a black satin dial that had a deeper appearance compared to the normal 145.012 dials.

This very example is an incredible specimen that came fresh to market recently and is among the finest examples to have come to market. With very few produced, this one truly checks all the boxes for the most die-hard collectors. Encased in its original unpolished correct serial 26.076.xxx case, it still retains all strong factory brushed sides and well-defined chamfers. 

These dials are often found with tired and deteriorated luminous but this satin black dial, that is textbook spec for the Ultraman, remains in flawless condition with all its original tritium luminous still intact and have aged to a beautiful and vivid sunflower patina. The graphics are bright and strong, and the anodized bezel still remains in beautiful distinct condition.

The main standout feature of these Ultramans is the unmistakably long and bright orange chronograph hand. Having to fit a very tight criteria in length, width and thickness from tip to base, this example has been thoroughly verified. In addition to being powered by its legendary manual-wound caliber 321 movement, the watch is also still paired with its original full-length Omega 1039 bracelet with 516 endlinks that is dated 2/68.

I’ve always found these Ultramans visually enthusiastic but finding an original Speedmaster Ultraman that checks all the boxes and more importantly, in the condition I am looking for was never an easy task. This example is all of that.

(Item: INVDBV_653F)