271
Omega
Ref. 145.012-67 SP
Speedmaster Professional "Ultraman"
An attractive stainless steel chronograph wristwatch with tachymeter bezel and special orange chronograph hand
- Estimate
- CHF20,000 - 40,000€19,600 - 39,300$21,200 - 42,500
CHF32,760
Lot Details
- Manufacturer
- Omega
- Year
- 1968
- Reference No
- 145.012-67 SP
- Movement No
- 2'6078'169
- Model Name
- Speedmaster Professional "Ultraman"
- Material
- Stainless steel
- Calibre
- Manual, cal. 321, 17 jewels
- Bracelet/Strap
- Leather "racing" strap
- Clasp/Buckle
- Stainless steel Omega pin buckle
- Dimensions
- 40mm Diameter
- Signed
- Case, dial, movement and buckle signed
- Accessories
- Accompanied by Omega Extract of the Archives confirming production of the present watch on August 9. 1968
Specialist
Full-Cataloguing
Catalogue Essay
Thanks to its orange chronograph seconds hand the Omega Speedmaster reference 145.012 can be instantly recognized as an “Ultraman”.
The name comes from a Japanese TV series created in the mid 1960s by Eiji Tsuburaya (co-creator of the original Godzilla series). Ultraman begins with an intergalactic being (Ultraman) accidentally colliding with and killing a member of Earth’s Science Special Search Party (SSSP), Shin Hayata. Feeling remorseful, Ultraman merges his own life force with Hayata’s and vows to defend Earth against any that would seek to threaten it. Ultraman lives within Hayata, who transforms into Ultraman when the need arises. While Hayata is a normal man, Ultraman is a 40 meter tall silver and red-orange creature. His crested head and large, intimidating eyes became instantly iconic, as did his orange and silver suit. The catch was that Ultraman could only fight for three minutes before his energy was depleted. In 1971, according to Omega, the producers of Ultraman Returns selected Omega’s "Moonwatch" as part of the Monster Attack Team’s monster fighting kit.
Reference 145.012-67 was also used by more contemporary superheroes such as the astronauts on the Apollo 11, Apollo 14, and Apollo-Soyuz missions. It was the last Speedmaster model to be fitted with the renowned caliber 321 and is set apart from its predecessors by its ‘SP’ (‘SP’ for “Spécial Poussoirs” or “special pushers”) that increased water resistance. For many years collectors believed these watches were later modifications. However, after prolonged research, it appears that a very limited batch (less than fifty) of Speedmaster watches were produced by Omega with the iconic central second orange hand. However, the number of official “Ultraman” watches is still unknown, what is known is that all these watches were produced in 1968 and with serial numbers ranging from 26.076.xxx and 26.079.xxx.
The present lot in overall attractive condition is a good opportunity for the collector of unusual and rare vintage pieces to own one of the fabled Ultraman Speedmaster.
The name comes from a Japanese TV series created in the mid 1960s by Eiji Tsuburaya (co-creator of the original Godzilla series). Ultraman begins with an intergalactic being (Ultraman) accidentally colliding with and killing a member of Earth’s Science Special Search Party (SSSP), Shin Hayata. Feeling remorseful, Ultraman merges his own life force with Hayata’s and vows to defend Earth against any that would seek to threaten it. Ultraman lives within Hayata, who transforms into Ultraman when the need arises. While Hayata is a normal man, Ultraman is a 40 meter tall silver and red-orange creature. His crested head and large, intimidating eyes became instantly iconic, as did his orange and silver suit. The catch was that Ultraman could only fight for three minutes before his energy was depleted. In 1971, according to Omega, the producers of Ultraman Returns selected Omega’s "Moonwatch" as part of the Monster Attack Team’s monster fighting kit.
Reference 145.012-67 was also used by more contemporary superheroes such as the astronauts on the Apollo 11, Apollo 14, and Apollo-Soyuz missions. It was the last Speedmaster model to be fitted with the renowned caliber 321 and is set apart from its predecessors by its ‘SP’ (‘SP’ for “Spécial Poussoirs” or “special pushers”) that increased water resistance. For many years collectors believed these watches were later modifications. However, after prolonged research, it appears that a very limited batch (less than fifty) of Speedmaster watches were produced by Omega with the iconic central second orange hand. However, the number of official “Ultraman” watches is still unknown, what is known is that all these watches were produced in 1968 and with serial numbers ranging from 26.076.xxx and 26.079.xxx.
The present lot in overall attractive condition is a good opportunity for the collector of unusual and rare vintage pieces to own one of the fabled Ultraman Speedmaster.
Omega
Swiss | 1848Omega's rich history begins with its founder, Louis Brandt, who established the firm in 1848 in La Chaux de Fonds. In 1903, the company changed its name to Omega, becoming the only watch brand in history to have been named after one its own movements. A full-fledged manufacturer of highly accurate, affordable and reliable watches, its sterling reputation enabled them to be chosen as the first watch company to time the Olympic Games beginning in 1932. Its continued focus on precision and reliability ultimately led their Speedmaster chronograph wristwatch to be chosen by NASA in 1965 — the first watch worn on the moon.Key models sought-after by collectors include their first, oversized water-resistant chronograph — the reference 2077, early Speedmaster models such as the CK 2915 and 2998, military-issued versions of the Seamaster and oversized chronometer models such as those fitted with their prestigious caliber 30T2Rg.
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