THE ESSENTIALS
MAKE: OMEGA
MODEL: 2998-6
YEAR: 1961
BOX/PAPERS: NO/NO
CASE DIAMETER: 39mm
CASE MATERIAL: STAINLESS STEEL
BRACELET MATERIAL: STAINLESS STEEL
MOVEMENT: MANUAL WIND
The 2998 range of Speedmasters is as important as it is interesting. Across its eight sub-references, the 2998 established the archetype of what we now know and love as the “Moonwatch.”
Its significance to Omega was, in many ways, a matter of chance. In the early 1960s, astronauts such as Wally Schirra, Gordon Cooper, and Donald Slayton sought reliable chronographs for their orbital flights. At the time, a wristwatch was not part of an astronaut’s official kit—they selected their own. Schirra chose a Speedmaster, and on October 3rd, 1962, he wore his 2998-4—the very same reference we have here—into space. This made the 2998-4 the first Omega worn in space and marked the beginning of a relationship that would shape the brand’s history for decades.
The example offered here is a later iteration, the 2998-6. Its near-flawless dial is the standout feature, with radium plots that have aged to a rich pumpkin tone and a surface free of spotting or blemishes. The alpha hands are in excellent condition, and the case shows only minimal polishing. The pushers are the correct small type, while the crown bears the proper narrow, flat-feet logo. It is fitted with a fully linked 7912 bracelet, stamped 1/66, which has been professionally serviced and now exhibits no sag. It will accommodate a 21 cm wrist. The 6 end links are aftermarket. The bezel is a later B2 variant, produced from the 1970s to the 1990s, likely replaced during a service.
The calibre 321 movement has recently been serviced and is running strongly at +3 seconds per day, with 350 amplitude and a beat error of 0.2 ms. While the watch has just been overhauled, there is some creep on the bottom sub-dial—a common characteristic of the 321.
These four-digit Speedmasters remain far more affordable than their Rolex counterparts, while housing what many would argue is a far superior movement.