326.30.40.50.01.001
Speedmaster Racing Speedmaster
Lug width: 19 mm
Source: Not yet verified Attachment: Spring barsCase size: 40 mmBlack dialCase material: Steel
- Attachment
- classic lugs
- Status
- Listed in our database, not yet verified
The story · Since 1957
The story of the Omega Speedmaster Racing
In December 2024 Bonhams sold for £51,200 a red-handed Speedmaster Professional ref. 145.012 'Racing Dial', bought in 1969 in Hamilton, Scotland, by a man thanked by his employer for 50 years of service, who chose it unaware of its rarity; his son had kept it in a drawer for about forty years.
- 1957 to 1968 A driver's chronograph gets colours Bonhams recalls that the Speedmaster was first Omega's chronograph for racing drivers, released in 1957.
- 1969 to 1971 Orange accents and the Mark II The racing pattern moved to the calibre 861 Speedmasters, with orange accents on ref. 145.022, and to the barrel-cased Speedmaster Mark II ref. 145.014.
- 1996 to 2004 The Schumacher years Michael Schumacher launched the red and yellow Speedmaster Reduced 'Racing' at the Kerpen karting track where he learned to drive.
- 2004 to 2014 Japan revives the original In 2004 Omega made ref. 3570.40.00, a Speedmaster Professional with the late-1960s racing colours, limited to 2,004 pieces and sold only in Japan.
- 2017 to 2022 Racing becomes a Master Chronometer In February 2017 Omega brought the 1968 minute track back on a 44.25 mm steel Speedmaster with a matt black dial and orange markings.
0/+2 s
certified daily rate of the Super Racing's Spirate-equipped calibre 9920
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0/+2 scertified daily rate of the Super Racing's Spirate-equipped calibre 9920
2,004pieces of the 2004 Japan Racing ref. 3570.40.00
200Speedmaster Racing 2000 editions Michael Schumacher bought as gifts
21 mm21 mm: between the lugs of the 44.25 mm Speedmaster Racing on bracelet, on leather strap and in the Super Racing
Chapters
- 1957 to 1968
A driver's chronograph gets colours
Bonhams recalls that the Speedmaster was first Omega's chronograph for racing drivers, released in 1957. Around 1967 or 1968 Omega fitted a small batch of calibre 321 references 145.012 and 105.012 with a black dial, red and white indexes, a chequered minute track and red hands. So few left the factory that they were once assumed to be prototypes.
- 1969 to 1971
Orange accents and the Mark II
The racing pattern moved to the calibre 861 Speedmasters, with orange accents on ref. 145.022, and to the barrel-cased Speedmaster Mark II ref. 145.014. Omega's heritage manager Petros Protopapas put racing-dial production at a few hundred pieces at most, with no clear link to actual racing.
- 1996 to 2004
The Schumacher years
Michael Schumacher launched the red and yellow Speedmaster Reduced 'Racing' at the Kerpen karting track where he learned to drive. Omega then marked each of his world titles with a special Speedmaster, and the Swiss watch federation reported that he gave his opinion on the designs he chose to wear.
- 2004 to 2014
Japan revives the original
In 2004 Omega made ref. 3570.40.00, a Speedmaster Professional with the late-1960s racing colours, limited to 2,004 pieces and sold only in Japan. Revolution says it took its colours directly from the 1969/70 ref. 145.022-69, and its pre-owned prices have risen sharply since.
- 2017 to 2022
Racing becomes a Master Chronometer
In February 2017 Omega brought the 1968 minute track back on a 44.25 mm steel Speedmaster with a matt black dial and orange markings. It ran the METAS-certified calibre 9900, and its launch strap was black leather perforated to show an orange rubber core.
Moments
2024. Bonhams London sold a 145.012 'Racing Dial' Professional, bought in Hamilton, Scotland, as a 50-year service gift, for £51,200 on 12 December 2024.
2023. The Speedmaster Super Racing became the first watch with Omega's Spirate System and a certified rate of 0/+2 seconds a day, tighter than Omega's own 0/+5 Master Chronometer standard.
2000. After Schumacher's 2000 world title, Omega issued a numbered Speedmaster Racing edition with his engraved signature; the driver bought 200 of them himself to give to friends and colleagues.
1996. Michael Schumacher, newly signed by Omega, unveiled the red and yellow Speedmaster Racing at the Kerpen kart track, packaged in a rubber box shaped like an F1 tyre carrying his signature.
At Phillips' Hong Kong Watch Auction: NINE, a 1968 ref. 145.012-67 SP Speedmaster 'Racing' with an archive extract sold for HK$275,000 against an estimate of HK$160,000 to 320,000.
Generations and strap changes
- 2023Ref. 329.30.44.51.01.003 Super Racing
First Omega with the Spirate System, calibre 9920, black honeycomb sandwich dial and yellow grand feu enamel tachymeter.
21 mm between lugs on the same 44.25 mm case; supplied on a steel bracelet with a black and yellow recycled nylon NATO strap in the box.
- 2017Ref. 329.30.44.51.01.002
Speedmaster Racing Master Chronometer: 44.25 mm steel case, calibre 9900, ceramic bezel with Liquidmetal tachymeter.
21 mm between lugs, 50.00 mm lug to lug; steel bracelet with foldover clasp and comfort setting (Omega product sheet). Leather-strap sister ref. 329.32.44.51.01.001 is also 21 mm.
- 2004Ref. 3570.40.00 Japan Racing
Speedmaster Professional limited to 2,004 pieces for sale only in Japan, taking its dial colours directly from the 1969/70 racing ref. 145.022-69.
- 1996Refs. 3510.61 and 3510.12 'Schumacher'
Red and yellow Speedmaster Reduced models with chequered minute tracks, sold 1996 to 2000 according to WatchBase, on a steel bracelet or a dial-matching leather strap.
39 mm case with 18 mm lugs, per WatchBase for 3510.12.00 and Delugs for 3510.61.00.
- 1969Ref. 145.022 'Orange Racing'
Calibre 861 model with a stepped racing dial, a red outer ring and an orange central chronograph hand; Revolution counts 15 identified and verified examples, citing the book Moonwatch Only.
- 1969Ref. 145.014 Mark II Racing
The barrel-cased Mark II offered a grey racing dial with a red outer ring and orange luminous markers, the most sought-after Mark II according to Fratello.
- 1968Ref. 145.012 'Red Racing'
Calibre 321 Speedmaster with a black dial, red hands and red and white indexes, in Pre-Professional and Professional dial versions. Phillips sold one whose archive extract dates it to 17 September 1968.