vintage oddball - Omega Speedmaster Professional DD145.022 Two-Tone

Here's a watch that's very seldom seen and most people don't even know exists - the two tone Omega Speedmaster Professional. Marked as reference DD145.022, this two tone Speedmaster was produced in a very short run in the mid 80s. It is not a numbered edition or even believed to be a "limited edition" but was produced in extremely small numbers and as such does not surface often.

The DD145.022 has a unique dial with stepped, polished applied markers with a black insert instead of the standard luminous hour markers on the standard Moonwatch. The dial also has a substantial step, more pronounced than the 145.022-71 and earlier dials, and also closer to the edge. Printed on the lower surface are your standard minute and 1/5 second marks as well as small tritium luminous dots at the end of the hour markers. The subdials are finished in silver which provides a killer contrast to all the gold.
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The hands are the standard Speedy shape, except black with exposed gold bases. The example pictured above has all-black service hands as the original configuration is no longer produced by Omega so it's something to keep an eye out for if you're in the market for this reference.

Speaking of no longer produced by Omega, look at that bracelet. If it looks familiar, that's because it is the 1171 bracelet found on the Speedmaster for nearly two decades, but in gold and steel. The gold center links are brushed just like on the steel version which keeps a tool-watch feel and the bling factor down a bit, which is a welcome departure from the vast majority of gold in watches.

The two-tone version of the 1171 is no longer produced and is essentially impossible to find on its own, so if you're on the hunt for this watch make sure it has the bracelet, and make sure it will fit your wrist because spare links are out of the question. Also pay careful attention to the end links, which are also marked 633, the same as the steel version, but are also bi-metal. I've seen examples with replaced all steel end links and it just doesn't look right.
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An all original DD145.022 with a worn bezel. Note the example at the top has a service bezel with the modern smaller Tachymetre font.

Omega could have really upped the bling factor with a polished bracelet, or even gold pushers or a gold crown, but they kept this model about as reserved as possible for a 1980s two tone watch and it's got a special place in my heart as both a  Speedmaster junkie and a lover of oddball watches. If you're looking for a Speedmaster or your next watch, be sure to check out the shop. 

​-Tom