zOwie Omega Discussion Forum

Reduced Speedmaster vs Professional

Posted By: Tony

Date: 12/6/05 03:58 GMT

Is the "reduced" speedmaster as durable a timepiece as the Speedmaster Professional?

Nope... Different movement, different case, different caseback. Different results.

I'm especially concerned with the water resistance and whether or not the tachymetre bezel is easily scratched.

The water resistance with the Reduced, while comparable because Omega understates water resistance on the Speedmasters because they don't feel they are swimming/diving watches, is less in my opinion than the Moonwatch because the Reduced has a "snap-on" caseback, while the Moonwatch has a screwed down back.

The Tachymetre bezel's resistance to scratching should be comparable if not identical between the two.

I have a small wrist and was lead to believe that the basic watch case of the "reduced" is identical to the Professional in every way other than its size - along with its durablity and water resistance.

Well, the case is smaller, that's true, and it's mechanically different with it's method of affixing the back. Frankly the Reduced uses an inexpensive way to attach the back. In addition the movement on the Reduced is with little argument a notably lesser grade of movement than that used for the moonwatch. I discuss this some here...

As for Wrist Size... I can't help you on that one as I have 8"+ wrists. However, I've seen many people with 6.25" - 6.5" wrists comment that they got used to a moonwatch fairly quickly... Remember that most of the NASA Astronauts were on the smaller size (Neil Armstrong was 5'10" and I think Buzz Aldrin was slightly shorter, for example) and thus didn't have ham hocks for wrists.

I would recommend you try on all candidates on your wrist before getting too serious about crossing one off of your list.

Cheers!

-- Chuck