Omega Speedmaster Date 3511.80 Chronograph Blue Dial Swiss Automatic 39mm 1999

From Hodinkee:

The Backstory

It’s no secret that we’re big fans of OMEGA’s Speedmaster here. As HODINKEE founder Ben Clymer has put it, “without it, there is no current version of me, there is no HODINKEE.” As the watch that went to the Moon, the Speedmaster will forever be a part of the collecting world, be it vintage, pre-owned, or modern – however those terms are identified today, or 50 years down the road. The great thing about the Speedmaster is the stripped-down, functional, utilitarian feel it exudes. While the story behind the model transcends watch collecting, the Speedmaster, as an object, speaks for itself.

So when someone asks the team at HODINKEE to recommend the ideal purchase for a first-time luxury watch buyer – a question we get even more often than you might think – the answer usually boils down to a few details. Someone looking to get their feet wet in the world of watch collecting is usually looking at a brand’s heritage, the name recognition of the watch, and something that represents more than just the passage of time. In our opinion, no watch is better suited for a first-time luxury watch acquisition – or a purchase at any time during a collecting career – than the first watch on the Moon, the OMEGA Speedmaster.

The Speedmaster was originally introduced in 1957 as a racing watch, and it wasn’t until 1969 – when the hand-wound chronograph accompanied the crew of Apollo 11 onto the surface of the Moon – that it received the legendary status it currently holds. Today, the Speedmaster collection is an expansive series of chronographs that includes models geared toward space exploration, racing, heritage, and modern technological advancement among much else. Historically, it’s one of the most iconic watch lines of all time, and continues to serve as one of the most signficant design families of watches ever developed.

Why We Love It

While undoubtedly the famed “Professional” line of Speedmasters is the most popular series of chronographs produced by OMEGA today  – contrary to popular opinion, not all Speedmasters are in fact, Moonwatches. Notably, the brand has for many years made a wide assortment of variations on the classic chronograph design, from heritage models to moon phases to even digital wearers and bejeweled styles.

One variation, in particular, to skew from the beaten path of the professional line was the Speedmaster Date, an interesting, loosely aligned series particularly popular around the turn of the century and the decade or so after in models like this example, here, the ref. 3511.80.00.

The case has a familiar Speedmaster feel on the wrist, complete with signature twisted lugs and multi-finishing; however, its width comes in at 38mm. That’s not the only divergence from the classic Moonwatch as this guy is powered by an automatic movement (more on that in a moment) and features a plethora of nuances. The tachymeter bezel is highly polished, which dramatically increases the watch’s visual proportions. It’s on the sunray blue dial where we see even more unique features as the namesake date aperture is positioned at three. Its trio of sub-registers sits tighter to the edge of the dial in a vertical configuration with white printing across this piece’s whole face, subtly aiding a sense of Speedy familiarity. In a similar vein, classic slim white pencil hands appear with a remarkably distinctive presence for the hours and minutes.   

Finally, the automatic movement powering this little gem is the Omega caliber 1152 based on the Valjoux / ETA7750, so you know it’s built to last.

Fantastic Vintage Omega SPEEDMASTER Date Ref. 3511.80 in incredible condition. A Gorgeous Speedmaster and an example of a watch in which the original owner really took care of – real collector quality – very well maintained and full serial number is easily readable on case back! Serial #55016451 Dates Production to 1999. Comes with everything you see in the pictures!! Don’t miss this one!

BRAND: Omega

MODEL: Speedmaster Date Ref 3511.80

MOVEMENT: Swiss Automatic

CASE: Stainless Steel

CROWN: Push/Pull Crown

SIZE: 39mm

LUGS: 20mm

DIAL: Gorgeous Blue Dial

BEZEL: Non-rotating Tachymeter

CONDITION: Pre-owned – Excellent – Circa 1999

BOXES/PAPERS: Yes – Omega Box Set, manual, etc – Everything in pictures!

WATER RESISTANCE: – 50m

STRAP/BRACELET: – Original Omega Stainless Steel Speedmaster Bracelet with all links – will fit up to an 7.5 inch wrist.