Edit (19 Aug): I have deduced that this gorgeous vintage Speedy was produced in 1982.

For sale is an Omega Speedmaster Professional ref. 145.022-78, which was the ultimate revision of the ref. 145.022, as noted by Hodinkee:

The Omega Speedmaster ref. 145.022-78 represents two decades of slight tweaks to the brand's Moonwatch – it's as classic as it gets.

Omega came out with the Speedmaster in 1957, and the brand has been constantly updating and upgrading the watch ever since. Here we have the ref. 145.022-78, the last iteration of the 145.022 Speedmaster after its introduction in 1969. These reference numbers are loosely ended with their date of introduction, not the date the watch was necessarily made in. For example the 145.022-69 spans from 1969 to 1971 depending on movement serial number...

A particularly interesting aspect of these -78 Speedmasters is the casemaker. For much of the early production of Omega's Speedmaster, the brand outsourced case manufacturing to Huguenin Frères. Inside the caseback of most 1960s and 70s Speedys is an "HF" logo denoting this casemaker relationship. When the -78 came out, this relationship seems to have stopped with a new case manufacturer's mark stamped inside of Speedmasters. The mark is unidentified and remains a bit of a mystery.

Click to expand...

And yes, this is the highly coveted "drop R" Speedy that gives the logo its symmetry. Just as critical, it has a stunningly even and warm patina to the dial and tritium markers, giving it a kind of golden glow.

Everything is 100% original and regularly serviced (last marker inside case indicates 2017 service, but I am certain the dealer I purchased it from serviced it in late 2022...just have no "proof" to offer with the sale). It winds more smoothly and keeps better time than any Speedy I've ever owned (three before this one, two modern and one vintage). Cosmetically, it is beyond excellent for vintage condition, with some very minor scratches to the case and bezel--but nothing major, no dents or evidence of over polishing or anything. This is really as good as it gets, short of NOS.

Comes on a custom-made Veblenist Hermes-style leather strap that complements the watch brilliantly and brings out the beige/golden hue of the markers. It's only about six weeks old. On the strap is also an OEM Omega buckle that I purchased from a dealer.

In other words, if you're looking to add a Speedy to your collection that has rare attributes and has been extremely well cared for, this is the one!

Asking a very reasonable $3950 including USPS Express shipping to the CONUS (next-day or two days, depending on location). I will accept a fee-free payment--please see my 10 years+ of 100% positive feedback on this site as evidence of trustworthiness. Please, no trade offers as I'm selling to raise funds to pay bills.

Please inquire with any offers or questions.