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Omega Speedmaster MK II Brown Dial Ref 145.014, 1970 — view 1 of 6
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Wristwatches · Wristwatch

Omega Speedmaster MK II Brown Dial Ref 145.014, 1970

DocumentedDocumented from a dealer's listing; attribution and date as stated by the dealer.
Maker / attribution
Omega (maker)
Date
1970
Country of origin
Switzerland
Object type
Wristwatch
Dimensions
Case 44 mm
Stock no.
W-2983
Credit line
Dealer listing, Bulang & Sons (W-2983)
Catalogue title (original)
Omega Speedmaster MK II Brown Dial Ref 145.014 (English)

View the source record (dealer listing) ↗ (opens another website in a new tab)Suggest a correction

Record summary

Catalogued by Bulang & Sons (dealer), Copenhagen (stock number W-2983), this is a wristwatch by Omega, made in Switzerland, dated 1970. The Atlas places it in the Quartz Revolution period (1969 – 1990) of its Wristwatches collection. Recorded dimensions: Case 44 mm. The record is illustrated with 6 photographs.

Assembled from the source record's structured fields. Dates and attributions are given as the source states them; where a field is missing the Atlas leaves it blank rather than estimating.

Catalogue description

Dealer description — Bulang & Sons

In 1969, the Omega Speedmaster went to the moon (and back to Earth, for that matter!), and Omega made sure this achievement didn’t go unnoticed. The production of the Moonwatch continued in 1969, now featuring the new Caliber 861 inside its case. Alongside this updated movement, Omega also introduced a “new” watch that year—the Omega Speedmaster Mark II, or “MK II.” While it wasn’t entirely new, it represented an evolution, and that’s the watch you’re looking at now. The 1970s, known for their colorful and vibrant fashion, found the Speedmaster ready to embrace this trend. The MK II boasts a fresh case design, featuring a “tonneau” shape that perfectly embodies the spirit of the late 1960s and early 1970s. This modern design contrasted sharply with the classic lugged Speedmaster Professional, and the tachymeter scale was now printed on the glass rather than on the bezel. Inside, you'll find the famous triple-register Speedmaster Professional dial, showcasing an amazing warm patina. Our example features a fantastic, strong case, and over time, the black paint on the dial has transitioned to a deep brown color, often referred to as a “tropical” hue. This rich brown tone is beautifully complemented by the army green tritium indexes, which also display a charming patina. The bracelet is a reference 1159, with unusual “straight end links” concealed under the tonneau case. The hand-wound Omega Caliber 861 has been fully serviced by our watchmaker. Specifications: - Omega Speedmaster Ref. 145.014 - 44mm steel case - Movement serial 2950XXXX dating to 1970 - MK II dial - Steel bracelet 1159 with 154 end links - Caliber 861 manual wind movement - Fully serviced by our watchmaker

Historical context

Quartz Revolution (1969 – 1990)

Seiko's Astron begins mass quartz timekeeping; traditional industries contract sharply.

Quartz and digital watches transformed the market after 1969. Swiss employment collapsed, Japanese and Hong Kong production soared, and the Swatch (1983) helped the Swiss industry recover; mechanical watches survived as luxury goods.

Read the period in the timelineMore wristwatches from this periodEarlier: Modern Mechanical Horology

Atlas type guide

Wristwatches

Bracelet watches were worn by women from the early nineteenth century — Breguet made one for Caroline Murat, Queen of Naples, in 1810–12 — but the wristwatch only became a man's instrument with military use and aviation in the early twentieth century. Between the World Wars it overtook the pocket watch; the 1920s and 1930s brought rectangular Art Deco cases, water-resistant cases and the first automatic winding systems.

After 1945 the wristwatch became a carrier of identity — dress watches, sports and dive watches, chronographs, calendars — produced by Swiss, American, Japanese, German, Soviet and Chinese industries. The quartz revolution after 1969 and the mechanical renaissance since the 1990s, including the rise of independent watchmakers, complete the story.

What to look for

  • The reference number (between the lugs or inside the case back) and serial number, the starting point for dating.
  • The calibre: its maker and number are often stamped under the dial or on the bridge.
  • Originality of dial, hands and crown — refinished ('redial') dials are common.
  • Case material marks: 18K/750, 14K/585, stainless steel, gold-filled, plated.

Dating clues

  • Wire-lug cases: before c. 1925.
  • Water-resistant screw-down cases: from 1926.
  • Quartz movements: from 1969; sapphire crystals widespread after c. 1980.

General guidance written by the Atlas editors about this kind of object. It is not a statement about this particular piece; for that, rely on the source record above and on physical examination.

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