The Speedmaster 125

The story

In 1973 Omega turned 125 — founded 1848 by Louis Brandt — and marked it with the ST 378.0801, a watch that could only have come from an anniversary committee with ambition. Inside beat the calibre 1041: a chronometer-grade version of the Lemania-1340-based calibre 1040, the only model ever to use it.

Its COSC certification made it the first chronometer-certified automatic chronograph — a genuine horological milestone, not just a birthday badge.

And it earned its place in the flight story: cosmonaut Vladimir Dzhanibekov wore a Speedmaster 125 during a 145-day mission in 1978.

Omega has been quoted at 2,000 pieces, unnumbered — but Hodinkee flags “conflicting anecdotes over the years,” so treat 2,000 as an estimate, not a fact.

At a glance

How to spot one

• Tonneau case: 42 × 52 mm, ~15 mm thick — the largest vintage Speedmaster case.
• Applied steel “125” at 12, black dial with white inner 5-minute divisions.
• Tachymeter printed under the glass bezel (reverse-painted); some examples carry a pulsometer bezel instead.
• Date at 3, 24-hour day/night subdial at 9, central 60-minute “jet” chrono hand.
• Integrated bracelet (ref. 1221/212) designed only for this watch.

Why collectors care

First chronometer automatic chronograph, space-flown, anniversary single — the 125 compresses three collecting themes into one enormous case.

At auction: Antiquorum's 2007 Omegamania sale saw a tachymeter example reach CHF 8,850 (lot 216) and a pulsometer example CHF 5,900 (lot 4).

Production of “2,000 pieces” is an estimate — Hodinkee notes conflicting anecdotes and no Omega-published figure was found.