We all know the stories about Speedmasters, right? So we’re not going to bore you with tales about it being the first watch on the moon and all that...

But this lovely 1969 model has a fantastic case, with the case back featuring the iconic Hippocampus still in great condition. And since we promised not to go on about the moon landing, we’ll tell you the story behind that odd little creature on Omega case backs instead:

In the 1950s, an engraver named Jean-Pierre Borle was working at Omega

He was the artisan behind the iconic “Observatory” emblem found on the caseback of the Omega Constellation, which features an observatory surrounded by eight stars. The design symbolizes the locations of chronometer trials (observatories), while the eight stars represent the number of chronometric records OMEGA broke in 1931.

During a trip to Venice, Borle noticed the hippocampi (yes—1 hippocampus, 2 hippocampi... finally, our Latin lessons come in handy)—mythical seahorse-like figures—adorning the sides of gondolas.

Inspired by these elegant forms, he created a new engraving. In 1958, the hippocampus became the official symbol of the Omega Seamaster, representing the watch’s water-resistant capabilities. So, there you go!

Back to this Speedy: the Tachymètre bezel is in lovely condition, and as this is the so-called “dot next to 90” version, we believe it’s a slightly later replacement than the watch itself.

The real star of this Speedy is the beautiful milk-chocolate brown step dial, accented with warm, yellow-colored lume—a super warm combination.

The watch is paired with our Racing Dark Brown Speedy strap, which we think is a truly perfect match. It’s powered by the hand-wound Caliber 861, fully serviced by our watchmaker.

Whether you're chasing moon landings, craving chocolate, or just love a good tropical dial, this Speedy ticks all the boxes. Don't wait for another orbit—scoop it up before someone else launches it into their collection( ba -dum tssss).

Specifications:

Omega Reference 145.022-69st Speedmaster
39mm steel case
Cal 861 hand-wound movement
Movement 2911xxxx Serial dating to 1969
Tritium dial with yellow lume, milk chocolate brown
Black ‘Dot Next to 90’ bezel
Bulang and sons Racing Dark brown speedystrap
Fully serviced by our watchmaker
One-year mechanical warranty
Free worldwide FedEx Priority shipping

Omega Speedmaster 145.022-69st Tropical Dial

Omega Speedmaster 145.022-69st Tropical Dial

Before/after