Omega Speedmaster 145.012-67 Racing 1968

Omega Speedmaster 145.012-67, Red Racing Non-Professional (2 Line) Dial, Switzerland 1968
Serial: 26541661
Circa: 1968
Reference No.: 145.012-67

CASE: 42mm, stainless steel, steel with black DO90 tachymeter bezel

DIAL: Black, red and white racing dial dial with outer track and tritium markers except at 3, 6, 9, 12 (white only).

MOVEMENT: Calibre 321, hand-wound column wheel chronograph, 17 jewels

BRACELET: Leather strap

CONDITION REPORT: The dial and hands are in mint condition. The case is lightly polished, but still thick. The bezel has faded slightly to a rich navy blue color. The original crown is damaged, but was kept on the side.

Notes: Although the Omega Archives are closed, we were able to find that this watch was produced August 9, 1968 and delivered to Switzerland.

There are 3 racing configurations that appear on Speedmasters in the late 1960's and early 1970's, of which the first 2 are with Caliber 321 (145.012-67 mostly) and black/red dials and the third has a grey/orange dial with a Caliber 861 (145.022-69). Although there are racing dials on Seamaster and Speedmaster MKII as well, the most sought after remain the Speedmaster moonwatch case style.
This configuration is also called the 2 line ‘non-professional’ dial. The configuration found on this 145.012-67 has a unique attribute, it does not feature the 'Professional' found on lyre lug case Speedmasters. The Omega logo features an anachronic Oval O, which was not seen since 1960 on dials. It also does not feature the usual T's besides the swiss made at the bottom. We believe that this series of dials, which were predominantly delivered after the Professional dials, according to our research, and would lead us to understand that Omega was selling the last 321 calibers and cases as well as remaining sample series or prototype dials in 1968. This was in anticipation of the arrival of the 861 caliber and likely caused the assembly of these special watches to sell out the remaining parts.