Lots of Ultramans?

Dero13 · Sep 16, 2019

Is or just me or have there been a lot of Ultramans popping up recently? I've seen 2 posted on here in the past couple of days and a pretty consistent popping up of 1 every couple of months. Maybe they aren't as rare as we believe?

padders · Sep 16, 2019

I have seen an estimate of as many as 3000 made. There are also estimates of as few as 50. What I find telling is that the numbers discussed, pictured, and owned on here suggest the true total is rather higher than the lower figure, since otherwise about 30-40% of all those ever made have been seen on here already which is rather unlikely. The Antiques Roadshow example will doubtless bring a few more out the woodwork and educate the masses to what a red hand Speedmaster may signify, prior to this even an occasional trader may have missed it, particularly before the internet was quite so all pervasive. It will probably also increase the number of fakes being cobbled together...

harrymai86 · Sep 16, 2019

Extract will be very critical then

t_swiss_t · Sep 16, 2019

Not sure about the rarity but the inflated price is bringing them out of the drawers. Definitely more than the low production estimate though.

Still don't understand why a red chrono hand puts them in a similar price bracket as racing dials, which have a lot more visual distinction and rarity. Now time to wait for the argument that they're worth it because of their as-yet-unproven 'unique glossy dial.' .... Seems more like a Red vs White 1680 to me; maybe not the same production ratios but visually not so distinctive as to justify a several fold price difference.

padders · Sep 16, 2019

I used to think the darker, more shiny dial was just speculative bs but I have seen a few photos suggesting there is indeed something going on there. What isn't proven though is whether a darker dial was seen on other regular 145.012-67 pieces in the same era so it may not be an Ultraman specific thing, just supplier variation.

While there is no doubt it was a genuine model, there is so much smoke and mirrors about the Ultraman that would make me very wary of dumping big cash on one. There isn't even total confidence that the factory have correct records since it has been suggested they need to see the watch before confirming the 'Special Equipment' as they call it. Certainly one notable auction piece which received a museum thumbs up for both the wrong number then the right one smelled fishy.

So in summary, no one knows how many there are, the factory can't be relied on to confirm one and all the online and printed sources contradict each other in multiple ways. Taken as a whole it doesn't inspire confidence that you could be 100% sure one you were buying was absolutely legit.

eugeneandresson · Sep 16, 2019

Dero13
Maybe they aren't as rare as we believe?

I'm starting to think that way.

And I must admit, I fully agree with what Mr Fruit says ...love the watch, but the premium for the orange hand are simply mental asylum material.

CPRwatch · Sep 16, 2019

Yes there seems to be lots of Ultramans about , Ive never seen so many before . Picture taken in SoHo NYC yesterday .

michael e · Sep 16, 2019

If the serial doesn't start with 2607xxxx That would be a big no, no for me. so that means at most 9999 pieces of correct or cobbled together Ultraman watches, so the hand has got to be the right width, length and colour, you have to have the right serial range and maybe if proven the satin shiny black dial? not to mention the archive.

A thread for "Utraman Speedmasters only" would be great, with first five digits of the serial number and a mention of the dial whether matt or satin paint. I would also like to see others show their 145.012 non Ultraman with shiny dials which will help destroy the myth of the dial being different on the Ultraman.

Here is a list of 24 Ultraman Seedmasters https://www.watchbooksonly.com/omega-speedmaster-moonwatch/watch-reviews/omega-speedmaster-ultraman/
Any of these owned by members here I wonder?

I wonder if we are seeing the same watches over and over again or are there loads of these watches cropping up?
Over many years of looking for Speedmasters and before the the Ultraman was not really that well known, I can only remember seeing two watches with red/orange chrono hand on the market from sellers who never mentioned the word Ultraman.

Delbok · Sep 16, 2019

michael e
I would also like to see others show their 145.012 non Ultraman with shiny dials which will help destroy the myth of the dial being different on the Ultraman.

Some 145.022-68 transitional have the same kind of glossy/shiny dial, similar to some of the Ultraman we could see. I compared mine side by side with an Ultraman during the Speedytuesday event in Frankfurt and dials were exactly the same.
They are actually pretty hard to catch with a camera

wwhntr · Sep 16, 2019

Delbok
Some 145.022-68 transitional have the same kind of glossy/shiny dial, similar to some of the Ultraman we could see. I compared mine side by side with an Ultraman during the Speedytuesday event in Frankfurt and dials were exactly the same.
They are actually pretty hard to catch with a camera

Not that difficult to capture difference in dial on my Ultraman using natural light. The most obvious, most fair way to judge/see the difference is a side by side picture comparing a 145.012-67 and a Ultraman. (See attached pictures below. Same watches, just two different pictures.)

I would like to see some side by side pictures of non Ultraman 145.012-67’s with the satin finish dial and normal, matte finish dial. To bad you didn’t take a side by side picture when you compared your 145.022-68 with an Ultraman in Frankfurt!

Nla91 · Sep 17, 2019

I don’t have an Ultraman in my collection but here’s a comparison between my 105.012-65 with the matte dial and my 145.012-67 (serial 2607xxxx) with gloss dial.
My iPhone might not be the best camera, and this is the best I can get. I think it’s pretty hard to photograph but very easy to see in the flesh.

Cuttysark · Sep 17, 2019

wwhntr
Not that difficult to capture difference in dial on my Ultraman using natural light. The most obvious, most fair way to judge/see the difference is a side by side picture comparing a 145.012-67 and a Ultraman. (See attached pictures below. Same watches, just two different pictures.)

I would like to see some side by side pictures of non Ultraman 145.012-67’s with the satin finish dial and normal, matte finish dial. To bad you didn’t take a side by side picture when you compared your 145.022-68 with an Ultraman in Frankfurt!

stunning watches 😀

kov · Sep 17, 2019

michael e
Any of these owned by members here I wonder?

Three of them used to be mine.

STANDY · Sep 17, 2019

The more they become worth, the more you will see come out.
(Also the more you will see non ultramen trying to be passed off as one)

Socks · Sep 17, 2019

STANDY
The more they become worth, the more you will see come out.
(Also the more you will see non ultramen trying to be passed off as one)

Agreed, and also the more they are worth, the more emphasis on an extract to give it legitimacy. (Someone has already said this here). Has anybody got knowledge of faked Extracts? I’ve never seen one first hand so don’t know how they appear. (Embossed or watermarked?)

Lazy_Lightning · Sep 17, 2019

Daniel Dae Kim has an Ultraman @ 3:12.

OmegaFan503 · Sep 18, 2019

Lazy_Lightning
Daniel Dae Kim has an Ultraman @ 3:12.

Two Ultramans! 😀

Petebarrac · Nov 29, 2021

Just for reference a close up cellphone shot of my UM in daylight indoors and taken outside on a sunny day with its new leather strap on.

watchyouwant · Nov 29, 2021

The red hand in the correct lengths you can buy from Vietnam for a bit under $500. Big mark up for Vietnamese standards.... And, no, I will not disclose where and how. A while ago there were exact measurements taken and published here. That's the way we go ....