Okay, so I wanted to get my hands on a new watch, and not just any watch – I was aiming for that classic OMEGA Speedmaster Professional Moonwatch, but with the sapphire crystal ’cause I like that modern touch. And you know what they say about the movement, the heart of the watch? It’s the Caliber 3861, which I heard was pretty neat.
I started my hunt online, looking up all sorts of things about this 3861 movement. I found out that it’s an updated version of some old-school manual winding movement, the 1861 or something. But this one has something called a “coaxial module.” Sounds fancy, right? Apparently, it gives you a couple more hours of power when fully wound, needs less maintenance, and is more accurate. Plus, it’s “meta certified” – whatever that means, but it sounds good!
This watch, it’s like, the dressy version of the Speedmaster. I even saw pics of Buzz Aldrin, the astronaut, wearing one with a tuxedo! So I thought, yeah, this is the one. Classy but still tough.
The Journey Begins
I started calling up different watch stores, asking around about the Speedmaster with the Caliber 3861 and that sapphire crystal. Most places didn’t have it in stock, but they could order it. But then, I remembered this one local shop. I walked in, and there it was, shining under the lights. The ref number was 311.30.42.30.01.005, if you’re into that sort of thing.
Meeting the salesperson
- Asked about the watch’s availability.
- Tried it on, just to get a feel for it.
- Talked a bit about the movement and the whole Moonwatch history.
Made it mine
After trying it on and feeling that weight on my wrist, I was sold. We talked price, did the paperwork, and boom, I walked out with my very own Omega Speedmaster Moonwatch. I got it in May 2019. Man, it felt good. I guess I’m a Speedmaster guy now. And this Caliber 3861, with all its fancy new tech, it just feels like the perfect mix of old and new.
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