Omega
Speedmaster Vintage STS 80's - Tritium Cal 861

Omega Speedmaster Professional “Moonwatch” — Ref. 145.022-ST — 1984 Tritium — Calibre 861 — 42 mm — Chronograph — Sold in a Mostra luxury case

« Wearing a Speedmaster means wearing a legend — and making it part of everyday life. »

Some watches tell the time. Others give you a role. A Speedmaster isn’t worn only for its shape; it’s worn for what it says the moment someone recognises it. The mission watch, the tool turned icon, the object that kept its original language while everything else sped up. In a modern day, that becomes a quiet advantage: you don’t need to justify your taste. A black dial, a tachymeter bezel, a chronograph ready to go — and the legend does the rest. And there’s a uniquely “mechanical” pleasure to a vintage Speedmaster: the direct, tactile relationship with time. You wind it, you feel it come alive, and you understand why this reference never truly went out of style.

The 145.022 marks a key milestone: the arrival of the calibre 861, introduced in 1968 to replace the 321, with a tougher (cam-controlled) chronograph architecture and a higher beat rate of 21,600 vph. Omega’s naming then evolves: the 145.0022 appears in the early 1980s (references become more complex), followed by “PIC” codes such as 3590.50 until 1996, before the more visible 1996/1997 changes (the 1861 and the shift towards Super-LumiNova). 

The 42 mm steel case and black tachymeter bezel define the Speedmaster grammar: an instrument-style watch, legible, balanced, instantly recognisable. The calibre 861 is a manual-wind cam-actuated chronograph, renowned for robustness and ease of servicing compared to the earlier column-wheel architecture; it beats at 21,600 vph. This generation typically features a Hesalite (plexi) crystal, prized for its warmer look and soft reflections — a very “vintage Moonwatch” feel. The dial is tritium: Omega used tritium on Speedmaster dials for a long period, with a move to Super-LumiNova around 1997; colour can therefore evolve into a cream/yellow patina depending on the watch’s life. 

On its original steel bracelet, the Speedmaster becomes what it has always been: a clean, credible tool-watch, perfect with denim, a shirt, a parka, or a blazer. Steel emphasises the instrument vibe, the watch catches light, and the tachymeter reads like a confident technical detail. Fit it with a black crocodile strap or black leather, and it transforms. The black dial looks deeper and dressier, almost graphic. The steel case turns more jewel-like, and the Speedmaster shifts into a black-tie luxury watch: less workshop or cockpit, more evening, dark jacket, crisp shirt, sharp silhouette. That’s one of its rare strengths — staying legendary while changing register completely. A 1984 example, ref. 145.022-ST, with tritium dial and calibre 861. Sold in a Mostra luxury case, with a Mostra certificate of authenticity.

Buying this Omega from Mostra means careful selection, expert guidance, and serious after-sales support. Mostra—renowned for its service and customer experience—has been recognized in the specialist press as the pre-owned specialist. Customer reviews are verified and rated 5 stars, and every watch comes with an exceptional three-year warranty, rare on the pre-owned market.