Editorial
The 2014 Mark II re-issue brings back the cushion case that Omega introduced in 1969 as an alternative to the standard Moonwatch, and it does so with a self-winding movement rather than the original manual-wind caliber. For collectors who want a period-correct racing aesthetic, the tonneau-adjacent case shape and sector-style registers offer something genuinely different from the barrel of Speedy Professional variants on the market. Discontinued after 2020 and never heavily hyped, it sits in a quiet pocket of the Speedmaster catalog worth knowing.
The original Mark II debuted in 1969 as a tool watch variant aimed at motorsport and rally timing, distinguished by its cushion-shaped steel case and the same Valjoux-based movement lineage as other period chronographs. Omega shelved the line for decades before reissuing it in 2014 under reference 327.10.43.50.01.001, this time powered by the in-house Cal 3330, a column-wheel, vertical-clutch automatic rather than the manual-wind ancestor. The 42.4mm diameter and 100m water resistance were modernized updates, but the case silhouette and the race-sector subdial layout remained faithful to the original spirit.
Production ran from 2014 through approximately 2020 with no significant variant splits; there was a single reference in steel with a black tachymeter bezel and no precious-metal or limited-edition siblings in this line. Omega discontinued it quietly, without a replacement announcement.
The cushion case has four exposed lugs that take wear differently than a conventional bracelet lug; inspect the lug tops and sides under good light for polishing that has rounded the edges, which is hard to restore. The Cal 3330 uses a ceramic ball bearing in the co-axial escapement, and worn examples may show erratic rate rather than obvious stoppage, so insist on a timing machine printout before buying. The bracelet clasp on this reference has a known tendency to loosen over time; check that the push-button deployant closes with a firm click and does not rattle.
Crystal chips on the flat sapphire are not uncommon on unworn old-stock pieces due to storage; examine the chapter ring edge where the crystal meets the bezel insert. Water resistance seals degrade with age regardless of use, so budget for a pressure test if the watch has not been serviced in the last three to four years.
