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Which Speedmaster Mark IV is this?
Fratello identifies the 1973 Speedmaster Professional Automatic, reference 176.0009, as the Mark IV. Its discussion distinguishes that watch from the later reference 176.012, commonly called the Mark 4.5. Fratello’s Mark IV article is the specialist source for the 176.0009 identification and its design details.
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Omega Speedmaster Mark II Automatic Chronograph Men's Watch 327.10.43.50.01.001 | $5,980.00 | Buy on Amazon |
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Omega Speedmaster 38 Chronograph Men's Watch 324.30.38.50.01.001 | $5,790.00 | Buy on Amazon |
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Omega Speedmaster Chronograph Hand Wind Black Dial Men's Watch 310.32.42.50.01.001 | $7,350.00 | Buy on Amazon |
The naming overlap is real: Omega’s archive page titled “Speedmaster Mark IV” identifies the watch as ST 176.0012, with caliber 1045, day-date, a stainless-steel case and production years 1974–1986. That archive entry describes a related but distinct model; it does not make 176.0012 the same watch as 176.0009. When a listing says only “Mark IV,” check the reference and movement before relying on the title. Omega’s archive entry for ST 176.0012 documents the later watch.
The Speedy Tuesday Tribute to ALASKA III is a third, unrelated reference: 311.32.42.30.01.001, a 2017 limited edition celebrating five years of the Speedy Tuesday community. It is not the vintage Mark IV. Omega’s archive page for that edition identifies it separately.
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Case
The case has a distinctive two-piece construction: a round movement container pressed into a cushion-shaped outer frame. Fratello compares its broad shape with the Speedmaster Mark II. The article gives approximate dimensions of 41.4 mm across, 45.3 mm lug-to-lug and about 15 mm thick; treat these as source-reported approximations rather than measurements of every surviving example.
Crystal and dial
A flat mineral crystal carries the tachymeter scale on its inner surface, giving the scale visible depth above the dial. The dial combines an “Automatic” label and date aperture with a 12-hour chronograph register, continuous seconds and a 24-hour indication. Fratello describes grey coloring in the 24-hour indicator area and notes that some examples have blue-grey coloring it identifies as a service dial. Dial variations and replaced parts are worth checking against the individual watch rather than assuming every example is original.
Rank #2
Caliber 1040: functions and specifications
Fratello reports that reference 176.0009 uses Omega caliber 1040, an automatic chronograph based on the Lemania 1340. The movement adds a 24-hour indication to the running-seconds subdial and has a quick-set date. The same article lists 22 jewels, a frequency of 28,800 beats per hour and roughly 44 hours of power reserve. These are historical specialist-source specifications, not a current Omega service sheet. Fratello’s movement discussion covers the 1040 and its functions.
Keep the caliber distinctions straight when comparing Mark-series watches. Caliber 1041 is described as a COSC-certified variant used in the Speedmaster 125, while caliber 1045 is associated with a later movement family and the archive-listed ST 176.0012. Their specifications should not be attributed to the 176.0009’s caliber 1040.
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Rank #3
- Model 324.30.38.50.01.001
How it was worn
Fratello reports an original sporty Corfam strap with an Omega buckle and a steel-bracelet option. It associates the bracelet style used with the Mark II, Mark III and Mark IV with bracelet reference 1162 and straight 172 end links, described as 22 mm. This is historical fit context, not a guarantee that every bracelet, end link or modern strap will fit a particular watch. Confirm the lug width, end-link fit and condition of the actual parts before buying replacements.
How to assess a vintage example
Fratello calls caliber 1040 a workhorse but notes that it can age and develop issues. That observation is a reason to assess the individual watch, not evidence of a particular failure rate or a mandatory service schedule.
Rank #4
- Model 310.32.42.50.01.001
- Confirm the reference from reliable documentation or markings; a seller’s use of “Mark IV” alone does not resolve the naming ambiguity.
- Ask for service records and an account of the watch’s current operating condition. A qualified watchmaker familiar with vintage Omega chronographs can inspect the movement and functions.
- Check the dial, hands, crystal, case and bracelet for condition and replacement parts. The source-reported service-dial coloring is one detail to investigate, not a standalone authenticity test.
- Have bracelet and strap compatibility verified for the specific watch rather than assuming vintage parts or modern replacements are interchangeable.
No production-volume, surviving-example, market-value or caliber-1040 service-incidence figure is established by the cited sources, so those numbers should not be inferred from the model description.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Mark IV 176.0009 vs. Mark 4.5 and archive-listed 176.0012
| Identification | Reference | Movement and display | What the sources establish |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vintage Mark IV covered here | 176.0009 | Caliber 1040; date and 24-hour indication | Fratello identifies it as the 1973 Speedmaster Professional Automatic. |
| Mark 4.5 | 176.012 | Not stated in the cited Mark IV identification details | Fratello describes it as a later model commonly called the Mark 4.5, combining elements of its predecessor and successor. |
| Omega archive “Speedmaster Mark IV” | ST 176.0012 | Caliber 1045; day-date | Omega lists stainless steel and production years 1974–1986. Its archive naming overlaps with specialist usage, but the reference and specifications distinguish it from 176.0009. |
Fratello summarizes the design logic of the 176.0009 this way: “With combining the revolutionary 1040 movement of the Mark III to the then-new case shape of the Mark II Omega created a best-of-both-worlds watch with the Mark IV.” The statement appears in Fratello Watches’ article.
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