How the Omega Speedmaster Earned Its place on Apollo 11
Coveted and collected by enthusiasts around the world, the Omega Speedmaster is one of a handful of watches that can, without hyperbole, be called an icon. With an instantly recognizable mid-century design and an array of high-end Swiss movements, the modern Speedmaster is as handsome as it is technologically advanced. It was its sheer toughness, however, that earned the original Speedmaster a place in history sixty years ago.
In 1962, when John F. Kennedy announced his ambition to land an American astronaut on the moon within the next eight years, NASA had—to put it mildly—a lot to do. Among many other things, the agency needed to find a wristwatch that could be used as a backup timer by crew members on the Gemini missions of 1965. After putting out a call for “high-quality chronographs” to a small number of top-tier watch brands, NASA’s engineers ran a small group of qualified pieces through a brutal battery of tests to find a winner. From corrosion and heat to vibration and acceleration, the watches were subjected to extremes of every type they might face on their journey from Earth to the Moon and back again. Only one watch, the Omega Speedmaster ST 105.003, passed all 11 tests with success. “Even I was surprised that I could get any watches through those tests,” remarked James Regan, the engineer who oversaw the tests. “It was the most extreme testing you could do to a piece of hardware.”
Just a few weeks later, the Speedmaster took its first trip into space on the wrists of Virgil “Gus” Grissom and John Young aboard Gemini 3. Save for a custom Velcro strap that allowed the watches to fit over a spacesuit, the Speedmasters worn by these astronauts were the exact same pieces anyone could buy in a store in 1965. Sixty years, and several important milestones later (including, most famously, the 1969 Moon landing) the Speedmaster retains both its essential design and its overall robustness. Anyone in search of the perfect Speedy to add to their collection, however, will have their work cut out for them. With more than 100 variants to choose from, from 1950s retro styles to bejeweled versions to ones designed to track the time on Mars, the cinematic universe of Speedmasters is both diverse and ever-expanding. Fortunately for Canadians, it’s never been easier to browse (and buy) an Omega watch online thanks to the recent launch of the brand’s new e-commerce store. Whether you’re a Moonwatch veteran or an aspiring novice, here are a few good places to start your mission.
Speedmaster Moonwatch Professional
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At 42mm, the modern Speedmaster Moonwatch is slightly larger than the original but is otherwise a faithful tribute to the 4th generation style that Apollo 11 astronauts wore on the Moon. Launched in 2021, the latest version features Omega’s advanced Co-Axial Master Chronometer movement along with original details like an old-school Hesalite crystal. ($9,500)
Speedmaster Calibre 321
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Inspired by the original Speedmaster that earned NASA’s stamp of approval in 1965, this model reprises the smaller 39.70 mm case and bracelet style of the original. What’s really special here, though, is the return of the Calibre 321—the same manually-wound movement used on the first Speedies in space. Purists might prefer the stainless steel model, but if platinum or Canopus (white) gold are more your speed, Omega offers those, too. ($20,900)
Speedmaster Dark Side of the Moon “Apollo 8”
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Some Speedies are faithful tributes to vintage models, while others take a bit more creative license. This is definitely the latter, with a skeletonized dial and a blackened movement that’s been laser-ablated (on both sides!) with a likeness of the moon’s surface. In case that wasn’t enough astronomical detail for you, check out the tiny titanium Saturn V rocket in the small-seconds counter. ($19,400)
