SIXTY YEARS OF SPEED. For six decades, Omega’s Speedmaster line of chronographs have carved a rich history, spanning from the race tracks to the space race and beyond
A Gemini 4 astronaut wearing two Moonwatches on each arm
Some watches become especially memorable—and desirable or collectible—for having a unique story, for being a limited edition or for introducing a new innovation in either technology or design. When it comes to purely being memorable, though, you won’t find a larger concentration of this quality than in Omega’s celebrated Speedmaster line of chronographs. In its 60 years of existence, these watches have journeyed from racetracks all the way to the surface of the moon. And we mean that quite literally.
The 2013 Snoopy limited edition Speedmaster
Today, as the Speedmaster embraces the connected generation without taking the connected or smartwatch route (look up #SpeedyTuesday on Instagram for more on this phenomenon) and celebrates its 60th anniversary, let’s take a stroll through memory lane and revisit some of the most important milestones of this legendary collection.
1957
The first Speedmaster, called the Broad Arrow made its debut as the first chronograph with a tachymeter scale on the bezel. Naturally, this was a boon to racecar drivers, and it cemented the watches first steps in an incredible journey.
1959
The second Speedmaster model became the first Omega watch to leave the Earth. Specifically, a Speedmaster was worn by Walter Schirra, one of the original seven astronauts chosen for Project Mercury, United States first effort to put humans in space.
1963
The third generation Speedmaster survived NASA’s rigorous testing for flight qualification, beating candidates from various brands vying for the position as the official timepiece for America’s space missions. These watches became part of several Gemini and Apollo missions.
The first Alaska prototype
1965
This year saw the introduction of the Moonwatch, which later on, in 1969, accompanied Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin on their first steps on the moon’s surface. In fact, this model became the watch that joined more lunar missions than any other model.
1968
The newer Moonwatch, which used the calibre 861, marked a major turning point for the Speedmaster line. And from 1970 onwards, these watches would bear markings that read “FLIGHT-QUALIFIED BY NASA FOR ALL MANNED SPACE MISSIONS” and “THE FIRST WATCH WORN ON THE MOON.”
1968
A rare Speedmaster with an orange seconds hands made its appearance in the (then) popular Japanese TV show “The Return of Ultraman.” Interestingly, Eiji Tsuburaya, creator of the Ultraman franchise, had a habit of including notable watches in his productions.
1972
Continuing a secret project to create “space watches” for NASA that began in 1969, Omega came up with the second Alaska prototype with its signature red heat shield. This model has since resurfaced numerous time, the last occasion being in 2008.
1985
Twenty years after it prepared to go to the moon, the Speedmaster finally came with a moonphase complication with the limited edition Speedymoon model.
1987
Combining a Moonwatch case and an automatic movement, this model remained in production for only two years. An original piece of this model is, without question, the elusive “Holy Grail” for serious collectors.
1997
In 1997, Omega relaunched the Speedmaster with the exact same dial, bezel, hands and logo as the famous “Broad Arrow” of 1957. Naturally, the model also gained the nickname “Replica,” but was still highly sought after.
The first watch to go to the moon
2003
The famed Snoopy model was made to commemorate the “Silver Snoopy Award” presented by NASA to Omega for the latter’s assistance in getting the crew of the doomed Apollo 13 mission safely back to Earth.
2013
The new generation of the Moonwatch, the so-called Dark Side of the Moon was crafted from a single block of ceramic, and marked yet another major technical milestone for Omega.
2015
One of the most sought-after Speedmaster models, this tribute to the 45th anniversary of the Apollo 13 mission is easily recognized from the distinctive Snoopy illustration on the sub-dial at 9 o’clock. Today, the brand still receives a constant stream of requests for this model.
2017
In 2012, the #SpeedyTuesday phenomenon revealed the immense fandom behind the Speedmaster line. To commemorate the online community’s fifth anniversary, Omega produced a limited edition model sold exclusively online. It sold out in no time—to no one’s surprise.
2017
The year 2017 also saw a redesign that brought the Speedmaster back to its racing roots. The new Speedmaster Automatic featured a matt-black dial, orange markings and beveled 18K white gold arrowhead indexes.
The selections above only represent a small selection of the Speedmaster line, but perhaps it can show us a brief glimpse at the memories, achievements and dreams that a single watch collection can contain as it speeds through the history of mankind.