NASA’s quest for the ultimate professional wristwatch began during the early years of the Apollo programme. In search of a timepiece able to withstand the extreme temperatures of outer space and the vibrations of flight, NASA endured hours of congressional hearings over their choice of Swiss watch, until a resounding decision was made- the Omega Speedmaster Professional. The unparalleled precision and resilience which Omega is renowned for proved to be imperative to one of the greatest achievements of the century- the Apollo 11 moon landing.
The Revolutionary Omega Speedmaster
Space visionary Buzz Aldrin was the Lunar Module pilot during mankind’s first landing on the moon, in 1969. With the Omega Speedmaster strapped to the wrist of his space suit, Buzz stepped out into “magnificent desolation†only moments after Neil Armstrong, making the Speedmaster the first watch on the moon. Whilst the Apollo 11 mission ran smoothly, the Omega Speedmaster proved essential during the Apollo 13 onboard explosion, where crew lost power and had do drift around the earth due to its gravitational pull and return to earth. Their Omega Speedmaster watches were the only functional instruments on board for days. The crew relied heavily on the elapsed time keeping abilities to calculate thruster burns, velocity and distance travelled to a high level of accuracy, allowing a safe return to Earth.
The Limited Edition OMEGA Speedmaster Professional Moonwatch Apollo 11 “40th Anniversary†is a modern take on the original Speedmaster worn on all Apollo missions. All the characteristic features of this impressive watch are incorporated, such as the classic 42mm steel case protecting the 1861 self winding automatic movement, rhodium finished second hand and shatter proof Hesalite crystal. The official landing time is imprinted in red on the dial, and s unique version of the mission patch placed at the nine o’clock position on the dial, commemorating one of humanity’s greatest accomplishments.