On 20th July 1969, as the Apollo 11 spacecraft orbited the Moon, Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin bid a momentary goodbye to Michael Collins in Columbia (the Command and Service module) as they entered Eagle (the Lunar Module). Shortly thereafter, Eagle undocked from Columbia and made its way to the lunar surface. Skill fully piloted by Armstrong, Eagle landed at 20:17:40 UTC.
The first lunar landing was one of mankind’s greatest achievements. To put things in perspective, the Moon is approximately 385,000 kms from the Earth, with Eagle (and perhaps Columbia too) having less computing power than today’s mobile phones! Armstrong (Commander), Collins (Command Module Pilot), and Aldrin (Lunar Module Pilot) were among the best pilots of their generation (as were the other NASA astronauts).
Left: Notice the Speedmaster on Aldrin’s right wrist. Right: Aldrin inside the Eagle. Not sure which image was taken first. It is rumoured that Aldrin’s Speedmaster is missing. If found, it would be among the most valuable watches at auction. Perhaps exceeding that of Paul Newman’s Rolex Daytona.
A few hours later – at 02:56 UTC on 21st July – Armstrong became the first man to set foot on the surface of the Moon. Aldrin followed shortly thereafter. Gracing the protective spacesuit clad wrist of Aldrin was an Omega Speedmaster (Armstrong did not wear his during his moonwalk). Though the Speedmaster had travelled to space on prior Mercury, Gemini, and Apollo missions, it now had the distinction of being the first watch worn on the Moon.
Image: The Speedmaster certificate. “2025 is a particularly special anniversary for OMEGA, because it marks 60 years since the Speedmaster was qualified by NASA for all manned space missions. Under the direction of Flight Crew Operations Director, Deke Slayton, the agency tested the chronographs from several watchmakers from around the world, subjecting them to extreme temperatures, shocks, vibrations, and vacuums. Only the OMEGA Speedmaster withstood the full battery of tests, and as a result, it was officially qualified on March the 1st, 1965.”
Our Thoughts
Image: Speedmaster Moonwatch Professional with stainless steel case, hesalite crystal, closed caseback, and powered by the manual-winding calibre 3861. (Same as header image.) This version with the hesalite crystal is the closest in spirit to the Speedmasters worn by NASA astronauts during the 1960’s and 1970’s.
Omega’s Speedmaster is inextricably linked with the Apollo missions of the 1960’s and 1970’s. The Speedmaster is among the most iconic watches in the world, right up there with horological icons such as Audemars Piguet’s Royal Oak, Patek Philippe’s Calatrava, and Rolex’s Submariner.
Right: The Speedmaster Moonwatch Professional with its stainless steel case and white lacquered dial is my favourite. It has a transparent caseback. Functions: Hours and minutes. Central chronograph seconds. Small seconds at 9 o’clock. 30-minute counter at 3 o’clock. 12-hour counter at 6 o’clock. Right: Calibre 3861 is a manual-winding chronograph movement featuring Omega’s Co-Axial escapement. It has a free-sprung balance with a silicon balance spring. Frequency: 3 Hz or 21,600 vph. Power reserve: 50 hours. It is a Certified Master Chronometer, approved by METAS, and is resistant to magnetic fields up t0 15,000 gauss.
The current Omega catalogue has a vibrant Speedmaster collection, both Moon and non-Moon (and space) inspired. The present Speedmaster Moonwatch Professional continues the legacy of NASA’s Apollo missions.
Please visit the Omega website for more information.
Image credits:Â Omega.
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