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Omega: 60 Years of Speedmaster

The 60 watches over 60 years that defines the Omega Speedmaster

60 Photos

1957 - “BROAD ARROW” The first Speedmaster The original timepiece in a legendary family. Called the “Broad Arrow” due to its distinctive hands, this was not only the first Speedmaster, it was also the first chronograph wristwatch in the world with its tachymeter scale on the bezel as opposed to printed on the dial - a feature designed for the benefit of racing car drivers. This is perhaps the most highly valued of all the Speedmasters.

1959 FIRST OMEGA IN SPACE Worn by Walter Schirra The second version of the Speedmaster, this model differed from the original “Broad Arrow” due to its black aluminium bezel, the lollipop seconds hand for Air Force orders, and “Alpha” style hour and minute hands. The model went on to be the first OMEGA worn in space on the wrist of Walter Schirra on October 3rd 1962. He chose the Speedmaster as his personal watch on the Sigma 7 mission of the Mercury programme. From this moment, the Speedmaster’s space legac

1963 THIRD GENERATION Tested and qualified by NASA This Speedmaster model was the first watch to pass NASA’s rigorous testing for flight qualification. A number of brands submitted their timepieces for testing, but only the Speedmaster survived. It was launched into legend when it was worn on Gemini and Apollo missions, serving the astronauts with the utmost precision and reliability. Interestingly, the first model to be qualified would also be one of the last worn on the moon in 1972.

1964 A.C.P Delivered to the Automovil Club Peruano Staying true to the Speedmaster’s racing origins, this rare model was specially ordered by the Automovil Club Peruano based in Lima, Peru. The tachymeter scale on the bezel was ideal for timing laps on the racetrack, which made the Speedmaster a popular choice for those in the motoring industry. With an order of just 50 pieces, this is a very rare piece, distinguished by the A.C.P lettering on the dial.

1965 THE MOONWATCH First watch worn on the moon When Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin stepped onto the lunar surface in 1969, this Speedmaster model became the first watch ever worn on the moon. In fact, it has since become the watch that has served on the most lunar missions. In design, the watch was the first Speedmaster featuring an asymmetrical case, done so to provide added protection for the crown and pushers. For the first time, the word “Professional” was also printed on the dial.

1968 THE MOONWATCH Direct link to the Moonwatch of today Launched in 1968 with the new calibre 861, this model marked a major turning point in the history of the Speedmaster. Not only did the new movement provide extra innovation, but it was also the first, from 1970 onwards, to include the famous words; “FLIGHT-QUALIFIED BY NASA FOR ALL MANNED SPACE MISSIONS”, as well as “THE FIRST WATCH WORN ON THE MOON”.

1968 ULTRAMAN Worn in the TV series Having appeared in the Japanese science fiction TV show “The Return of Ultraman” in 1971, this rare model is most notably distinguished by its orange seconds hand. The creator of the Ultraman series, Eiji Tsuburaya, was known for including interesting watches in his productions, and this very uncommon Speedmaster is no exception. It is unknown how many genuine pieces still exist.

1969 COMMEMORATIVE EDITION For OMEGA’s achievements in space This was the first 18K gold Speedmaster, created in a numbered edition with a rare burgundy bezel. The first watches in this series were presented to 19 astronauts during a gala dinner in Houston, Texas on November 25th 1969 to celebrate the Apollo 11 moon landing. Three watches were also awarded posthumously to the three crew of Apollo I – Virgil Grissom, Ed White and Roger Chaffee.

1969 ALASKA I (prototype) Specially made for NASA "Alaska" was OMEGA’s chosen code-name for everything that involved NASA and was always deemed top-secret. To meet the demands of the extreme temperatures of space, the “Alaska I” prototype had a removable anodized aluminium outer case or “thermal shield” and a pure titanium inner case making it the first wristwatch in the world to be cased in pure titanium. The white dial was added to better reflect the heat of the sun.

1972 ALASKA II (prototype) Pursuing the perfect space watch Continuing its secret project to build the perfect space watch for NASA, OMEGA returned with a new prototype, this time in a Moonwatch style that retained some of the original features of the Alaska I model, including the large red heat shield. As before, the white dial was also retained to better reflect the heat of the sun. Other updates included rocket shaped subdial hands for balance, luminous markers and radial numerals on the subdials, and a

1973 SPEEDSONIC First electronic Speedmaster This model is nicknamed the “lobster” due to the unusual shape of the bracelet which resembles the tail of a crustacean. With the growing desire for electronic watches, the Speedsonic was created with an innovative electromechanical movement to meet the demand for greater precision and reliability. Interestingly, the crown was deliberately made smaller in size to emphasize the reduced need to change time or date.

1978 ALASKA III Built for the Space Shuttle When OMEGA began work on the “Alaska III” project, its aim was to adapt the classic Moonwatch to include anti-reflective surfaces and an easy-to-read dial. The result included a brushed stainless steel case and large radial numerals on the subdials. A first batch of 56 pieces was delivered to NASA and they used them on board the Space Shuttle in the 1980s. A second batch soon followed.

1979 ALASKA IV Quartz prototype for NASA When the Speedmaster briefly went digital, this prototype was created for the astronauts at NASA based on the commercial models. The functions were still the same but it also included a BETA light system as an innovative way to illuminate the display without using a typical lightbulb. 12 pieces were sent to NASA astronauts who tested the watch in training and on the Space Shuttle. Ultimately, they chose not to adopt the watch.

1980 APOLLO 11 OMEGA’s first sapphire crystal caseback Launched to celebrate the 1969 Apollo 11 mission in which the Speedmaster became the first watch worn on the moon, this yellow gold model was the first to use the 861L calibre and to have a glazed display back with sapphire crystal. Produced in a very small numbered series of around 300 pieces, the L following the calibre 861 indicated that the calibre was the “Luxury” version with a higher level of decoration than was normally afforded.

1983 BICOLOR First bicolor Bringing a two-tone style to the Speedmaster’s iconic design for the first time, this bicolor model was made using a steel case with a golden dial, silvered subdials and a bracelet made from steel and 14K gold. The exact number produced is unknown but very few are known to still exist.

1985 “SPEEDYMOON” First Speedmaster Moonphase Twenty years after the Speedmaster began preparing to go to the moon, the moon came to the Speedmaster. Known as the “Speedymoon”, this watch was produced in a series of 1,300 pieces and features a Moonphase complication with a painted moon and stars. It was the Speedmaster’s first Moonphase model and, on some rare Speedymoon models, a face is also painted on the moon.

1987 SPEEDMASTER AUTOMATIC The “Holy Grail” for collectors This was the first Speedmaster that combined an automatic movement with a Moonwatch case. OMEGA only produced the watch during two years. For collectors, finding an original piece can become an obsession full of disappointment, joy and despair – hence its “Holy Grail” nickname. In design, the case is slightly thicker to accommodate the automatic movement and the buttons and crown are closer fitting than the usual Moonwatch.

1987 ITALY Made especially for Italy Limited to 500 pieces, this timepiece was created for the Italian market. It featured a black dial with golden subdials, a yellow gold bezel and yellow gold-plated crown and pushers. Interestingly, the Speedmaster has a historical connection with Italy. The Seahorse medallion that features on the caseback of many Speedmaster and Seamaster models was in fact inspired by the Seahorse emblems found on the sides of gondolas in Venice, Italy.

1991 PERPETUAL CALENDAR For Switzerland’s 700th anniversary This Speedmaster model was limited to 50 pieces. Although it celebrated the 700th anniversary of Switzerland, the watch was released exclusively for the Japanese market. As well as the chronograph function, it also includes a Moonphase and a perpetual calendar programmed up to the year 2100. It is often considered to be the most complicated watch OMEGA has ever produced in series.

1992 SKELETON Rare hand-crafted limited edition In this captivating Speedmaster model, OMEGA’s hand-crafted excellence is clear to see. The skeletonised design was limited to just 50 pieces, each with a transparent caseback. The inspiration was to celebrate the 50th anniversary of OMEGA’s 27 CHRO C12 project, which led to the creation of the calibre 321 that was used in the very first Speedmaster. In terms of highlighting innovation and excellence, this timepiece was a wonderful tribute.

1992 JUBILEE First COSC-certified manual-wound Speedmaster OMEGA launched the 27 CHRO C12 project in 1942 which led to the creation of the calibre 321 that was used in the very first Speedmaster. To mark the 50th anniversary of this occasion, OMEGA produced this unique “Jubilee 27 CHRO C12” model in 1992. It was the first COSC- certified manual-wound Speedmaster and was a limited edition of 50 pieces.

1995 APOLLO 13 25th anniversary The OMEGA Speedmaster served a life-saving role aboard Apollo 13 in 1970 when it helped the astronauts return safely to Earth. This 25th anniversary model is a favourite among collectors due to it being the first in a long series of Mission models that followed. It includes an Apollo 13 badge and was limited to 999 pieces.

1995 MIR 365 DAYS 365 days on MIR Space Station In 1990, ten standard Speedmaster Moonwatches were kept aboard the orbiting MIR Space Station for 90 days to test the effects of zero gravity on the watch. Two years later, a second series spend 365 days on the station in a further experiment. 28 of these history-making watches were sold in 1995. On the caseback are the words “365 DAYS ON BOARD SPACE STATION MIR, JULY 1993 – JULY 1994”.

1996 RACING Launched by Michael Schumacher This striking model is notable for its “younger aesthetics” and was produced in both red and yellow versions. The piece was launched by racing legend Michael Schumacher who had become a new OMEGA ambassador in 1996. As well as featuring a racing-style minute track, the watch had a rubber presentation box that resembled the tyres of F1 cars and featured Schumacher’s signature in white.

1997 40th ANNIVERSARY 40 years of the Speedmaster To celebrate 40 years of the iconic Speedmaster, OMEGA released this model in 1997 featuring a cream dial and front glass made from sapphire crystal – which was unusual for the time. Limited to 500 pieces and exclusive to Italy, it was also one of the first models with hands and a dial coated in LumiNova.

1997 “THE GOLDEN PANDA” Exclusive to Japan 40 of these Speedmasters were created for the Japanese market. Thanks to the silvery-white dial and black minute scale and subdials, the watch closely resembled the face of a panda, which gave it its memorable nickname. Combined with a yellow gold case, it has become a popular collector’s item.

1998 X-33 Favoured by pilots Known as the “Mars Watch”, the X-33 was designed for the possibility of man landing on the red planet. It took five years of collaborative development between OMEGA and the world’s major space agencies, as well as the USN “Blue Angels” and the USAF “Thunderbirds”. With its futuristic design, it was worn on board NASA’s space shuttles and the Russia MIR Space Station.

1999 APOLLO 11 30th anniversary Launched in 1999 to mark the 30th anniversary of Apollo 11, this model was the second Speedmaster Professional to have a moonphase indication and the first Speedmaster Moonphase to be created in gold or, in fact, any other metal other than stainless steel. This white gold model featured a silver dial and was available exclusively on a leather strap that included a white gold buckle.

2000 APOLLO-SOYUZ 25th anniversary With their spacecraft docking together in space in 1975, the Apollo and Soyuz commanders shook hands through an open hatch and signaled a bright future for the two nations. This gold watch was created to mark the 25th anniversary of that landmark event and was limited to 50 pieces. The mission name appears in English and Cyrillic in the counter at 6 o’clock and a special dedication inscription is included on the caseback.

2003 SNOOPY Celebrating the success of Apollo 13 This model commemorates the “Silver Snoopy Award” that OMEGA received in 1970 for helping to get the Apollo 13 crew safely home. The watch has a representation of the “Eyes on the Stars” patch on the subsidiary small seconds dial as well as reverse printed on the sapphire crystal caseback. It was limited to 5,441 pieces referencing the length of the mission – 142 hours, 54 minutes and 41 seconds.

2003 FROM THE MOON TO MARS Anticipating the future Built for the next great human destination. This model coincided with the American announcement that they planned to build a permanent space station on the moon before 2020 to act as a launch site for future manned missions to Mars. Celebrating those celestial bodies, the watch has counters printed with images of the moon, Earth and Mars.

2004 APOLLO 11 35th anniversary Created to mar
the 35th anniversary of the Apollo 11 mission when the OMEGA Speedmaster became the first watch worn on the moon, this watch was produced in a limited edition of 3,500 pieces. It features the date July 20, 1969 printed in red in the upper half of the dial and the Apollo 11 patch reverse-printed on the sapphire caseback.

2005 GEMINI IV 40th anniversary In 1965, Edward White became the first American astronaut to walk in space. With a Speedmaster strapped to his wrist, it also became the first time that an OMEGA ventured outside the spacecraft. This Speedmaster was created in a limited edition of 2,005 pieces to mark the 40th anniversary of that Gemini IV mission. The dial of the watch is blue, along with the bezel, and on the other side, the Gemini IV patch is printed on the sapphire caseback.

2005 CO-AXIAL GMT With pioneering escapement OMEGA has always been known for its pioneering innovation and dedication to the art of watchmaking. In its quest to perfect the movement, this Speedmaster was the first to include the Co-Axial escapement, which revolutionised precision and reliability. As well as this, the watch saw a return of the iconic “Broad Arrow” hands, a red-tipped GMT hand, and a 1 – 23 GMT hour ring that beautifully fitted between the hour markers.

2006 APOLLO 15 35th anniversary This Speedmaster was created in a limited edition of 1,971 pieces to mark the 35th anniversary of Apollo 15. It was during this mission that the Lunar Rover Vehicle was used for the first time. Its special details include 18-carat pink gold push buttons and a mission patch etched on the sapphire crystal caseback with three birds representing the astronauts.

2008 BEIJING Celebrating the XXIX Olympiad As the Official Timekeeper of the Olympic Games Beijing 2008, OMEGA celebrated its role by creating this unique Speedmaster 5-Counters Chronograph. For the first time ever, five counters were displayed on the dial of a mechanical wristwatch, arranged in the form of the iconic Olympic rings. The functions included a small seconds counter, a 7-day chronograph recorder, a day indicator, a 12-hour chronograph recorder and a 30-minute chronograph recorder.

2008 ALASKA PROJECT A prototype becomes reality In this timepiece, one of OMEGA’s most innovative dreams became reality. Created in a limited edition of 1,970 pieces in 2008, the watch is based on the “Alaska II” project which used a “standard” Speedmaster with a modified dial and hands in conjunction with an outer anodized aluminium “thermal shield”. This allowed the watch to withstand temperatures, in lunar or spatial atmospheres, ranging from -148C to +260C.

2008 “HB-SIA” GMT Built for Solar Impulse The Solar Impulse project captured the world’s imagination with its ambitious aim of flying around the Earth in a plane powered only by the sun. OMEGA was a Main Partner of the mission and produced this watch named after the Solar Impulse prototype plane. The design took inspiration from the plane itself, with a titanium case and a dial made of black carbon fibre, similar to the HB-SIA’s composite covering. A central GMT hand, which completes one rotation in 24 hour

2009 APOLLO 11 40th anniversary Made in a limited edition of 69 examples to mark the 40th anniversary of man’s conquest of the moon, this Speedmaster model made in platinum has a unique yellow gold medallion on the small seconds counter representing, in high relief, the mission patch of Apollo 11. This is repeated, again in gold, on the caseback.

2010 APOLLO-SOYUZ First Speedmaster with meteorite dial With a dial and subdials made from slices of meteorite, this Speedmaster was built from a real piece of space. It commemorates the historic moment when astronaut Thomas P. Stafford (USA) and cosmonaut Alexei A. Leonov (USSR) shook hands in space in 1975. The caseback features two spacecraft from both the USA and the Soviet Union and the names of the cosmonauts and astronauts involved.

2011 APOLLO 15 40th anniversary This watch celebrates the 40th anniversary of the Apollo 15 moon landing and is included in a numbered series of 1,971 pieces. The red, white and blue colours on the dial were inspired by the mission patch and the caseback includes a superb engraving of the Lunar Roving Vehicle which was used on the moon for the first time during the mission.

2012 APOLLO 17 40th anniversary This Limited Edition timepiece is one of OMEGA’s most iconic Speedmasters and celebrates the 40th anniversary of the final lunar landing in December 1972. It features a striking and unique 925 silver dial embossed with the same design as the Apollo XVII patch which represents Mankind, the future, the image of Apollo and the United States flag. The watch was limited to just 1,972 pieces.

2013 DARK SIDE OF THE MOON First Speedmaster in ceramic Emblematic of OMEGA’s bold style, innovation and pioneering spirit, the "Dark Side of the Moon" brought the Moonwatch to a new generation. Crafted from a single block of sleek ceramic, the sporty model also features a black ceramic dial with 18K white gold hands and a nylon fabric strap. The incredible production techniques used to create this watch have been some of OMEGA’s most celebrated achievements.

2014 APOLLO 11 45th anniversary On a brown “NATO” strap, this watch commemorates the 45th anniversary of Apollo 11. It uses the colours of the moon and the lunar and command modules and features a brushed case with a touch of gold. It has a black PVD dial and a lightweight grade 2 titanium case - inspired by the titanium ore that covers the moon’s surface.

2014 SKYWALKER X-33 Built for the European Space Agency Designed especially for space explorers, the Speedmaster Skywalker is an innovative upgrade of the Speedmaster Professional X-33 released in 1998. The new model, powered by an advanced quartz calibre, was thoroughly tested and approved by the European Space Agency for inclusion in all of its missions. Built from titanium, it includes a ceramic bezel with a chromium nitride scale and an LCD display with an electroluminescent backlight.

2015 SILVER SNOOPY AWARD Apollo 13 45th Anniversary A tribute to the 45th anniversary of Apollo 13 and the Silver Snoopy Award that OMEGA subsequently received from NASA, this watch features a white dial with special comic strip inscriptions and a small Snoopy decorating the 9 o’clock sub-dial. On the caseback, a 925 silver Snoopy medallion is surrounded by alluring dark blue enamel.

2015 X-33 Si2 New approach for Solar Impulse The Speedmaster Skywalker X-33 Solar Impulse Limited Edition celebrates OMEGA's partnership with Solar Impulse, whose team succeeded in circling the globe in a solar powered airplane in 2016. Made from titanium and presented on a NATO strap, the quartz watch is particularly lightweight and features a ceramic bezel with a chromium nitride scale. There are skeletonized black and white hour and minute hands and a central seconds hand distinguished by green and black

2015 SPEEDMASTER ‘57 Worn by George Clooney The Speedmaster '57 is an innovative wristwatch that salutes its legendary ancestor and has been designed to experience new adventures of its very own. The model recalled a number of features similar to its famous ancestor including the black dial with beige indications, straight lugs, and a brushed metallic bezel with a tachymeter scale. George Clooney proudly wore this model for the international advertising campaign in 2015.

2016 CK2998 Inspired by the 1959 original The original OMEGA CK2998 was released in 1959 and has become one of the world’s most sought-after vintage Speedmasters. This watch used the classic model as inspiration, with classic Alpha and lollipop hands, a symmetrical steel case and three subdials in blue. This colour theme continues on the bezel, minutes track and leather strap.

2016 MOONPHASE First Speedmaster Master Chronometer The first Speedmaster certified as a Master Chronometer, this blue Moonphase timepiece reaches the industry’s highest standards of precision and performance as approved by METAS – another important milestone in OMEGA’s superb history of watchmaking. Most incredibly, the image of the moon on this watch is as detailed as a NASA photograph. Zoom in close and you’ll see an astronaut’s footprint.

2017 #SPEEDYTUESDAY An online community tribute In 2012, an online community of #SpeedyTuesday fans began to grow around the world, with Speedmaster pictures and comments being shared every week. In tribute to these Speedmaster devotees, OMEGA produced this new Limited Edition model to celebrate the 5th anniversary. It marks the first OMEGA watch marketed purely through social media and sold exclusively online, and the design was based on several vintage models from the past including the “Alaska III”.

2017 SPEEDMASTER 38 mm Simplicity meets iconic design The refined 38 mm collection retains the famous look and 60 year heritage of the Speedmaster, but also updates it with a pure and new aesthetic touch. For this ladies’ model, the diamond- paved bezel also includes a tachymeter scale on a brown aluminium ring. This dual design has enabled OMEGA to add the elegance of diamonds and also retain the sporty DNA of the original Speedmaster models.

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Bremont Unveils 2017 Collection

British Watchmaker Bremont has unveiled its 2017 Chronometer collection, announcing a broad range of new and derivative models.

6 Photos

Supermarine Type 300 Deriving from the 1930s aircraft company, the chronometer-rated Type 300 comes with a 40mm case and is just 13mm thick.

ALT1-P Available in blue, black or cream, the ALT1-P marks the 10th anniversary of Bremont’s first collection of watches, with new dials and hands housed in a new case design.

America’s Cup Extending Bremont’s America’s Cup range, the Regatta ACII is limited to 135 pieces, while just 35 of the rose gold AC35, pictured, will be made.

AIRCO Named after one of the first British military aircraft manufacturers, both the Mach 1 and Mach 2, pictured, house the chronometer-rated BE-92AE movement.

Jaguar MKII The new white-dialled counterpart to Bremont’s existing Jaguar range, the MKII adds a new internal tachymeter dial ring which can be used to measure speed.

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