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Lot Essay
For a description and illustration of the present model see Omega Saga by Marco Richon, p. 374 and Omega Watches by John Goldberger, p. 226.
On 1st March 1965, Omega's Speedmaster chronograph was "flight-qualified by NASA for all manned space missions" as the only wristwatch to have withstood all of the U.S. space agency's severe tests under conditions of zero gravity and magnetic fields, extreme shocks, vibrations and temperatures ranging from -18 to +93 degrees Celsius. In the same month, the watch was for the first time worn officially on board the Gemini 3 mission.
In April 1970, the Omega Speedmaster rescued the Apollo 13 mission from a potential disaster, earning Omega the "Snoopy Award", the highest distinction awarded by the NASA astronauts. In another historical event, the Speedmaster was worn on the wrists of both the American astronaut Tom Stafford and the Russian cosmonaut Alexei Leonov during the historic Apollo-Soyuz space rendezvous. This was the first time the cosmonauts also wore the Omega Speedmaster. Ever since, the Speedmaster has been the official chronograph of all Russian manned space missions. The greatest moment in the Speedmaster's history was undoubtedly 21 July 1969 at 02:56 GMT, when it recorded man's first steps on the Moon's surface. The Apollo 11 mission was a milestone in history and the Speedmaster became the first watch (and the only watch since) to be worn on the Moon. With this unique accomplishment came a unique nickname: the Moon Watch.
The present watch is from the second series of the Speedmaster Professional line, launched in 1963 and featuring luminous spade hands and straight lugs, highly popular amongst collectors. The second series, launched in 1966, as well as all following Speedmaster models are distinguished by their facetted lugs.
On 1st March 1965, Omega's Speedmaster chronograph was "flight-qualified by NASA for all manned space missions" as the only wristwatch to have withstood all of the U.S. space agency's severe tests under conditions of zero gravity and magnetic fields, extreme shocks, vibrations and temperatures ranging from -18 to +93 degrees Celsius. In the same month, the watch was for the first time worn officially on board the Gemini 3 mission.
In April 1970, the Omega Speedmaster rescued the Apollo 13 mission from a potential disaster, earning Omega the "Snoopy Award", the highest distinction awarded by the NASA astronauts. In another historical event, the Speedmaster was worn on the wrists of both the American astronaut Tom Stafford and the Russian cosmonaut Alexei Leonov during the historic Apollo-Soyuz space rendezvous. This was the first time the cosmonauts also wore the Omega Speedmaster. Ever since, the Speedmaster has been the official chronograph of all Russian manned space missions. The greatest moment in the Speedmaster's history was undoubtedly 21 July 1969 at 02:56 GMT, when it recorded man's first steps on the Moon's surface. The Apollo 11 mission was a milestone in history and the Speedmaster became the first watch (and the only watch since) to be worn on the Moon. With this unique accomplishment came a unique nickname: the Moon Watch.
The present watch is from the second series of the Speedmaster Professional line, launched in 1963 and featuring luminous spade hands and straight lugs, highly popular amongst collectors. The second series, launched in 1966, as well as all following Speedmaster models are distinguished by their facetted lugs.