Omega Speedmaster: the first watch to land on the moon

Omega’s Moonwatch is one of the most iconic and famous watches in the history of watchmaking. It is a chronograph that was the first watch to reach the moon, on the wrist of the Apollo 11 astronauts in 1969. Since then, it has been the official watch of NASA and has participated in every lunar and space mission.

Omega Speedmaster History

The origin of the Omega Speedmaster dates back to 1957, when Omega launched its first sports watch collections: Seamaster, Railmaster, and Speedmaster. Originally designed for motor racing enthusiasts, the Omega Speedmaster was noted for its ability to accurately measure speed and time. Its initial design consisted of a 39mm steel case, a black dial with three subdials and a tachymeter scale on the bezel, powered by the calibre 321.

NASA’s attention was drawn to the Speedmaster for its reliability and endurance, crucial elements for space missions. In 1962, astronaut Walter Schirra wore his own Speedmaster on the Mercury Sigma 7 mission, marking the beginning of the link between Omega and space exploration. In 1965, after passing extreme tests, the Speedmaster was officially certified by NASA for all manned missions.

On 21 July 1969, during the Apollo 11 mission, Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin took the Speedmaster to the moon. Although Armstrong left his watch in the lunar module, Aldrin wore his on the lunar surface, making the Speedmaster the first watch on the moon. On the Apollo 13 mission in 1970, the Speedmaster played a crucial role in piloting the spacecraft back to Earth after an explosion in the oxygen tank, earning Omega the NASA “Snoopy Award”.

Silver Snoopy Award

The Silver Snoopy Award is an honour given by NASA to individuals or organisations that have contributed significantly to the success of manned space missions. It consists of a silver pin with the image of Snoopy, the beloved comic book character and NASA mascot, in a space suit.

Omega’s Seamaster Silver Snoopy Award 50th Anniversary is a tribute to this long association. It features a blue ceramic dial with silver-plated indexes and a special Snoopy medallion, as well as an animation on the back that is activated by pressing the chronograph pusher. This limited edition commemorates the first lunar landing and symbolises the union and trust between Omega, NASA and Snoopy.

Features of the original Moonwatch

The Omega Speedmaster that accompanied the astronauts to the moon was the reference ST 105.012, a round-case chronograph made of 42 mm stainless steel. The Moonwatch also had an integrated bezel with a tachymeter scale, which was of great help during the space missions. Inside was a calibre 321 with a power reserve of 55 hours and a frequency of 2.5 Hz. This calibre is still one of the most sought-after by collectors today.

Omega Speedmaster Collection

The watches in the Omega Speedmaster collection are characterised by a round stainless steel case, with a rotating bezel indicating the tachymetric scale and allowing the speed to be measured.

The dial is usually black or grey, with three sub-dials showing the chronograph, small seconds and 12-hour counter. In addition, the hands are luminescent, making them easy to read in low light conditions.

Another common feature of Speedmaster watches is the sapphire crystal, a material that is resistant to scratches and changes in pressure. These watches can be found with bracelets of different materials, such as steel, leather or nylon, depending on the model and also depending on the taste of the wearer.

Omega Speedmaster watches can be found with mechanical movements with manual or automatic winding, which guarantee high precision and reliability. Some of the best known calibres are the 321, the 861, the 1861 and the 9300, which have been used by astronauts during their journeys into space. These movements have a power reserve of between 48 and 60 hours, and are certified by the COSC (Contrôle Officiel Suisse des Chronomètres), the organisation that checks the precision of Swiss watches.

At Ideal Joyeros you will be able to find, in addition to watches from the Speedmaster collection, examples of the different lines of Omega Swiss watches.