January 01, 2018

Omega Speedmaster - The collection that it truly meant for lovers of speed and adventure!

 

Omega has now divulged into various models, but what remains ever popular is the Omega Speedmaster Professional. It is an amazing value for a Swiss watch from a popular brand, full of fantastic details we will be talking through. 



The fascinating story of the Omega Speedmaster:

Legend has it that the astronaut Walter Schirra had decided to go watch hunting in Texas, a couple of months before the famous Mercury-Atlas 8 mission, knowing he would become the fifth man to travel to space. Perhaps wanting to mark the momentous occasion, he chose the Speedmaster Professional.

 

The Speedmaster, with its intricate black dial that was inspired by the dashboard of Italian sports cars, had a subtle and strong look that caught Schirra's attention. The Speedmaster is not only just the first watch to be worn on the moon, but also the same time, the most thoroughly tried and tested timekeeper on the entire planet.



Because Neil Armstrong was the first man to set foot on the moon, we all naturally assume that he was the first man to wear the Speedmaster on the moon. But it was actually Buzz Aldrin who was the first man to turn this watch into a legend. Neil Armstrong had left his Speedmaster inside the space capsule, due to an unforeseen technical glitch.

 

The successful Apollo mission led to the engraving “ First Watch Worn on the Moon” for its spectacular feat in 1969. It was after man’s first moon landings of 1969, that ‘Professional’ began to be added to Speedmaster’s name, and the spectacular watch we love as much even today was born.

 

Top 4 reasons to buy a Speedmaster 

 

  • The first watch to ever go to the Moon: Speedmaster Professional Moonwatch
  • Magnetic field resistance up to 15,000 Gauss
  • Rare and limited special editions with great return of investment potential 
  • The savior of the Apollo 13 mission

 

How did the Speedmaster become the savior of the Apollo 13 mission?

 

In an unfortunate incident aboard the Apollo 13, an oxygen cylinder self-combusted, and caused quite a lot of damage to the spacecraft. For the crew to safely return to earth, the astronauts had to calculate a new course, and also burn their rockets for exactly 14 seconds, failing which they would be sent beyond earth, to be lost in space. The Speedmaster was used to precisely time the correction, and it sure did live up to its name!  Thankful for the astronauts safely returning home, NASA bestowed the Speedmaster with their highest honor, the Silver Snoopy award.



How much does a Speedmaster  Moonwatch cost?

 

You can buy a  mint-condition Moonwatch chronograph for about $3,600, with the pre-owned versions costing a couple of hundred dollars less.  If you are a fan of vintage watches, you would definitely enjoy the Speedmaster Professional, which costs about $7400. You can also get the pre-owned version at around $6500. The much rarer models like the 105.012 and 145.012 cost much more, with Buzz Aldrin sporting the ref 105.012  when he became the second person to step on the Moon, with prices going up to almost $13,000. If this is too much for you, you can opt for the ref 145.012, which also was a part of the Apollo 11 mission, which costs around $9,000.

What powers the Speedmaster Moonwatch?

 

The  Speedmaster is probably one of those few watches with a spectacular caliber  1861 movement that is still relatively affordable. The 1861 caliber chronograph movement is great value for money at this price range. The need to manually wind the watch makes it far more personal and is not as loud as compared to most other watches 

 

Dial and Strap:

 

The “Speedy” as it is fondly known, has two dials you can choose from. The flat dial, and the step dial. You also have a wide variety of straps to select from. The most popular one is The Alderbury Horween leather strap which is reddish-brown. This strap gives the watch a suave and classy look and goes well with any outfit. You can also opt for the Italian Vintage Racing strap, which is more or less similar, except for a more sporty take on it.  For outdoor activities, we suggest you choose the Classic Bond NATO strap, which is a little more sturdy. 

 

Celebrity Usage: 

 

Although Omega has now divulged into various models, what remains ever popular is the Speedmaster. It is an amazing value for a Swiss watch from a popular brand full of fantastic detailing and has hence won the hearts of many sportsmen and movie celebrities alike, and of course even astronauts too. 

 

Tom Hanks famously sported the Omega Speedmaster MoonWatch on his wrist for one of his most famous roles as commander Jim Lovell in the movie Apollo 13. George Clooney, 

Daniel Craig and Ron Howard are also amongst the fans of this beautiful timepiece. 

Are there other famous models of the Speedmaster, apart from the Moonwatch?

 

There are quite a number of other famous models, other than the Moonwatch, in the Speedmaster collection. From intrinsically built manual chronographs to extremely precise quartz watches with digital and analog displays, to completely automatic watches with the latest, state of the art,  Co-Axial calibers, the Speedmaster collection has a watch for everyone’s taste and needs. Let’s take a look at some of them

 

 

  • Omega Speedmaster Mark II : 

 



In the year 1969, just after the Moonwatch was launched, Omega brought the Speedmaster Mark II into the limelight. The watch has a new look but still retains the classic chronograph, but in an updated form.

 

The watch features a dial set with orange hands, and the transparent tachymeter scale on the sapphire crystal lit up from underneath with the help of an aluminum ring that is filled with Super-LumiNova, Rolex’s in house patented material. 

 

The case as well looks completely unique with sub-dial rings and also an inner ring that was built to highlight the tachymetric scale. The stainless steel watch has a matching bracelet while the other comes with a bi-color bracelet made of 18K Sedna™ gold and stainless steel.  

 

Price: The price of the Mark II varies on the model and the make - ranging anywhere between $2000 to $8900.



 

  • Omega Speedmaster Racing

 

 

As the name suggests, the Speedmaster Racing was launched to honors the chronograph’s long-lasting connection to motor racing which lasted for decades– before the Speedmaster was worn on the expedition to the Moon or the North and South Poles, This watch is perfect for lovers of speed and high performing cars. 

 

Unknown to many, this watch was the first chronograph to have its tachymetric scale repositioned to the bezel, from the dial, which made it very easy for the person wearing it to read the time elapsed. This feature made it an immediate hit with speedlovers worldwide, and there has been no looking back since then. 

 

Price: Depending on the year and the model, the price of this watch can range anywhere between $2900 and $8000.

 

 

  • Omega Speedmaster Solar Impulse HB-SIA

 

 

This watch was famously built to support the Solar Impulse project, which was an ambitious dream of flying around the Earth in a plane that was powered only by the sun’s energy!

 

Heavily inspired the materials and the materials of the Solar Impulse prototype, the watch has a 44.25 mm case which is crafted from titanium, the caseback is easily distinguished because of its colorful Solar Impulse patch. The watch’s dial is made of black carbon fiber that is quite similar to the HB-SIA’s composite covering, too.

 

Price: Available with the choice black rubber, orange rubber or steel, this watch is priced between $7500 and $8300



  1. Omega Spacemaster Z-33:

 

Omega took inspiration from the original shape of the famous "Omega Pilot's Line" (Flightmaster 1969), for the Spacemaster Z-33. This watch comes with a brand-new multifunction quartz movement, also adding to this watch's undying allure is the case which is made of grade 5 titanium.

 

This watch is available with a black rubber strap which has OMEGA’ and ‘Speedmaster’ inscribed in red, and also a brown leather strap or even a grade 5 titanium bracelet.

 

Price: Depending on the choice of the bracelet and the make, this watch can cost you anywhere between $3200 to $4500



  1. Omega Speedmaster 57 

 

This new model of the Speedmaster has been launched after some subtle touches being added, like the  "broad arrow" hands and also a bold black dial, features that are mainly associated with the original Speedmaster Professional.

 

This watch is available in a wide choice of metals, like 18K red or yellow gold, lightweight titanium, stainless steel, and also a combination  of 18K red or yellow gold and stainless steel. Each model comes with a matching metal bracelet or a suave leather strap.

Is the Speedmaster a good investment?

 

Let’s be honest, if you are buying a Speedmaster, you are most likely buying into its historic heritage. 

 

The Speedy Pro has always been quite good in value preservation, especially due to its significant history. The demand for it has also always been there, with value loss bein 

Over the years, Omega as a brand also has been gaining value as the overall industry has also been hiking up prices. The limited-edition versions like the original Snoopy watch or new reissued one has significantly gained value as detailed in the pricing module above and are also highly sought out. 

In a nutshell:

 

The Speedmaster continues to become increasingly popular, with many new versions of the Speedy being released. Omega has chosen to build on the original design, which was both iconic and loved by the public, offering a variety of options with different dials, complications, and sizes.

 

The most important criterion for a watch is, of course, the design and the look, and this is the  Speedmaster’s biggest advantage. This timeless watch comes in a classic design that any watch enthusiast will recognize and that will compliment any outfit that you are wearing. This, to us, is truly a trait of an all-rounder watch, suitable for any situation. 

 

Overall, the Speedmaster is a great mechanical chronograph filled with stories to tell. Perfect to be worn for any occasion, with a legendary story behind each of its model variations, it can be a great conversation starter as well.

 

 If you are looking to buy a Speedmaster Professional Moonwatch, try and get a hold of a copy of the “Moonwatch Only” book that has great tips on how to choose and maintain this legend. The quality of the timepiece is a testament to the hard work and engineering that the great watchmakers put into it.