The history of the Speedmaster dates back to 1957 when it was introduced as a sports and racing chronograph, reinforcing Omega's position as Official Timekeeper of the Olympic Games.
The name "Speedmaster" was chosen for its tachymeter scale bezel and following the Omega convention used for other models such as the Seamaster - originally the Speedmaster was part of the Seamaster line and the Railmaster.
This first Speedmaster model - reference CK 2915, also known as the "Broad Arrow" - was designed by the Swiss Claude Baillod and already bore some of the typical features of the watch: the triple register chronograph layout, the high-contrast hour-markers, and the domed plexiglass crystal. The dial was an example of perfect balance and proportions. The model had straight lugs, wide arrow-shaped hands, and the bezel was made of steel with an engraved black print. The diameter of the case was 39 mm.
The origins of the Speedmaster
The movement of choice was the Calibre 321, which was introduced in 1942 as part of a joint project between Omega and Lemania, one of Omega's subsidiaries at the time. Caliber 321 is recognized as one of the best examples of a chronograph with a side clutch and column wheel. It was used as the basic movement by Breguet, Patek Philippe, and Vacheron Constantin in various chronographs. In 1946, the movement was further improved by adding protection against magnetic fields and shocks, which would later prove to be very important in passing NASA tests.
In 1959, a second version of the Speedmaster - reference CK 2998 - came out with alpha hands and a black aluminum bezel to improve readability. The diameter of the case was increased from 39 mm to 40 mm and, for the first time, Omega added an O-ring around the push buttons to improve water resistance.
Finally, with the reference ST 105.002 in 1962 and the reference ST 105.003 in 1963, Omega introduced the typical Speedmaster hands.
In the same year an asymmetrical 42 mm case, adding protection to the chronograph pushers and crown, was released. This is the case that remains, little modified, in production today. The professional marking appeared under the Speedmaster logo on the dial in the summer of 1965.
These were the years of the first manned space missions.
The solo Mercury space program was nearly complete (astronaut Wally Schirra had worn his own Speedmaster part number CK 2998 on his Mercury flight on October 3, 1962) and NASA was preparing for the Gemini and Apollo missions. Astronauts on these missions had to travel in space outside the ship and therefore needed a wristwatch that could withstand the harsh conditions of space.
Starting around 1962, NASA anonymously purchased a series of chronographs of different brands in an effort to find the best watch available for their astronauts in space.
In 1964, watches meeting all the prerequisite requirements were officially purchased by NASA and subjected to a series of tests and pre-selection processes called "qualification test procedures". Only three watches out of six chronographs successfully survived this arduous pre-selection phase. The finalists were then subjected to the most rigorous tests in watchmaking history.
On March 1, 1965, the test results were completed and only the Omega Speedmaster passed. NASA testers wrote at the time: "The operational and environmental tests of the three selected chronographs have been completed; and, following this test, the Omega chronographs were calibrated and handed over to three members of the Gemini Titan III crews.
James Ragan, the NASA engineer in charge of qualification testing, spoke of the importance of the Speedmaster saying, "The watch was a rescue plan. If astronauts lost the ability to talk on the ground, or the ability of their digital timers on the lunar surface, then the only thing they could rely on was the Omega watch on their wrist. It had to be there for them if they had a problem."
Curiously, Omega only learned of the Speedmaster's journey into space after seeing a photo of Ed White taken during the first American spacewalk on the Gemini 4 mission in June 1965. The watch was attached to the arm by a long nylon strap attached with Velcro.
Following this discovery, Omega decided to add the word "Professional" to the product name, becoming the Omega Speedmaster Professional.
The space watch
On July 20, 1969, the first manned lunar landing was certainly one of the most spectacular scientific achievements in the history of mankind. Neil Armstrong was the first to set foot on the moon's surface. Because the electronic timing system on the lunar module was not working properly, Armstrong had left his watch on board as a reliable backup. Nineteen minutes later he was joined by Buzz Aldrin, who was wearing his Omega Speedmaster Professional, the first watch worn on the moon. It was an Omega Speedmaster Professional with a caliber 321 movement. A few months after this mission, Buzz's watch was stolen and was never found.
That same year, in homage to the heroes of the moon landing, Omega created the Speedmaster BA145.022. This model was crafted in 18-carat yellow gold and featured a rare burgundy bezel, as well as an inscription on the case back which read: "to mark man's conquest of space through time, through time, through time".
This gold Speedmaster housed the caliber 861 and was Omega's very first commemorative numbered edition, with only 1,014 models produced between 1969 and 1973. The very first one was created for American President Richard Nixon, with number two assigned to American Vice-President Spiro Agnew. However, these watches were later returned to Omega due to the strict donation protocol of the US government. Model numbers 3 to 28 were given to NASA astronauts. Watches 29 to 32 were given to Swiss watch industry executives and politicians, without any numbers engraved on them. The public had the opportunity to purchase model numbers 33 to 1000.
In addition, to commemorate this exceptional achievement, the back of the Speedmaster Professional's cases have been changed. The engraved seahorse has been removed and the phrases "The first watch worn on the moon" and "NASA Qualified Flight for all manned space missions" were engraved. The layout of the text was then changed in 1971 to include the seahorse on the back as well. This design of the case back is still used today on Speedmaster Professional watches.
In 1970, after a power outage caused an explosion in the Apollo 13 and the crew had to evacuate to the tiny Aquarius lunar module to save energy, pilot Jack Swigert used his Speedmaster to accurately calculate the critical 14 seconds of engine thrust to tilt the shuttle for re-entry into the Earth's atmosphere. In recognition of this, Omega received the Apollo 13 Snoopy Astronaut Award "for its dedication, professionalism and outstanding contributions to the first U.S. manned lunar landing project".
Regarding this last point, it should be noted that one still wonders whether Jack Swigert really used the Speedmaster Professionals to calculate the 14 seconds of engine thrust or whether he used his personal Rolex GMT Master that he wore before getting dressed to go to the Moon, as shown in some pictures. As Swigert has never denied the official version, there is no reason not to believe that he was wearing the Speedmaster during the mission.
As space exploration continued to cross new frontiers, the Omega Speedmaster Professional was again selected by NASA in 1978 as the official chronograph for the new space shuttle program, after another series of rigorous tests. The Speedmaster was then subjected to additional grueling tests aboard the Russian space station MIR between July 1993 and July 1994. The success of these exceptional endurance tests was attested by a certificate initialed by the MIR crew. The Omega Speedmaster Professional has become the most tested watch in the world.
Omega has created a number of variations introducing automatic models, reduced sizes, a version with sapphire crystal instead of Plexiglas, as well as different dial colors and different case metals.
Omega also launched several limited-edition Speedmaster Professional watches to commemorate the anniversaries of various NASA space missions. In 2009, two limited-edition Omega Speedmaster Professional Moonwatch Apollo 11 "40th Anniversary" watches celebrated the first manned lunar landing: one in stainless steel and (7,969 pieces); the other in platinum and 18-carat yellow gold (69 pieces).
In 2019, to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the historic Apollo 11 mission and the first moon landing, Omega launched two limited editions of the 50th anniversary Speedmaster Apollo 11. Omega is currently designing a Speedmaster capable of accompanying man on a mission, scheduled for 2030, to Mars where temperatures range from -133°C to 27°C.
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