Omega Speedmaster: The Moonwatch Story and Collector's Guide
"Okay, Houston… I'm on the Porch"
When Buzz Aldrin stepped onto the lunar surface on 20 July 1969, he was wearing an Omega Speedmaster Professional ref. ST 105.012. That moment cemented the Speedmaster's place in history as the most famous chronograph ever made.
But the Moonwatch story begins a decade earlier, and its legacy extends far beyond the Apollo programme.
The Road to the Moon
Origins (1957)
The Speedmaster was introduced in 1957 as part of Omega's professional trilogy alongside the Seamaster 300 and Railmaster. Designed by Claude Baillod, it was the first chronograph with a tachymeter scale on the bezel rather than the dial. Reference CK 2915 featured broad arrow hands and the legendary calibre 321.
NASA Testing (1964–1965)
In 1964, NASA began searching for a chronograph that could withstand the rigours of spaceflight. The agency purchased several watches from Houston jewellers — no brand knew it was being tested. The Speedmaster was subjected to:
- Temperatures from -18°C to +93°C
- 40g shock impacts
- Vibration at varying frequencies
- Vacuum conditions simulating space
- High humidity and oxygen atmospheres
The Omega Speedmaster was the only watch to pass every test. On 1 March 1965, it was officially "Flight Qualified for All Manned Space Missions."
Apollo 13: The 14-Second Burn
During the Apollo 13 crisis, astronaut Jack Swigert used his Speedmaster to time a critical 14-second engine burn that corrected the spacecraft's trajectory for re-entry. Without the Speedmaster's reliability, the crew might not have returned safely.
Key Speedmaster References
The Holy Trinity of Vintage Speedmasters
- CK 2915 (1957–1959) — the original, with broad arrow hands. Prices: £80,000–£300,000+
- ST 105.003 (1964–1966) — the "Ed White" reference, worn during the first American spacewalk
- ST 105.012 (1967–1969) — the actual Moonwatch reference
Modern References
- 310.30.42.50.01.001 — the current Moonwatch Professional with calibre 3861 (Master Chronometer)
- 310.30.42.50.01.002 — sapphire sandwich (display caseback)
- Speedmaster '57 — vintage-inspired 40.5mm with calibre 9906
Special Editions Worth Knowing
- Silver Snoopy Award (ref. 310.32.42.50.02.001) — celebrates NASA's Silver Snoopy Award given to Omega. Features an animated Snoopy on the caseback orbiting the moon.
- Ultraman — orange-accented tribute to the Japanese TV series
- Alaska Project — white-dialled prototype originally designed for extreme temperature resistance
Why Collectors Love the Speedmaster
Accessibility
Unlike Rolex Daytonas or Patek Nautiluses, the Speedmaster Professional is available at retail. At approximately £5,900, it represents extraordinary value for a manually wound chronograph with genuine space heritage.
Versatility
The Speedmaster works with everything — NATO straps, leather, the original bracelet. It transitions from a boardroom to a weekend hike without missing a beat.
Community
The Speedmaster has one of the most passionate collector communities in horology. Online forums, Instagram accounts and annual gatherings celebrate the watch's history and variations.
Depth of Collection
With over 60 years of production, the Speedmaster offers endless collecting depth. Dial variations, case references, movement changes and limited editions provide a lifetime of discovery.
Servicing and Care
The manually wound calibre 3861 (and its predecessor, the 1861) is one of the most robust chronograph movements ever made. Service intervals:
- Recommended: every 5–8 years
- Service cost: approximately £400–£600 through Omega
- Water resistance: 50 metres (hesalite model) — not a dive watch
Our Speedmaster Collection
Sterling Diamond maintains a rotating selection of Speedmaster references, from vintage calibre 321 examples to current production models. Each is serviced, authenticated and presented with our guarantee.
Sterling Diamond — Burlington Arcade, Mayfair, London
