Omega Speedmaster a Brief History

Everything you need to know about the Omega Speedmaster

The Moonwatch – a horological legend that transcends time and space, much like the epic Apollo missions it was part of. If you've ever felt that irresistible pull towards the stars and have a penchant for history, the Omega Speedmaster is the watch that beckons you to embark on a journey to the moon and back. I'll confess, I'm an unabashed Apollo geek, my heart skipping a beat with every recount of those iconic moon landings. It's the story of human ingenuity, daring exploration, and precision timekeeping etched into my soul. When it comes to watches, nothing captures the essence of that extraordinary journey like the Omega Speedmaster, the timepiece that shared the trials, triumphs, and awe-inspiring moments of those intrepid astronauts. Today, we dive into the world of Speedmasters from the Apollo missions, exploring their unparalleled history and helping you discover the one that resonates with your inner astronaut – because, believe me, there's a Moonwatch with a story waiting to be told.

In the heart of NASA's quest to conquer the moon from the Russians lay a crucial element – precise timekeeping. Astronauts relied on their watches not just to keep track of time but to synchronize mission-critical maneuvers with split-second precision. Even on the fateful Apollo 13 mission, the Speedmaster was used to time life-saving burns that guided astronauts Jim Lovell, Jack Swigert, and Fred Haise back to Earth. The selection of the right watch for the job was nothing short of a scientific endeavor, with NASA subjecting timepieces to extreme trials before certifying them for space travel.

NASA's journey to choose the perfect wristwatch for astronauts commenced in the early 1960s. They sought a timepiece that could endure the unforgiving conditions of space, from the scorching temperatures of launch to the icy void of the vacuum. NASA amassed an eclectic collection of watches from renowned manufacturers, including Omega, Rolex, Longines, and more. These watches would be the candidates for a battery of tests designed to push them to their limits.

The selected watches underwent a series of torturous trials. To assess their mettle, NASA subjected them to temperature extremes that ranged from scalding heat to bone-chilling cold, simulating the inhospitable environments of space. Endurance tests were crucial, with watches exposed to relentless humidity, proving their resistance to moisture and condensation – a matter of life and death in the vacuum of space. But the ordeal did not stop there. The watches faced intense shock tests up to 40gs from six directions, mirroring the violent forces experienced during rocket launches, re-entries, and landings. Only those watches that consistently displayed unwavering accuracy and resilience under such grueling conditions made the cut. From the extreme testing, one watch emerged as the indisputable champion – the Omega Speedmaster, notably the Reference 105.003.

Heres the exact specifications of the tests if your interested:

1. 48 hours at a temperature of 160°F (71°C) followed by 30 minutes at 200°F (93°C).

2. 4 hours at a temperature of 0°F (-18°C).

3. Temperature combined with Pressure: 15 cycles of heating to 71°C for 45 minutes, followed by cooling to -18°C for 45 minutes at 10−6 atm.

4. 240 hours at temperatures varying between 68°F and 160°F (20°C and 71°C) in a relative humidity of at least 95%.

5. Oxygen atmosphere: 48 hours in an atmosphere of 100% oxygen at a pressure of 0.35 atm.

6. Six shocks of 40 G, each 11 milliseconds in duration, in six different directions.

7. Acceleration: From 1 G to 7.25 G within 333 seconds, along an axis parallel to the longitudinal spacecraft axis.

8. Decompression: 90 minutes in a vacuum of 10-6 atm at a temperature of 160°F (71°C) and 30 minutes at 200°F (93°C).

9. High pressure: 1.6 atm for a minimum period of one hour.

10. Three cycles of 30 minutes vibration varying from 5 to 2000 Hz.

11. Acoustic noise: 130 db over a frequency range of 40 to 10,000 Hz, duration 30 minutes.

Source: NASA

In order for the Speedmaster to be selected for NASA’s missions, it had to pass a series of rigorous tests, including exposure to extreme temperatures, shocks, vibrations, and more, ensuring it could withstand the harshest conditions of space.

Celebrated for its exceptional durability and precision, the Speedmaster's manual-winding Caliber .321 movement epitomized Swiss craftsmanship and reliability. NASA's arduous assessment officially qualified the Omega Speedmaster Reference 105.003 for all manned space missions, starting with the Gemini program. This marked the inception of its storied journey as the "Moonwatch," a timepiece that would accompany astronauts to the lunar surface, withstand the harshest cosmic conditions, and etch itself indelibly into the annals of space history. The Omega Speedmaster had been meticulously chosen as the timekeeper of the cosmos, ensuring that humanity's ventures beyond our planet were punctuated by precise timekeeping.

The Omega Speedmaster made its inaugural spaceflight appearance during the Gemini 3 mission in March 1965. Astronauts Gus Grissom and John Young, the intrepid crew of this pioneering mission, proudly strapped the Speedmaster onto their wrists. While Grissom wore it on the inside of his wrist, Young opted for the conventional wrist placement. The Speedmaster used here was the Reference 105.003, often referred to as the "Ed White" as it was worn by the late, great Ed White during the first American spacewalk and featured in numerous Omega advertisements.

From Speedmaster101:

"This is the last of the straight lug cases, and they were produced over quite a long period. While the case backs show a date stamp of -63, -64, -65, there are confirmed cases of watches released from the factory up to 1969. This reference clearly illustrates the delays some watches experienced between manufacture, shipping, and sale. This is the most plentiful of all the straight lugs on the market at any given time, suggesting that these were produced in much greater numbers than all the other straight lugs put together. It also means we have a very wide variation in quality and price. When looking at an Ed White, the first thing to check, of course, is the dial, and these are all non-professional, stepped with long hour indices and closely spaced T marks. There is no real difference between the values of the dates other than that the quality dictates. That said, certain collectors may seek out individual dates for their collections, but I do not think (so far) it changes values.

Calibre 321 Serial Range:

-63 2052 1xxx – 2052 6xxx

-64 2052 7xxx – 2282 7xxx and 2208 9xxx

-65 2282 7xxx – 2544 6xxx

Dial Stepped applied metal logo

No Professional text

Closely spaced T SWISS MADE T

Long Hour indices

Case Straight lugs, 19mm

Caseback- double step with Speedmaster engraved on rear

Hands Hour/minute – baton

Subdial – Stick, painted

Chrono – spear

Pushers 4.5 x 3.5 mm

Crown 7mm

Bezel Black BASE 500 bezel with dot over 90 (DO90)"

Now for Apollo missions, they all used the NASA standard issue Omega Speedmaster Reference: 145.012. (You'll find a list of the missions and retrospective reference numbers at the end of this article.) This is the Moonwatch and what I personally believe is the ultimate goal for NASA enthusiasts. I'll delve into the Apollo 11 reference later, but for now, let's talk more about the 145.012.

In my opinion, this is the easiest of the hardest Speedmasters to obtain. This model ran from 1967 to 1969, a considerable span for a reference of that era. It's the one you should be hunting for, as it was worn by nearly every major Apollo and Gemini mission.

Here are some quick facts from Speedmaster101:

“Calibre 321 Serial Range:

2406 xxxx – 27xx xxx

Dial Stepped applied metal logo

Professional text

Wide spaced SWISS MADE T’s

Long indices

Case Asymmetric case, 20 mm lugs

Caseback- single step with Speedmaster engraved on rear

Hands Hour/minute – baton

Subdial – Stick, painted

Chrono – spear, and square end spear fitted concurrently

Pushers 5mm x 3.5 mm

Crown 7mm

Bezel Black BASE 500 bezel with dot over 90 (DO90)”

To clarify, both the Omega Speedmaster Reference 105.003 and the Reference 145.012 were officially approved by NASA for space missions, and they played significant roles in NASA's space program. The 105.003 was one of the early models approved for space missions, and it was used in the Gemini and early Apollo missions. The 145.012, introduced later, continued the legacy and became the standard-issue watch for most of the Apollo program.

The Apollo 11 mission, which culminated in humanity's first steps on the lunar surface on July 20, 1969, was an extraordinary achievement. Central to this historic moment were the watches worn by the astronauts, Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin. While the Omega Speedmaster Reference 145.012 was the standard-issue watch for many Apollo missions, including Apollo 11's Command Module Pilot, Michael Collins, the personal choices of Armstrong and Aldrin for the 105.012 added a unique dimension to the mission. These choices demonstrate how astronauts often had some discretion in selecting their personal equipment for space missions, as long as the chosen items met NASA's exacting standards. The 105.012's association with the first lunar landing cemented its status as a legendary timepiece in space history alongside its "Pre-Moon" counterparts.

Details for this reference can be found [here](https://speedmaster101.com/105-012/).

To wrap things up, there are two main Speedmasters to look for if you're a NASA fan. But personally, for me, any Moonwatch made before 1997 holds a special place. Why 1997? Because they changed the luminescent material after that year. If you desire that vintage look with the rich history of the Moonwatch, then you can't go wrong with any pre-97 model, especially with the iconic 321 or its successor, the great 861 movement.

Now, let's take a trip down memory lane and explore the missions that wore these legendary timepieces:

Mercury-Redstone 3 (Freedom 7) - May 5, 1961

• Alan Shepard

• Omega Speedmaster Reference 2998

Mercury-Atlas 6 (Friendship 7) - February 20, 1962

• John Glenn

• Omega Speedmaster Reference 2998

The Mercury program had only two manned missions, and both astronauts wore the Omega Speedmaster Reference 2998.

Gemini 3 - March 23, 1965

• Gus Grissom

• John Young