Omega Speedmaster is famous for its association with NASA space missions. The timepiece is celebrating its 60th anniversary this year with exhibitions being held in different parts of the world. The Hong Kong stop of the exhibition just opened its doors yesterday on June 29, and features over 10 historical watches on display. The Director of the Omega Museum in Switzerland explained to us the connection between Speedmaster and space exploration.
The first Speedmaster, known as the “Broad Arrow”, was launched in 1957 and was the first chronograph watch in the world with a tachymeter scale on the bezel. At the time it was intended for racing, but it did feature the same legendary manual-wound calibre 321 that was featured until the fourth generation and contributed to NASA missions. The second generation CK 2998 was released in 1959 with new “Alpha” style hands, and the tachymeter bezel was changed to the black aluminium that is still in use today. The second generation Speedmaster was purchased by Mercury astronaut Walter “Wally” M. Schirra as his private watch and he wore it on his Mercury-Atlas 8 (Sigma 7) mission, making it the first Speedmaster worn in space.
The partnership with NASA did not become official until the launch of the third generation. In October 1964, NASA requested numerous watchmakers to send them their best chronographs without explaining the details. The Speedmaster ST 105.003 model was the only one to endure all their tests, and so it officially qualified as essential equipment for NASA’s manned space program. Its fame went further when astronaut Edward White worn it for America’s first “spacewalk” in 1965 during the Gemini 4 mission.
The fourth generation of Speedmaster saw another change in its appearance, with its case on the right side being enlarged slightly for extra protection to the pushers and crown. It was the watch that became the very first to be worn on the moon during the Apollo 11 mission in 1969. Separately, the “Moonwatch” style was first introduced in 1968 with a new movement, the calibre 861 that paved the standard for future models.
Even today, various Speedmaster models are still regularly worn by American astronauts to the International Space Station and it is still the only watch certified by NASA. The exhibition also showcases other vintage Speedmasters filled with stories of space journeys, limited editions as well as the latest commemorative pieces. It runs until July 3 at the Oval Atrium of IFC Mall, Central.
