2019 Omega Speedmaster Apollo 11 50th Anniversary Edition
Ref: 31020425001001
Specification
Lugs : 20mm
Condition : Pre-Owned
Box & Papers : Box and Papers
Case Material : Stainless Steel
Warranty : Manufacturer Warranty
Points of Mention
This watch is sold with its original Omega box and Omega paperwork, plus all the extras. The watch comes paired on its original Omega bracelet with its signed clasp, all links are included with the watch. The watch is from July 2019 and is sold in worn condition, but overall very fair condition as you can see. The watch comes with its original Manufacturer Warranty.
The Watch
The Speedmaster was originally introduced in 1957 to compete with the chronographs in the crowd-pulling motor racing field, which was becoming ever more competitive as the drivers achieved higher speeds, therefore a need for accurate timepieces became all the more essential. Omega was the first to have the tachymeter on the bezel rather than on the dial. This was later adopted in 1963 by the Rolex Daytona. The Omega Speedmaster Professional was made famous for its 6 lunar missions. NASA in 1964 sent out letters to 10 watch brands, asking them to send in a Chronograph. Only four brands responded to NASA’s request: Rolex, Longines-Wittnauer, Hamilton, and Omega, comically Hamilton sent in a pocket watch. Omega continued to be tested with the many manned flights with all the specific requirements to achieve precise measurements.
Roll forward to 2019 when Omega celebrates 50 years of the first moon landing. To commemorate this anniversary they introduced this 310.20.42.50.01.001 Omega Speedmaster Limited Edition of 6969 pieces. It's 42mm stainless steel case has brushed and polished surfaces with a 48mm lug to lug length for a comfortable fit on the wrist. The bezel is made from polished 18K Moonshine Gold. The bezel insert ring is polished black ceramic [ZrO2] with an OMEGA Ceragold tachymeter scale. On the right side is a signed crown with recessed pushers for the chronograph. Its domed sapphire crystal is AR coated on both sides. The dial is grey with a black minute chapter ring. Slim applied 18K Moonshine Gold baton markers to mark the hours. 18K Moonshine Gold fence hands with a chronograph seconds hand that has a PVD-coating in Moonshine Gold. At 11 we have an applied number 11 in 18K Moonshine Gold. A recessed 30-minute register, a 12-hour register, and a 60 seconds register that has a laser engraved Neil Armstrong climbing down the famous Lunar module “Eagle” in 18K Moonshine Gold. At 12 o’clock we have Omega Speedmaster Professional. On the reverse, a screw-down case back with the famous words spoken by Neil Armstrong as he steps for the very first time on the moon's surface. “That’s One Small Step for a Man, One Giant Leap for Mankind” written in 18K Moonshine Gold-plated lettering. In the center, we have Buzz Aldrin’s laser-engraved footprint on the lunar surface. Inside a Manually Wound OMEGA Master Chronometer Calibre 3861 featuring a CO-Axial and column-wheel, COSC certified 26 jewels, 21,600 beats per hour. Decorated rhodium-plated movement with Geneva waves, circular graining, METAS (Federal Institute of Metrology) also certified this special movement with additional measurements of precision, performance, and anti-magnetic resistance. The continued commitment by Omega to push the envelope of a watch and its movement means it is still the only flight-qualified watch that meets the requirements for EVA (Extravehicular activity) – outperforming quartz watches, with LCD displays, which are vulnerable to temperature changes, and literally, get destroyed when on spacewalks. The watch comes fitted on its original Omega 20mm stainless steel bracelet with polished and brushed links and a signed push-button folding clasp Comes with its Omega presentation box with a stylised Lunar Module for your watch to sit on and papers.
Personal Note
Omega does release a lot of limited editions, especially in the Speedmaster range, but wow this watch really does blow almost all of them out of space as it is just so perfect on and off the wrist, especially with the flat link bracelet that they should offer as a standard for the Speedmaster. Clearly, others agree and this flew away before it could even land on the website.