The Dark Side of the Moonwatch – Review of the Omega Speedmaster Professional
"That's one small step for a man - one giant leap for mankind."
On July 21st, 1969, Apollo Mission 11 started with three young men who were set to be the first humans to step foot on the moon. With the whole world watching, this became the first successful mission to the moon.
Meanwhile, the watch brand Omega made its own contribution to this mission.
But what exactly does this luxury watch brand have to do with the Apollo 11 mission?
The answer is simple. All astronauts of the Apollo missions wore an Omega Speedmaster Professional Moonwatch on their wrist.
Today, the Omega Speedmaster Professional Moonwatch is one of the most popular watches in the Watchindustry as well as from Omega. With a hand-wound chronograph movement, this watch has its unique caliber. Besides being a high-quality watch, it's the history of this model, particularly its design for the Apollo 11 mission, that makes this watch special.
The Brand Omega
The watch manufacturer Omega has a long history. The brand was founded in 1848 by Louis Brandt in La Chaux-de-Fonds, in Neuchâtel, Switzerland. Even then, Omega was known for their exceptional movements and innovations. Already in the late 1900s, they were eager to experiment with their movements.
This is why they have reached some milestones. For example, in 1894 they introduced the first industrial caliper to be produced in series. In addition, they created the first-ever split-second chronograph and invented the Co-axial escapement.
With this spirit for innovation, the history of Omega continues. To this day, Omega is known for their excellent craftsmanship, high precision, and tradition as a watchmaker brand.
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How the Moonwatch Came to Life
Looking at the brand Omega, one watch stands out: the Omega Speedmaster. But today we will focus on the Omega Speedmaster Professional Moonwatch.
The name of this watch stems from its contribution to the moon landing in 1969.
But let's start at the very beginning.
In the 1960s, NASA was looking for a reliable wristwatch for astronauts to wear during all their space missions.
They tested various watches, and in the end, the Omega Speedmaster proved itself against brands known for their reliability, such as Rolex. Check out our detailed comparison between Rolex and Omega.
Thus, the Omega Speedmaster was chosen as the official wristwatch for NASA astronauts.
The Moonwatch was worn by astronauts Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin, and Michael Collins during the Apollo 11 mission, which became the first successful moon landing and contributed to the Omega Speedmaster's legendary status.
The most famous Speedmaster Moonwatch is the reference number 145.012. Later, they developed the reference number 105.012. This watch was based on the original Moonwatch but had larger pushers and better flank protection.
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Technology and quality
From a technical standpoint, the Speedmaster Professional Moonwatch is an exceptional piece.
Let's compare the latest variant of the Moon Watch to the original.
The latest variant of the Moonwatch is the reference number 311.30.42.30.01.005, which retains the design of the original watch. The most notable feature of the new watch is the new caliber 3861, certified to the highest Swiss standards, with the Master Chronometer certificate. Of course, there's no need to question whether the caliber works flawlessly. One aspect that Omega has improved with this caliber is its resistance to magnetic fields. Thus, the caliber is anti-magnetic up to at least 15,000 gauss. For reference, a magnetic field of 15,000 gauss is approximately what you'd find in an MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) system. It's very impressive!
Just like the original Moon Watch, the chronograph with the Co-axial escapement is hand-wound. It is hand-wound because there is no gravity in space to move the rotor of an automatic watch.
Like all other Moonwatches, the inscription “Flight Qualified By NASA For Manned Space Missions” guarantees the watch's reliability and quality.
What's special about the Moon Watch is that in its original form, it was delivered with a Hesalite crystal, not a sapphire one. NASA chose the softer Hesalite over the harder, more durable sapphire crystal for fear that the latter could break in space. Resulting fragments could harm the astronauts. Hesalite, however, is made of a special plastic, which ensures it won't shatter. This is why you can also buy the Moonwatch with a Hesalite Crystal.
Overall, Omega movements are known for their precision and reliability. With the Omega Speedmaster Professional Moonwatch, you get a very attractive watch with an exceptional movement.
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The Design of the Moonwatch
The Moonwatch is also renowned for its iconic and timeless design.
The most popular Moonwatch comes with a stainless-steel bracelet, a black dial, and a black ceramic Tachymeter bezel. The sleek stainless-steel bracelet lends the watch immense elegance, which is of course underscored by the intricate indices on the dial. The chronograph features three small sub-dials, known as totalizers, centrally positioned on the dial that display the elapsed time when the chronograph is activated.
Another distinctive design element is the enlarged pushers for the Chronograph that were introduced with the modified version of the Moonwatch.
This watch's design is simultaneously sporty and elegant. The Moonwatch is versatile; it can be worn casually and can later be paired with a suit for a classy dinner, remaining compatible with any outfit. In addition to its significant functionality, the chronograph adds a unique touch to the watch's design. There are good reasons why the Omega Speedmaster is such a beloved watch.
Configurations and Model Variants
Due to its popularity, Omega has released various different models of the Moonwatch. Nowadays, you can find the Moonwatch in almost every conceivable color or variation.
It ranges from dark blue to green, to red dials up to gemstone settings.
Meanwhile, there are multiple metals to choose from, along with some limited editions that present the Speedmaster in a way you have never seen before.
For the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 mission, for example, came a special edition, which accentuated with the design of the Apollo 11 moon landing reminiscent. You can find an article about all special editions under "Moonwatch special editions".
For those who like their watches to be a little unique, there are also gold variants and different sizes available.
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Preise und Wertentwicklung der Moonwatch – To the moon?
The Speedmaster's value development is not bad at all. The least expensive variant, a 42-millimeter diameter model made from stainless steel with a Hesalite crystal, is listed at 6600 Swiss francs. If you opt for the watch with a fabric NATO strap, you can buy it for even less at 6200 Swiss francs.
However, this watch is not traded above its list price. If you buy the watch new, you can expect a 10 to 20% decrease in value.
Still, the watch is performing better on the secondary market than ever before. If we trust Google's search queries, interest in the Speedmaster has risen by about 30% since 2012. The Moonwatch is particularly popular in Switzerland and Singapore, with Zurich and Copenhagen being the cities showing the highest interest worldwide.
All in all, the Moonwatch is not a prime investment if you're looking for a significant increase in value, but it also won't depreciate significantly. For years, you can enjoy wearing your Moonwatch without fearing a substantial loss of your money. Of course, the condition of your watch will affect its eventual value loss.
Conclusion
Die Omega Speedmaster Professionell Moonwatch ist eine echte Besonderheit unter all den Luxusarmbanduhren. Sie hebt sie von allen anderen ab, da sie die erste Armbanduhr auf dem Mond war. Und an diesen Legendenstatus kommt nichts anderes heran.
No matter which variant of the Moonwatch you choose, you will always possess a timeless watch that will never go out of style. At the same time, the Moonwatch is perpetually associated with its special moment in history, which is why it will always remain iconic.
So if you are in the market for a timeless classic watch, and you don't want to buy a watch that everyone is wearing, or perhaps you're shopping for your first ever luxury watch, the Omega Speedmaster is the perfect choice for you.
Quelle Titelbild: Omega
About the author
Alexander Weinberger
For me, the most fascinating thing about watches is the interplay between precise craftsmanship and artistic development. In a watch movement, hundreds of small parts have to be put together precisely so that they form a large whole.
