OMEGA Speedmaster Apollo 11 50th Anniversary Limited Edition

On the 50th anniversary of Apollo 11 Lunar Mission in 1969, Swiss watch brand OMEGA is unveiling a new Speedmaster Limited Edition.

The Speedmaster made watchmaking history on the 21st of July 1969. Today its pioneering spirit still remains through the use of a new material known as 18K Moonshine™ gold, an exclusive patent-pending alloy which is paler hue than traditional yellow gold and offers high resistance to fading over time.

This new Speedmaster features a 42 mm case in stainless steel and a polished bezel made from 18K Moonshine™ gold. The bezel ring itself is polished black ceramic [ZrO2] with a radiant OMEGA Ceragold™ tachymeter scale.

Two distinct zones make up the dial, including a varnished central grey zone and an outer black minute track. 18K Moonshine™ gold is used for the beveled indexes, vintage OMEGA logo and all of the hands – except for the central chronograph seconds hand, which is “PVD-coated” in Moonshine™ Gold.

Buzz Aldrin was wearing an OMEGA Speedmaster when he climbed down from the Eagle to reach the lunar surface at 03:15:16 UTC. At that second, his timepiece became the first watch worn on the moon. On the 9 o’clock subdial of this new Limited Edition, OMEGA has laser-engraved the image of Buzz on an 18K Moonshine™ Gold plate.

Distinct from all other indexes, the 11 o’clock hour marker is formed by an 18K Moonshine™ Gold number 11, in tribute to the Apollo mission. Featured on the caseback is an image of an astronaut’s footprint, which has been laser-engraved onto a black-coated plate with a moon-surface texture.

“THAT’S ONE SMALL STEP FOR A MAN, ONE GIANT LEAP FOR MANKIND”. Neil Armstrong’s legendary words have echoed through time. Now, they are written on the caseback of this watch in 18K Moonshine™ Gold-plated lettering.

Only 6,969 pieces are available in this Limited Edition collection. Proud owners will find their unique number engraved in black on the caseback, along with APOLLO 11, 50th ANNIVERSARY and LIMITED EDITION. Also engraved, yet blending in with the steel, are NAIAD LOCK, Cal. 3861 and CO-AXIAL MASTER CHRONOMETER.

The brand new OMEGA Co-Axial Master Chronometer Calibre 3861 takes the next evolutionary step for the famous Moonwatch movement. It took 4 years of trial-and-error to create the calibre’s most recent incarnation. OMEGA was determined to produce a movement of the highest standard, yet perfectly match the dimensions of the 1861.

That goal has been achieved. Now crafted with Co-Axial technology, a stopsecond function and OMEGA’s superior anti-magnetic innovation, the Speedmaster Moonwatch is resistant to magnetic fields of 15,000 gauss and has been able to reach the Master Chronometer standard, which assures the industry’s highest certified level of precision, chronometric performance and magnetic resistance.

The watch is presented on a polished-brushed metallic bracelet with a vintage Ω on the clasp: a design inspired by the bracelet of the 4th generation Speedmaster (ST 105.012-65). This new Limited Edition comes with another special option also. Inside the NASA-style presentation box, you’ll find an additional Velcro® strap with black-coated cork.

This innovative design is a salute to the Apollo-era “boost protective cover” – a fiberglass structure covered with cork which fitted over the Command Module like a glove, keeping the crew of the Saturn V rocket safe from the intense heat produced at launch.

The box also includes two mission patches (50th anniversary / Apollo 11), two engraved plates (landing site coordinates / landing site and time) as well as a strap-changing tool. Best of all, it houses the ultimate Lunar Model display stand.

Technical details

Model: OMEGA Speedmaster Apollo 11 50th Anniversary Limited Edition, Reference 310.20.42.50.01.001

Movement
Calibre Omega 3861
Manual-winding chronograph movement with Co-Axial escapement
Certified Master Chronometer, approved by METAS, resistant to magnetic fields reaching 15,000 gauss
Free-sprung balance with silicon balance spring
Rhodium-plated finish, bridges with straight Geneva waves
Power reserve: 50 hours

Case
Stainless steel case
Diameter: 42 mm
Between lugs: 20 mm
Lug to lug: 47.50 mm
Thickness: 13.1 mm
Domed scratch-resistant sapphire crystal with antireflective treatment on both sides
Water resistance: 5 bar (50 metres / 167 feet)

Dial
Black dial

Functions
Chronograph
Small seconds
Tachymeter bezel

Bracelet
Stainless steel bracelet with foldover clasp

Edition
Limited edition of 6,969 pieces