The New Omega Speedmaster Professional Apollo 11 45th Anniversary released from Omega

This year is the 45th anniversary of the American moon landing. It's an important historic event marked by the unveiling of a brand new Omega watch, the Speedmaster Professional Apollo 11 45th Anniversary Limited Edition model. Omega was the watch of choice for all of the Apollo astronauts on the mission and the brand shot to fame courtesy of astronaut Buzz Aldrin, as a Speedmaster was strapped around his wrist as he walked on the surface of the moon. So it is particularly fitting that Omega should mark the moon landing’s anniversary with their new release. Displayed at Baselworld 2014, a jewellery and watch trade fair which is highly popular among luxury Watch Buyers, this commemorative Speedmaster Professional is designed to reflect both the hues of the moon and the materials which made up the Apollo 11 Lunar Command Module. Omega Speedmaster Professional Apollo 11 45th Anniversary

Construction and Design

The body of the watch is composed of a 42mm case constructed of grade 2 titanium and a black PVD dial, while the watch’s hands and indices are made of rose gold and the bezel of Sedna gold. The time piece’s screw-in-caseback is emblazoned with three special messages: 'Flight Qualified By NASA for All Manned Space Missions', 'Apollo 11, 45th Anniversary, Limited Edition, 0000/1969' and 'The First Watch Worn On The Moon', as well as Omega’s signature seahorse emblem. The strap is brown coated nylon fabric, which resembles the NATO-issued watch straps which have been worn by military personnel since the 1950s, and the titanium case echoes the metal exterior of the lunar module while giving the watch water resistance to the depth of 50 metres. The timepiece also boasts the Caliber 1861 manual winding chronograph movement the same as the one worn on the moon — and the watch’s other features include a sleek rhodium-plated finish and scratch resistant sapphire crystal. The power reserve is 48 hours.

Limited Numbers

Luxury watch buyers, and Omega watch buyers in particular, are sure to be keen to snap up this limited edition model but they will need to be quick off the mark as the Omega watch company have only produced 1969 versions, in reference to the iconic year of the moon landing. Each watch will retail at $7,700. The watches come with a two year guarantee, not to mention a certificate of authenticity and presentation box. Omega watch buyers will be aware that this isn’t the first commemorative 'Moon Watch' the company has produced; they also issued special timepieces to mark the 30th, 35th and 40th anniversaries of the first moon landing not to mention the anniversary of the first space walk and the 50th anniversary of the first Omega’s journey into Outer Space. It is an impressive fact that Omega remains the go-to watch brand for NASA’s astronauts working on the International Space Station, and its watches have been flight qualified for manned space missions since 1965.