Of the many achievements top luxury watches have, nothing comes cooler than being the official watch provider when man took his first steps on the moon. That distinction is no other brand can claim except for Omega. It’s true-the brand survived the NASA’s tests, mostly under situations where your ordinary watch would break. Their weapon of choice was the Omega Speedmaster that soon earned the nickname “Moonwatch” for its role during the first landing on the moon and subsequent NASA operations.
Compare Omega Men’s Speedmaster Prices Online
Release date: 1957
Price: US$3,206.00+
When Omega released the Speedmaster, it was not intended for space exploration. What the company wanted was to put forth a successful release that would further establish Omega as an Olympic partner and a producer of topnotch sports chronographs. Little did they know than an anonymous NASA employee would put in the good name for the Omega Speedmaster as more than capable for accompanying man in space. The chronograph was tested alongside other luxury watches, and yet, not one has endured long and far as the Speedmaster.
Specifications
- Movement: Manual winding
- Caliber: 1861
- Power reserve: 48 hours
- Case material: Steel
- Case diameter: 42mm
- Bracelet material: Steel
- Water resistance: 50m
Pros
The Speedmaster is a knockout in terms of appearances alone. Its dial is not only extremely beautiful with the strong black dial as well as tachymeter scale, it is also readable even in the dark, a handy feature for professionals who need to keep time and be accurate while they’re doing it. The clear sapphire crystal lets you see wholly the Super-LumiNova coated hands and indexes, which really pops out and leaves with little to no doubt of the time you’ve just read.
Cons
For a man who’s long decided for something other than the Speedmaster, there is little we can do. But for those who are still wobbling about their decision, then we have good news: the cons aren’t necessarily deal breakers. It doesn’t have a date window, which can be easily remedied by a look on your phone. It can also feel smaller for aficionados used to larger chronographs. The caliber it carries is impressive enough, but it is not for those who prefer self-winding movements.
Compare With
- Jaeger-LeCoultre Grande Reverso Calendar
- Blancpain Le Brassus Minute Repeater Carousel 0235-3631-55B
- Longines ‘Legend Diver 36mm’
- Hermès Arceau Chrono Titane
Image credits: gentlemansgazette (featured image), Chrono24, Hodinkee, Hiconsumption, The Watch Source Blog, Omega (article images)
