Speedmaster
Omega's chronograph family, introduced in 1957. The Speedmaster Professional (calibre 321 then 861/1861, now 3861) is the watch worn on every NASA crewed mission to the Moon since Apollo 11 in 1969.
The Speedmaster is Omega's chronograph family, introduced in 1957. The flagship variant, the Speedmaster Professional "Moonwatch", is the watch worn on every NASA crewed mission to the Moon since Apollo 11 in 1969. The reference is the most-collected sports chronograph in Swiss watchmaking after the Rolex Daytona.
Speedmaster Professional ("Moonwatch")
The Speedmaster Professional Moonwatch is the flagship model. Current reference is 310.30.42.50.01.001 (calibre 3861, 2021+). Earlier modern reference 311.30.42.30.01.005 used calibre 1861.
Defining features:
- 42 mm steel case.
- Hesalite (acrylic) crystal on the classic version; sapphire on the "Sapphire Sandwich" variant.
- Three sub-dials: small seconds (9 o'clock), 30-minute counter (3 o'clock), 12-hour counter (6 o'clock).
- Tachymetre bezel, scale 60-500.
- Manual-wind movement (calibre 3861, previously 1861, 861, and 321).
Generations
- 1957-1968 (calibre 321): original Speedmasters. The 321 was a column-wheel movement supplied by Lemania. Pre-Moon references CK2915, CK2998, 105.002, 105.003, 105.012, 145.012 are heavily collected.
- 1968-1996 (calibre 861): cam-actuated movement replacing the column-wheel 321. References 145.022, 1450.022, 145.0022, 3590.50.
- 1996-2020 (calibre 1861): refined version of the 861. Reference 311.30.42.30.01.005 (steel) is the most-produced Moonwatch.
- 2021-present (calibre 3861): METAS Master Chronometer certified, updated finishing, ceramic bezel insert option. Reference 310.30.42.50.01.001 (Hesalite) and 310.30.42.50.01.002 (sapphire) replace the 311.
Other Speedmaster lines
- Speedmaster Reduced: smaller 38-39 mm automatic chronographs (discontinued).
- Speedmaster Racing: contemporary automatic chronograph variants.
- Speedmaster Mark II / Mark III / Mark V: 1970s-1980s integrated-bracelet variants.
- Speedmaster Apollo editions: limited editions tied to NASA mission anniversaries.
- Speedmaster '57: vintage-inspired re-edition based on the original CK2915 silhouette.
Vintage collecting
The Speedmaster vintage market is one of the most thoroughly documented in horology. Specific dial markings, hand configurations, and bezel inserts (long-tachy vs short-tachy, "dot over 90", "dot next to 90") significantly affect value. Reference 105.003 "Ed White" (worn by Ed White on the first US spacewalk) commands six-figure prices.
Related: omega, chronograph, tachymetre.