Omega was never going to let the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 first manned mission to the moon pass without celebration, and the watchmaker has not disappointed with the unveiling of a golden limited edition to mark the historic occasion.
The watch adopts the design of the Speedmaster BA145.022 chronograph, and forged it using a new 18ct gold alloy developed by Omega.
The 42mm case, bracelet, dial, hour-markers and hour-minute hands have all been created in the alloy that Omega is calling 18ct Moonshine gold, the color of which is a little paler than normal 18ct gold and is said to be inspired by the shining moonlight in a dark blue sky.
The case houses the brand new hand wound Master Chronometer named caliber 3861.
This golden anniversary watch is a recreation of a watch made for a celebratory dinner at which president Richard Nixon was given the first production model of a golden Speedmaster with burgundy bezel. The second numbered edition was given to vice president Spiro Agnew, while numbers 3-28 went to NASA astronauts.
Each of the watches was inscribed on the back with the message: “to mark man’s conquest of space with time, through time, on time.”
The 2019 recreation has a clear sapphire caseback, but a ring bears the inscription: “Apollo 11 – 50th Anniversary – 1969-2019. The First Watch Worn On The Moon.”
Production is limited to 1,014 pieces — the same number as the original 1969 Speedmaster BA145.022. It will retail for the equivalent of CHF 32,000 without taxes.
No on-sale date has yet been announced, nor has it been confirmed whether this will be a boutique-only watch.
