Text by Ellfian Rahim
Few watches have shaped modern horology quite like the Omega Speedmaster. Best known as the first watch worn on the Moon, its place in history was secured during NASA’s Apollo missions. Yet long before it accompanied astronauts into space, the Speedmaster began life as a precision chronograph designed for racing drivers. Nearly seven decades later, it remains one of watchmaking’s most enduring icons, admired as much for its engineering as for the extraordinary moments it has helped measure.
From Racetrack To Launchpad
The Omega Speedmaster became the first watch worn on the surface of the Moon.
The Speedmaster made its debut in 1957 with the launch of the CK2915, part of Omega’s professional collection. Conceived for motorsport, it was designed to be robust, highly legible and precise under pressure.
Among its defining features were the now-famous Broad Arrow hands and a tachymeter scale positioned on the bezel rather than the dial — an innovation at the time. Paired with a matte black dial and luminous markers, the configuration allowed drivers to read elapsed time quickly and accurately at speed.
Motorsport remained central to the Speedmaster’s identity throughout the years that followed. Yet it would be an altogether different arena that ultimately defined the watch’s place in history.
In 1959, Omega introduced the CK2998, a refined successor to the original model. Three years later, astronaut Walter “Wally” Schirra wore his personal Speedmaster aboard the Mercury-Atlas 8 mission, making it the first Omega watch to travel into space.
That milestone proved pivotal. As NASA evaluated chronographs for use in its manned space programme, the Speedmaster underwent a series of punishing tests designed to replicate the harsh conditions of spaceflight. Subjected to extreme temperatures, violent shocks, intense vibration and vacuum conditions, it emerged as the only watch to satisfy every requirement. In 1965, NASA officially qualified the Speedmaster for all manned space missions.
The Moonwatch Legacy
Buzz Aldrin photographed during the Apollo 11 mission in July 1969.
The defining chapter arrived four years later. On 20 July 1969, during the Apollo 11 mission, astronauts Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin carried Speedmasters as they prepared for humanity’s first lunar landing. While Armstrong left his watch inside the Lunar Module as a backup after an equipment malfunction, Aldrin wore his on the Moon’s surface, securing the Speedmaster’s place in history.
The reference used during the mission, the ST 105.012, introduced several hallmarks that would become synonymous with the collection, including asymmetrical crown guards and the “Professional” designation on the dial. Powering the watch was the Calibre 321, a movement that remains among the most celebrated in Omega’s history.
The Speedmaster’s reputation was reinforced during Apollo 13 in 1970. Following the explosion that crippled the spacecraft, the crew relied on their Speedmasters to time a critical 14-second engine burn that helped place the command module on a safe trajectory back to Earth.
The incident cemented the watch’s status not merely as a symbol of space exploration, but as an indispensable piece of equipment. It is this rare combination of engineering credibility and historical significance that continues to distinguish the Speedmaster from its peers.
Beyond Space
Modern Speedmasters look almost identical to the ones worn in the 1960s by astronauts.
As the space race receded, the Speedmaster continued to evolve. The introduction of the Speedmaster Mark II signalled a shift towards a more contemporary interpretation of the chronograph. Influenced by Omega’s experimental Alaska Project, which explored ways of improving performance in extreme environments, the Mark II adopted a streamlined case profile that reflected the design language of the late 1960s and 1970s.
Among its defining features was a tachymeter scale mounted on the bezel rather than the dial.
Practical improvements accompanied the new aesthetic. The tachymeter scale was relocated beneath the crystal for greater protection and legibility, while enhanced water resistance broadened the watch’s everyday versatility.
Over the decades, the collection expanded to include everything from professional tool watches to highly collectible limited editions. Yet the Speedmaster’s essential design language has remained remarkably consistent — a testament to the strength of the original concept.
In 2019, Omega revived the Calibre 321, reintroducing the movement most closely associated with the Apollo-era watches. For collectors, it represented more than a technical achievement; it restored a direct connection between today’s Speedmaster and the references that helped define its legacy.
An Enduring Icon
Modern refinements, including a ceramic bezel and sapphire crystal, bring contemporary durability while preserving the character of the original Moonwatch.
Today, the Speedmaster occupies a singular position within watchmaking. Few timepieces bridge the worlds of engineering, design and cultural history with such effortless authority. Its appeal extends well beyond collectors, thanks to a design that feels as purposeful today as it did in 1957.
Nearly 70 years after its debut, the Speedmaster remains what it has always been: a tool built to measure time. Its enduring fascination, however, lies in the history it has helped create along the way.
