Deconstruction Omega Speedmaster Professional. Dimensions: 42mm diameter; 13mm thick. Perspex glass. Luminova on hands and indexes. Caliber: Manual wound chronograph caliber 1861. Original Omega bracelet. Lug width: 20mm. The case back is secured using a key with 6 fingers to screw onto the case centre. Full details and images of the Omega caliber 1863.
Omega Speedmaster Professional Ref. 145.012ManufacturerAlso calledMoon watchIntroduced1957MovementOmega caliber 321, 861, 1861, othersOmega Speedmaster is a line of produced. While have been around since the late 1800s, Omega first introduced this line of chronographs in 1957. Since then, many different chronograph movements have been marketed under the Speedmaster name.
The manual winding Speedmaster Professional or 'Moonwatch' is the best-known and longest-produced; it was worn during the first as part of 's mission and was the first watch worn by an astronaut walking on the Moon during the mission. The Speedmaster Professional remains one of several watches qualified by NASA for spaceflight and is still the only one so qualified for. The Speedmaster line also includes other models, including - and watches. Ed White wearing an Omega Speedmaster on EVA during Gemini 4were first developed for use in artillery for battle, but soon came to be indispensable for use in high performance machinery, specifically by pilots, but later also by race car drivers.
Submariners, who also relied heavily on split second timing for what was essentially blind travel, were known for the use of chronographs. The ability to time, and therefore calibrate, fuel consumption, trajectory and other variables allowed for both more efficient travel as well as better pilots and race car drivers. When President decreed that would be the only permissible option for, the inclusion of a chronograph of some sort was virtually assured. Use in space Qualification tests Three years before the Speedmaster's official qualification for space flight, astronaut took his personal CK 2998 aboard (Sigma 7) on October 3, 1962. That same year, per an anecdote repeated by Omega press materials, trade publications, and NASA, a number of commercial chronograph wristwatches were furtively purchased from Corrigan's, a Houston jeweler, to evaluate their use for the Gemini and Apollo Programs.
![Omega calibre 1863 Omega calibre 1863](/uploads/1/2/5/6/125643333/397521648.jpg)
James Ragan, a former NASA engineer responsible for Apollo flight hardware testing, has downplayed this story, calling it a 'complete invention'. Instead, bids were officially solicited of several brands already familiar to the pilots who were joining the growing astronaut corps. Brands under official consideration included, and Omega, as well as others that produced mechanical chronographs. Submitted a pocket watch and was disqualified from consideration, leaving three contenders:, -, and Omega. 145.012 SpeedmasterIn 1966, Speedmaster reference 105.012 was updated to reference 145.012. These two models would be the two Speedmaster references known to have been worn on the Moon by Apollo astronauts, the original 'Moon watches.'
Speedmasters were used throughout the early manned Apollo program, and reached the Moon with. Ironically, these and prior models are informally known as 'pre-Moon' Speedmasters, since their manufacture predate the Moon landings and lack the inscription subsequent models carry: 'The First Watch Worn on the Moon'.Although Apollo 11 commander was first to set foot on the Moon, he left his 105.012 Speedmaster inside the as a backup, because the LM's electronic timer had malfunctioned. Elected to wear his and so his Speedmaster became the first watch to be worn on the Moon. Later, he wrote of his decision:It was optional to wear while we were walking on the surface of the Moon. Few things are less necessary when walking around on the Moon than knowing what time it is in Houston, Texas. Nonetheless, being a watch guy, I decided to strap the Speedmaster onto my right wrist around the outside of my bulky spacesuit. Jack Swigert with Speedmaster, prior to launch.
(8 April 1970)Aldrin's Speedmaster was lost during shipping when he sent it to the, its reference number being ST105.012, although it is sometimes erroneously reported as a 145.012.In 1970, after was crippled by the rupture of a oxygen tank, 's Speedmaster was used to time the critical 14-second burn using the lunar module's, which allowed for the crew's safe return. In recognition of this, Omega was awarded the by the Apollo 13 astronauts for 'dedication, professionalism, and outstanding contributions in support of the first United States Manned Lunar Landing Project.' In 1971, commander 's Speedmaster lost its crystal during EVA-2. For EVA-3, the final lunar surface EVA, he wore a Chronograph (model number 88510/01 with velcro-strap part number SEB12100030-202 ) that was not part of the normal mission equipment and that he had agreed to evaluate for the company at the request of a friend. Because of the commercial interests involved and the revelation of the, NASA withheld Bulova's name for years afterward. There is also evidence that were used as personal backup watches on the Apollo 13 & 14 missions. Therefore, while the Speedmaster was the first watch worn on the Moon, it is not the only one, as Omega often claims on its watches and in marketing materials.
In addition to issued crew watches, carried an additional Speedmaster to lunar orbit as part of the heat flow and convection experiment conducted. This watch was sold for $23,000 at a auction in 2009. Later models. Modern Omega Speedmaster Professional ref.
3570.50.00Also in 1968, Omega transitioned the 321 movement to the new caliber 861, also designed by Albert Piguet, with the introduction of the reference 145.022 Speedmaster. The 861 was very similar to the 321, but replaced its switching mechanism with a and increased the beat rate from 18,000 to 21,600 vibrations per hour. Most Speedmaster Professional watches from 1968 to the present have used variants of this movement, including the modern rhodium-plated caliber 1861 and decorated exhibition calibers 863 and 1863. A standard Speedmaster Professional model with Plexiglas crystal, solid caseback with anti-vibration and anti-magnetic dust cover, tachymeter scale, without date or day complications, and powered by a caliber 861-based movement has been continuously produced since. The -powered on the hands and index markers of the original watches were replaced at the end of the 1990s with non-radioactive pigments, but the fundamental design, dimensions, and mechanism of these watches have remained unchanged. In this form, the basic Speedmaster line has remained flight-qualified for NASA space missions and EVAs, after re-evaluation by NASA in 1972 and for use in the Space Shuttle program in 1978.
The current such model is reference 311.30.42.30.01.005 (since 2014). Numbered (not limited) edition Speedmaster with exhibition caseback showing a decorated chronograph cal.
863Omega has produced a large number of commemorative and limited edition variants of the basic 'Moon watch' design, celebrating important anniversaries and events, emblazoned with the different patches for the space missions it was issued for, or evoking its motor sport roots with various racing patterns. It has also released many models made with various precious metals, jewels, and alternative dial colors for the luxury market.Over the years, Omega has also sought to improve functional aspects of the basic Speedmaster Professional. In 1969, it produced the Speedmaster Professional Mk II, with shrouded lugs and a flat, anti-reflective mineral glass crystal.
In 1970, Omega launched the Alaska Project under Pierre Chopard, which changed the dial of the original Speedmaster Professional from black to white and created a removable anodized aluminum housing to shield the watch from a wider range of temperatures. In 1971 and 1973, Omega turned to automatic mechanisms on the Speedmaster Automatic MkIII and MkIV models alongside Speedsonic Electronic Chronometer Chronograph (marketing as a Speedmaster) other non-Speedmaster Chronographs such as the. However none of these proved as popular or long-lasting as the basic Speedmaster Professional 'Moon watch'. A variety of other types of watches have used the Speedmaster brand, including many different automatic day and day-date models, the tuning fork movement Speedsonic line, and the digital LCD Speedmaster Quartz (the Speedsonic and LCD Speedmaster where also prototyped in ten examples each under the Alaska project but not taken up by NASA). The digital-analog Speedmaster X-33 was produced in 1998; it was qualified for space missions by NASA and flown on the space station and during later that year.Gallery.
The idea sprouted some 40 years ago in the genius mind of a British master craftsman, who worked his way up to become one of the greatest watchmakers of the 20th century. Following numerous attempts to find an escapement that would perform better than the century-old lever escapement, George Daniels eventually designed the “Co-Axial”. This superlative escapement is now at the heart of the vast majority of Omega’s watches and a key element in meeting the remarkable quality requirements set by the brand.The escapement is without doubt one of the most critical parts of a watch, the brain of the movement if you will, although some consider it the heart. It is the device that determines at what speed the energy from the main spring is released. It works in conjunction with the oscillator, giving impulses to power it. In return, it is regulated by the oscillator.
Its role is critical in the ongoing quest for greater precision, stability and durability of a watch movement. Meh, I’ve never been a fan of Omega’s implementation of a coaxial escapement. Although the escapement avoids sliding friction, the locking mechanism in between impulses involves violent collisions of the sharp edges of the pallet stones with the arms of the middle two wheels.
Omega was forced to recommend oiling of the escapement not to reduce friction, but rather as a means of cushioning these severe shocks, which can in turn lead to premature wearing out of critical components of the escapement. Several watch makers have posted photos of these problems developing in Omega watches.For my dollar, the use of diamond coatings spearheaded by several manufacturers to eliminate friction and the need to oil the Swiss lever escapement is a much more elegant solution. The use of diamond materials to reduce friction also goes all the way back to John Harrison’s Marine Chronometers and is by far the more important technological advance.