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FeatureThe watch that went to the moon 46 years ago : Omega Speedmaster

An extraordinary odyssey spanning nearly half a century, let's revisit one of the greatest moments in watchmaking history

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46 years ago, on the 20th of July 1969, Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin stepped on the surface of the moon and created history. Both astronauts were wearing the manually wound Omega Speedmaster on board the Apollo 11 spacecraft. While Neil Armstrong left his watch as a backup on board the Apollo 11, Buzz Aldrin wore it as he took his first step on the moon. From that moment on, the timepiece became known as The Moonwatch, the first watch worn on the Moon. It became the most famous chronograph in the world. 

In the 1960’s when Nasa wanted to choose the timepiece that would go with the astronauts, it was essential to choose the most rugged and accurate timepieces that existed. Nasa ran tests for three years. Only the Omega Speedmaster Professional passed all these tests. Till date it remains the only watch that is allowed to go on space walks. Ethos is proud to carry this watch.

“The OMEGA Speedmaster’s legacy was ensured when, on July 21, 1969, it was the first watch worn on the Moon”

Like no other chronograph

With its black dial and iconic tachymeter scale, this 42 mm chronograph was designed to stand out. The indexes and central hour and minute hands are coated in Super-LumiNova which emits a green light. A hesalite crystal protects the dial which is enhanced with a 30-minute recorder, 12-hour recorder and small seconds sub-dial at 3, 6 and 9 o’clock respectively. The stainless steel case is presented on either a stainless steel bracelet or a black leather strap.

Each Moonwatch is offered in a special presentation box, adding to its exclusive appeal. The box includes two additional straps – one “NATO” and a black Velcro strap (which was used to strap the watch on the space suit). The kit comes with a tool to change the bracelets, instructions on how to do so, as well as a Speedmaster loupe, a stunning metal plate and a book highlighting the adventures of the Speedmaster and what makes the watch the icon that it is today.

In 1969, astronauts Neil Armstrong and Buzz Alrin wore the Omega speedmaster on board the Apollo 11. Seen below is a picture of Buzz Aldrin sporting the Omega Speedmaster Professional on board the spacecraft.

One of the greatest moments for mankind, the journey to the moon and back was, needless to say, also the most memorable moment in the Speedmaster’s history and for the watchmaking world alike. With many a extra-terrestrial exploits under its belt (it has been a part of all six lunar landings), it’s no wonder that the Speedmaster is the most famous chronograph in the world. It has in fact, always been characterized by precision, readability and robustness.

The watch beats to OMEGA’s mechanical calibre 1861, the famous manual-winding movement that was worn on the Moon. The engraving on the caseback encapsulates its exclusivity.

View the Moonwatch in action here:

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