posted April 12, 2005 12:14 AM               

I don't know if this particular model is still available, probably it is but you will mostly find the "Omega Speedmaster Automatic" these days, similar design but a more modern version.

posted April 12, 2005 11:13 AM               

Omega is offering the original wind version in special editions. If bought in a jewelry store the retail cost is approximately $3,500.

That would be the watch that your husband desires. It's very thoughtful of you to consider such a wonderful gift.

He's a man and probably doesn't deserve it.

posted April 13, 2005 12:32 AM               

On second thought, though maybe he doesn't deserve it...

Perhaps it is more of an anniversary gift than father's day (3rd is some kind of metal, right?) Besides, Father's Day is more of a tie and socks occasion, am I right?

It definitely is a striking watch, and I pretty give in to whatever he wants, but he may have to wait a little longer, build up the gratitude a little.

posted May 25, 2005 02:14 PM               

The Omega Speedmaster Professional special edition for the 40th anniversary of the first space walk

The special Speedmaster model created for Baselworld 2005 commemorates not only the 40th anniversary of the first space walk, but also the 40th anniversary of the Speedmaster's flight qualification for manned spaceflight missions. These important milestones are celebrated with a distinctive model with a blue dial and matching blue aluminium ring on the steel bezel. As a limited edition, this chronograph, like so many Speedmasters before it, is sure to be in great demand.

The Gemini space exploration programme was developed as an intermediate step between the Mercury and Apollo programmes. It was named after the third constellation of the zodiac, featuring the twin stars Castor and Pollux, in allusion to the two-man spacecraft. The main objectives of the programme were, among others, to subject two astronauts and their equipment to long-duration flights and to perfect methods of re-entry and landing the spacecraft at a pre-selected land-landing point -- both of which were important for later trips to the moon. The Gemini 4 mission that took off on 3 June 1965 was only the second manned mission in the Gemini programme, yet it nevertheless lasted 4 days, 1 hour, 56 minutes and 12 seconds and included the first-ever extra-vehicular activity. Not only did the historic press photos of Edward H. White's 36-minute space walk capture the world's imagination, they also stunned the people at Omega, who noticed he was wearing one of the brand's Speedmaster chronographs.

Having requested confirmation from NASA that White was indeed wearing a Speedmaster, Omega discovered one year later that its chronograph had in fact been flight-qualified for all manned space missions by NASA on 1 March 1965. In fact, it was a choice that was easily made, since it was the only chronograph that withstood the extreme conditions imposed by NASA's tests. Later the same month, the Speedmaster was for the first time worn officially on the Gemini 3 mission (it had already been worn in space by Walter Schirra, who had purchased it himself, on the Sigma 7 mission in 1962). Though greeted with considerable jubilation at the brand's headquarters in Bienne, Switzerland, this sensational news led to the most minor of changes to the watch: the addition of one word on the dial, turning the humble OMEGA Speedmaster into the legendary OMEGA Speedmaster Professional.

Even forty years after being flight-qualified by NASA -- and nearly fifty years since it was first launched -- today's Speedmaster Professional still bears more than just a striking resemblance to the models used in the Gemini programme. Equally, the legendary hand-wound chronograph movement used in the Speedmaster has also undergone relatively few modifications to bring it in line with today's mechanical watchmaking standards. In its current appellation, calibre 1861, it offers a power reserve of 45 hours and has rhodium-plated surfaces with polished bevelled edges, special wave decoration and circular-graining with gold-plated engravings.

The Gemini 4 limited-edition Speedmaster is characterised by its blue dial and silver counters for the 30-minute and 12-hour chronograph counters and continuous seconds. The blue theme is also continued on the bezel, with the familiar tachymeter scale reproduced on a blue aluminium ring. The commemorative nature of the timepiece is indicated by a subtle red engraving 1965-2005 below the Speedmaster name at 12 o'clock on the dial. The applied Omega symbol above the name, as well as 12 rhodium-plated hour markers, also add a hint of luxury and indicate that this Speedmaster is special. In all other respects, the watch remains a classic Speedmaster, with the same case, bracelet and hesalite crystal found on the "Moon Watch" -- the standard Speedmaster Professional model. However, one of its most striking features is destined to remain hidden most of the time, since it is the distinctive Gemini 4 mission patch, bearing the names of the crew, McDivitt and White, and an illustration of the first space walk, that is etched in colour on the sapphire crystal case back with the engraving "First Space Walk 40th Anniversary" and the limited-edition number (0001/2005).

In recognition of the 40th anniversary year, only 2005 of these models will be produced and will be offered in a special gift box. Naturally a must for any Speedmaster collector!

posted May 28, 2005 11:44 AM               

quote:

---

Originally posted by mikelarson:
Does anyone have an idea on price and availability?

---

posted September 12, 2005 09:46 AM               

The X-33, sometimes called the Mars Watch (as opposed to the Moon Watch, a.k.a the original Speedmaster Professional) was designed for use by astronauts and cosmonauts flying on the Space Shuttle, Soyuz, International Space Station.

Expedition Exchange maintains a fairly comprehensive webpage comparing the features and NASA history of the Moon and Mars models.

posted September 12, 2005 10:37 AM               

Before I bought the X-33 many "watch people" tried to talk me out of it. They had nothing good to say about the X-33 and told me that buying it would be a huge mistake. I was also advised that it was a terrible investment and that I would be lucky to get $300 for it in as new condition.

Well I bought it anyway and, although I've only had it for a week, I really like it.
One area of concern however is durability.

My prior watch was a Rolex GMT. For 20 years I just about never took it off. Whether I was doing desk work or working on my car I wore the Rolex, and it never skipped a beat.

posted September 16, 2005 01:50 PM               

quote:

---

Originally posted by Al:
Do you think that the X-33 is as durable?

---

I am not sure about its water resistance - it says nothing on the case - maybe it says something in the documentation. I have worn it frequently on boats (i.e. on the water, not under the water).

posted November 14, 2005 11:57 PM               

The set cost over GBP 50,000. Does anyone recall this set ever being offered to the public?

How cool would a new Speedmaster on your wrist every week of the year be?

posted November 21, 2005 03:59 PM               

• Serial Number 044 Apollo 8 Bill Anders U.S. Naval Academy, Annapolis
  
• Serial Number 060 Apollo 8 Jim Lovell Museum of Science and Industry, Chicago
  
• Serial Number 027 Apollo 10 Tom Stafford National Air and Space Museum, Washington DC
  
• Serial Number 046 Apollo 11 Neil Armstrong National Air and Space Museum, Washington DC
  
• Serial Number 073 Apollo 11 Mike Collins National Air and Space Museum, Washington DC
  
• Serial Number 057 Apollo 12 Dick Gordon The Omega Museum, Bienne, Switzerland
  
• Serial Number 068 Apollo 13 Fred Haise Penn-Harris-Madison Planetarium, Mishawaka, Indiana
  
• Serial Number 075 Apollo 14 Alan Shepard Kansas Cosmosphere, Hutchinson
  
• Serial Number 077 Apollo 14 Ed Mitchell US Astronaut Hall of Fame, Titusville
  
• Serial Number 045 Apollo 15 Al Worden on loan from Worden to the Smithsonian
  
• Serial Number 047 Apollo 15 Jim Irwin Penn-Harris-Madison Planetarium, Mishawaka, Indiana
  
• Serial Number 061 Apollo 17 Ron Evans Kansas Cosmosphere, Hutchinson

posted December 06, 2005 09:34 AM            

1. On the face of the dial
   
2. On the case back
   
3. On the winding button
   
4. Etched into the center of the crystal
   
5. On the movement itself, at least on the 321... I couldn't find one on the 1861.

posted December 06, 2005 01:40 PM               

1. I bought mine in about 1972, and the glass at the time had no Omega symbol etched into its center, my new glass has one since the latest service to the watch about 4 years ago.
   
2. The crystal is of course not glass nor crystal but some sort of acrylic.

posted July 30, 2006 09:02 PM               

Omega Speedmaster Limited Edition Professional Moon Watch Apollo 15

To commemorate the 35th anniversary of the Apollo 15 space mission, Omega is proud to present the Speedmaster Apollo 15, which combines features of the original Moon Watch ─ the first and only watch worn on the moon ─ with new features. This limited edition consists of 1,971 watches, in honour of the year of the mission.

Classic elegance, fashionable flair

The 1861-calibre chronograph, with its manual-winding movement, has a power reserve of 48 hours. The dial is black with red-gold hour markers and SuperLuminova luminous dots. The red-gold hands are also SuperLuminova-coated. The Speedmaster Professional Moon Watch Apollo 15 has three recessed, two-tone counters: the 12-hour counter at six o'clock, the 30-minute counter at three o'clock and the small seconds counter at nine o'clock. All have stylish red-gold surrounds that match other features of the watch. The 18-carat red-gold bezel has a black aluminium ring with a tachymetric scale.

The 42 mm diameter case is of polished and brushed stainless steel with 18-carat red gold push buttons and crown. The sapphire crystal case back is etched with the special Apollo 15 patch, featuring three stylized birds representing the three astronauts of the Apollo 15 mission - Commander David R. Scott, Alfred M. Worden and James B. Irwin. The case back is engraved with the words "Apollo 15" and "35th anniversary", as well as the number of the limited edition and the Omega logo in black. The Speedmaster Professional Apollo 15 is water-resistant to a depth of 50 meters (167 feet).

The sold-link bracelet with the special Omega safety clasp is made of brushed and polished stainless steel.

The Speedmaster Professional Moon Watch Apollo 15 is supplied in an elegant, matt silver wooden gift box lined in black. This striking silver and black box sets off the silver and black features of the watch. The box features the special Apollo 15 patch and the Omega logo in silver.

The Legendary Speedmaster Professional Moon Watch

On March 1, 1965, following two years of rigorous testing, the Omega Speedmaster was chosen by the NASA as the only chronograph to be flight-qualified for manned space missions. It had been the only chronograph to successfully complete the American Space Agency's stringent tests that included exposure to extreme temperatures, vacuums, intense humidity, corrosion, shocks, acceleration, pressure, vibrations and noise. The Omega Speedmaster was officially worn for the first time on the Gemini 3 mission, launched later that month on March 23, 1965.

The Omega Speedmaster, known universally as the Moon Watch, became the standard issue for all American astronauts and was the first watch to be worn during an EVA -- Extra Vehicular Activity -- (outside a spacecraft). It remains the first and only watch worn on the moon when history was made on July 21, 1969.

The Apollo 15 Space Mission -- "Endeavour and Falcon" -- 26 July to 7 August 1971

Apollo 15 was the second longest of all the Apollo space missions, taking 12 days, 17 hours and 12 minutes, and the first to use the Lunar Roving Vehicle (LRV), a car-like vehicle that carried scientific instruments for deployment on the Moon and gave the astronauts extended range for exploration. David R. Scott and James B. Irwin covered 27.9 km in the LRV and returned with one of the prize trophies of the Apollo program -- a sample of ancient lunar crust named the "Genesis Rock".

Since it was originally launched, the Speedmaster has secured a truly illustrious reputation as an invaluable partner in the field of space exploration. To commemorate the 35th anniversary of the Apollo 15 mission, Omega has produced a Limited Edition model of 1971 timepieces. This exclusive Moon Watch retains the traditional characteristics of the Speedmaster Professional chronograph with the addition of the Apollo 15 patch etched on the case back.

posted July 30, 2006 09:07 PM            

With alot of their advertising centered around the use of the watch on Apollo 13, you would think the company would have done something special for that flight.