- First launched in 1957, the OMEGA Speedmaster made history when astronaut Wally Schirra wore it during the Mercury-Atlas 8 mission in 1962, marking the first time an OMEGA watch ventured into space.
- OMEGA’s 2024 release, The First OMEGA in Space, honours the original CK 2998 model with vintage-inspired features like the “Dot Over Ninety” tachymeter and a grey-blue dial.
- Starting at $12,500 for the steel on leather model.
First launched in 1957, the OMEGA Speedmaster emerged during the height of the global Space Race; when nations were desperate to be the first to explore the cosmos, and precision and reliability were of the utmost importance.
But before this iconic release would earn its enduring nickname, ‘The Moonwatch’, 11 years later, the OMEGA Speedmaster first had a lesser-known mission; one that would later define its entire trajectory.
The Swiss Luxury watchmaker’s prized release first left Earth’s atmosphere through an American astronaut named Wally Schirra, who wore his Speedmaster during the Mercury-Atlas 8 mission in 1962.
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As part of the United States’ first manned space program, this mission marked the first time an OMEGA had ventured into space, completing six orbits of Earth over nine hours, 13 minutes and 11 seconds – a significant milestone as NASA prepared for more ambitious space exploration.
In the years that followed, this revered timepiece would earn the eternal accolade as the ‘First Watch to Land on the Moon’ during the Apollo 11 mission, and has since been worn on all six moon landings to reach an eternal legacy, not only in space exploration, but also in the esteemed world of haute horlogerie.
Now, more than 60 years later, OMEGA is honouring the original CK-2998 model, with a contemporary remake of this timeless design. Named, rather appropriately, The First OMEGA in Space, this 2024 release is the return of a legend – a fitting tribute to one of the first Speedmasters in history.
The 39.70 mm case is crafted from polished and brushed stainless steel, and can be paired with either a black or brown leather strap or the brand’s “flat links” bracelet.
It’s a stunning release to an iconic collection, as OMEGA has reintroduced signature features from Schirra’s personal piece – the legendary tachymeter scale with an emblematic “Dot Over Ninety”, a vintage OMEGA logo on the dial and crown, and a sapphire crystal that mirrors the classic domed shape of the 1962 model.
On the dial, OMEGA has replicated the grey-blue tone of some CK 2998 models from the 1960s, sitting beneath three subdials – a 30-minute recorder, a 12-hour recorder, and a small-seconds display. Features that have become synonymous with the Speedmaster collection.
Powering this historic piece is OMEGA’s manual-winding Co-Axial Master Chronometer Calibre 3861, an updated evolution of the Calibre 321 that accompanied astronauts on their space voyages, that boasts up to 50 hours in the bank to accompany the wearer in the final frontier.
With prices starting at $12,500 for the steel on leather strap models, increasing to $13,075 for steel on steel, OMEGA’s Speedmaster Anniversary Series pays homage to the brand’s pioneering roots, whilst taking this historic collection to indelible new heights.