Omega Speedmaster Professional 'Moonwatch': The Complete Collector's Guide

alaskaProject

The 'Alaska Project' was a covert Omega/NASA collaboration, the codename had nothing to do with the state. Four prototype generations (1969-1979) explored titanium cases, red aluminum heat shields, white dials, and even LCD displays. The Alaska III (1978) was the only variant actually used in the Space Shuttle program. The 2008 limited reissue was inspired by the Alaska II's white radial dial and rocket-shaped chronograph hands. Original prototypes are museum-grade rarities.

speedyTuesday

Started as a casual Facebook post by Fratello Watches founder Robert-Jan Broer in 2012. Every Tuesday, hundreds of thousands of collectors worldwide post wrist shots with #SpeedyTuesday. It became the first time a watch brand (Omega) collaborated with a media outlet to produce limited editions sold exclusively online. The Speedy Tuesday 1 (2017) sold out in 4 hours 15 minutes; the Ultraman edition (2018) sold out in under 2 hours. Both now trade at 2-3x original retail.

snoopyAward

NASA's Silver Snoopy Award is the space agency's highest civilian honor. Charles Schulz personally drew the astronaut Snoopy logo. Omega received it on October 5, 1970, for the Speedmaster's role in saving the Apollo 13 crew. Three watch editions commemorate this: 2003 (5,441 pieces, the total Apollo 13 mission duration in seconds: 142h 54m 41s), 2015 (1,970 pieces, the year of the award), and 2020 (unlimited but supply-constrained, with animated caseback).

apollo13Story

On April 13, 1970, an oxygen tank exploded aboard Apollo 13, crippling the Service Module. With most electronic systems shut down to conserve power, astronaut Jack Swigert used his Omega Speedmaster to manually time a critical 14-second engine burn that adjusted the spacecraft's trajectory for a safe atmospheric re-entry. Without a precise timing instrument on his wrist, the crew may not have survived. This is not marketing: it's documented NASA mission history.

theOmegaSymbol

On Hesalite-crystal Speedmasters, a tiny Omega 'Ω' symbol is laser-etched on the underside of the crystal, near the center. It's nearly invisible to the naked eye but can be seen with a loupe or by tilting the watch in the light. This is one of the simplest authentication checks and is almost never replicated on fakes.

militaryHistory

Though never officially military-issued, the Speedmaster was widely worn by US military personnel during the Vietnam War era. The ST145.022's production run (1968-1988) coincides with this period. While military provenance doesn't add a documented premium (unlike British military Omega watches), it adds personal historical depth.

caliber321Revival

In 2019, Omega reintroduced the Cal. 321 in a limited Speedmaster (ref. 311.30.40.30.01.001) after reverse-engineering the movement from an original example found in a space-flown Speedmaster at the Omega Museum. The revival Cal. 321 is hand-decorated and assembled in a dedicated workshop. These pieces retail around $14,100 and trade at a premium.