Nodus retrospect ii3/27/2023 Back in 2019, Omega launched the Apollo 11 50th Anniversary in steel and Moonshine Gold versions. I had the great pleasure of selling one of those as a vintage dealer a few years back.Īs much as I appreciate the story behind the original, purely as a watch, I actually prefer the re-edition. A small number was handed out to NASA astronauts, and the remainder was brought to market. They were not allowed to accept such valuable gifts, so the watches were returned to Omega. Serial numbers 1 and 2 were offered to President Nixon and Vice President Agnew. This was the original Speedmaster Apollo XI. The original model (left) and the 2019 50th Anniversary model Moonshine Gold Speedmaster Apollo 11 50th AnniversaryĪs you probably know, Omega celebrated the Moon landing with a series of 1,014 full-gold Speedmasters in 1969. It does not feel like a retrospect best-of album, but somehow it is. Yet, at the same time, it is not a sentimental or backward-facing watch in any sense. I love how Omega brought back a range of features that aficionados appreciated in historical models - the stepped bezel, the female end links, and the dot-over-ninety bezel. I think this generation is absolutely brilliant and certainly worth having. There are no such issues with the current Moonwatch. 310.30.42.50.01.001Īs a vintage lover, I am often disappointed in how brands honor their heroes. But even if it were just any other watch, the CK2915 is a thing of great beauty and a watch that was far ahead of its time. Admittedly, there is a sacred nature to the experience because you know what would follow. I have had the pleasure of trying one of these ultra-rare Speedies on my wrist. There were no signs yet of the lyre lugs and white stick hands that would later become iconic. Other distinguishing features were the Broad Arrow handset and the straight lugs. This bezel was executed in steel, not fitted with a black inlay as on later models. It would become a template that later chronographs, such as the Rolex Daytona, would follow. The Speedmaster CK2915 was the first-ever chronograph to put the tachymeter scale on an external bezel. There was no connection with NASA or space travel whatsoever. Just to clarify, this was still very much a racing chronograph. This is the reference that started it all, CK2915. CK2915įor my second-favorite Speedmaster, we go back in time to 1957. This might not be the ultimate Speedmaster if money is no object, but it is mine, and I absolutely love it.ĬK2915 from November 1957 - Image: Phillips The original ref. It is a collectible oddity that adds a ton of charm and makes it a true conversation piece. What makes this version unique is its misprinted bezel, showing “220” where it should say “200” instead. This was quite a bit more attainable while still pushing all the right vintage buttons. When I bought mine, a 321-powered version was out of reach. This combination of caliber 861 and some pre-Moon vibes makes it attractive and a decent value in the vintage market. Luckily, this dial style made a return on the current Moonwatch. We also get the beautifully three-dimensional stepped dial, which would be replaced by a flat one shortly after this model. It is not of the caliber 321 variety anymore, but it does have distinct pre-Moon features, primarily the absence of any NASA markings. It is a transitional model from right around the time of the Moon landing. To me, this Speedy represents a bit of a sweet spot. But I can tell you why I love it so much. I will not go into too much detail about the watch itself as I have covered it extensively in this previous article. I cannot possibly start anywhere else than with the one that I own. In random order, these are my absolute favorite Omega Speedmasters to date. It’s not an easy task as there are so many to choose from. I will share my absolute favorite versions of one of my favorite lines of watches. For today’s Speedy Tuesday, I will go on a sentimental journey through Omega Speedmaster history.
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