October 22, 2020
The Omega Speedmaster Moonwatch 50th Anniversary is already a reality.
It was a shouting secret, we were all looking forward to it. But like all good things, it has been a bit of a long time coming.
Omega's best-loved dog is back to celebrate 50 years of the prestigious Omega award. Silver Snoopy Award NASA awards for the important role of the Speedmaster in the Apollo 13 mission and the firm's contributions to the space race.
DO YOU KNOW THE STORY OF OMEGA AND APOLLO 13?
In 1970 NASA sent its astronauts on a highly successful mission to the moon in the Saturn V. But a fault in one of the oxygen tanks meant that the relaxed atmosphere with which the astronauts had been joking for days ended with the famous words «Houston, we have a problem.
The return to Earth was necessary and the fuel calculation had to be precise. All electronic devices had to be switched off to save energy and only mechanical elements could be used. Time had to be timed accurately. 14 seconds exactly...
And it was the Omega Speedmaster carried by the astronauts that provided the precision they needed in those fateful seconds. Fortunately, the rest is history, and the astronauts returned home safely.
BUT WHAT IS THE RELATIONSHIP WITH SNOOPY?
NASA starts a safety programme for its employees who, upon completion of the programme, receive a diploma with the following information Peanuts in an astranaut costume. Even its creator Schulz drew some Snoopy strips on the moon to encourage support for this programme.
Snoopy and his fellow adventurers became adopted members of NASA and their image is associated with them to this day.
In 2015 Omega launches one of its most coveted pieces of all time, the Omega Speedmaster Snoopy Silver Award Special Edition with some of the highlights of the mission, such as the slogan Failure is not an option, the 14 seconds marked on the watch face and, of course, a friendly Snoopy resting on one of the chronograph counters.
This particular year, 2020, Omega is commemorating the Speedmaster's landmark date with a model that will undoubtedly be the object of desire for collectors and watch lovers.
With the conservative aesthetics of the first Speedmaster, but with a robust 42 mm stainless steel case. A sporty blue strap and matching counters stand out against an engraved silver wait.
As in the previous version, the mascot appears in his astronaut suit, just like on the bottom of the box where he appears in orbit with his little rocket heading for the moon. The special feature is that the use of the second hand causes Snoopy to travel through the background and the Earth to rotate every minute in turn.
In terms of technical characteristics, the model features the latest calibre 3861 Co-Axial Master Chronometer, the latest Moonwatch. 50 hours of power reserve for a hand-wound watch. A delight in the hands of watch lovers.
And to round off such a special piece, Omega offers different NATO straps to personalise it. Will you be able to choose?
