Lot 275

Omega

Speedmaster Professional

A legendary vintage wrist chronograph

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The Speedmaster reference 145.022 was an extremely long-lived reference and is regarded as the turning point in the continuous development of the Speedmaster. It is the first Speedmaster model featuring the legendary caliber 861, a cam switch movement that was easier to produce in large numbers. The Speedmaster reference 145.022 was produced from 1969 to 1971 and can be categorised as "before the moon landing" and "after the moon landing". Before the moon landing in July 1969 the Speedmaster models still carried the Speedmaster logo on the case back.
On occasion of the landing on the moon in July 1969, Omega launched some few Speedmaster models reference 145.022 with a new caseback design to commemorate the mission: the caseback bears a horizontal engraving of the words "The first watch worn on the Moon". To the collectors, these examples of the Speedmaster are known as "Straight Writing" Speedmasters.
The case and the bezel show some slight surface scratching as is appropriate for its age. The stepped dial is slightly patinated and the indexes have acquired a cream-coloured hue, which gives the watch a new, attractive beauty.

The Omega Speedmaster model - affectionately called "Speedy" by its legion of fans - was the first timepiece on the moon and is still the only watch ever to reach the moon. Since that day, the same standard version of the Omega Speedmaster Professional has accompanied all American astronauts during their flights in space and reconnaissance missions to the moon – from the Gemini spacecraft to Apollo and the spacelab missions and eventually today’s Space Shuttle program. This legendary wrist chronograph was developed in 1942 and declared "spaceworthy" by NASA in 1965. The story goes that a number of NASA employees bought several standard watches of different brands to test them in rigorous conditions such as temperature, vibration, shock, absence of gravity and magnetic fields - and the Speedmaster was the only one that proved to be up to the job. The "chosen one" finally set foot on the moon on July 21, 1969 on the wrist of Neil Armstrong (some say Buzz Aldrin), during the first manned mission to land on the moon. This exceptional, classic timepiece and its unique history will remain forever unrivalled - even Elon Musk's Tesla in space is unlikely to ever reach the Speedmaster's cult status. Roadsters come and go but the Moonwatch stays…