THE LEGENDARY MOONWATCH

No chronograph wristwatch has a more storied history than the OMEGA Speedmaster Professional. After rigorous testing by NASA, it was flight-qualified for every piloted flight. Its distinctions include all six lunar landings and a key role in helping the crew survive the troubled Apollo 13 mission. The first watch on the Moon was worn by Buzz Aldrin and it features in some fascinating tales . . .
The most famous watch in (or out of) the world The OMEGA Speedmaster Professional chronograph Buzz Aldrin was wearing when he stepped onto the lunar surface in July of 1969 is arguably the most famous wristwatch in the world, making it particularly ironic that its whereabouts are unknown. The story of the OMEGA Speedmasters long relationship with NASA has been widely reported (including elsewhere on this website). The Apollo 11 astronauts, Aldrin, Neil Armstrong and Michael Collins, wore Speedmasters as had their colleagues on each on of NASAs manned flights since October 3rd 1962 when Walter Wally Schirra wore his personal Speedmaster on his Sigma 7 mission, almost three years before the Speedmaster became flight certified by NASA, a status it has enjoyed ever since.
MOONWATCH

PROFESSIONAL 42 MM
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Buzz Aldrin has explained that just after landing on the Moon, the Lunar Modules on-board electronic timer had a breakdown. Neil Armstrong left his Speedmaster aboard as a reliable backup. As a result, the first watch worn on the Moon was on Aldrins wrist. It would be natural to expect that this timepiece, a true historic artefact, would have a place of honour in a museum dedicated to watches or to spaceflight. Sadly, thats not the case. In early 1970, Aldrin sent his Speedmaster, along with other personal items, to the Smithsonian Institutions National Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C. The famous chronograph disappeared en route, probably stolen. It is intriguing to think that the first watch worn on the Moon is very likely in private hands somewhere, possibly with someone who doesnt know its historic and financial value.

Its a Speedmaster so its probably still keeping great time. OMEGA sticks with a winning formula The contemporary OMEGA Speedmaster Professional could easily be mistaken for one of its namesakes worn on the Moon. It is powered by the OMEGA calibre 1861 which shares lineage with the calibres 321 and 861 which drove the early Speedmasters. Like the original Moonwatch, it has a 42 mm stainless steel case, a shatterproof Hesalite crystal and the full chronograph function which made the Speedmaster famous. Its black dial is complemented by a black bezel ring with a tachymetric scale. After more than fifty years, the OMEGA Speedmaster Professional is largely unchanged. Its hard to improve on a legend.