Marking the Swiss watchmaker’s first-ever chronograph model, the OMEGA Speedmaster originally debuted in 1957, though it wouldn’t be until the next decade that the OMEGA chronograph’s place would be cemented in horological history when a unit was worn during the first-ever American spacewalk as part of the Gemini 4 mission in ’65, as well as being worn on a moonwalk in ’69 on the Apollo 11 mission.
Currently representing the only production watch model qualified and approved by NASA for extravehicular activity, OMEGA’s Speedmaster Professional has been produced with a variety of movements over its nearly 65 years in production, though for 2021, the Bienne-based horological outfit has now unveiled the next iteration of the iconic Swiss chrono. The new Speedmaster range is kept ticking via a Co-Axial Master Chronometer Calibre 3861 manual movement which is now Master Chronometer-certified and boasts a 50-hour power reserve. In addition to the choice of either sapphire or hesalite lenses and a stainless steel or nylon strap, the watch is available with a stainless steel body, or more premium 18K Senda red gold or 18K Canopus white gold. Available now, the 2021 OMEGA Speedmaster Moonwatch starts at $5,950 and goes up to $45,300.
