OMEGA | Speedmaster Professional

OMEGA

Speedmaster Professional

Text by OPENERS

The "Speedmaster Professional," famously known as the wristwatch that accompanied humanity's first steps on the moon in 1969. To this day, it remains NASA's sole designated official watch, and its wear is mandatory for astronauts during extravehicular activities.

However, the Speedmaster's origins predate the moon landing by over a decade, first appearing in 1957. It was initially introduced as a high-performance chronograph, unusually equipped with a 12-hour counter for its time. The bezel featured a tachymeter scale for speed measurement, endowing it with the specifications of a sports watch suitable for racing scenes.

It subsequently passed NASA's selection tests for a timepiece capable of withstanding the harsh conditions of space, officially earning its accolades in 1965 for "accuracy, unparalleled reliability, exceptional robustness, and ease of operation," and was formally adopted as NASA's official equipment.

While the Speedmaster Professional is still known by its nickname "Moonwatch," its status as NASA's official equipment means its functionality and design remain largely unchanged from its original iteration. Indeed, even within today's watchmaking landscape, sporty chronographs with manual winding are exceedingly rare, establishing its unique individuality.

The simple, highly legible dial design evokes a relatively retro image by today's standards. Yet, it has consistently been recognized as a staple item in business settings across eras, reigning as OMEGA's flagship model beloved by all generations.