Omega Speedmaster Professional Moonwatch Apollo 11 Review
Some watches are just out of this world. Let’s get a look at one.
In honor of the 50th Anniversary of the Apollo 11 mission, a limited-edition Omega Speedmaster Professional has been introduced. Let’s get a nice close look at it!
Omega Speedmaster Professional Moonwatch Apollo 11 Review
The first thing that I noticed before ever handling this watch was the careful craftsmanship and attention to detail in the presentation of the watch. I’m talking about the box that combines the tones of space-age material with warm earthy colored accents that offer vintage charm. It builds the right amount of anticipation for the contents held within.
Once opened, it’s as if a reenactment of Apollo 11 is taking place. The inside of the box depicts a very picturesque lunar surface in high resolution.
A further inspection into the contents of the box shows two mission patches and a metallic gold-toned booklet with a debossed impression of the iconic footprint of Neil Armstrong. There are also two engraved plaques displaying the landing coordinates and the time of landing.
At the very center of the box is a recessed area where you will find the Omega Speedmaster Professional Apollo 11 edition chronograph mounted on a gorgeous lunar module display stand.
The watch itself is quite breathtaking with its gold accents. A brushed and carefully polished stainless-steel case features a solid case back with a NAIAD lock assuring that the case back is properly aligned when fastened to the case.
The center of the case back is grey and decorated with a golden inscription of Neil Armstrong’s famous quote “That’s one small step for a man – One giant leap for mankind” circling around an engraving of Neil Armstrong’s iconic footprint. The words ‘Apollo 11’ and ‘50th Anniversary’ are engraved and filled in black around the top of the stainless-steel case back and the words ‘Limited Edition’ and the watch number i.e. XXXX/6969 at the bottom.
The front of the watch is even more impressive. The bezel is made of 18kt Moonshine gold with a black polished ceramic bezel ring. The tachymeter scale on the bezel is satin finished in Ceragold.
A grey main dial is accented with black sub-dials and a black dial flange. The applied index hour markers are made of 18kt Moonshine gold and feature luminous material at their tips. A unique index hour marker is used for 11 o’clock. A finely printed minute, seconds, and split-seconds track encircles the dial in a matching Moonshine gold tone. The same tone is used on the markers on the sub-registers.
Laser engraved behind a small running seconds sub-dial at the 9 o’clock position is an image of NASA astronaut Buzz Aldrin descending out of the lunar module towards the surface of the moon. The sword-shaped hour, minutes, and arrow-shaped chronograph seconds hands are in 18kt Moonshine gold contain luminous material.
Aesthetically speaking, this is a beautiful timepiece and everything from the lines to the polished bracelet with brushed center links blend beautifully into the brushed and polished lugs.
To remain true to the hand-wound original Speedmaster, the Apollo 11 limited edition Speedmaster Professional is powered by a manual wind caliber, the Omega caliber 3861 which now features a Master Chronometer designation from METAS in addition to a COSC chronometer designation.
This movement offers anti-magnetic properties which are resistant to up to 15,000 gausses. The caliber 3861 features a silicon balance spring with Omega’s Co-Axial escapement.
This 26-jewel movement is a 3Hz caliber that oscillates at 21,600 vibrations per hour and holds its power for approximately 50 hours.
In addition to the stainless-steel bracelet with a deployant buckle, this watch arrives with a comfortable Velcro strap which has a black coated cork. A loop and a strap changing tool are also included and both have Omega branding.
To find more information about this watch or for special pricing, click here.
To read a review of another Omega Speedmaster Moonwatch, the Apollo 8 limited edition, click here.
