Omega Speedmaster Moonwatch 50th Anniversary Limited: A Moon-Shot Special

Then and now, the Omega Speedmaster is the flagship of its brand. Launched in 1957 and celebrated in 2007, the Speedmaster’s intervening 50-year career is the stuff of legend. The Moon. NASA, ESA, Soyuz, Mercury, Apollo, the Shuttle, Mir, Skylab, and the International Space Station.

The Omega Speedmaster has been there and done that.

And the Omega Speedmaster Moonwatch 50th Anniversary Limited Edition of 1957 units is a loving tribute to an unrivaled legacy. Far more than a slavish “factory replica” or badge-job, the Moonwatch 50th is a premium sports chronograph with the gravitas to stand on its own four lugs.

Start with the simple refinements; Omega has graced this individually-numbered piece with a lustrous black enamel dial, sapphire crystal, and a chronometer-grade co-axial movement. No NASA-certified Speedmaster Professional boasts any of those assets.

And it continues. As a true do-it-all usable collectable, this Omega Speedmaster is water resistant to 100 meters. Standard Speedmaster Professionals are rated to only 50 meters

Want historical references? They’re present, but they’re subtle. Omega employs a vintage-style font and Greek letter logo at 12 o’clock as discreet references.

Omega wisely grasped that the Speedmaster line is defined by the history and heritage of the Moonwatch, so the 50th takes the physical form of Omega’s rock star model. The overall aesthetic of the 50th Anniversary model is that of the Moonwatch, not the Seamaster-inflected (read: broad arrow hands) 39mm 1957 original.

Inside the 42mm case of the anniversary Omega Speedmaster, an Omega co-axial caliber 3201 keeps the beat. It’s a manual-wind movement, and unlike the Lemania ebauche in the traditional Moonwatch, this one is an in-house caliber exclusive to Omega. Moreover, this Cal. 3201 is finished to an exquisite standard seen on none of the NASA-certified Moonwatches or their civilian counterparts.

The sapphire case back (another 50th Anniversary departure) allows the owner to appreciate Omega’s masterpiece. Blued screws, linear Geneva waves, polished chronograph levers, and a unique blued column wheel emphasize that this is a very special Omega Speedmaster.

Most historic tribute watches feature a somewhat elaborated boxed set, but the Omega Speedmaster Moonwatch 50th Anniversary sets the standard. Even the Patek Philippe 175th boxed sets weren’t *this* cool.

Start with the box; its hippocampus Speedmaster logo is crafted from inlaid wood in a tone that contrasts with the dark coloration of the box’s timber. It’s nice enough to be a parlor showpiece in its own right… and that’s just the box.

Omega add real value and exclusivity with the 50th Anniversary Limited Edition tool kit. Almost a watchmaker’s starter kit, the set includes multiple screw drivers, spring pins, screws, a loupe, tweezers, storage vessels for the spare parts, and an accessory calf skin strap with full metal deployant clasp. Each piece is individually labeled with the Speedmaster 50th Anniversary logo.

See this Omega Speedmaster Moonwatch 50th Anniversary and all accessories in high-resolution images at The 1916 Company.