The history of the Omega Speedmaster moon begins in 1943 when Omega launched the movement “27 CHRO C12″; CHRO for Chronograph, 27 for the movements diameter in mm and C12 for the 12-hour totalizer. The movement was designed by Albert Piguet. From 1946 it was available with a shock protection system and antimagnetic balance spring. Omega’s name for the “27 CHRO C12″ was “321″. The movement was available in a number of cases ranging from 32,5 to 37,5 mm. The case for the Speedmaster moon watch was designed by Claude Baillod and in January 1959 Lemania started production. In 1958 began the sales of what was to be THE most well known chronograph. In 1960 the bezel was replaced with a black one, the hands were changed from arrow louis vuitton purses shaped to “dauphine” and the case diameter grew from 39 to 40 mm. 1965 began the work of designing a new movement and in August 1968 began the assembly of the first “861- calibre” movements. The new movement meant increased frequency from 18,000 (2,5Hz) to 21,600 (3Hz) vibrations per hour. By now the Omega Speedmaster Reduced was well into the space program and in April 1966 the addition “Professional” was made to the dial of the Speedmaster to commemorate the debut in space.

In 1964 NASA sent two employes out to “incognito” purchase five reputable chronographs to be tested for possible use in space. The Mercury program was almost complete and the coming Gemini program with schduled “space-walks” would require a watch that could withstand the extreme conditions in space. After the first text-decoration chanel purses round of tests two of thw five brands were disqualified and after the second round there was only one left… On September 29 1964 NASA ordered twelve Omega Speedmaster Professional watches from the US Omega importer. They paid retail price, $ 82.50 for the watches and wanted them delivered by October 21. Meanwhile NASA arranged for a series of test to finally determine what watch to use in space.

Omega became aware of the Speedmaster being used in space as late as April 1966. The advertising of the Speedmaster changed to “space-watch” and Omega added the word Professional to the dial of the Speedmaster. The biggest moment came coach purses when Neil Armstrong on July 21 at 02.56 GMT set foot on the moon. Once again the Speedmaster was a part of history. In fact Armstrong wore Edwin Aldrin’s watch because he had left his own back in the capsule with Michael Collins. During the dramatic flight of Apollo XIII the Speedmaster helped the commander James Lovell to time the firing of the secondary rockets that would take the ship out of lunar orbit and back to earth. For this Omega was awarded the “Snoopy award” by the astronauts. When the americans gucci purses met the soviets in space in the Apollo-Soyuz “rendez-vouz”, both crews were equipped with Speedmasters. In September 1978 NASA arranged a new series of tests to establish what watch to use for the comming Space Shuttle missions and the Speedmaster was again the only watch that that stood up to the test