Buzz Aldrin Joins Omega in Commemorating the Moon Landing Anniversary with the Speedmaster 321
54 years ago to the day, mankind took its first step on the moon’s surface. The man who represented all in this “giant leap”? The late Commander Neil Armstrong, who stepped out of the Apollo Lunar Module Eagle of the Apollo 11 spaceflight six hours and 39 minutes after it landed in the Sea of Tranquility.
Edwin E. Aldrin, Jr — or better known affectionately to the world as Buzz Aldrin — joined his Commander 19 minutes later in exploring the Tranquility Base. Fitted on the astronaut’s wrist was the Omega Speedmaster Professional. Thus, making the Swiss luxury timepiece the first watch worn on the moon.
Housed within the timepiece was the legendary calibre 321 that would come to power every Speedmaster ever worn on the moon, during the six NASA missions over a 41-month period; ending with the Apollo 17 mission on December 14, 1972, and its crew Gene Cernan being the last man to step off the lunar surface.
Today, Omega celebrates the historical day with a commemorative portrait of Buzz Aldrin wearing the Speedmaster 321 (Ref. 311.30.40.30.01.001), as they reflected on the inspirational accomplishments, and the watch that made history on July 21, 1969.
Speedmaster Calibre 321 Chronograph 39.7mm
One of the world’s most iconic timepieces that has earned the astronauts’ trust for its accuracy and reliability, the legendary Omega Speedmaster reprises in this model the famous Calibre 321, for the important part it played in the Speedmaster’s original space history.
The manual-winding chronograph movement with column wheel mechanism features a Breguet balance-spring and 18K Sedna™ gold PVD coated finish, with a power reserve of 55 hours. The famous movement can be seen through the synthetic sapphire crystal produced under the Verneuil process, also called flame fusion. Graded 9 on the Mohs-hardness scale (the highest being Grade 10), the caseback is virtually scratch-proof and very hard, ensuring an unhindered vision at all times.
Drawing inspirations from the same third-generation style worn during America’s first spacewalk in 1965, the 39.70mm case in 316L stainless steel, and the black ceramic-polished bezel ring with a white-enamelled tachymeter scale augments the black step dial that features the familiar Moonwatch hands, a central chronograph hand, a vintage Omega logo; as well as a small seconds sub-dial, a 30-minute recorder, and a 12-hour recorder.
The Omega Speedmaster Calibre 321 comes in a steel bracelet with a foldover clasp, the option to swap for a black coated nylon fabric NATO strap with fitted black keepers and a polished buckle, influenced by some particularly robust and storied ancestors that can trace their earliest origins to the Second World War. There is also the two-piece black alligator leather strap option, with matching coloured stitching and pin buckle; all this while upholding respects towards the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).
Speedmaster Moonwatch Professional Co-Axial Master Chronometer Chronograph 42mm
Another Omega timepiece that puts the memorable moon landing events on a pedestal, is the legendary chronograph with its impressive representation of the brand’s adventurous pioneering spirit.
Driven by the Omega Co-Axial Master Chronometer Calibre 3861, the small seconds sub-dial, 30-minute recorder and 12-hour recorder, along with the central chronograph function, are all powered by revolutionary components that guarantee the highest standards of performance, ranging from the Co-Axial escapement for long-lasting precision, to the silicon balance spring for superior anti-magnetism.
Inspired by the fourth-generation Speedmaster style worn on the moon, it includes an asymmetrical 42mm case that holds together a black step dial underneath the hesalite crystal glass, and the famous dot-over-90 on the bezel ring of Omega’s famed anodised aluminium make; making the decorative components truly lightweight, yet doubly as hard as the regular versions, and more resistant to outer damage.
The Moonwatch in corrosion-resistant stainless steel is presented on a brushed steel bracelet with five-arched links per row, and a foldover clasp with comfort setting; which can be swapped for a two-piece black alligator leather strap option, or a WW2-influenced polyamide black NATO strap with a stainless steel buckle and fitted keepers.
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