History of The Omega Speedmaster Moonwatch Professional

The original Omega Speedmaster “Moonwatch” Professional is one of the most historically important wristwatches ever made, largely because it became the first watch worn on the Moon during NASA’s Apollo missions.

The story begins with the Omega Speedmaster CK2915, introduced in 1957. It wasn’t originally designed for space at all—it was built as a sports and racing chronograph, featuring a tachymeter scale on the bezel (a first at the time) rather than printed on the dial. Early models had broad arrow hands, a steel bezel, and the legendary caliber 321 movement, a column-wheel chronograph known for its precision and durability.

By the early 1960s, NASA was searching for a reliable wristwatch for astronauts. After testing multiple brands under extreme conditions—heat, cold, shock, vibration, and vacuum—the Speedmaster (specifically reference ST105.003) was the only watch to pass. In 1965, it was officially “Flight Qualified for All Manned Space Missions.”

Shortly after, Omega updated the design to what most people now recognize as the classic Moonwatch:

• Reference ST105.012 (1964–1968) introduced the asymmetrical case with crown guards and pushers protection
• Featured the now-iconic black dial with white baton hands and Hesalite crystal
• Still powered by the caliber 321

This is the version worn during Apollo 11 in 1969, when Buzz Aldrin stepped onto the Moon wearing his Speedmaster (Neil Armstrong left his in the lunar module as a backup timer). That moment cemented the watch’s nickname: “Moonwatch.”

After 1968, Omega transitioned to the caliber 861 (later 1861/3861), which simplified production but kept the same essential design. Despite these updates, the watch has remained remarkably faithful to its original form—manual-wind movement, black dial, three subdials, and a strong tool-watch identity.

What makes the original Moonwatch special isn’t just its design, but its proven reliability in the harshest environment imaginable. It wasn’t marketing—it earned its place through rigorous testing and real-world use in space exploration.

Today, the Speedmaster Moonwatch Professional is still produced and is one of the few watches where the modern version closely mirrors a piece of mid-20th-century engineering that literally went to the Moon.