Timezone.com:
Limited Edition of 1,970 Pieces
In the early 1970s OMEGA’s Alaska Project team (named in reference to the temperatures in America’s 49th state) started to develop an outer case for the Speedmaster Professional Moonwatch to protect it from the extreme temperatures of space. At the time, NASA was considering the practicality of exploring the dark side of the Moon and OMEGA wanted to ensure that the Speedmaster Professional Moonwatch would function well at these temperatures.
NASA, however, declared that the Speedmaster was perfect as it was and already met all of their needs; thus, the Speedmaster “Alaska Project” with its distinctive red-anodised
aluminium outer case remained a prototype. Omegamania, a thematic auction dedicated
exclusively to OMEGA collectors’ timepieces, offered one of the prototypes in April of 2007. The successful bid was 64,900 Swiss Francs. Ideal for the most intrepid of adventurers, it is temperature resistant (in space) between -148° C and +260°C, a range of more than 400 degrees!
At the heart of the Speedmaster Moonwatch “Alaska Project” is the legendary OMEGA
calibre 1861, which was also used in the iconic Speedmaster Professional Moonwatch.
The manual-winding chronograph has a power reserve of 45 hours. Its 42 mm case is made of polished and brushed stainless steel and the bezel is fi tted with a black aluminium ring with a tachymeter scale. The rugged timepiece has central hour and
minute hands with the small seconds hand located at 9 o’clock. The Speedmaster Moonwatch “Alaska Project” has a white dial which provides a particularly effective thermal reflection coefficient.
This remarkable timepiece is delivered with black and white Velcro straps on brushed red–anodised aluminium buckles and with a stainless steel bracelet. The Speedmaster Moonwatch “Alaska Project” comes in a special presentation box along with the red-anodised aluminium outer case and a set of tools – it is the ultimate expression of OMEGA’s legendary pioneering spirit.
