Limited Edition of 7,969 Pieces
The first manned lunar landing on the 20th of July, 1969 was the greatest, most dramatic scientific achievement in human history. When Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin stepped onto the moon’s surface at 02:56 GMT on the 21st of July, Aldrin was wearing his Omega Speedmaster and a legend was born. An interesting footnote: the electronic timing system on the Lunar Module was not functioning correctly so Armstrong had left his watch aboard as a reliable backup.
Now Omega joins the world in the celebration of the 40th anniversary of the first moon landing with the release of the Speedmaster Professional Moonwatch Apollo 11 “40th Anniversary” Limited Edition. The stainless steel bracelet has been upgraded to include Omega’s patented screw and pin system.
The small seconds counter (sub-dial) has been created in the form of a small medallion which features an adaptation of Apollo 11’s famous mission patch: an eagle descends to the lunar surface with an olive branch representing peace in its claws. In the distance, far above the horizon, the earth is visible. The patch, interestingly, was designed by Michael Collins who remained in the Apollo 11 capsule as Command Module Pilot while his colleagues Armstrong and Aldrin were in the Lunar Module and on the moon.
The watch’s hour, minute and the red-tipped chronograph seconds hands are coated with SuperLuminova. The minute and hour chronograph counter hands are white and the brushed, rhodium-plated small seconds hand offers contrast to the medallion on the counter.
The 40th Anniversary Limited Edition’s dial is protected by Hesalite, the same robust, shatter-proof acrylic crystal found on the original Moon Watch. Hesalite was ideally suited for use in space – there was no chance that it could break apart and send potentially dangerous fragments into the low-gravity environment. A small, distinctive Omega logo has been etched evocatively inside the Hesalite crystal.
The Speedmaster Professional Moonwatch Apollo 11 “40th Anniversary” Limited Edition is delivered in a black presentation box which also includes a 42mm silver medal (the same diameter as the watch) featuring an engraving of the mission patch on one side with the words “APOLLO 11, 40th ANNIVERARY”. On the reverse side, the medal is engraved, “THE EAGLE HAS LANDED”; “LAUNCHED JULY 16 1969”; “LANDED JULY 20, 1969”; and “RETURNED, JULY 24, 1969” along with OMEGA’s name and logo.
