While there have already been comments bewailing the fact that
the Speedmaster “First Omega in Space” fiftieth anniversary numbered edition is
not the size of the Speedmaster Professional, perhaps said commentators may be somewhat
mollified when they consider the unparalleled value offered by this commemorative piece. Besides, it is
appropriate that a watch that honours Wally Schirra’s choice - two years and five months prior to NASA officially adopting the Speedmaster - to give his CK
2998 Speedmaster some wrist time aboard the Mercury Atlas mission of 1962
is sized as its contemporaries were.
Of the Speedmaster offerings at Baselworld, this is the
purists version. The other two, notwithstanding the allure of the Z – 33, can
be seen as ‘monetisations’ of the Speedmaster’s incredible brand power. Tracing its genotype back to the classic calibre
321 that powered Schirra’s original Speedie, the calibre 1861 under the bonnet offers
authenticity and great value for money for the USD 5,300.00 price tag.
The hand-wound calibre 1861 is still one of the smallest
chronograph movements on the market and this allows a nice comfortable case
height of 14mm in the Schirra Speedie. The case aesthetics are of the later
period and feature the familiar faceted lugs.
The 1861 is fundamentally the same calibre as that designed by Lemania’s
Albert Piguet in 1942. The main differences between its early predecessors are
that of a column wheel having been replaced by a cam, a steel braking lever replaced
by a more shock-resistant Delrin lever and a change of balance and beat rate. For a chronograph movement to have been around
for seventy years with so few modifications is a testament to the brilliance
and execution of its design.
The classic ‘white on black’ lacquered dial, originally inspired
by the instruments on Italian cars of the period, together with the Alpha hands
provides superb readability. The hour
markers and hour and minute hands are coated with super luminova. Unlike the original, the Schirra commemorative
Speedmaster has a sapphire crystal to better protect the dial from the bumps
and grinds of contemporary life.
As a numbered edition, special attention has been paid to
the screw-in caseback. The Seahorse medallion
(the Speedmaster was conceived as part of the Seamaster collection) is deeply
embossed, and around the perimeter of the medallion in raised lettering are the
words “THE FIRST OMEGA IN SPACE” and “OCTOBER 3, 1962”, The numbering is etched
on the case back rim. The watch comes
with a brown stitched leather strap.
There are many reports of the how’s and whys of NASA
choosing the Speedmaster as the official NASA mission watch, and it behooves any
proud owner of a ‘real’ Speedie to know the history of the marque. A good
write-up on the NASA evaluation and testing process can be found here. A fuller history of this iconic brand can be
found here. From the inception of the concept, Omega’s design chief, Pierre
Moinat, wanted the Speedie to both stand out from the crowd and appear the
natural choice for a motoring chronograph. He succeeded on both counts, and
Omega is not boasting when it states that the Speedmaster is the “world’s
definitive chronograph”.
The Schirra commemorative Speedmaster will be available
after September 2012
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