|
Author
|
Topic: Omega Speedmaster space chronographs
|
Philip
Member Posts: 6217
From: Brussels, Belgium
Registered: Jan 2001
|
posted 04-12-2005 12:14 AM
   
The original moonwatch is the "Omega Speedmaster Professional" with a classic design and preferably a black leather wriststrap (or black velcro). The watch must be wound, once completely wound it runs 48 hours.I don't know if this particular model is still available, probably it is but you will mostly find the "Omega Speedmaster Automatic" these days, similar design but a more modern version. Prices for a new Omega Speedmaster range about US $1500. Thinking of buying a second hand? Check the serial number (8 numbers on the underside where the leather strap is attached) and make sure to get it 'serviced' to make it watertight and run like clockwork! |
ejectr
Member Posts: 1963
From: Killingly, CT
Registered: Mar 2002
|
posted 04-12-2005 04:53 AM
And of course, posting all this on the cS forum... your husband will never know about it!  |
Jurg Bolli
Member Posts: 1186
From: Albuquerque, NM
Registered: Nov 2000
|
posted 04-12-2005 10:00 AM
The original moonwatch is still in production. |
Larry McGlynn
Member Posts: 1413
From: Boston, MA
Registered: Jul 2003
|
posted 04-12-2005 11:13 AM
There are several limited addition Omega Speedmaster Professional versions out there now. Omega is offering the original wind version in special editions. If bought in a jewelry store the retail cost is approximately $3,500. That would be the watch that your husband desires. It's very thoughtful of you to consider such a wonderful gift. He's a man and probably doesn't deserve it. My wife bought me the "Reach for the Stars" limited edition for my #$@&#!!! birthday. |
dss65
Member Posts: 1333
From: Sandpoint, ID, USA
Registered: Mar 2003
|
posted 04-12-2005 09:39 PM
Hmm. Looks like I'm gonna be a Timex man for some time to come... takes a lickin' and keeps on tickin'! |
Happy Proud Thrilled
Member Posts: 64
From: Bothell, WA
Registered: Mar 2005
|
posted 04-13-2005 12:32 AM
Wow! Thanks for all of your help! On second thought, though maybe he doesn't deserve it...  Perhaps it is more of an anniversary gift than father's day (3rd is some kind of metal, right?) Besides, Father's Day is more of a tie and socks occasion, am I right? It definitely is a striking watch, and I pretty give in to whatever he wants, but he may have to wait a little longer, build up the gratitude a little. Reading the entire post once more made me think: Do men put in this much thought and effort into gift giving, or are all the cliches true? Thanks again for all of your help and thoughts! |
Larry McGlynn
Member Posts: 1413
From: Boston, MA
Registered: Jul 2003
|
posted 04-13-2005 08:08 AM
That last minute jewelry buy does the trick everytime. |
spaceman1953
Member Posts: 953
From: South Bend, IN
Registered: Apr 2002
|
posted 05-25-2005 05:02 PM
There is an Omega ad showing Ed White walking in the current issue of FORBES magazine. |
mikelarson
Member Posts: 293
From: Port Washington, NY
Registered: Jan 2005
|
posted 05-28-2005 11:32 AM
The Omega Speedmaster Professional special edition for the 40th anniversary of the first space walk Does anyone have an idea on price and availability? |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 50580
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
|
posted 05-28-2005 11:44 AM
quote:
Originally posted by mikelarson:
Does anyone have an idea on price and availability?
Omega watches are sold through fine watch and jewelry dealers. The best approach may be to contact your local Omega-authorized dealer and inquire. (For comparison, the special edition From the Moon to Mars Omega Speedmaster was listed during the Astronaut Scholarship Foundation's raffle as valued at $3,195.) |
Lonnie Craig
New Member Posts: 1
From: Burbank, Calif. USA
Registered: May 2005
|
posted 05-29-2005 04:36 PM
The OMEGA Press Release states that the first-ever extra-vehicular activity was on June 3,1965 by Ed White. Actually the first-ever Space Walk was by a Russian, Alexi Leonov, nearly 2 1/2 months earlier on March 18, 1965. The etching on the crystal case back should more appropriately read "First American Space Walk 40th Anniversary". |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 50580
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
|
posted 06-01-2005 09:57 AM
According to Omega, regarding the "First Spacewalk" inscription, they are aware of the issue and are working on a solution. |
Philip
Member Posts: 6217
From: Brussels, Belgium
Registered: Jan 2001
|
posted 06-03-2005 09:28 AM
I still prefer the classic Omega Speedmaster with black background and preferably with a black (leather) wriststrap. |
Al
New Member Posts: 5
From: Keene, New Hampshire USA
Registered: Sep 2005
|
posted 09-10-2005 03:02 PM
I just bought an Omega Speedmaster X-33. I know very little about it other than that it is supplied to shuttle astronauts. Can anyone provide more information or direct me to same? |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 50580
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
|
posted 09-12-2005 09:46 AM
As a fellow X-33 owner, I think I can safely say you will enjoy its features and design, among them its ability to display mission elapsed time, UTC (GMT) time, and a user-set countdown. The X-33, sometimes called the Mars Watch (as opposed to the Moon Watch, a.k.a the original Speedmaster Professional) was designed for use by astronauts and cosmonauts flying on the Space Shuttle, Soyuz, International Space Station. Expedition Exchange maintains a fairly comprehensive webpage comparing the features and NASA history of the Moon and Mars models. Chuck Maddox, whose site has an extensive discussion of the movements of the specific watches worn by the Gemini and Apollo astronauts, has a scan of the X-33 manual online. |
Al
New Member Posts: 5
From: Keene, New Hampshire USA
Registered: Sep 2005
|
posted 09-12-2005 10:37 AM
Thank you for the reply and information.Before I bought the X-33 many "watch people" tried to talk me out of it. They had nothing good to say about the X-33 and told me that buying it would be a huge mistake. I was also advised that it was a terrible investment and that I would be lucky to get $300 for it in as new condition. Well I bought it anyway and, although I've only had it for a week, I really like it.
One area of concern however is durability. My prior watch was a Rolex GMT. For 20 years I just about never took it off. Whether I was doing desk work or working on my car I wore the Rolex, and it never skipped a beat. Do you think that the X-33 is as durable? |
Larry McGlynn
Member Posts: 1413
From: Boston, MA
Registered: Jul 2003
|
posted 09-12-2005 01:32 PM
Robert, thank you for the links to the two websites on the Omega Speedmaster. I throughly enjoyed the Expedition Exchange website.Al, if the X-33 is as tough as my Omega Speedmaster Professional has been, then you will have no worries. I have worned my Speedmaster in the water at depths of up to 240 feet. The thing just keeps ticking. |
SpaceAholic
Member Posts: 5251
From: Sierra Vista, Arizona
Registered: Nov 1999
|
posted 09-12-2005 07:59 PM
I also have an X-33 and am interested in obtaining a band similar to that worn by the ISS/Shuttle Flight Crew. Has anybody been able to establish who produces that band as well as a source? (The flight band appears to be different then the stock Titanium and optional black Kevlar band offered by Omega). |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 50580
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
|
posted 09-12-2005 08:20 PM
I just received in a pair of the kevlar bands from Omega and was told they were one and the same as is worn on the Space Shuttle/ISS. I know an active astronaut who still wears his kevlar straps, so I plan to compare. |
SpaceAholic
Member Posts: 5251
From: Sierra Vista, Arizona
Registered: Nov 1999
|
posted 09-12-2005 08:57 PM
Would certainly be interested in what you find out... I believe the flight strap is velcro fastened.I long ago shifted from the Titanium to a WATERBORNE strap (manufactured in Australian but available in many U.S. divshops) as the metal strap was to impracticable while out in the field/shipboard. The other advantage is that it eliminates a single point of failure (because the strap is run through both pins the watch will not fall off your wrist if either one of the pins dislodges/breaks - think the flight version strap also has this characteristic). |
Philip
Member Posts: 6217
From: Brussels, Belgium
Registered: Jan 2001
|
posted 09-13-2005 12:06 AM
I have seen photos of Russian cosmonauts on-board ISS wearing the X-33 with a normal strap. The velcro you're talking about is that the longer type as worn on the outside of EVA-suit? |
nasamad
Member Posts: 2187
From: Essex, UK
Registered: Jul 2001
|
posted 09-13-2005 05:10 PM
The proper EVA versions are very long I think. I have seen pics of astronauts with the strap wrapped around their wrists two or three times. Check out Apollo 11 image AS11-36-5390 (Aldrin in LM before landing). |
burnsnz
Member Posts: 82
From: Auckland, New Zealand
Registered: Jan 2004
|
posted 09-16-2005 01:50 PM
quote:
Originally posted by Al:
Do you think that the X-33 is as durable?
Regarding durability - I have had my X-33 for 6 years with no problems. I have had to change the battery twice though.I am not sure about its water resistance - it says nothing on the case - maybe it says something in the documentation. I have worn it frequently on boats (i.e. on the water, not under the water). One note - at the 2004 UACC show, I noticed Gene Cernan (an OMEGA ambassador) was wearing an X-33 rather than a Moon watch. I asked him about it and he said that it was his favourite general purpose watch. |
Paul Phillips
New Member Posts: 2
From: Sydney, NSW, Australia
Registered: Nov 2005
|
posted 11-14-2005 11:42 PM
Hi all, I notice you are looking for velcro straps for the X-33 (great watch by the way!). Omega offers an official velcro strap (part no. OME-93800006). You can buy it for US $45 plus postage.Hope this is what you are looking for. |
Paul Phillips
New Member Posts: 2
From: Sydney, NSW, Australia
Registered: Nov 2005
|
posted 11-14-2005 11:57 PM
This is an unusual one. About 15 or so years ago (possibly less) I saw an article in GQ magazine in the UK of the things a man must have, you know the type of thing. Anyway, this was for a set of Omega Speedmaster Moon Watches (there were over 50 of them) each commemorating a flight from Gemini through to the final Apollo flight. The set cost over GBP 50,000. Does anyone recall this set ever being offered to the public? How cool would a new Speedmaster on your wrist every week of the year be? Like I said, unusual but very interesting. |
Speedmaster
New Member Posts: 4
From:
Registered: Nov 2003
|
posted 11-20-2005 02:49 PM
I just got back from the Kennedy Space Center a few days ago where I saw Alan Shepard's Speedy Pro, among other things. I thought some of you guys might get a kick out of the pics. |
John Youskauskas
Member Posts: 126
From:
Registered: Jan 2004
|
posted 11-20-2005 06:38 PM
Chris, I am quite certain that the Speedmaster you saw down there was Ed Mitchell's from Apollo 14. It has been there for a long time, and Shepard's is on display at the Kansas Cosmosphere. I think collectSPACE has a list here somewhere that shows all of the known locations of the flown watches. |
Speedmaster
New Member Posts: 4
From:
Registered: Nov 2003
|
posted 11-21-2005 06:47 AM
John, I'd be very interested in that Speedmaster info, can you point me to it? |
spaceman
Member Posts: 1172
From: Walsall, West Midlands, UK
Registered: Dec 2002
|
posted 11-21-2005 03:59 PM
Flown Omega Speedmaster Professional Chronographs currently on public display: - Serial Number 044 Apollo 8 Bill Anders U.S. Naval Academy, Annapolis
- Serial Number 060 Apollo 8 Jim Lovell Museum of Science and Industry, Chicago
- Serial Number 027 Apollo 10 Tom Stafford National Air and Space Museum, Washington DC
- Serial Number 046 Apollo 11 Neil Armstrong National Air and Space Museum, Washington DC
- Serial Number 073 Apollo 11 Mike Collins National Air and Space Museum, Washington DC
- Serial Number 057 Apollo 12 Dick Gordon The Omega Museum, Bienne, Switzerland
- Serial Number 068 Apollo 13 Fred Haise Penn-Harris-Madison Planetarium, Mishawaka, Indiana
- Serial Number 075 Apollo 14 Alan Shepard Kansas Cosmosphere, Hutchinson
- Serial Number 077 Apollo 14 Ed Mitchell US Astronaut Hall of Fame, Titusville
- Serial Number 045 Apollo 15 Al Worden on loan from Worden to the Smithsonian
- Serial Number 047 Apollo 15 Jim Irwin Penn-Harris-Madison Planetarium, Mishawaka, Indiana
- Serial Number 061 Apollo 17 Ron Evans Kansas Cosmosphere, Hutchinson
The above information was obtained from a listing on this very informative site. The list was compiled between our very own Robert and Ulrich Lotzmann. |
Philip
Member Posts: 6217
From: Brussels, Belgium
Registered: Jan 2001
|
posted 11-28-2005 11:59 PM
Talking about the Omega Speedmaster, a small trivia question:How many times does the Greek letter Omega appear on a Speedmaster wristwatch (watch-body only, not the strap)? |
Spacepsycho
Member Posts: 901
From: Huntington Beach, Calif.
Registered: Aug 2004
|
posted 11-29-2005 10:44 AM
I say 4, including the Omega mark on the movement. |
John Youskauskas
Member Posts: 126
From:
Registered: Jan 2004
|
posted 12-06-2005 09:34 AM
- On the face of the dial
- On the case back
- On the winding button
- Etched into the center of the crystal
- On the movement itself, at least on the 321... I couldn't find one on the 1861.
|
Jurg Bolli
Member Posts: 1186
From: Albuquerque, NM
Registered: Nov 2000
|
posted 12-06-2005 01:40 PM
Two comments: - I bought mine in about 1972, and the glass at the time had no Omega symbol etched into its center, my new glass has one since the latest service to the watch about 4 years ago.
- The crystal is of course not glass nor crystal but some sort of acrylic.
|
collocation
Member Posts: 387
From: McLean, VA
Registered: Feb 2004
|
posted 12-06-2005 02:19 PM
Are you guys aware of a good source for a new Speedmaster with date in the States? |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 50580
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
|
posted 12-06-2005 02:32 PM
Only registered Omega dealers may sell Speedmasters. You can find a directory of their locations near you on Omega's website. |
John Youskauskas
Member Posts: 126
From:
Registered: Jan 2004
|
posted 07-30-2006 09:07 PM
Omega Speedmaster Limited Edition Professional Moon Watch Apollo 15 A little different looking and unique with the gold and Apollo 15 patch on the caseback, but I wonder how they picked 15 among all of the other missions since the Apollo 11 commemorative they did.With alot of their advertising centered around the use of the watch on Apollo 13, you would think the company would have done something special for that flight. What do you think? |
paul.i.w
Member Posts: 65
From: UK
Registered: Feb 2006
|
posted 07-31-2006 03:05 AM
I have just been reading 'Two Sides of the Moon', and in that Dave Scott said he wore two watches. At the end of the second EVA the first one broke - 'its crystal popped off after overheating and the watch became filled with lunar dust' he writes. The longer J missions meant greater heat exposure.I was wondering if the watch that suffered was Dave's own and/or an Omega, and what became of that watch? |
Philip
Member Posts: 6217
From: Brussels, Belgium
Registered: Jan 2001
|
posted 07-31-2006 03:51 PM
It must have been an Omega Speedmaster as no other watches were flight-certified... right? |
John Youskauskas
Member Posts: 126
From:
Registered: Jan 2004
|
posted 07-31-2006 09:05 PM
I did some research on this a few years ago and spoke to Dave Scott about it. The Apollo Lunar Surface Journal quotes Scott as saying that the crystal of the Nasa-issued Speedmaster did indeed pop off following EVA-2. When I talked with him, he confirmed this and told me he had a personal backup chronograph made by Walthem that he wore on EVA-3. He was quite surprised that I had noticed the non-standard watch in a photo of him on the moon.I find it ironic that Omega chose to commemorate Apollo 15... possibly the first lunar flight in which something other than an Omega was worn on a moonwalk. |
collocation
Member Posts: 387
From: McLean, VA
Registered: Feb 2004
|
posted 08-01-2006 04:26 PM
Any idea on the list price of this guy? |
advertisement