One of this year’s biggest watch-world stories is the 60th anniversary of the iconic Omega Speedmaster Replica Watches. In this series of feature articles, we explore some of the collection’s milestones, decade by decade. This week, we look at models starting with the very first Speedmaster in 1957, up to the legendary Mark II and Alaska I prototype from 1969.
1957: The “Broad Arrow”
The very first Omega Speedmaster was nicknamed the “Broad Arrow” due to its distinctive hands. It was also the first chronograph wristwatch in the world with its tachymeter scale on the bezel rather than printed on the dial — a feature designed with race car drivers in mind. Perhaps the most coveted of all the Cheap Omega Replica, it heralded many other collectible models to come.
1959: The First Omega in Space
The second version of the Speedmaster is distinguished from the original “Broad Arrow” by its use of a black aluminum bezel, its “lollipop” seconds hand for Air Force orders, and its “Alpha”-style hour and minute hands. The model became the first Omega watch worn in space, on the wrist of astronaut Walter Schirra, on October 3, 1962. Schirra chose the Speedmaster as his personal watch on the Sigma 7 mission of the Mercury program. The Omega Replica Watches space legacy had begun.
1963: The Third Generation, NASA-Tested and -Qualified
The third-generation Omega Speedmaster was the first watch to pass NASA’s rigorous testing for flight qualification. A number of other watch brands submitted timepieces for testing, but only the Speedmaster survived. This watch was worn by astronauts on the Gemini and Apollo missions, and would also become, interestingly, the last one worn on the moon in 1972.
1964: A.C.P. (Automovil Club Peruano)
Hearkening back to the Speedmaster’s origins as an auto racing watch, this rare model was specially ordered by the Automovil Club Peruano, based in Lima, Peru. The tachymeter scale on the bezel was intended for timing laps on the racetrack. With an order of just 50 pieces, and identified by the A.C.P lettering on the dial, this model is extremely hard to find and thus very prized among collectors.When Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin stepped onto the lunar surface in 1969, this Omega Replica model became the first watch ever worn on the moon. It has also become the watch that has served on the most lunar missions. The watch was the first Speedmaster with the now-recognizable, asymmetrical case, a design that was meant to provide added protection for the crown and pushers. The word “Professional” was also added to the dial for the first time in this model.
1968: Speedmaster with Racing Dial
The origins of the rare Racing Dial model are still shrouded in mystery, but it is generally accepted that the bicolor minute markers and orange hands and logo were created to make the dial’s chronograph displays easier to read. This Cheap Replica Watches particular model has inspired subsequent editions throughout the years, including a limited-edition series which was released in Japan in 2014.Speaking of Japan, this rare piece, distinguished by its orange seconds hand, is renowned for appearing in the Japanese science fiction TV show “The Return of Ultraman” in 1971. The creator of the Ultraman series, Eiji Tsuburaya, was known for including interesting watches in his productions, and this very collectible Speedmaster is no exception. It is unknown how many genuine pieces still exist.
1969: The Speedmaster Mark II
The Speedmaster Mark II signaled the first redesign of Omega’s popular chronograph. Created in 1969, it extended the Cheap Omega Replica line with a brand new look and was available in stainless steel, 18K gold, or gold-capped versions with various dial and timing scale combinations. The Mark II, with its barrel-shaped case and enhanced readability, was also the first Omega Replica Watches that did not use a hesalite crystal. “Alaska” was Omega’s chosen codename for all of its top-secret projects that involved NASA. To meet the demands of the extreme temperatures of space, the “Alaska I” prototype had a removable anodized aluminum outer case — referred to as a “thermal shield” — and a pure titanium inner case, making it the first wristwatch in the world to be cased in pure titanium. The white dial was added to better reflect the heat of the sun.
