In 1969, the world witnessed one of mankind’s most remarkable achievements, as the first humans stepped out onto the surface of the moon. With Speedmaster watches strapped to their wrists, this pioneering moment created history not only for the world, but also for our revolutionary brand.
On May the 12th this year, a special event was hosted in Houston, Texas, to honor OMEGA’s continuing commitment to space exploration. Like no other watch brand, OMEGA has been at the forefront of lunar discovery, always with the ingenuity and precision to serve the mission.
The unforgettable evening was brought to life inside a huge aircraft hangar, transformed into a starry universe. As the event began, guests were treated to cocktails aboard an impressive space vessel, which then audibly “departed” the Earth and transported them to a spectacular moon setting. Among the guests were astronauts Gene Cernan, General Thomas Stafford, Captain James Lovell, prominent members of the Houston community including style icon Lynn Wyatt, philanthropist Becca Cason Thrash, NFL player Chester Pitts, actress Joanna Garcia Swisher as well as a whole host of industry legends.
On stage, the entertainment was equally as uplifting, as brand ambassador George Clooney shared his appreciation for the astronauts with the audience.
“This was a time for us in our country when we needed these people to dream.” He continued, “You gentleman are an inspiration to all of us here and I have to tell you what an honor it is to be standing up here with you.”
George was just 8 years old at the time of the first moon landing when the Speedmaster became an instant icon. Known as “The Moonwatch”, it has travelled together with the most courageous and spirited astronauts in history. When some of them chose the Speedmaster as their personal watch in 1962, it prompted NASA to seek out a highly durable and accurate chronograph for all manned missions. After surviving rigorous and extreme testing, the Speedmaster was then declared “Flight Qualified” for the boldest expeditions.
Since then, it has accompanied astronauts on all six lunar landings, cementing an indestructible bond between OMEGA and space flight. OMEGA President Stephen Urquhart summed up the unique relationship with the Apollo 13 mission:
“For OMEGA it was an unbelievable story. It could have been a disaster but turned out fantastic and today it’s an incredible part of our heritage.”
The 2015 Speedmaster Collection
Driven by a commitment to innovation, OMEGA is proud to introduce a new generation of Speedmaster watches for 2015, always retaining the same spirit that launched it into history.
This year, the collection includes a new Speedmaster ’57, the Apollo 13 Silver Snoopy Award, and the radiant White Side of the Moon, inspired by the lunar glow that we see from Earth.
Four new designs have also been added to the Speedmaster Dark Side of the Moon series. These distinctive styles are further proof that new frontiers of design and technology can always be discovered.
