Omega Speedmaster '57

3… 2… 1… Liftoff!

Take a poll amongst wristwatch collectors, and we'd bet the consensus would be that there’s no timepiece more important or iconic than an Omega Speedmaster. 

Sure, chronographs such as the Rolex Daytona or the Heuer Carrera are classics — icons even — but neither can match the stature of the Speedy with regards to historical importance. In fact, arguably, no watch can.

Then, there is the matter of Speedmasters, and ‘Moonwatches.’ They are not the same.

To celebrate the 60th Anniversary of the Speedmaster, Omega went back to the Speedy's roots, creating virtually a 1:1 reissue of the very first Omega Speedmaster Reference 2915-1 that was originally released in 1957. The first Speedmaster was notable for a few reasons, the biggest being it was the first chronograph to move the tachymeter scale to the outside of the dial and onto the bezel. That's right — this was a major innovation in watch design, as chronographs of the era had their tachymeters printed on the outer edge of the dial. (We’re looking at you, Heuer Carrera.) 

This was the watch ‘For men who reckon time in seconds,’ as the advertisements showing two gentlemen behind the wheel of a sports car would declare. This was before it was selected by NASA, or was worn by Ed White, or became 'The Moonwatch'. At this point, it was also a wearable prototype — within three months of being introduced, the Speedmaster would undergo a series of changes before the Ref. 2915 was discontinued in 1959 to make way for the 2998. That makes original 2915s extremely rare and valuable beyond the reach of many of us enthusiasts. (Original 2915s have fetched as much at $400k at auction — and deservedly so, as there are far fewer 2915s in existence than Paul Newman Daytonas.)

Housed in a 38.6mm stainless steel 'straight-lug’ case with a Hesalite crystal, dual pushers, a signed crown, and a steel tachymeter ‘DO90’ bezel, it features a luminous matte black dial with ‘aged’ indices with an outer 1/5th-seconds track, a triple-register chronograph layout, and a standout matching ‘broad arrow’ handset. Powered by the hand-wound Calibre 1861, this piece comes fitted to its correct stainless steel flat-link bracelet with a signed deployant clasp.

This Speedmaster is a chance for us to look at the origins of an icon, and be able to wear and enjoy that design without the headache or fuss of a near-priceless original. That being said, this still isn't that common of a watch, as Omega only made 3,557 of them.

And while this timepiece might not be a ‘Moonwatch,’ it’s surely one of the coolest Speedmasters in recent Omega history. Historically inspired, beautiful, and as functional as ever - it would take pride of place in any collection.

Why not your collection?

The story of Omega is one that captivates generations of horological devotees. The second-largest watchmaker in the world in terms of annual turnover, the Bienne-based firm has been continuously producing watches since 1848, which it does today under the auspices of the Swatch Group.

Founded in La-Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland as La Generale Watch Co, Omega was well ahead of the horological curve from the beginning, developing the first minute-repeating wristwatch in 1892 as well as the eponymous “Omega” caliber in 1894. This 19-ligne movement was revolutionary in that its parts could be replaced by any watchmaker in the world without modification, while its winding and time-setting via the crown provided an industry standard.

Omega became the timepiece supplier of choice for the British Royal Flying Corps in 1917, while the Americans followed suit in 1918, choosing their watches for the U.S. Army. Awards for precision chronometry became almost commonplace, while 1932 saw them become the first watch brand to time an entire Olympic Games. Their Marine, which debuted the same year, is regarded as the first commercially available diver’s watch.

During the Second World War, Omega supplied well over 100,000 timepieces to British forces, making it the largest watch supplier to the British and her allies. These watches, from the unique 6B/159 to the famed “Dirty Dozen” W.W.W, remain highly collectible today.

1948 saw the launch of the original Seamaster: Built upon the tool watch legacy of the brand’s timepieces from the War, it’s since become a byword for reliability and legibility, both as a dress watch and, more recently, as a serious diver’s tool. The Speedmaster, released in 1957 and originally marketed for the auto-racing market, first rocketed to space on the wrist of American astronaut Wally Schirra in 1962. However, it became a household name when, in 1969, it accompanied Buzz Aldrin on the Moon, and later helped save the space-stranded crew of Apollo 13 in 1970 by timing a critical rocket burn.

Today, Omega’s watches — all of which feature in-house movements — run the gamut from svelte dress pieces to the venerable Speedmaster in all its guises. Providing an unquestionable value proposition, Omega is a brand that deserves to be at the center of every serious watch lover’s collection.

Our Pledge

Analog:Shift stands behind the authenticity of our products in perpetuity.

Condition

Since our pieces are vintage or pre-owned, please expect wear & patina from usage and age. Please read each item description and examine all product images.

Warranty

We back each Analog:Shift vintage timepiece with a one-year mechanical warranty from the date of purchase.

International Buyers

Please contact us prior to purchase for additional details on shipping and payment options.

All of our watches include complementary insured shipping within the 50 states.

Most of our products are on hand and will ship directly from our headquarters in New York City. In some cases, watches will be shipped directly from one of our authorized partners.

We generally ship our products via FedEx, fully insured, within 5 business days of purchase. An adult signature is required for receipt of all packages for insurance purposes. Expedited shipping is available at an additional cost. We are also happy to hand deliver your purchase in Manhattan or you may pick it up at our showroom.

Returns must be sent overnight or by priority international delivery, fully insured and paid for by the customer. A restocking fee may apply. Watches must be returned in the same condition as initially shipped.

We welcome international buyers, please contact us prior to purchase for additional details on shipping and payment options.