Description
PRESENTATION: NOT ONLY A SIMPLE OMEGA BOOK
This book shows the history of every Omega SPEEDMASTER – FLIGHTMASTER – SPEEDSONIC.
Thanks to the collaboration with the Omega museum, the rarest and most precious models have also been inserted, resulting in a book which is unique in its kind. All watches are illustrated in a large format with technical details, bracelet references and all quotations of the Master of Omega.
TOPICS:
Omega Missions, bezels, bracelets, dials, case back, movements, inside references, buttons, box, cards, etc.
INTRODUCTION OMEGA SPEEDMASTER
The Speedmaster first appeared in 1957, following an idea by Pierre Moinat, creative director of Omega. His plan was for a robust, waterproof chronograph on a band of fering an easily read dial. The name, Speedmaster, was chosen as a suggestion for its use. The external bezel with engraved tachometric scale was one of the novelties. The black dial with tritium-plated hands and hours recalled the instruments found in a car and contributed to conferring a classic yet sporty look to the Speedmaster. The case, with the base-plate screwed down and the pump-action chronograph buttons, was designed by Claude Baillod, one of Omega’s designers, and the first prototype was made by Georges Hartmann. The movement used was mechanical and wound manually. The first calibre, the 321, was a development of the famous 27 CHRO C12 designed by Albert Piguet and produced by Lemania. The Speedmaster was destined to be part of the large family of Seamasters and like these made use of and kept the seahorse symbol on the base-plate. The success deriving from their use for the Nasa space missions was well deserved. Only after a long period of severe testing and comparisons with other apparently similar chronographs was the watch given the “Professional” title and allowed to accompany the first (Apollo XI) mission and the last landing on the Moon (Apollo XVII). In half a century of production, there have been some aesthetic and mechanical transformations: the case has changed form and size, the calibre is dif ferent and variants have been made in precious metals. There have been more or less successful series but all have presented character and personality. The Speedmaster Professional is still today part of the “EVA” (Extra Vehicular Activity) equipment used by all astronauts for their “strolls” in space !
