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The Omega Speedmaster has many records to its name, including being the first watch on the Moon. And as Omega celebrates the 65th anniversary of the legendary chronograph, its latest variant sets an altogether different kind of record.&nbsp;

If you were to name the most famous and, probably, the most recognisable chronograph on the planet, I doubt there would be a watch that would rank above the Omega Speedmaster. And that is because ever since its launch in 1957, the Speedmaster has been worn by some very special people – race car drivers, astronauts, pilots, and the like. In fact, the Speedmaster Professional, even today, remains one of the few watches that are certified by NASA for space travel. Of course, it was also the watch that adorned the wrist of astronaut Buzz Aldrin as he walked on the surface of the moon.&nbsp;

A worldwide success

After the space travel, the Speedmaster and Omega, naturally and deservedly so, received immense publicity, making the model a worldwide success, and even today, it remains Omega’s best-selling product. Over the years, Omega has expanded the Speedmaster range to immense proportions, which means that not only is there a Speedmaster to suit virtually every budget but also every taste – you can have it with different complications, choices of case metal, and dial sizes. It wouldn’t be unfair to claim that there’s almost certainly a Speedmaster available for everyone. And let’s not even get into the traction the Speedmaster gets in the used watch market.&nbsp;

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The flagship

Now, this year Omega is celebrating the Speedmaster’s 65th anniversary, and there couldn’t have been a more perfect time for the brand to launch a new flagship. And that’s exactly what it has done. And the result is the watch that you see here – the new Speedmaster Calibre 321. Its design is clearly influenced by that of the original edition from 1957 and this edition is made from the brand’s proprietary 18K Canopus Gold.&nbsp;

The new Speedmaster looks simply gorgeous. Right from its 38.6mm case – a great combination of legibility and wearability – to the stunning looking onyx black dial, everything works in its favour. The vintage Omega logo and the three classic Speedmaster sub-dials pay homage to the past. I also think the bracelet of this piece – also made from 18K Canopus Gold – looks quite stunning. Overall, it’s an absolutely beautiful design that has really aged well over time, considering that the original design is now nearly seven decades old.&nbsp; 
The biggest highlight of the watch, however, is the beautifully finished 321 movement – well, at least for me – which is visible through the exhibition case back. It’s a highly sought-after movement in the Speedmaster collection world – models with this movement commands a distinctly higher value than most other Speedmaster models.&nbsp;

The shocker

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But like everything else in the world, all this also comes at a price, which is too exorbitant to be called reasonable. Priced at nearly ₹70 lakh, the new Speedmaster, it seems, is only for serious collectors. You see, for a timepiece that is not a limited-edition model – it will only be available through Omega boutiques – its price premium over a standard Speedmaster is rather steep. Sure, I understand the special metal, design flashback, and the superlative movement, but its price means that this watch will only be for diehard Speedmaster fans. And what’s more astonishing is that I’m all but certain that Omega will sell every single unit they produce of it. But then again, you don’t build a brand that’s revered worldwide just by appealing to people’s rational side – rather, it’s the appeal to their emotions that gets you the&nbsp; 
best returns. &nbsp; &nbsp;

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Omega Celebrates the 65th Anniversary of the Legendary Chronograph

The Omega Speedmaster has many records to its name, including being the first watch on the Moon. And as Omega celebrates the 65th anniversary of the legendary chronograph, its latest variant sets an altogether different kind of record.

The First Decade 
The first of our two watches is none other than the Tag Heuer Monaco 1969-1979 LE – the first of the five limited edition Monacos to mark and commemorate 50 years of the model. Introduced in 1969 in the honour of the Monaco Grand Prix, the Monaco revolutionised the industry by being the first automatic chronograph – and also the first popular square shaped watch. Now, Tag Heuer chose the Monaco Grand Prix this year – could there be a better occasion? – to unveil the first of the five LE (Limited Edition) watches to begin the 50th anniversary celebration of this iconic model. The watch will be limited to only 169 units.&nbsp;

It’s warm green dial and grey sub-dials, encased in a familiar stainless-steel square case, go rather well with the red and brown hands and yellow dial accents – a colour palette that’s reminiscent of the 70s. It continues to retain its motorsport-inspired design, which remains unmistakably evident.

Powered by the Tag Heuer Calibre 11, the Monaco 1969-1979 offers 40-hours of power reserve. Complete with a crown on the left side of the case and a brown calfskin leather strap with a stainless steel folding clasp, the Monaco 1969-1979 is not only a tribute to its own iconic history and fame – part of which definitely comes from its cameo on the wrist of Steve McQueen in 1971 film Le Mans – but also to a golden era of motorsport.

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Moon Landing 
Okay, the intro text may have been a bit misleading, for the next on our list is a watch that’s not celebrating a 50th anniversary of a watch per se. Don’t get me wrong, it’s celebrating a golden anniversary all right, but that of the Apollo 11 moon landing in 1969. I’m talking about the Omega Speedmaster Apollo 11 50th Anniversary Limited Edition watch – a tribute to the watch that adorned the wrist of Buzz Aldrin as he stepped on the Moon and created history (Neil Armstrong was first to set foot on the Moon, but he left his Omega Speedmaster inside the lunar module).

Powered by the Omega Master Chronometer Calibre 3861, the watch offers 48 hours of power reserve. The watch shows basic units of time – hours, minutes and seconds – and, of course, has a chronograph function. Inside its 42mm 18K Moonshine gold case sits a grey dial, along with black sub-dials for the chronograph, hour counter and running seconds. The circumference of the dial has a black track for hours and minutes, which adds to the overall appeal of the watch. All indices and hands are in 18k Moonshine gold, save for the central chronograph seconds hand – it’s PVD-coated in Moonshine gold. The sub-dial at 9 o’clock offers a very distinctive visual – a laser-engraved image of Buzz Aldrin climbing down on the surface of the Moon. The back of the case features another tribute to the astronaut – a laser-engraved image of his footprint, along with the famous quote from Neil Armstrong, ‘THAT’S ONE SMALL STEP FOR A MAN – ONE GIANT LEAP FOR MANKIND.’

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The watch is attached to a polished-brushed metallic bracelet with a vintage Omega logo. This 50th anniversary watch is limited to only 6,969 units.

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Celebrating Lost Times

It’s become customary, a tradition of sorts, in the world of chronographs to celebrate a 50th anniversary by launching a limited edition special. Here we look at two such limited edition pieces that are celebrating fifty years of their own legacy.

Speedmaster

Omega Celebrates the 65th Anniversary of the Legendary Chronograph

Celebrating Lost Times

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