Welcome back to Gentleman's Gazette. Today's video is all about the Omega Speedmaster,
the first chronograph on the moon.
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Now, as I've said before, I certainly appreciate a good watch, but it is certainly not my primary
interest, and I know a lot more about clothes than I do about fine timepieces. So, because of that,
I'm glad that I can introduce to you our new host, Nathan, who is an absolute watch lover
and will do a much better job on watches than I ever could.
- [Raphael to Nathan] Welcome Nathan! - [Nathan] Thank you. Thank you. Happy to be here.
[Raphael] Well, Nathan is also operations manager
and he'll be taking it from here. All right, Nathan?
- [Nathan] Sounds good. - [Raphael] Awesome.
There are a few great names within the world of watchmaking -
Patek Philippe, Audemars Piguet, and some other brand that you might have heard of.
[slow, heavy instrumental piano]
All jokes aside, the world of luxury watches is full of unique and iconic timepieces.
If you're interested in learning more about the JLC Reverso or the world of Rolex,
you can check out our video guides on those topics
here. But, today, we'll be looking at one of the most iconic timepieces from another
famed Swiss watchmaker and one of my personal favorites, the Omega Speedmaster.
We'll examine what it's made of, how it works, and, ultimately, ask the question, "Does it
have a place in your wardrobe?" And don't worry. Even though it's one of my personal favorites,
I'll give an unbiased review. But, before all that,
let's first take a look at the history of Omega and the Speedmaster itself.
La General Watch Company was founded in 1848 by Louis Brandt. They incorporated
the name Omega in 1903 becoming (oh, boy) Louis Brandt et Frere-Omega Watch and Co. When they
became a subsidiary of this watch group in 1982, they officially changed their name to
Omega SA. Since the beginning, Omega has been located in the Swiss city of La Chaux-de-Fonds,
which achieved UNESCO recognition for its history of watchmaking in 2009.
As a side note, some other great names in watchmaking come from this region,
including Girard-Perregaux, Tissot, Movado, Zenith,
and, of course, Rolex. But, Omega isn't content just to sit among these other
watchmakers. In 1892, founder Louis Brandt created
the first minute-repeating wristwatch in collaboration with Audemars Piguet.
The British Royal Flying Corps chose Omega as the timekeeper for its combat units in 1917.
The Olympics have utilized Omega as the official timekeepers since 1932. The British Military was
still using Omega in the 1940s during World War II. You can see Tom Hardy's character,
Ferrier, use his Omega timepiece to calculate how much flying time he had left in the movie
"Dunkirk." And Omega has been on the wrist of everyone's favorite secret agent, James Bond,
since 1995. But, perhaps Omega's greatest achievement happened in 1969 by putting the
first watch on the moon. And which watch did it? None other than the Omega Speedmaster.
Interestingly, the Speedmaster was never created for lunar voyage. It
actually joined the Omega lineup in 1957 as a racing chronograph.
Specifically, the model 2915-1. What's a chronograph,
you ask? Didn't I say? A chronograph is a type of watch, which features smaller sub-dials within
the larger main dial of the watch. The primary function is to keep a record of elapsed time
versus the actual time of day. The chronograph's tachymeter scale can also be used to calculate the
speed of a moving object. So, the easiest way to think of a chronograph is like a stopwatch.
Of course, chronographs can also incorporate other features known as "complications."
Those complications can include the date, the phase of the moon, and many others.
The Speedmaster's design followed the simple, yet functional chronographs of the 1920s and 30s. The
Speedmaster's name was given to complement Omega's already-established Seamaster and Railmaster
collections. These original racing chronographs were powered by a manual wind movement,
which means, unlike a quartz or an automatic movement, the Speedmaster has to be wound by hand
on a regular basis to keep time. Being manual wind allows the watch to not lose any function in low
gravity. Because automatic watches utilize the pull of gravity on the rotor to wind the watch,
this wouldn't be functional in space. And quartz watches weren't even available
until 1969. Even though the Speedmaster is famous for being the "Moonwatch,"
it actually went into space several years earlier. It journeyed the space
on the wrist of astronaut Walter Schirra in the 1962 MA-8 mission.
The Speedmaster worn was Schirra's personal Omega CK2998. Although Schirra's watch performed well,
it didn't stop NASA from wanting to make sure that they could rely on the Speedmaster for
future missions. NASA set rigorous testing for all watches that they were considering to be the
"Moonwatch." This included being able to cope in temperatures as extreme as 200 degrees Fahrenheit
to zero degrees Fahrenheit. That's roughly 93 degrees Celsius to negative 18 degrees Celsius.
Watches had to pass both high and low pressure tests and a test to ensure function in a pure
oxygen atmosphere with no seals breaking. Watches submitted also had to be shockproof
and anti-magnetic. All dials and numbers had to be legible in low light conditions,
which makes sense for a dark spacecraft. The crystalline case had to be anti-reflective,
which is why Omega chose a satin-finished steel case. And, of course, time keeping
accuracy was measured. Out of the shortlist of selected watches, both the Longines Wittnauer
and the Rolex Cosmograph both failed testing, which means, on June 1st, 1965,
the Omega Speedmaster was chosen as the watch that was certified for manned space
missions. This means, to this day, Omega is likely NASA's longest consistent supplier.
Fun fact here: Hamilton actually submitted a pocket watch for consideration. Needless to say,
the idea of a pocket watch floating around made them immediately disqualified. In 1969,
the Speedmaster was on the wrist of the Apollo 11 crew,
who were on their way to the moon. Due to a malfunction on an electronic timer,
Neil Armstrong actually opted to keep his watch in the spacecraft as backup. However, Buzz Aldrin
opted to wear his Speedmaster as he journeyed out of the spacecraft and onto the moon. Buzz,
by the way, is actually a self-professed watch guy, which is certainly something we approve of.
One year later, in 1970, the Speedmaster once again
journeyed into space on the Apollo 13 mission.
Famously, a ruptured oxygen tank jeopardized the descent journey, which gave us everyone's favorite
line when something goes wrong: "Houston, we have a problem." By using his Omega Speedmaster,
Jack Swigert was able to time the critical burn to get the crew home safely. Omega was
given the Silver Snoopy Award by NASA for its critical role in the safety of
the astronauts on this mission. Truly, the Speedmaster represents an incredible chapter
in watchmaking and NASA's history. But, what does the Speedmaster look like today?
Luckily, Omega provides a ton of information on their website, including a downloadable PDF guide,
which, you'll see, is quite useful because there's so many variants
in the Speedmaster line. There are models such as the Speedmaster racing line, which pays homage to
the timepiece's racing routes, the Speedmaster 38, which showcases some smaller Speedmasters,
and there's different editions of the "Moonwatch," including the Dark Side Of The Moon, White Side of
the Moon, and many more. The watch we're looking at today is the Omega Speedmaster Professional
- reference 310.30.42.50.01.001.
[outtake] E2 is the millimeters. Like, it all means
something, but they're just so long. Traditionally, the Omega Speedmaster
Professional comes in a black dial.
But, as we've mentioned, there are limited editions that come with gold,
silver, white, and other color dials. But, there's no denying that the iconic "Moonwatch" has always
had a black dial and, overall, the design has changed very little throughout its history.
If you go on Omega's website and click Speedmaster, there's a special section for just
the "Moonwatch." Under that section, you'll find the "Moonwatch" with various strap options as well
as the white gold and rose gold Speedmasters. So, now, we're going to look at some in-depth details
about the Speedmaster. The watch is crafted in stainless steel with a 42-millimeter case
and a 20-millimeter lug width. As we already know, the dial is finished in black and features three
sub-dials. These sub-dials measure the elapsed hours, minutes, and the current running seconds.
The hands, including the chronograph hand, are finished with Super-LumiNova to improve legibility
in low light settings. The dial is protected by a Hesalite acrylic crystal. Given that
it's shatterproof, it's safer for use in space. A traditional sapphire crystal is available as well,
which is what I have on my watch. The crown isn't a watertight screw-down, but rather a push-pull,
which results in only 5 bar of water resistance. 5 bar is equivalent to 50 meters or 167 feet.
This, in watch terms, means the Speedmaster is only splash-proof. Sorry, Mr. Bond. This
isn't a good watch for a naval commander. The watch is powered by Omega's manual wind
3861 movement. This is Omega's newest growth from the original 321 movement.
It now boasts a master chronometer certification
and a coaxial escapement. And, although the Speedmaster typically comes on a stainless
steel bracelet, it's entirely possible to swap it out for a leather or fabric strap.
How much can you expect to spend on a brand new Speedmaster? Omega's website has the Speedmaster
listed in a range of $6,300 to $7,150. This depends on your choice of crystal
or if you want it on a strap or on the bracelet. And, like most elements of pre-owned clothing,
you can pay less for gently-used models. But, as always, be aware of fakes on the market.
After all, a watch that has this much cachet definitely has its fakes out there.
And, as is the case with a lot of iconic watches, certain vintage Speedmasters can
cost a lot more depending on the model and the condition. Luckily,
if you go to an Omega boutique or find yourself in an authorized retailer,
you can be safe knowing you're buying the real thing. So, now,
we come down to the ultimate question:
Is the Omega Speedmaster worth it? I think it's easiest to start by looking at some of its flaws.
See, I told you. I'm going to do an honest review. If you're the type of person who likes a simple,
minimalist watch design, then the Speedmaster probably isn't for you.
After all, this is a highly-functional watch with a complicated dial,
which definitely pushes it further towards being a sports watch than a formal dress watch.
As we mentioned earlier, if you want a watch that can handle water, this probably isn't it either.
Honestly, this is my biggest gripe about the watch. I find that I have to be quite
conscious of the watch when I'm near water. So, if I'm by the pool or doing dishes,
the Speedmaster is not on my wrist. It can handle a splash or two, but you don't want
to dive in. And it's not worth it if you're set on having a quartz or an automatic movement.
The traditional Speedmaster Professional is a manual wind, so it needs to be wound
nearly every day. However, if you want an automatic Speedmaster, Omega offers those,
too. Granted, this is a great way to bond with your watch. But, if you're likely to forget,
the watch will die. All these points considered, we certainly feel that,
on balance, the Omega Speedmaster is worth it. It has enough of a unique take in style
and a ton of history. For me, the Speedmaster has a personal connection to my childhood.
My dad is an aerospace engineer who grew up during the space race. He was a young boy when Apollo 11
landed on the moon. As a kid from Ohio, Neil Armstrong was his hero, as well as other
astronauts and pilots of the Space Age. My dad joined the Aerospace Engineering Program because
he found out that Neil Armstrong was a professor at his local university. Fun fact: the Speedmaster
in that photo that Neil Armstrong's wearing is actually in solid gold and was a gift from Omega.
I grew up sharing a passion for aviation and space history with my dad. Therefore, I feel
like I'm wearing a piece of history on my wrist. It was a tool worn by early space pioneers to
make their way home. Furthermore, a watch is only made better by an emotional attachment like this.
Naturally, my story will differ from yours, but if you have items that have deep sentimental value,
then you'll know where I'm coming from. From a style standpoint, the Speedmaster has great
versatility. The stainless steel bracelet is timeless and it shows the heritage of the
watch. It looks sporty and can be worn with many casual ensembles. You can give the Speedmaster a
different dimension by going with various fabric straps. Nato straps are typically inexpensive,
so you can go with different colors and designs. A simple black fabric strap looks elegant
and harmonizes with the dial, as well as being accurate with the NASA space suit. But,
you probably don't want to wear it over your sleeves. The watch looks fantastic on a distressed
leather strap paired with a sport coat. The dark dial makes the watch easy to dress up. Granted,
it's not a traditional dress watch like this gold Fabergé,
rose gold H. Moser, and this dressy, vintage reissue Omega Seamaster. But,
in our world today, you'll see various casual items like an Apple watch and sneakers
worn with tailored clothing. So, having a really nice mechanical wristwatch will set you apart from
the crowd. And, although 42 millimeters is about average for a watch these days,
I know that it can be a bit large for some people. If that's the case for you
or maybe you want to go for a more vintage style, then smaller models like the 38,
reduced, or "First Omega in Space" are great choices. Plus, the watch from the 1962
Mercury-Atlas 8 mission had a 39-millimeter case,
so the 38 is closer in size while retaining all the style points of the full-size model.
Overall, the Speedmaster is a testament to Omega as a company as well as their dedication
to making beautiful, functional timepieces. Put it next to a similar watch from Breitling,
Rolex, or Tag Heuer and we're confident that you'll agree, in a great many cases,
it's worth it. In today's video, I'm wearing a business casual outfit in various tones of brown.
My sport coat is in a brown, blue, and gray check from the brand Caruso. I purchased this jacket
recently using Raphael's 80% off eBay hack, which is a great value considering this jacket retails
for over $1,500. My white dress shirt has barrel cuffs and is made to measure by Beckett & Robb.
My dress tan chinos feature cuffs and side tab adjusters and they were made for me by
Beckett & Robb. My shoes are a well-worn and well-loved pair of Allen Edmonds chukkas. My socks
are from Fort Belvedere and they feature brown and tan shadow-stripes. My tie is our navy grenadine,
which I chose because it harmonizes with the blue checks in my jacket. My pocket square is in white
linen with navy hand-rolled x-stitches. On my left hand is a simple rose gold wedding band and on my
right hand is my sterling silver class ring with a blue sapphire. On my wrist is my trusty Omega
Speedmaster, the watch I wear most days. It's paired with a brown distressed Hodinkee strap,
which picks up the browns in my outfit. The various watches you've seen in today's video
were all supplied by Delray Watch Supply, but this video is still 100% not sponsored. Of course,
you can find all the various Fort Belvedere accessories that I'm wearing,
as well as many others, in our Fort Belvedere store here.
[bloopers]
Welcome back to the Gentleman's Gazette. In today's video,
we'll talk about the iconic Omega Seamaster chronograph. Speedmaster yeah oh yeah speedmaster
- [multiple, behind the camera] Speedmaster.
- [behind the camera] Seamaster is a different watch.
- [Raphael] Yeah, oh, yeah. Speedmaster.
[nasal chuckle]
Welcome back to the Gentleman's Gazette. Today's video is all about the Omega Seamaster,
he first watch on the moon. No, Speedmaster.
- [multiple, behind the camera] Speedmaster!
- [Raphael] Got it, got it, got it. Okay.
Welcome back to the Gentleman's Gazette. Today's video is all about the Omega Speedmaster.
[laughing]
Welcome with me Nathan to our team of hosts.
- [Raphael] Hi, Nathan! - [Nathan] Hey, thanks for having me!
- [Raphael] Absolutely. So, Nathan knows a lot about
watches, a lot more about me, and he's also our
operations manager, and there's a few other things here. Apart from that, you are really into
- [Nathan] Baseball
- [Raphael] And I hate baseball. God! You have to pay me to go to a baseball game. But, that's it!
We're all different people and Preston is standing here laughing as well. He also likes baseball.
[laughing]
With that being said, enjoy the video on the Omega Seamaster. I'm sure you'll enjoy Nathan.
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