It’s starting to feel like black tie galas are less common than they used to be, or perhaps high society has realized they should stop inviting me to such events. In either case, when I find myself in a tuxedo, odds are better than not that I’m attending a NASA event. Over the years, I’ve had a wonderful relationship with the organization, and whether it be through scientific collaboration or philanthropy, the institution never fails to inspire me. More than exploration or science or industrial grit, NASA’s brand is inspiration.
On one particularly tuxedo-y occasion, I had the honor to speak at the “Astronaut Hall of Fame” induction ceremony at the Kennedy Space Center. This was a surreal experience. Here I was, at a podium in front of the most incredible collection of astronauts, politicians, and industrialists on the planet, speaking on the merits of American ingenuity and the principles that echo through the hallowed halls of NASA. Above me was a complete Saturn 5 rocket, horizontally suspended thirty feet above the ground. It is a truly unbelievable sight. The ground level featured incredible displays and enough NASA memorabilia to fake a moon landing. These incredible people, their loved ones, and a hall filled with history were all focused on my succinct speech. The humility, induced by that honor, remains indescribable.
Ok, enough about that, let’s talk about watches.
Did you know that the Speedmaster was the first watch on the moon? Did you?!?!
Honestly, 55 years after the Moon landing, it's still super cool. The James Bond fantasies can only be indulged for a moment before you remember that it’s just a movie franchise…. but we actually landed on the Moon. We strapped three pilots to the top of a giant rocket, fired them 240,000 miles into space, where they got out of their capsule, hopped around and flew back. For eight days, those cowboys navigated the most precise of controls, with certain death catalyzed by the smallest of mistakes. Three Omegas were there for all of it. A Speedmaster was up there, bouncing around with Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin, collecting moon dust. It’s just about the coolest thing a watch could have actually done.
For the Astronaut Hall of Fame Gala, I wore the first Omega I ever purchased, my Speedmaster Moonwatch Professional (Reference: 311.30.42.30.01.005 , from Korman, exactly five years ago). This is the closest modern Omega to the original Moonwatch, with the notable exception of the movement. The Apollo issued watches had the Omega 321 movement, while mine features the 1861, since replaced by the 3861 in the latest generation.
This watch is quite close to perfect. It’s become a design staple, canonized all the way to the platonic sphere. Which is just a snooty way of saying that if you close your eyes and imagine a chronograph watch, you’re probably envisioning this watch, or rather, whatever you’re imagining has been greatly influenced by this watch.
I love this watch, but I don’t actually like it that much. I don’t get excited when I put it on because of its perfection. Honestly, the gravity of the Moonwatch’s heritage prevents the owner from feeling any emotion other than reverence. Wearing it is almost an academic exercise, the way the precision of a Porsche 911 fails to invoke the same passions as the raucous and reckless sloppiness of a Hellcat. It’s so well done that it’s un-relatable and excellent design requires a degree of quirk that humanizes the product. Perfectly designed products are appreciated, intentionally imperfectly designed products are obsessed over.
For any Gen-Z readers: The Moonwatch isn’t Brat enough for me.
That said, this watch has traveled around the world with me, it’s done zero-g flights with NASA friends, timed F1 laps, and the box has been signed by a good friend of mine who was an Apollo astronaut. God forbid my house were to ever catch fire, I’m getting this watch out after the family is safe. It was absolutely the right choice to wear that watch at the event… oh and it obviously pairs handsomely with a traditionally cut tuxedo.
The next watch in the collection is the Silver Snoopy Moonwatch (Ref: 310.32.42.50.02.001) . Korman found this rare watch for me, and honestly, it’s a major reason I go to them first whenever I’m on the market for a new watch. It’s an extremely special piece. The dial is cast in silver, with accents that are just a shade darker than cobalt blue. To those who are not familiar with the history of Snoopy (yes, that Snoopy, from Peanuts) and NASA, here is a short summary of the relationship which is too long to discuss here, but suffice it to say, the Snoopy Award is a wonderful and prestigious accolade.
This watch was made to celebrate the anniversary of Apollo 13, and the incredible accomplishment of all those who got the mission home safely. Jim Lovell (Apollo 13 astronaut, played by Tom Hanks in the film) was one of my heroes as a kid, and knowing that Jim took a Moonwatch on the mission, expecting to wear it on the surface, but instead needing it to survive the flight home is awe-inspiring.
The “Snoopy” of course does not bear much resemblance to the actual Apollo 13 issued watches, but honoring that flight with this special edition was a home run for Omega. The most interesting part of this edition can be found on the back of the case, which features a scene from the moon with the earth in the distance, physically rotating as it’s geared to the 3861 movement. When the chronograph is operating, a tiny command module with Snoopy at the helm pops out from behind the moon and orbits around the edge of the case. It’s a wild complication, which astounds everyone the first time they see it.
Where the original Professional Moonwatch fails in its antiseptic perfection, Snoopy succeeds (and perhaps over does it) in the opposite direction. It’s adorably audacious. There are plenty of more expensive watches, but the Snoopy holds its own no matter the company. I love and like this watch. I don’t wear it as much as I probably should, most likely due to the fact that wearing it always feels like an occasion. It’s also quite loud, definitely not a subtle statement to casually wear a snoopy.
Finally, we have the new “First Omega in Space” (or FOiS, Ref:310.30.40.50.06.001). Released just a few weeks ago, this watch pays homage to the very first Omega to leave Earth’s atmosphere, gallantly strapped to the wrist of astronaut Wally Schirra. His mission predated Armstrong’s Moonwatch by seven years, and candidly, Schirra’s flight was way riskier. The FOiS features the same 3861 movement as the Snoopy, which is a fantastic, relatively bulletproof movement. Unlike the Professional Moonwatch, FOiS features a sunburst dial in a color that has to be seen in person to be truly appreciated. It’s not black, nor is it blue, nor is it silver, but rather all three, often at the same time, for brevity we’ll call it gunmetal. Succinctly stated, the dial is absolutely mesmerizing. To compliment the gunmetal, Omega has detailed the hour markets and alpha style hands with a faux patina lume that I’ll describe as a rusty orange. Pair those two colors with the excellent 39.7m case featuring near idyllic proportions, and you have a real winner.
Simply put, the FOiS is the goldilocks of these three Speedmasters.
No matter which you purchase, a NASA related Speedmaster is a must for a collector. They are robust, durable and not to be trite, but they’re just cool. For avid collectors, the FOiS is more unique than the standard professional moonwatch, but with a real vibrance that gives the allusion of an occasion when worn, instead of shoving it in your face (mostly due to the color pallet), On the other side of the fence, unlike the Snoopy, it’s actually attainable!. Plus, it’s much more discrete and less precious than the rare Snoopy. Omega will sell every one of these, and yet despite the commoditization, each one will remain special.
Extra credit: You’ll see a MoonSwatch in one of the pictures, specifically the “Mission to Pluto”. Buy one of the MoonSwatches, even if they feel like a happy meal toy next to the real thing. They’re fun little popcorn watches and are an important part of horological history. Snobs will go on and on about the Swatch blasphemy that is the MoonSwatch, but ignore all of it. Just because you prefer a slow-sipping MaCallan scotch, doesn’t mean you can’t throw down a shot of fireball every now and then. Spoiler alert: it’s ok to have fun.