OMEGA & The Met Store Celebrate the Moon Landing's 50th Anniversary With Special Edition Speedmaster
An updated version of the “First OMEGA in Space.”
This year marks the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing, and various brands across the globe have released special editions to celebrate the momentous occasion — from LEGO to Swiss watchmakers RJ. OMEGA previously joined the ranks with both an 18K gold and a stainless steel release of two 50th anniversary Speedmasters, but the company is now further expanding the collection with yet another limited edition release — this time in collaboration with NYC’s Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Aside from sponsoring the museum’s “Apollo’s Muse: The Moon in the Age of Photography” exhibition, OMEGA has worked with The Met Store to create a tailored Speedmaster, based on the original “First OMEGA in Space.” The original classic was worn by astronaut Wally Schirra during the Mercury Sigma 7 mission back in 1962. The revamped version now comes in a 39.7 mm stainless steel case, a black anodized aluminium bezel and an equally-black varnished dial. All that houses an OMEGA calibre 1861, a descendent of the manual-winding movement used by NASA’s Apollo astronauts on the Moon. The collaboration also sees an array of OMEGA and The Met logos engraved onto the watch, especially on the caseback, which features The Met’s logos as well as OMEGA’s famous seahorse medallion. Presented in a special box, the watch comes with both a red and white NATO strap resembling the colors of The Met, and a second leather strap. Collectors who wish to get their hands on this rare timepiece can do so exclusively at the OMEGA Boutique on Fifth Avenue, NYC, as well as The Met Store, and online, at a price of $5,200 USD.
As for the exhibition, which showcases more than 170 photographs as well as illustrations, drawings, prints, paintings, and an array of astronomical instruments and technical gear used in the Apollo 11 mission, it’ll be on display at The Met Fifth Avenue from July 3 to September 22.
For more watches, take a closer look at G-SHOCK’s ’90s throwback translucent series.
