Non-watch people say that sort of thing all the time. Name another object in human history that is a tool, can be worn everyday for an entire lifetime, be passed down through generations, fluctuate in worth and hold personal value… I’ll wait.
The year is 1960, U.S President John F. Kennedy declared that before the turn of the decade, America would succeed in seeing man on the Moon. Preparations had to be made, tools had to be developed, and a man by the name of James H. Ragan is placed in charge of timepiece selection. NASA sends out a formal invitation to Watch Manufacturers to submit a chronograph to become the official watch of NASA, imagine that – An Invitation to be the Sacred Timekeeper of Space. The ask was straightforward, a mechanical watch with simple, functionality that could work flawlessly in the harshness of outer-space and of course survive the journey to and from the Moon. That means astounding accuracy, simplified functionality and robust craftsmanship to withstand the intense turbulence of launch and re-entry, brave the extreme heat amd cold and handle the pressures of space and, to us mere mortals those very first steps on the Moon.
LETS MEET THE
CONTENDERS
The manual wound Longines-Wittenauer ref. 23661 with its clinically beautiful 47mm enamel dial and central second hand with a 37.9 calibre movement was the first runner up. Mainly due to issues with the crystal and the pressures of space travel and mechanical durability issues the 23661 failed. From Rolex we got the Chronograph ref. 6238 (renamed the Cosmograph) which didn’t make that cut due to its expense and the crystal unable to perform in vacuum environments but performed exceptionally in all of NASA’s other rigorous tests. What would become the moon watch had a Hesalite crystal slightly domed for a classic, vintage look surrounded by a 42mm case housing Omegas Caliber 1861 manually wound movement finished in stainless steel with an anodised aluminium bezel.
THE OMEGA SPEEDMASTER
Performing with high accuracy, displaying incredible simplicity during mission critical simulations which would prove pivotal during the infamous “Houston, We Have a Problem” where the accuracy and dependability of a mechanical chronometer shone through. Following the rupture of an oxygen tank, which led to a cascade of problems with the digital systems onboard the craft. The challenge was performing a critical course correction that would slingshot the spacecraft back to Earth. This manoeuvre required precise timing for the burn of the Lunar Module’s engine, 15 seconds. The Lunar Module didn’t have a reliable onboard clock, and the spacecraft’s digital timing systems were unreliable after the power loss. So, astronaut Jim Lovell used his Speedmaster to time the engine burn, ensuring it was done for the correct duration. The Speedmaster’s chronograph function allowed him to accurately measure the time during the manoeuvre. Lovell famously timed the 15-second engine burn on his Speedmaster, which was critical in ensuring that the spacecraft was on the correct trajectory back to Earth. NASA has enshrined the Speedmaster as the only watch fit for space travel. Three Watches, one story, life and death, human triumph. Watches tell the story of time.
Watches tell the story of time.