10 Reasons To Buy A Speedmaster

As a longtime Speedmaster collector, I’d usually say “As if you need one…” when asked for reasons to buy a Speedmaster. But it’s not that simple. Sometimes you need to be thoroughly convinced to spend your hard-earned money on something you don’t need, like a mechanical watch.

Let me start by saying that the most important reason to buy any watch is that you like, no, love it. And it doesn’t matter what brand name is on the dial or what number is on the price tag. If you love a watch and can afford it, wait no longer and get it. But you are probably here because you love watches anyway and want to read about your favorites. Or you may also want to learn about new ones. Most of you will know the Omega Speedmaster inside out. Indeed, it has received a lot of attention in the past few years. Of course, we cover it weekly on Fratello, but we’ve also seen an increase in Speedmaster coverage everywhere around us. The demand for these watches has never been so high.

The purpose of this article is not to tell you that you need to buy an Omega Speedmaster. You don’t need to buy any watches, period. Here are just 10 reasons in favor of buying a Speedmaster watch. If you’ve been debating whether or not to buy one, these might encourage you to pull the trigger.

Buzz Aldrin and his Speedmaster Professional 105.012

10. The coolest history that a watch can have

When Omega introduced the Speedmaster back in 1957 alongside the Seamaster 300 and the Railmaster, the watch was intended to be used by sports people and scientists. Omega marketed the watch as one for race car drivers and used some advertisements with cars in them. Little did Omega know about the role the watch would play roughly a decade later in the biggest race ever, the space race. As you may know, a few astronauts already used the Speedmaster before it became the official watch for NASA astronauts.

As early as 1962, astronaut Wally Schirra used his Speedmaster CK2998 in space. In 1964, NASA invited watch brands and distributors to supply the organization with a chronograph watch. Only a few responded, such as Rolex, Longines-Wittnauer, Waltham, and Omega, but only the Speedmaster withstood all the severe testing procedures. Thus, it was finally qualified to be the official astronaut’s chronograph watch for use in space in 1965.

Ed White wearing two Speedmaster 105.003 watches during his spacewalk in 1965

That year, astronaut Ed White wore two Speedmasters during his Gemini IV space walk. In 1969, the Speedmaster Professional was on the wrists of the entire Apollo 11 crew but only on the Moon while on Buzz Aldrin’s wrist. Neil Armstrong left his Speedmaster in the module because the board clock was not functioning. During Apollo 13, when things got very serious, the Speedmaster Professional played a vital role in the crew’s safe return. This led Omega to receive NASA’s highest honor for its staff and contractors, the Silver Snoopy Award. Even during NASA’s last manned mission to the Moon in 1972, the astronauts were equipped with the same Speedmaster watches. Gene Cernan, who wore his Speedmaster 105.003, was the last NASA astronaut to leave the Moon’s surface. His watch, which is in Omega’s Museum in Biel, was the blueprint for the current Speedmaster Calibre 321, which debuted in 2020.

A 105.003 that was worn on the Moon, during Apollo 17

And Omega is certainly using the Moonwatch story to great effect, even to this day. But be honest now, wouldn’t you do the same? Going to the Moon was one of humankind’s greatest achievements, and Omega was right there on the wrists of those who made it possible.

9. It’s versatile: the Omega Speedmaster could be your only watch

For some, the Omega Speedmaster will be the only watch they’ll ever buy. And in fact, it is very suitable to be someone’s only watch. Contrary to what people think, you can swim with a modern Speedmaster Professional (but not dive) as long as you have its gaskets checked every year. Having a swim-proof watch seems to be very important for many. Now, when I am in a pool, I hardly see anyone wearing a watch (and why would you?). Regardless, it is possible with the Speedmaster, but if you fancy a dive, you should wear another watch. The Speedmaster is perfect for everyday use, whether in the office or at home. It goes perfectly with a suit but looks equally good with a T-shirt or polo shirt. It’s an extremely versatile watch, and you’ll never commit a style faux pas when wearing a Speedmaster.

If you’re concerned about scratching the Plexiglass (Hesalite) crystal, then opt for the version with the scratch-resistant sapphire crystal. If you do have the Hesalite version, it is always possible to buff out the scratches yourself. In the end, you can also have the crystal replaced during a service.

Oh, let me also say that the Omega Speedmaster Professional looks fantastic on both men and women. Despite the 42mm size of the Professional version, it looks terrific on most wrists.

8. The Speedmaster is a strap monster

I bought my first Speedmaster (Professional) in 1999 and quickly discovered how fun it was to play around with straps. Although the landscape of strap makers was very different than it is today, I did manage to find several straps that elevated the look of the Speedmaster. My favorite was perhaps the double-ridged alligator strap from Omega with a stainless steel folding clasp. Another one I used a lot was a dark brown strap from Morellato, which made the black dial pop.

Today, there are no limitations when it comes to straps for the Speedmaster. A perforated racing strap will make it look very sporty, while a NATO or Velcro strap will make it look like you work for NASA. The 20mm lug spacing of the Speedmaster Professional ensures that the possibilities are practically endless. And if you can’t find a strap from your favorite strap makers, some companies will make a custom one based on your specifications.

7. The modern Speedmaster bracelet is amazing

Even though the Speedmaster is a strap monster, the current Omega Speedmaster Professional models have amazing bracelets. A fully brushed version comes with the Hesalite model, and a mostly brushed version with polished accents comes with the sapphire-crystal model. The latest versions also have (finally) an easy-adjustment system in the clasp to extend the bracelet by a few millimeters on hot days.

The previous bracelet was sometimes a reason for folks not to pursue the purchase of a Speedmaster Professional. Common complaints were that it didn’t taper and just didn’t look “nice”. The modern bracelet is based on some of the vintage bracelets that Omega used for its Speedmaster watch. Consequently, it tapers from 20mm to 15mm. It’s a very refined and comfortable bracelet to wear.

6. The chronograph movement

Omega’s Speedmaster (Professional) has used several movements since 1957. Aside from some of the automatic variations, the “Moonwatch” was always equipped with a hand-wound movement. Some other brands used (and still use) modular chronographs, meaning that the watch has a base movement with a chronograph module added (often easy to identify because the crown is not aligned with the pushers). The Speedmaster Professional, on the other hand, has always used an integrated chronograph movement. Caliber 321 was the first movement used for the Speedmaster, and this is the one that was inside the Speedmasters used on the surface of the Moon.

Caliber 321

Later, in 1968, Omega introduced its caliber 861, which beat at a higher frequency but used a cam actuator instead of a column wheel. It wasn’t until 1996 that the Moonwatch would receive a “new” movement, caliber 1861, which was basically a small upgrade from the previous 861 iterations. In 2021, Omega introduced the new caliber 3861. This movement had 50% of the parts of the previous movement, but the rest of the components were all new. These included Omega’s Co-Axial escapement and a silicon hairspring. There were quite a few iterations of the movements used previously, sometimes with just very small adjustments or changes. Today’s Speedmaster Professional, however, uses only the 3861, in both the “sapphire sandwich” and the Hesalite version.

This modern movement has all of Omega’s recent innovations and is certified as a Master Chronometer by METAS. Instead of the previous caliber’s average daily deviation of -1/+10 seconds, caliber 3861 promises 0/+5 seconds per day on average, even after being exposed to magnetic fields up to 15,000 gauss or shocks. According to Omega, this caliber 3861 will withstand the severe NASA tests from 1964/1965 without a problem. For the Speedmaster fans and enthusiasts, Omega also reintroduced its caliber 321. This movement, however, is only to be found in very few Speedmaster models (in steel, gold, and platinum).

5. The most legible chronograph out there

When I bought my first Speedmaster in 1999, it wasn’t so much the Moon story that ignited my interest. Rather, it was the Speedmaster’s clean design and readability. Only a few other chronograph watches were able to provide an equally legible chronograph dial (the IWC Pilot’s Chronograph was one of them). The black dial with white printing and lumed hour markers and the white luminous pencil hands make the Omega Speedmaster Professional an extremely easy chronograph watch to read. And, of course, this has not changed. The modern Speedmaster Professional is perfectly readable, and Omega also (finally) fixed the second’s track to measure the elapsed chronograph’s seconds perfectly.

4. There are a lot of Speedmaster variations

If the modern Omega Speedmaster Professional is not for you or you already have that one and are longing for more, Omega offers a lot of Speedmaster variations. According to some, there are even too many! But at least this gives the buyer numerous options, and if you don’t like them, you simply don’t have to buy them and stick with the original. As a Speedmaster collector, I kind of miss the limited and special editions that Omega used to release. They brought more variation to the standard Moonwatch. The non-collectors complained, and, apparently, Omega listened, so limited editions were out as of 2019. The Silver Snoopy Award from 2020 is the exception. While it is not a limited edition, strictly speaking, the production is very limited, and some have been on the waitlist since its introduction on October 5, 2020. Here’s an overview of many of the Speedmaster variations.

Omega Speedmaster Professional 3570.50

3. The Speedmaster is relatively affordable

For a long time, the retail price of a standard Omega Speedmaster Professional was below €5,000. With the introduction of the current model in 2021, that went up to just over €6,000 for the version with the stainless steel bracelet. But today, due to the price hikes since its introduction, we see a sticker price of €7,500 for the Moonwatch with Hesalite crystal and €8,600 for the Moonwatch with sapphire crystal. You still get a lot of watch for the buck and a lot of storytelling, but it’s in another price category today for sure. A chronometer-rated chronograph from a competing brand will not be much cheaper. On the contrary, it will likely be more expensive. It’s just that we were so used to the friendly price of the Omega Speedmaster Professional.

Whereas the Speedmaster was something a lot of people were able to save up for in the past (even if it took months or years), it might be out of reach for many today. And that’s a pity. However, on Chrono24 and similar websites, you will be able to find a pre-owned Speedmaster Professional or one of the variations for much less. For under €5,000, you will be able to find a Speedmaster Professional with stainless steel bracelet and caliber 1861. And that’s not a bad thing!

2. The Speedmaster will fit any watch collection

Whether you are a seasoned watch collector or just starting, the Speedmaster Professional is either a great start for a collection or simply a wonderful addition to an existing one. I’ve met many watch collectors with a focus on high-end watches, such as Patek Philippe or Audemars Piguet, who also enjoyed owning a Speedmaster, either for the famous Moon story or simply because it is such an iconic chronograph. To others, it was their gateway to watch collecting, and that includes me as well. The Omega Speedmaster, vintage or modern, will fit every watch collection. Even if you add a Speedmaster to your collection and find out it is not for you, at least you gave it a try and know what it is about. If the latter is the case, don’t worry. There are enough other watches out there that will speak to you.

1. You will be part of an amazing group

Owning an Omega Speedmaster (Professional) won’t make you unique compared to, let’s say, owning an F.P.Journe or A. Lange & Söhne Odysseus. You will see Speedmasters around you when you attend watch collectors’ get-togethers but also when you’re in (work) meetings or even walking in a place where there are lots of people. But owning and wearing an Omega Speedmaster will make you part of a nice group of enthusiasts.

Whether you become a member of the #SpeedyTuesday group on Facebook, share your images on Instagram with the #SpeedyTuesday hashtag, or become an active member on OmegaForums.net, you will quickly find out that it’s generally a very friendly bunch of enthusiasts ready to welcome you. Whether you own a few dozen vintage Speedmasters or just one new Speedmaster Professional with the stickers freshly removed, you will be just as welcome, and you will find you will get just get as much respect for owning a modern one as you will for owning a 50-year-old Speedmaster.

That’s all from me for this list. Can any of you think of any other good reasons to buy a Speedmaster? If so, let us know in the comments section below.