1980
APOLLO 11 1983
BICOLOR 1985
SPEEDYMOON
Launched to celebrate the 1969 Apollo 11 mission
(in which the Speedmaster became the first watch
worn on the moon) this yellow gold model was the
first to use the 861L calibre and to have a glazed
display back with sapphire crystal. Produced in a very
small numbered series of around 300 pieces, the L
following the calibre 861 indicated that the caliber
was the Luxury version with a higher level of deco-
ration than was normally afforded. Bringing a two-tone style to the Speedmaster’s iconic
design for the first time, this bicolor model was made
using a steel case with a golden dial, silvered subdials
and a bracelet made from steel and 14-karat gold.
The exact number produced is unknown but very
few are known to still exist. This watch was produced in a series of 1,300 pieces
and features a Moonphase complication with a
painted moon and stars. It was the Speedmaster’s
first Moonphase model and, on some rare Speedy-
moon models, a face is also painted on the moon.
1987
SPEEDMASTER AUTOMATIC 1987
ITALY 1991
PERPETUAL CALENDAR
This was the first Speedmaster that combined an auto-
matic movement with a Moonwatch case. Omega only
produced the watch during two years. For collectors,
finding an original piece can become an obsession
full of disappointment, joy and despair – hence its
“Holy Grail” nickname. In design, the case is slightly
thicker to accommodate the automatic movement
and the buttons and crown are closer fitting than the
usual Moonwatch. Limited to 500 pieces, this timepiece was created for
the Italian market. It featured a black dial with golden
subdials, a yellow gold bezel and yellow gold-plated
crown and pushers. Interestingly, the Speedmaster
has a historical connection with Italy. The Seahorse
medallion that features on the caseback of many
Speedmaster and Seamaster models was in fact
inspired by the Seahorse emblems found on the
sides of gondolas in Venice. This Speedmaster model was limited to 50 pieces.
Although it celebrated the 700th anniversary of Swit-
zerland, the watch was released exclusively for the
Japanese market. As well as the chronograph func-
tion, it also includes a Moonphase and a perpetual
calendar programmed up to the year 2100. It is often
considered to be the most complicated watch Omega
has ever produced in series.
102 | INTERNATIONAL WATCH | WINTER 2018