10 Notable People Wearing the Omega Speedmaster

The venerable Omega Speedmaster Professional was the first wristwatch worn on the Moon in 1969 and has gained an undeniable status symbol, being on of the most iconic watches ever, one with a popularity that goes far beyond just watch nerds. Considering its pedigree, it seems understandable to see this watch on the wrist of celebrities, and I have compiled a list with a few familiar faces wearing the Omega Speedmaster.

The Omega Speedmaster was created in 1957, as part of a trilogy of professionally oriented watches (Seamaster 300 for divers, Railmaster for scientists and Speedmaster for racing drivers). There are a few interesting facts worth noting about this watch. First of all, it was the first chronograph watch with a scale engraved on an external bezel, and not printed on its dial. The most important steps in the history of this watch, however, all have to do with space exploration. After some astronauts used their own Speedmaster watches onboard Gemini missions (early 1960s), NASA decided to officially select a watch to be worn by its crew members. After a gruelling selection process, the Omega Speedmaster became the official astronaut’s watch… and in July 1969, it made it to the surface of the Moon, an event that forever changed the image of this watch. With such a pedigree, many watch enthusiasts have considered having a Speedmaster in their collection and that includes a few celebrities too, as you’ll see below. 

Daniel Craig

James Bond actor Daniel Craig is starring in his last Bond film, No Time to Die, which had its release postponed due to the current COVID-19 situation. The watch he is wearing the film, which we have covered here, is a specifically designed Seamaster Diver 300M. However, did you know that Craig was a fan of the Speedmaster before he became 007 on the silver screen? He is pictured here in 2004 wearing his stainless steel Speedmaster Automatic.

Simon Pegg

Simon Pegg is an English actor and comedian, best known for his roles in Hot Fuzz, the Mission Impossible film series, Shaun of the Dead and Star Trek. Pegg rocks a stainless steel Speedmaster on matching bracelet.

Mark Knopfler

Mark Knopfler is the legendary British guitarist and singer who co-founded the band Dire Straits and has gone on to have a successful solo career. The Sultan of Swing is an Omega fan, having worn Speedmaster watches for a long time. In the pictures below he is wearing his vintage Speedmaster Professional in stainless steel and a gold Speedmaster 57 reissue.

Dennis Quaid

Dennis Quaid is an American actor, best known for his roles in Frequency, The Big Easy, The Right Stuff and The Parent Trap. In the film The Right Stuff, which was about pilots from the US Air Force, Marines and Navy pilots involved in aeronautical research and the original Mercury Seven astronauts. Quaid portrayed astronaut Gordon Cooper in the film and wore a Speedmaster in it.  Quaid is pictured below wearing his own modern-day steel Speedy.

Tom Hanks

We mentioned Tom Hanks in our previous 10 With a Milgauss article and once again he makes this list for his Omega Speedmaster. Hanks first sported the timepiece in Apollo 13, as Commander James Lovell. In the film, Hanks wore the watch on his left wrist, which was a small faux pas, as James Lovell wears his watch on the right wrist since he is left-handed. Hanks has regularly sported his Speedy for many years after filming Apollo 13.

Steve Carell

Steve Carell is an American actor and comedian, best known for his role as Michael Scott in the US version of the television series The Office and in films such as Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy, Evan Almighty, Get Smart and the Despicable Me animated series. I’ve always had a suspicion that Carell has a Speedmaster and finally found a photo showing him wearing one clearly.

Adam Savage

Adam Savage is an American special effects designer best known for starring in the science television series MythBusters. Savage likes Omegas and regularly wears a Seamaster Planet Ocean. I recently found a photo of him from his Twitter account, wearing a classic Speedmaster.

Ryan Reynolds

Ryan Reynolds is a Canadian actor, best known for his roles in Deadpool, National Lampoon’s Van Wilder and X-Men Origins: Wolverine. Reynolds doesn’t own the classic moonwatch but a modern iteration of the Speedmaster, more specifically the Dark Side of the Moon version with ceramic case.

James Corden

James Corden is an English actor and comedian and currently hosts The Late Late Show with James Corden in the United States. Corden was wearing his classic Speedy when doing his Carpool Karaoke segment with singer Michael Bublé.

Bill Paxton

The late Bill Paxton was an American actor, known for his roles in Alien, Apollo 13, Titanic, True Lies and Vertical Limit.  Like Tom Hanks, Paxton first wore a Speedmaster playing astronaut Fred Haise in Apollo 13 and it became his regular timepiece for many years.