An Almost Impossible Choice… Frank’s Long Journey to Finding his Favourite Omega Speedmaster

Some, from day one, know what their favourite version of the all-time iconic Omega Speedmaster is. Whether it’s the classic Moonwatch, a modern automatic version, a retro-inspired straight-lug model, or even a specific vintage model, their search is brief. It was not the case for me. I have always loved and respected the Speedmaster for its looks, importance and history. But for dozens of reasons, finding the right one has been difficult. I should say an almost impossible choice, resulting in an exploration of a vast collection that lasted two decades. Indeed, it took me approximately 20 years to finally find my very first Moonwatch. But now, the search is over, and to find out which exact Speedmaster model I’m talking about, take a look at the video above. 

Since I became interested in watches more than 20 years ago (remember that I started MONOCHROME in 2006), the Omega Speedmaster has always piqued my interest. First of all, because it was once the first watch on the Moon and actually the only watch ever approved for NASA’s missions to the Moon. In NASA’s tests, only one chronograph survived, and in 1965, the Speedmaster reference ST 105.003 was declared “flight-qualified by NASA for all manned space missions”. That’s pretty hard to beat in terms of historical importance, right?

Besides that great space-related background, the Speedmaster is simply a great-looking watch with tons of history. But I must add that there are many options to choose from. And this explains why, to me, it took some time before I was able to choose among the original Speedmaster, the many vintage models available on secondary markets, and the numerous limited editions. And besides all the hand-wound models like the original Moonwatch, there are even various models with an automatic movement. The vast amount of options might be slightly overwhelming… at least to me, that was the case.

Of course, I looked around and tried many Speedmasters on the wrist, both at watch collector meetings and in boutiques and during watch shows. But… I couldn’t make up my mind. Should it be a new Moonwatch, or one of the limited editions, or maybe a vintage one from my year of birth, or… As you can see, I found it rather overwhelming. And then, back in 2013, I thought that the search was over. Indeed, it wasn’t until the very first Speedy Tuesday event, held in Noordwijk, the Netherlands, that I finally got myself a Speedmaster. And mind you, I had already been collecting watches for well over 10 years. That was the first-generation Speedmaster First Omega in Space (or FOiS, for the experts).

Like many collectors, I felt that having a Speedmaster was a must in my collection. But I felt the classic Moonwatch was maybe a tad too big, or maybe I just didn’t like the bracelet as much as I thought I would. The FOiS was different. Its case is symmetrical, while the Moonwatch has an asymmetrical case due to the crown and pusher protection. That was just one of the details that jumped out positively. It also meant that this Speedmaster was smaller, and it came on a leather strap instead of the steel bracelet. To me, this was the purest Speedmaster, and I loved it. For a while… That said, it was a re-edition of an important version in the Speedmaster’s lineup, as Astronaut Wally Schirra wore his personal watch aboard the Sigma 7 capsule in 1962, and that’s how the CK2998 became the “First Omega in Space”.

Yet, there was that nagging doubt… It might have been the purest in form and shape, harking back to the very first Speedmaster, but it also meant it was not THE Moonwatch. And so, the search went on. Again, I looked at many versions, now only of the actual Moonwatch. So no automatic, no straight lugs, no exotic materials, but the real deal. And while I was hesitating between the version with sapphire or hesalite crystal, with or without a see-through caseback, I still couldn’t make up my mind. Then came the Ed White version with a remake of the original calibre 321. What a watch! And later, Omega released the Canopus gold version, which could easily have been my favourite if the price point had suited my budget (which it didn’t). Again, more to think about, but still, I had not made up my mind.

I then slightly changed my research to focus on vintage models. I thus started emailing some dealers I befriended to see if they might have a nice Speedy from my year of birth. Of course, it should be complete with box and papers. Not easy, I can assure you! And in the meantime, earlier this year, Omega all of a sudden introduced a new Speedmaster Moonwatch that immediately caught my attention. And that is when I knew the search for the perfect Moonwatch, for my favourite Speedmaster, was over.

And if you want to know which exact model has marked the end of this 20-year search, take a look at the video. And let me know which is your favourite Speedmaster model in the comments below. Enjoy!