As expected, 2019 was a fake watches great year for the Speedmaster. Started with the news of the re-release of the caliber 321, the movement that powered the so-called Pre moon, the brand with the Micron had made us glimpse a Speedmaster Moonwatch with that movement only on July 21, 2019, the day of the 50th jubilee of the first watch gone to the moon, but in a sumptuous edition with a platinum case.
The Maison of Biel-Bien opens 2020 at large by unveiling the Omega Speedmaster Moonwatch 321 Stainless Steel, which is precisely the second timepiece powered by the 321 caliber remake.
It is inspired by the reference ST 105.003 that in 1965. On the wrist of the astronaut Edward White during the Gemini 4 mission he marked the first Speedy to walk in space.
The Speedmaster 321 In Steel
The steel case measuring 39.70 mm is inspired by the third generation Moonwatch. This is also testified by the loops which are the straightest that a Moonwatch has ever shown.
The ring of the black bezel with tachymeter scale is in glossy black ceramic and the numbers are in white enamel. On the black dial you can see the thin stick hour markers coated with beige SuperLuminova to create a vintage effect and the classic Speedy spheres – with the iconic central arrow seconds hand – also covered inside with luminescent substance.
The three quadrants are inevitable, starting from 3 to 9 in 30 minutes, 12 hours, and continuous small seconds according to the original caliber 321 signed by Frédéric Piguet.
Collectors will notice that the bezel has dots under the numbers and the accented “TACHIMÉTRE” lettering is faithful to that of the pre-70s models. Also note the two points before the 12 o’clock index that identifies the 1965 reference and the Omega logo and the “Speedmaster” wording of the time but rightly without the “Professional” wording that appeared for the first time in 1964 on 105.012.
Note: I would have expected that the first Moonwatch to mount the new 321 would have been the famous 105.012 since it was the first to go to the Moon, but if Omega started from White’s it means that it intends to do more re-editions of the Pre Moon with this movement. We will probably only see it on the vintage Moonwatch remakes or in any case always for editions for special occasions.
Movement
The original 321 movement by Frederic Piguet with column-wheel chronograph has equipped all Speedmaster Moonwatches since the first of 1957 ref. CK2915 (broad arrow) up to ref. 145-012; from ref. 145.022 was replaced by the caliber fake Omega 861 and later by 1861 and 1863.
It was always he who moved the ST 105.012 which, as I said, is better known as the reference that identifies the first watch that walked on the moon. Here is a lived but completely original specimen.
To rebuild the first Omega caliber, he took the 321 that moved the reference ST 105.003 of the astronaut Eugene “Gene” Cernan, the last man to walk on the Moon during the Apollo 17 mission of 1972.
A team of specialized technicians from the Maison set to work to develop the “new 321” using as references also technical drawings and bulletins of the second generation of the Caliber 321 and using advanced techniques such as digital tomography.
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This new Speedmaster is the closest to replica watches uk the true essence of the now still only timepiece gone, at least officially speaking, to the Moon. Its price is € 13,400.
