Boldly Going Where No Man Has Gone Before – “The First Omega in Space”

Written by Tom Dunn of TH Baker

The Omega Speedmaster watch has long enjoyed recognition has the model also known as “Moonwatch,” due to its long association with NASA’s manned space missions. First worn during the Gemini 4 spacewalk, and later brandished on the very surface of the moon, the Speedmaster has become synonymous with the exploration of new frontiers. But the Moonwatch, so named in recognition of the vigorous NASA testing it passed time and time again, was not, in fact, the first Speedmaster to journey through the stratosphere. Instead, this accolade belongs to Wally Schirra’s personal Speedmaster, now enjoying renewed recognition as the Moonwatch “First Omega in Space.”

To commemorate 50 years since Wally Schirra’s Speedmaster joined him on the Mercury Atlas 8 mission, Omega have brought his classic model rocketing into the 21^st century, whilst still carrying a number of heritage hallmarks that make it stand apart from the other Speedmaster models currently available on the market. Unlike modern Speedmasters, the Moonwatch “First Omega in Space” eschews a stainless steel bracelet in favour of a rich brown leather strap, evoking the dark Velcro fabric of the NASA-certified watches in a more sophisticated form. This legacy approach continues on the model’s stunning under-case, which features an embossed Omega seahorse design and title lettering.

The case itself is formed from polished and brushed stainless steel, at a width of 39.70mm. The surrounding bezel ring, formed from smooth black aluminium, features the Speedmaster’s iconic tachymetric scale, here rendered in its most stylish form through its monochromatic contrast and period font use. As with all Speedmasters, this watch also features hands coated with Super-LumiNova, making it both an attractive and practical item for the horological connoisseur.

Inside, the “First Omega in Space” contains the very same movement that Schirra made use of during his mission of 1962 – the legendary manual-winding calibre 1861, later used in the Moonwatch model that would see many more American astronauts through successful space missions. For those who favour more terrestrial exploration, the watch is water resistant to 50 metres / 167 feet, and features a scratch-resistant sapphire crystal face.

Heritage watches are very much in vogue right now with watch fans, with a number of Swiss manufacturers producing modernised pieces based upon some of their most memorable models. What sets the “First Omega in Space” apart is its use of the original movement seen in 1962, maintaining an air of authenticity that, when combined with the impeccably sophisticated finish, offers a watch that feels and looks absolutely timeless.

This watch is available to buy via TH Baker here…

You can follow Tom on twitter @THBaker_TomD

and you can see some of Tom’s other contributions like the article on the Omega Skyfall on The Watch Review Site, or the Tag Heuer Ladies F1 ceramic watch..

TAG Heuer Formula 1 Womens White Ceramic Diamonds

Well the Formula 1 Season is well and truely underway, with only a few races left and everything to play for after Alonso, missing out on another top three finish by being so rudely extracted from the race before the first corner in Japan this weekend, we thought we would keep the F1 theme going by highlighting a ladies timepiece by Tag Heuer the Officila Formula One Timekeeper. So lets get Tom’s views on this timepiece.

Written By: Tom Dunn for The Watch Review Site

The pioneering Swiss manufacturer, TAG Heuer, has long enjoyed a unique relationship with motor sports. One need only look at the history behind the Monaco model, indebted as it is to the success of the 1971 Steve McQueen feature Le Mans, to see the indelible mark race car driving has left on TAG, and vice versa. The Swiss matchmaker was the first company to introduce timing devices for ski and motor racing events, including Formula One, so setting up a long collaboration with the particular sport that has since seen TAG Heuer recognised as the official Formula One Timekeeper.

To commemorate this accolade, TAG has produced a number of F1 series models across the years, including the piece currently worn by the McLaren F1 team drivers; Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button. This sleek black timepiece, inspired by the cutting-edge technology and high-speed performance of the sport, now finds its counterpart in the TAG Heuer Formula 1 Women’s Watch. Following the same basic shape and design principles of the men’s model, this sexy sister adds a dash of fashion to precision timekeeping.

As was seen in previous watches in the Formula 1 Women’s line, this latest entry swaps out the charcoal grey and black of its partnering piece in favour of a luscious white. It doesn’t, however, carry across the baby pink highlights seen in prior entries in the series, instead offering a simple, two-tone contrast of white ceramic and grey steel that bleeds elegance.

The watch’s dial is punctuated by a total of forty nine Wesselton diamond studs (0.18ct), functioning as a central circle decoration and as the marks for each hour. As if this wasn’t enough luxury for one watch, the TAG Formula 1 is given further charm through the setting of another forty eight diamonds (0.35ct) around the steel bezel. The result is a glamorous aesthetic that would suit day or evening wear with aplomb.

As is to be expected however, the Formula 1 Women’s watch is as impressive under the hood as it is in the body work. Sitting between its sapphire crystal glass face and caseback, the watch boasts a TAG Calibre 5 Automatic movement, highlighted with gold engraving viewable on through the back of the piece. The Calibre 5’s 28,800 hourly vibrations are triggered between twenty six ruby points, with the movement boasting a 38 hour power reserve when the watch isn’t in use.

Finished with luminescent minute and hour hands, and a date window at the 6 position, this latest result of the special partnership between TAG Heuer and Formula 1 is a delight, fulfilling both the technical and stylistic specifications of the savvy watch fanatic.

TAG Heuer Formula 1 Womens White Ceramic Diamonds – Technical details

Model: WAU2213.BA0861

This TAG Heuer Formula 1 ladies watch features a white diamond dot dial with date function and diamond set bezel.

The 37mm stainless steel and white ceramic case is secured with matching bracelet.

The automatic movement is viewable through the transparent case back.

Water Resistant up to 200 metres

50 years of James Bond – Omega Seamaster Skyfall

Here’s the first article by our latest contributor Tom Dunn, as we have not jumped on the James Bond 007 band wagon yet, Tom thought we should get an article out about the Omega Seamaster Planet Ocean Skyfall Limited edition watch…

Written By Tom Dunn

It’s a big year for James Bond, a very big year indeed. Exactly five decades ago, Sean Connery’s first outing as the iconic spymaster hit the big screens under the title Dr. No, and the world has never looked back. To celebrate this landmark 50^th anniversary, the latest 007 feature, Skyfall hits UK cinemas on the 26^th October, acting as the end cap to a season of commemorative events. With a wardrobe designed by Tom Ford, the film is the latest in a line of stylish collaborations between the franchise and artists, many of which featured in the recent ‘Designing 007’ retrospective at the Barbican, London.

Also celebrating is OMEGA, whose Seamaster Planet Ocean 600m Skyfall Limited Edition watch marks the seventh partnership between this leading Swiss watch brand and Ian Fleming’s greatest hit. Compared to earlier models, the Skyfall Planet Ocean features subtler references to Bond, eschewing the embossed 007 black dial face of the James Bond Seamaster in favour of an ingenious logo setting at the ‘7’ position on a dial made up predominantly of bars. Another ‘007’ engraving features on the watch’s steel diving clasp.

Featuring a 42mm brushed and polished stainless steel case and bracelet, the Skyfall’s aesthetic is as subtly sophisticated as Bond himself, featuring a considered use of grey on its uni-directional rotating diving bezel, and an embossed grid pattern on its jet black dial. In keeping with its role as part of the Planet Ocean series, the OMEGA Skyfall also functions as a diving watch par excellence, with a water resistance of 60 bar (or 600 metres) accompanying its divers bezel.

Of course, it’s not all about the exterior. The Skyfall Planet Ocean is powered by one of OMEGA’s latest movements; the exclusive Co-Axial calibre 8507. Fitted here with black SKYFALL 007 engraving on its rotor, the movement can be seen through the sapphire crystal glass functioning as the watch’s caseback. Finished off with an Si13 silicon balance spring, this piece of precision engineering is as cutting-edge as a gadget from the master inventor Q himself.

Each Skyfall watch is presented in a specially designed box, with the production run limited to just 5,007 pieces. Impeccably designed, this watch is the ideal homage to a man as undeniably stylish as he was fifty years ago.

You can follow Tom on twitter @THBaker_TomD

We do have to add that the actual watch on sale by Omega and the one worn in the film are slightly different as the one in the action sequences is a unique piece made from titanium by Omega. This unique piece will be on sale at auction and you can read a little more about this unique piece on Longitude – Christies Watch Blog courtesy of another of our contributors Meehna Goldsmith