The second big piece of Speedmaster-related news in 2019 is a limited edition recreation of the 18ct yellow gold Speedy presented to NASA Astronauts and a notorious American President.

by James Buttery

In an industry that considers half decade anniversaries as a genuine cause for celebration, the 50th Anniversary of being the first watch on the moon was always going to be a big deal and, so far, Omega isn?t disappointing with Speedmaster-related news.
Not only has the brand announced that it will revive the long-defunct Calibre 321 chronograph movement, the column wheel movement used in early pre-moon Speedmaster models and lusted after by purists, but now it has unveiled the first of what we assume will be a number of commemorative Speedmaster moonwatches this year.
The Speedmaster Apollo 11 50th Anniversary Limited Edition is based on the BA145.022, a solid 18ct yellow gold Speedmaster with burgundy bezel, released to commemorate the moon landing. It also represented Omega?s first commemorative numbered edition. A total of 1,014 pieces were produced between 1969 and 1973.
The watch, inscribed with the message ?to mark man?s conquest of space with time, through time, on time?, was presented during an ?Astronaut Appreciation Dinner? in Houston, Texas, on November 25th 1969, four months after the moon landing.

The first two pieces were presented to President Richard Nixon and Vice President Spiro Agnew (later returned to Omega because of strict US Government gift protoco...