Omega was part of the greatest space adventure to date: when Neil Armstrong first set foot on the moon in 1969, he wore an Omega Speedmaster watch on his wrist.
Although all the attention of the moment was taken by Neil Armstrong and very few turned their eyes to the watch, it must be recognized that this has been one of the best marketing strategies of the watchmaker.
For years it has only been enough for them to remember the great feat of the Speedmaster because, after all, it is “the first watch to reach the satellite”.
Now, Omega has a new goal…
It wants to reach the red planet, a subject in which they are ahead because while the space missions are preparing for the event, Omega already has its prototype ready.
Omega Speedmaster X-33 Marstimer to the Conquest of the Red Planet watch.
Achieving a manned trip to Mars is a pending issue for many people, since 1950 scientists and astronauts worldwide dream of doing it.
Some space agencies have developed future projects, which include carrying out short missions and even colonizing the red planet.
Actually, it is an obsession that has even reached the big screens more than once through science fiction movies, such as: Mission to Mars, Red Planet, The Martian.
And it seems that very soon the idea will come true, as the launch of the Artemis 1 space rocket to reach the moon is scheduled for November of this year.
Although Artemis 1 will only travel into space with mannequins, it is planned that by 2025 astronauts will be sent to the moon to establish a permanent base.
The second stop would be to get to Mars, will we see it soon… we will have to wait.
High-end watch with an unprecedented movement.
The Omega Speedmaster X-33 Marstimeris a piece was made with the help of the European Space Agency (ESA).
The model includes features from the previous collaboration, the Omega X-33 Skywalker Watch, which used ideas from astronaut Jean-François Clervoy.
It is a design inspired by the red planet features an oxalic anodized aluminum bezel ring in red hematite and a particular detail that is a nod to the dust characteristic of Mars.
It repeats the classic black dial of the X33 to provide a contrasting background for analog and digital readouts because it has electroluminescent backlighting.
The display is liquid crystal, the bezel will illuminate even in low light due to the Super-LumiNova effect.
The grade 2 titanium case comes with a high-precision, thermo-compensated, multi-functional quartz movement (5622).
More Details About the Omega Speedmaster X-33 Marstimer.
Another interesting aspect is that the omega watch comes with a grade 2 and 5 titanium bracelet, but in addition a NATO bracelet is added to interchange at the user’s choice.
As for its functionalities, the MTC function tracks the date and solar time on Mars at the prime meridian, considering that the days on Mars are longer.
The Omega X-33 Marstimer watch can find true north of the Earth and Mars without the need for a magnetic compass.
The Omega Speedmaster X-33 Marstimer Preceding Watches.
The Omega Speedmaster X-33 Marstimer Preceding Watches.Omega has an extensive history with space missions, in fact, the collaboration between the manufacture and NASA was a project that not only included the arrival of the Speedmaster to the Moon.
In the 1970s, Omega created Project Alaska with the aim of creating a Speedmaster that would withstand temperature variations of between -148 and +260 degrees Celsius.
The idea is that the watch could withstand the possible environment that astronauts would encounter on the far side of the Moon.
Alaska Project 1 and the Omega Speedmaster Watch that Didn’t Make It to Space.
The initial proposal for Alaska Project 1 was a protected watch with a striking red case made of anodized aluminum.
It consisted of piston pushers so as not to lose the chronograph function and hands reminiscent of NASA’s Gemini capsules.
However, the cancellation of the Apollo project also halted the Alaska project and of course the launch of the watch.
But in 2008 Omega decided to put it on the market in a limited edition of 170 units, an action that caused a great furor.
Today this Omega Watch is one of the most sought after watches!
Alaska Project 2, 3 and 4.
Two years after the first Alaska Project, Omega presented to NASA the Alaska Project II, based on the previous prototype, but with radial subdials to improve readability.
It also replaces the tachymeter, which is useless in space, with a 60-minute bezel and uses a titanium case to reduce glare.
In 1978 the Alaska Project III was born and so was born the Speedmaster Moonwatch, without presenting very significant changes to the previous one.
The following year, the Alaska Project IV appeared, based on the Speedmaster Professional Quartz, with the same functionalities, but also included as an innovation a BETA light system to illuminate the display.
Twelve of these watches were sent to NASA astronauts for testing in training and on the space shuttle, although they did not adopt the watch.
Omega Learning.
Although it was not used by Nasa, the fourth phase of Project Alaska laid the groundwork for the future Omega Speedmaster X-33.
This is how it was presented in 1998, the result of collaboration with NASA astronauts, Russian cosmonauts and some former professional military pilots.
NASA requested that the model not only be digital, but also have an analog part considering the adverse conditions in space.
The model was made entirely of titanium and retained many of the classic design elements of the digital Speedmaster but elevated to a higher degree of robustness and modernity.
A multi-day chronograph, calendar, various time zones, an alarm and a rotating bezel for calculations were included.
The model was produced until 2006, but continued to be used for various NASA missions.
Omega Speedmaster Skywalker X-33 watch.
Launched in 2014, it was developed in conjunction with the European Space Agency (ESA) and manufactured in titanium in a combination of grade 2 and 5.
It was modernized in its design and functionalities, it became a professional tool but also available to the general public.
It is a 45 mm Omega watch that involved a powerful upgrade from the previous generation because it added a large LCD display.
It has common functions such as time zones, alarm, chronograph, countdown, calendar and astronaut-specific indications such as:
- Elapsed mission time.
- Phase elapsed time.
A year later Omega launched the eye-catching Speedmaster Skywalker X-33 Solar Impulse Limited Edition What was so special about the model?
It turned out to be the perfect companion for a plane that flew around the world powered only by solar energy – a great challenge!
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