OMEGA has presented a charming new model designed as a tribute to the 45th anniversary of the historic Apollo 13 mission.
In 1966, OMEGA issued two Speedmaster references (105.012, and 145.012) to be worn on the Moon by Apollo astronauts. Even though Speedmasters were used throughout the early manned Apollo program, Buzz Aldrin was the first who actually wore the watch outside of the Lunar Module. Aldrin’s Speedmaster thus became the first watch to be worn on the surface of the Moon, so this particular model is often dubbed the Moonwatch. Even though Aldrin believed that “... few things are less necessary when walking around on the moon than knowing what time it is in Houston, Texas,” Jack Swigert's Speedmaster played an important role in the history of space exploration.
In 1970, when the Apollo 13 crew faced the rupture of a Service Module oxygen tank, the Speedmaster was used to accurately time the critical 14-second Mid-Course Correction 5 burn. Swigert’s Speedmaster helped to save lives of crew members by making it possible for them to safely return to Earth. In recognition of this achievement, OMEGA was awarded the Silver Snoopy Award, which is a special honor awarded to NASA employees and contractors for exceptional accomplishments related to human flight safety or mission success. The award consists of a sterling silver "Silver Snoopy" lapel pin flown during a NASA mission, a commendation letter (which is a certificate that mentions the exact mission the Silver Snoopy pin was flown on) and a signed and framed Silver Snoopy certificate. Snoopy, a character from the Peanuts comic strip created by Charles M. Schulz (who was also a passionate supporter of the U.S. space program), was chosen as a symbol because it is well known and widely recognized by the public.
The new Omega Speedmaster Apolo 13 Silver Snoopy Award features a dual-tone, black and white face, which evokes the look of the comic strips painted in newspapers. A sleek white dial reveals black varnished hands, while the small seconds sub-dial features a white hand and a small Snoopy saying “Failure is not an option”. A small section of a dial, between zero and fourteen seconds, reveals an inscription “What could you do in 14 seconds?” which is a nod to the historical space drama and the amount of time it took the Apolo 13 crew to perform crucial corrections before entering Earth’s atmosphere.
The indexes and hands are made of Super-LumiNova and have black lacquered cavities. The dial is rimmed with a polished black ceramic Tachymeter bezel on which the numerals are painted with the same kind of green-emitting luminous substance. A case-back reveals a charming 925 silver Snoopy medallion on a dark blue backdrop. Silver powder is sprinkled on each individual case-back by hand, thus making every exemplar unique, and creating the illusion that Snoopy is floating in space.
Omega Speedmaster Apolo 13 Silver Snoopy Award is powered by the famous manual-winding chronograph movement that was worn on the moon – the Omega 1861. This exclusive watch is water resistant to 50 meters, and it promises around 48 hours of power reserve. The 42 mm-wide case is made of stainless steel, and it comes on a black coated nylon fabric strap with white stitching.
Omega Speedmaster Apolo 13 Silver Snoopy Award will be available for purchase from September 2015. Limited edition of 1.970 pieces worldwide, reference number 311.32.42.30.04.003. The price is yet to be revealed. For more information about this model, please visit OMEGA website.
Author: Marina Milojevic
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