Omega Speedmaster Pre-Moon ref. 145.022-69 Watch Only

While created with car racing in mind, as its name suggests, the Omega Speedmaster was shot to universal levels of fame when it became the first timepiece to ever be worn on the Moon. This was following Omega's successful bid for the Speedmaster to become NASA's choice timepiece for their standard astronaut kit.

After its successful inclusion in the 1965 Gemini program, the Speedmaster also adorned the wrists of the astronauts during the Apollo moon landing missions, and so, in 1969, following Buzz Aldrin's historic steps on the moon (Neil Armstrong left his watch on the lunar module to be used as a timing device), it became the Moonwatch that we all know and love. After the successful 1969 touchdown on the lunar surface, Omega launched the ref. 145.022-69 from within the previously created 145.022 collection as a means to commemorate one of the most legendary moments in human history. As part of the 145.022 collection, Omega created several variants across the years that feature small changes from one reference to another, such as different dials, bezels, casebacks and other small details. This ref. 145.022-69 example boasts a “dot near 70” bezel - which is the second bezel variant of three that this model was produced with, a pre-moon landing caseback that came on the Speedmaster before the 1969 Moon landings were referenced in later variants, and a stunning and equally rare dark tropical dial that has developed a very slight brown hue to its color over the years, marking a subtle departure from the jet-black color that it would have once had.

While this example’s caseback has faded over its lifetime, its hippocampus engraving that designates it as a “Pre-Moon” Speedy (given that it doesn't reference the Moon landings) makes no secret of it being a truly historical piece of watchmaking which has laid the foundation of modern Omega as we know it today. Entirely original from its dial, hands, bezel, and case, finding a better-value example than this won’t be an easy feat.

Entirely original, this example’s bezel insert, case, caseback, hands, dial, pushers, and crown are all as they should be. The watch is not presented with box, papers, or stainless steel bracelet. It is offered on a tan leather strap with an Omega stainless steel buckle.

The watch is presented in quite honest condition, with its bezel exhibiting some light fading that has uncovered a blueish-grey hue in the anodised aluminium, but no large or obvious scratches, dents, or scars. Likewise, its dial has also faded slightly (less obviously than the bezel insert) to now include a very subtle chocolate brown hue that only reveals itself in some lighting conditions.

The dial does have a very small nick at the 1:30 position just above the subdial. The original lume has developed a creamy beige colour throughout. The case exhibits signs of being polished in the past, but the lugs remain distinctly healthy and proportional. The mid-case at 9 o'clock has a small dent along the middle of its edge and is pictured.

Brand: Omega
Model: Speedmaster
Reference: 145.022-69
Set: Watch only
Year: Circa 1969
Dial: Black (Very, very slight tropicalisation has lightened it)
Material: Stainless steel
Movement: Manual-wind cal. 861
Case Diameter: 42mm
Thickness: 14mm
Lug-to-lug: 48mm
Weight: 65g
Lug Width: 20mm
Bracelet/Strap: Leather strap with stainless steel Omega buckle
Internal Stock Number: HW-26-A009