The Speedmaster, first released in 1957, established itself as the "Moonwatch" when the fourth generation model flew to the moon. The most powerful model, equipped with the caliber 3861, a movement that complies with Master Chronometer standards, was released in 2021. Due to its popularity, this model has been featured in various ways in Chronos magazine and on webChronos since its release. This time, we'll review the latest Speedmaster in an easy-to-understand manner, even for beginners.
Article published on June 2023, 4
The Speedmaster that came with the WBC
The Speedmaster, officially named the Omega Speedmaster Moonwatch Professional Co-Axial Master Chronometer Chronograph 42mm, arrived at my house on March 20, 2023, the day before the semi-finals of the WBC, officially known as the World Baseball Classic.
As a result, the Speedmaster was with me through the WBC semi-finals and finals, as well as the joy of the championship, and I watched the retrospective programs that were later broadcast on various networks. And when I flipped through the WBC special issue that was published days later, the Speedmaster was with me, so it's no exaggeration to say that the two have become inseparable in my mind.
Many people were enthusiastic about the WBC and continued to feel the excitement for days afterward. I think many people also felt a renewed sense of how interesting baseball is. I am one of them.
What constitutes fun varies from person to person, but what I found fun was the fact that "I understand the rules and vocabulary of baseball, and I can tell when a player is good at playing."
For those who grew up in the 1970s to 1990s, watching live baseball games was a part of everyday life. Almost every Giants game was broadcast, and in households where the head of the household had the right to choose the channel, watching the game while eating dinner was the norm. While many people are surprised by this past, especially now that live baseball broadcasts on terrestrial television have drastically decreased, baseball has long been the center of sport for the Japanese.
In other words, the WBC broadcasts reminded us that for many children at the time, including myself, we had "unconsciously watched baseball" as children, and our eyes had automatically memorized the plays, recognized the terminology, and become like "a boy living next door reading sutras without learning."
However, baseball has become faster and smarter since I was a casual observer back then, and has evolved into something completely different. For the "Monzen generation" who now only see baseball on the sports news, baseball, which had been a part of their daily lives, has come into focus.
I think another reason for the enthusiasm was that people were "rediscovering" Japan and "re-realizing" that baseball is one of the core sports in Japan, thinking, "Japan has such amazing players who are on par with the world!"
Now, back to the main topic, the Speedmaster. My impressions this time were a similar experience of "rediscovery" and "re-recognition."
The official name reveals the history of the Speedmaster
The official name, once again, is the "Omega Speedmaster Moonwatch Professional Co-Axial Master Chronometer Chronograph." It's long, but unraveling the name piece by piece helps us understand the history of the Speedmaster.
Note: The following is aimed at Speedmaster beginners. It contains a lot of information that may be outdated for enthusiasts, so please skip ahead.
Omega...A watchmaker founded in La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland in 1848.
Speedmaster...the name of a model that was born in 1957. Since its birth, it has undergone repeated updates and is now a popular collection that forms the core of Omega.
Moonwatch...the name was coined in contrast to the Speedmaster after the astronauts on Apollo 11 in 1969 wore one. The Speedmaster fourth generation was the first to go to the moon, and was worn on all six lunar landing projects. This model was inspired by and designed around this fourth generation. Incidentally, the second generation model was used on the first manned space flight, Project Mercury, which took place in 1962.
Professional...In 1964, the third and fourth generations were released on the market at the same time, and the word "Professional" was added to the dial of the fourth generation to differentiate it from the first. The fourth generation was the first model to feature a crown guard. From then on, the word "Professional" was included on the dial.
Co-Axial...The Co-Axial escapement developed by Omega in 1999. Compared to a regular escapement, it has less wear and tear on its parts and is less likely to break. The materials used have been improved, and a non-magnetic silicon balance spring is used. This silicon balance spring is the basis for anti-magnetic movements.
Master Chronometer: Established in 2015 by Omega and the Swiss Federal Institute of Metrology (METAS), this watch is characterized by its particularly high magnetic resistance, maintaining accuracy even in a strong magnetic field of 15,000 gauss. This specification ensures accuracy even in MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) used in medical institutions.
Chronograph: A time measurement mechanism. Equipped with a 30-minute counter at the 3 o'clock position and a 12-hour counter at the 6 o'clock position.
42mm...case diameter.
To put it simply, the Speedmaster, the first wristwatch in human history to be sent into space, has continued to make its mark in watch history through repeated improvements, and as of 2023, it is now in its 67th year. Considering that this model follows the fourth-generation design, it can also be said to be a rare model that has continued with almost no design changes.
The movement, caliber 3861, conforms to the official name "Master Chronometer" and, as mentioned above, boasts high magnetic resistance of 15,000 gauss.
The Omega Co-Axial Master Chronometer Caliber 3861 took approximately four years to develop. It features a small seconds subdial, 30-minute and 12-hour counters, and a central chronograph hand. It boasts the strongest anti-magnetic movement, boasting a resistance to magnetic fields of 15,000 gauss. It also has a 50-hour power reserve.
There are many articles about the movement, the Co-Axial, and the Master Chronometer on the Japanese version of Chronos and on WebChronos, so if you would like to know more, please check out the following.
● "What is the MRTAS certification system 'Master Chronometer', known for having been awarded to Omega and Tudor?"http://www.webchronos.net/features/87198/
● "Testing the modernly updated OMEGA Speedmaster Moonwatch Master Chronometer"http://www.webchronos.net/features/76205/
● "Learn about the Co-Axial mechanism and Master Chronometer. An explanation of how they work."
http://www.webchronos.net/features/42265/
