Omega Speedmaster and the Legendary Caliber 321

1957 – The Birth of a Legend

In 1957, Omega introduced its "Professional Trio" collection: the Seamaster 300 (for diving), the Railmaster (magnetic-resistant), and the Speedmaster (chronograph). The first Speedmaster, reference CK2915 , stood out with its Broad Arrow hour/minute hands, stainless steel case, and tachymeter scale.

The Speedmaster made history as the first chronograph to feature a tachymeter scale on the bezel . Previously, all chronographs had this scale on the dial.

The CK2998 , released in 1959, became a favorite among astronauts with its more refined design. Even before NASA tests, some astronauts are known to have purchased their own Speedmasters privately.

1964–1965 – NASA Testing and Space Certification

In 1964, NASA began searching for a watch suitable for space missions. Rolex, Longines-Wittnauer, and Omega models were subjected to testing. The procedure consisted of 11 rigorous stages of testing that put the watch through its paces under all conditions:

48 hours at 71°C, followed by 30 minutes at 93°C

4 hours at −18 °C

48 hours in 100% oxygen atmosphere

40 g (11 ms) shock

7.25 g acceleration

Vacuum (0.0001 atm), high humidity (95%), high pressure (1.6 atm)

Acoustic noise and vibration

Result: While the Rolex and Longines models were eliminated, the Omega Speedmaster Ref. 105.003 passed all tests successfully.
On March 1, 1965 , NASA officially declared the Speedmaster “Flight-Qualified for All Manned Space Missions.”

1969 – The Clock That Landed on the Moon

The Apollo 11 mission thrust the Speedmaster into history. Neil Armstrong's watch remained in the Lunar Module as a backup timer because the vehicle's electronic chronometer malfunctioned. Buzz Aldrin landed on the lunar surface with an Omega Speedmaster Ref. 105.012 (Cal. 321) on his wrist.

- Aldrin's moon watch was later sent to the Smithsonian, but was lost in transit . Its current whereabouts are unknown.

Caliber 321 – The Heart of the Movement

Behind the success of the Omega Speedmaster lay the Caliber 321 .

Origin: Column-wheel chronograph based on the Lemania 2310

Frequency: 18,000 vph (2.5 Hz)

Number of stones: 17 jewels

Power reserve: ~44 hours

Advantage: Smooth button feel, high reliability, fine workmanship

Haute horlogerie brands like Patek Philippe (Ref. 5070) and Vacheron Constantin (Ref. 47101) also used the same Lemania base. So, the Cal. 321 went to the Moon and also appeared in the most prestigious watches .

1968 – Transition to 861 and Farewell to 321

From 1968 onwards, Omega switched to the easier-to-produce and higher-frequency Calibre 861 (21,600 vph). This movement enabled the mass production of the Speedmaster.
However, in the eyes of collectors , the "real Moonwatch" always remained the one with the Cal. 321. This transformed the 321 into a legend.

Apollo 13 – The Speedmaster's Life-Saving Role

Following the explosion during the Apollo 13 mission in 1970, astronauts faced a critical maneuver on their way back to Earth. The 14-second engine ignition was timed with the astronauts' Speedmasters to ensure the correct angle of rotation and the crew returned safely to Earth.

This event earned the Speedmaster the “Silver Snoopy Award” from NASA.

 2019 – The Return of the Legend

In 2019, Omega announced the reintroduction of the Caliber 321, a big surprise.

In the process, he was scanned with the Speedmaster tomography used by astronaut Gene Cernan on Apollo 17.

The mechanism was reborn, remaining faithful to the original architecture.

Features of the Modern 321:

Power reserve: ~55 hours (improved)

Original 18,000 vph frequency preserved

It is assembled by hand; a special workshop was established for this work at Omega

Production capacity: only a few thousand units per year

The first model came out in platinum in 2019, followed by the steel “Ed White” (Ref. 311.30.40.30.01.001) in 2020.

  Each modern 321 is assembled from start to finish by a single watchmaker, an approach seen in haute horlogerie.

– More than an hour

The Omega Speedmaster and Calibre 321 are not just a watch and a movement; they are a piece of human history .

Date: The first clock to land on the moon

Technique: Column-wheel chronograph in haute horlogerie quality

The Feeling: A timeless legend for collectors

Caliber 321: It went to the moon and landed in hearts.