Omega alaska project

Lucky for me, I was able to get the last unsold new one here in the US that Omega had, omega alaska project. Omega still produces Speedmaster Moonwatch models very much like those that went to omega alaska project moon during the Apollo missions on the wrists of NASA astronauts in the s. All I can do is add my own thoughts and experience with Omega Speedmaster watch models.

Limited to pieces, this now iconic Speedmaster is named after Omega's secret watch development program called The Alaska Project. The program aimed at improving, among other watches, the Speedmaster's readiness to space exploration. In particular, the watch's ability to withstand extreme temperatures. The original prototypes of the Alaska project were produced in the early seventies and are remarkably close to the re-edition shown here. NASA astronauts could encounter extreme temperatures as they embarked on space journeys, and despite the fact the Speedmaster had already been approved for these temperatures, Omega wanted to see if they could make it even better. Looking purely at the fact and figures, it is safe to say that they did.

Omega alaska project

View all posts by Brendan M. It was serendipity that this watch model found itself first orbiting the earth in The Speedmaster name was originally inspired by the target market for many chronographs: the racing community. But Omega did not hesitate to pivot and expand upon the reputational benefits from serving in outer space. Passing this test would mean a watch would typically survive even if it experienced five times the forces associated with extreme, emergency spaceflight circumstances such as a Soyuz ballistic emergency reentry. The Omega Speedmaster reference The launch of Apollo 2 in marked the transition from earth orbiting missions to moon landing missions. Near-earth spaceflight fundamentally differs from lunar transit. Like a chicken on a rotisserie, the craft would rotate along the axis defined by its path of travel, thereby maintaining a more uniform temperature across its surface. During this era Omega decided to develop a watch purpose-built for the environment of space and emerging lunar mission requirements. The effort was code-named the Alaska Project in order to obscure the intended customer. The project created four examples of the Alaska 1 Prototype reference in This watch was not a Speedmaster and did not include that name on the watch face. It did, however, share the same movement with contemporary references of the Speedmaster: the calibre The Alaska 1 offers other connections to the Speedmaster.

Model: Speedmaster Alaska Project Reference: But that was in itself the problem for NASA.

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Lucky for me, I was able to get the last unsold new one here in the US that Omega had. Omega still produces Speedmaster Moonwatch models very much like those that went to the moon during the Apollo missions on the wrists of NASA astronauts in the s. All I can do is add my own thoughts and experience with Omega Speedmaster watch models. The model combines elements from these both. The coolest among these original Alaska Project watches were produced as five prototype watches at the request of NASA who wanted an even beefier timepiece for use in space. NASA was also planning a never to be realized mission to the dark side of the moon where temperatures are much cooler. The watch was developed with an optional red aluminum housing that was meant to offer the watch additional shielding from high and low temperature extremes as the story goes. I think that is more important than its actual insulating capacity.

Omega alaska project

The upcoming auction season has some pretty spectacular things on offer — none more so than the stainless steel at Phillips. The auction house has a bunch of other super high-end, super fancy stuff on offer too, like a Tiffany-signed Rolex , a Cartier-signed Patek , and some other steel Pateks and mega Rolex. It's a good catalog. However, when I look at the Phillips sale, the two pieces that stand out to me might not strike your fancy immediately — but trust me, they're absolutely spectacular watches, both bordering on the almost unique category, with a ton of aesthetic charm. Oh, and they both happen to be Omegas. As I've said recently, you kinda have to love the Speedmaster Professional. But if you want to go H. These six figure pieces are, naturally, the first series reference pieces. Finding a first first series watch — a — in all original condition is next to impossible, but it happens.

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For the original Alaska Project watches, Omega developed a pusher system in the aluminum doughnut housing which allowed for the chronograph to be operated with it on. Some of the stickers are still on the watch. Please note that for shop purchases, Fratello is required to declare the retail value of the timepiece or item s in the shipment. As you know, these watches never went to space because NASA did not engage in the planned missions to the dark side of the moon, but Omega was eager not to have the entire project be a write-off. To make the watch more readable, it was fitted with rocket-shaped sub-second hands and a small line of luminous paint to be read in the dark. Those orders that are shipped before a cancellation has been confirmed, must be returned by the guidelines featured in our return policy. The pushers were large and well-spaced which allowed for manipulation with gloved hands. Once your order ships, you will receive an automated tracking email from shop fratello. Orders placed Monday through Friday from A. I think that is more important than its actual insulating capacity. The hands of the registers follow the layout on the Alaska Project 1 although they were now each black. The Speedmaster name was originally inspired by the target market for many chronographs: the racing community. The cumulative elapsed minutes and hours of the chronograph complication are indicated by unique funnel-shaped markers, in red, which evoke the silhouette of the Command Module — Launch Escape System portion of the Apollo spacecraft stack. The Alaska Project prototype therefore never went into production until , when Omega re-launched the watch as a limited edition of pieces, of which this watch is one.

The Omega watch known as the Alaska Project was originally developed as one of several efforts made by Omega to introduce a version of the Speedmaster built specifically with support for manned space flight in mind. As we all know, the original Speedmaster was never designed for use in space, and especially not for one of the roles in which it became most famous: as a watch to be worn during EVA that is, on the outside of a suit during a spacewalk, or during work on the lunar surface. This version had a zinc coated dial, high visibility hands for the minute and hour registers, and most conspicuously, a very large red anodized aluminum outer shroud, designed to protect the watch from excess heat.

If it's been more than five business days and you haven't received your tracking information, feel free to email us at shop fratello. All of these were fantastic improvements to an already great watch. We offer fully-insured worldwide delivery on all purchases. It was serendipity that this watch model found itself first orbiting the earth in As you know, these watches never went to space because NASA did not engage in the planned missions to the dark side of the moon, but Omega was eager not to have the entire project be a write-off. Passing this test would mean a watch would typically survive even if it experienced five times the forces associated with extreme, emergency spaceflight circumstances such as a Soyuz ballistic emergency reentry. The risk of bright reflections in space was mitigated by micro-bead sandblasting to achieve a matte. This strap even came in two sizes, with an additional strap making it more comfortable to wear with the aluminum housing. It is a three register manually wound chronograph with baton hands. Top secret Limited to pieces, this now iconic Speedmaster is named after Omega's secret watch development program called The Alaska Project. Omega only produced five prototypes, and they were the first watch cases ever to be produced with a solid titanium case. CET to P. We aim to process and ship all orders within business days after your payment clears. Any customs importation fees or taxes are the sole responsibility of the customer and are outside of our control.