Omega reinterprets the Speedmaster Calibre 321 in 18K Canopus Gold™
Omega marks the 65th anniversary of the Speedmaster with a reinvention in the brand’s precious proprietary alloy.
The increasing cult (and value) of legendary timepieces is seeing watchmakers jump on the bandwagon to ride on the wave of reviving their archival models. Omega’s latest Speedmaster Calibre 321 release is a fine example of the rising popularity of vintage designs and historic timepieces.
The Speedmaster was famously hailed for being the watch that accompanied NASA astronauts to the moon and back for all the six successful lunar landings in history. Ironically, the watch was initially created for professional racing car drivers when it was launched in 1957. It encapsulated perfect legibility and functionality, as well as premiered a tachymetre scale on the bezel (as opposed to the dial), fulfilling the job of timing average speeds on the track while reinforcing the watch’s tough, streamlined and water-resistant form.
Inspired by the very first Speedmaster, known as the CK2915- 1, the immaculate 2022 iteration marks the collection’s 65th anniversary with a unique 38.6 mm case. Omega further ups the ante for this rendition in swanky 18k Canopus GoldTM—an exclusive and proprietary white gold alloy set apart by its high brilliance, whiteness and longevity. Another detail borrowed from the 1957 Speedmaster is the NAIAD symbol decorating the watch’s crown that denoted water-resistance in a handful of the earliest models.
Deep black onyx gives newness to the dial that is also embellished by more historical elements such as an applied vintage OMEGA logo and typography featuring an oval “O”. Gracing the watch face are 18k white gold hands and indexes with a Canopus GoldTM PVD treatment and the three classic Speedmaster subdials: a small seconds display, 30-minute recorder and 12-hour recorder, along with the central chronograph function. Most distinct about this Speedmaster version is the black “Grand Feu” enamel-decorated bezel where the tachymetre scale sits, alongside two of the OG’s most sought-after details: the famous dot over ninety (DON) and a dot diagonal to seventy.
No timepiece can scale the sheer heights of fame without a peerless movement. The original Calibre 321—which powered the 1957 Speedmaster and the watches worn by the astronauts of the Apollo missions—was brought back into production in 2019, replete with all the authentic specifications It now drives the 2022 Speedmaster model, which also flaunts another iconic element of the 1957 variant: an engraving of the OMEGA Seahorse—with eyes in sparkling blue sapphire to denote a 65th year celebration— on the inside of the sapphire crystal glass
An 18k Canopus Gold™ bracelet with a comfort release adjustment system completes the Speedmaster Calibre 321 watch. Presented in a special wooden box whose shape and design of a Rosewood-like pattern is inspired by the original Speedmaster boxes, this inimitable Speedmaster is as close as it gets to a perfect blast from the past.
Visit omegawatches.com to find out more.
