New hobbies rarely spring out of nowhere, and aesthetics aren’t enough to build true love. Humans are storytellers, and that almost every watch brand scrambles to give its products some historical relevance or nostalgic tie-in is an attempt to legitimise their existence beyond being products in a shop. The perfect Swiss super clone Omega Speedmaster watches has never needed any of that. Its story is real, it captures our imaginations, and it has launched millions of watch enthusiasts into the hobby by forever associating one perfect watch with the most significant extraterrestrial event in human history :the Moon landing.
Omega’s journey to NASA
Before Omega had any dealings with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, its focal point of the late ‘50s was the emerging world of stainless steel sports AAA replica watches. They were built tough and capable with as much emphasis on reliability as possible, all while continuing a century-old legacy of beauty and fineness. In 1957, Omega’s Trilogy releases included the Railmaster which was specialised for electrical workers, the Seamaster 300 for professional diving, and the very first Speedmaster reference CK 2915 for motorsports. It was a year of Juan Manuel Fangio dominating Formula 1 in a glorified bathtub full of petrol, and the Speedmaster was similarly innovative. The tachymeter, used to help drivers calculate their average speeds, was placed on the bezel as opposed to the dial for greater legibility, setting up the essential chronograph archetype that is still used today.
Never a brand to be stagnant, the top UK Omega Speedmaster super clone watches had quite a few alternative references released in the following years, and it wasn’t long before the reference CK 2998 introduced the black bezel insert that would thereafter feel inseparable from the Speedmaster. It was even able to be ordered with the customer’s choice of a standard tachymeter, pulsometer, telemeter or decimal insert. In the jet-setting age of commercial airlines becoming prolific, the CK 2998 also became as popular with pilots as much as motorists, and one of those pilots happened to be Wally Schirra. As one of seven astronauts involved with NASA’s Project Mercury, Schirra wore his Omega Speedmaster when he orbited Earth, marking the first Omega to be worn in space in 1962.
So when it came time for NASA to officially issue a chronograph to its pilots, Omega was a strong contender, besting the likes of Breitling, Rolex, Longines, and Hamilton. Hamilton was disqualified when it submitted a pocket watch for consideration, and during a series of arduous tests (for temperature, humidity, shock, pressure, and vibration, among other tortures), the Omega was the only chronograph that didn’t fail. By 1965, NASA had selected the Speedmaster over the Rolex and Longines test fake watches for sale, noting that its accuracy remained within a five-second margin throughout the trials. The Speedmaster became an officially issued piece of equipment for NASA’s astronauts at that point.
The birth of the Speedmaster Moonwatch legacy
If the certification of the high quality super clone Omega Speedmaster watches for spaceflight was the origin story of its legend, July 20th, 1969, was the apex of its dramatic arc. It was the day that the United States’ Apollo 11 mission landed man on the Moon. Although Neil Armstrong set foot first on that momentous day, it was Buzz Aldrin who happened to be wearing his Speedmaster ST105.012, secured with a long Velcro strap outside his spacesuit. On that day, the Moonwatch was born, and Omega’s biggest claim to fame etched itself into human history.
Omega has been trading on this heritage ever since, but it’s not the only larger-than-life moment for the Speedy. Apollo 13 was in big trouble during their 1970 mission. The capsule became disabled after an oxygen tank ruptured, and astronaut Jack Swigert used his Speedmaster to time the burn of the descent propulsion system that allowed the crew to safely return to Earth. The world held its breath during those tense three days when their return was far from certain, immortalised in the 1995 film starring Tom Hanks. As a result, Omega was presented with the “Silver Snoopy Award” by the astronauts, for the watchmaker’s contribution to the mission. Since then, commemorative “Snoopy” limited-edition Speedmasters are extremely sought after by collectors.
If you’re one to pay attention to celebrity associations, then the Omega Speedmaster’s got an impressive list of rich and famous fans. George Clooney is the main poster boy for the Speedmaster Moonwatch, having been the face of its marketing campaign for years, and also being a personal friend of Buzz Aldrin himself. Clooney and Aldrin worked together on a documentary that marked the 50th anniversary of the copy watches online, exploring its significance. Other notable wearers include Dire Straits frontman Mark Knopfler and comedy legend Steve Carell. They’ve also been spotted on the wrists of Tom Hanks, Eddie Redmayne, Ryan Reynolds, Nicole Kidman, and my personal favourite, Adam Savage from Mythbusters and his company Tested.
The Speedmaster’s infinite diversity across its lineage
Across its nearly 70-year history, the DNA of the Omega Speedmaster super clone watches for men has been dissected, adapted, and branched into countless different editions. One of the earliest and most legendary examples is the 1969 “Alaska Project 1” prototype, which also happened to be the first titanium-cased wristwatch in history (succeeded by the production run of the Citizen X-8). Designed to withstand the rigours of space travel, it featured a white dial to reflect the heat of the sun, distinctive red “Apollo” sub-dial hands, and the 46mm anodised red aluminium thermal shield with its pusher extensions.
Space isn’t the only avenue that Omega’s Speedmaster has explored, though. It should come as no surprise that Omega has remained loyal to the racing and motorsport roots of the Swiss movements replica watches, with series like the Speedmaster Mark and Racing collections using automatic movements, and the Speedmaster Reduced making the case size more accessible. There were even collaborative editions with Michael Schumacher in the iconic shades of Ferrari red and yellow.
As much as enthusiasts love to praise the Speedmaster as one of the pinnacles of mechanical watchmaking, it has also had its fair share of quartz and digital developments. The Omega Speedmaster X-33 was first released in 1998 with an ana-digi display to be the space cheap super clone watches UK of a new generation. Cased in titanium and using a Kevlar strap, its plus-size pushers were designed to be used through thick gloves during a spacewalk. In 2014, the updated Speedmaster Skywalker X-33 was even tougher and more feature-packed.
While the best quality replica Omega Speedmaster Moonwatches Professional has always been easily attainable for those who can afford one, the brand has branched out into the higher end with limited editions and loftier complications as well. The “Dark Side of the Moon” collection uses a black, grey, or even white ceramic case and explores a variety of different dial materials and textures including murdered-out displays, meteorite, and even a skeletonised dial with a photorealistic moon laser-etched into the movement.
Recent developments in the Speedmaster story
The standard 1:1 wholesale super clone Omega Speedmaster Moonwatches Professional had a subtle overhaul in 2021 that introduced the METAS-certified Co-Axial Calibre 3861 movement, along with a new bracelet and a few more tiny tweaks. Recently, a white dial version was a huge talking point, as it became the first white dial Speedmaster available as a standard edition for decades, and the first to ever use lacquer rather than paint. Outside of stainless steel, models in 18k gold offer a lot of decadent variety too. There are two-tone cases, salmon dials, green dials, and even a couple of references with diamond-set bezels.
Of course, the biggest headlines in the past couple of years have all been related to the Swatch x Omega MoonSwatch that shook assumptions about the Swiss watchmaking industry to its core. Using the exact shape and dimensions of the luxury China fake Omega Moonwatches Professional, the Swatch version uses various colourful Bioceramic plastics and quartz movements for a chronograph with loads of character. The scandalous nature of the MoonSwatch stemmed from its lack of availability and huge demand for an “affordable Moonwatch” that wasn’t a replica, although they are starting to be readily available online for their proper RRP. It’s definitely more of a Swatch than an Omega in terms of its manufacturing, but it’s still a cool watch.
Notable models
Of course, the current online 2024 super clone Omega Speedmaster Moonwatches Professional has got to be the first consideration for anyone wishing to purchase a Speedy. It’s the best representation of where Omega is as a brand today, commanding serious prices, but delivering serious value. Between the prestige of the Co-Axial Master Chronometer movement and the spacefaring heritage of the design, you’re getting the pinnacle of Speedmaster quality straight from the source. You can even choose whether you’d prefer the scratch resistance of a sapphire crystal or the acrylic warmth of Omega’s Hesalite, with the knowledge that the inevitable scratches can be polished out quite easily.
As for vintage references, there are so many slight variations on the Moonwatch Professional and the pre-Moonwatch Speedmaster that your personal taste will be a huge influence. None of them are terrible and all of them have interesting qualities, so take your time while browsing listings and you’re bound to find a favourite.
A model that almost engages in pure fantasy is the Swiss perfect replica Omega Speedmaster ’57 watches with a burgundy dial. It takes the ’57 moniker due to its stainless steel bezel, broad arrow hands, and other visual nods to the CK 2915, however, it’s far from a vintage reissue. Rather than three chronograph registers, it counts both hours and minutes on the 3 o’clock subdial, while running seconds sit at 9 o’clock. A symmetrical date display is cut out at 6 o’clock, and of course, you can’t ignore the sumptuous burgundy background. If you love the Speedmaster but don’t give a damn about the Moon, this is a beautiful blend of contemporary class and vintage suaveness.
If history is your priority, then you’ll want to take a look at the Speedmaster Calibre 321. Also known by the nickname “Ed White”, it’s a faithful recreation of the reference 105.003 that astronauts wore during the first spacewalk by an American in 1965. Aside from all the vintage-correct details such as the old Omega logo, the lightly aged lume, and the 39.7mm case, the real star of the show is the Calibre 321 movement. A near one-to-one resurrection of the original 321, it’s an Omega-manufactured and modified variant of the Lemania 2310 with a lateral clutch, column wheel and manually wound movement. The 321 isn’t just a great movement, but one that also powered the most iconic Speedmasters including the CK 2915 and Buzz Aldrin’s Moonwatch. Doesn’t get much better than that.