| Brand: | Omega |
| Model: | Speedmaster Professional |
| Reference: | 105.012-64 |
| Gender: | male/uni-sex |
| Year: | 1965 |
| Material: | stainless steel |
| Dial Color: | black |
| Dimensions: | 42 mm |
| Watch Movement: | manual |
| Bracelet/Strap: | Premium seatbelt NATO strap or additional 1039 bracelet |
| Box/Paper: | Extract of the Archive, original box |
| Condition: | Good vintage condition |
WRIST ICONS is proud to present you a very nice pre-moon Omega Speedmaster ST 105.012-64. This is a very important reference in the Speedmaster story. It was the first Speedmaster carrying the professional text on the dial. It was the first Speedmaster with a new case band to protect the pushers and crown from impact as requested by NASA. This particular reference was chosen to assist the astronauts from NASA for the Apollo missions without the need for further testing. The 105.012 Speedmaster was the reference that is the only version to have been confirmed as landing on the moon. This watch has the original DON (dot over ninety) and is in all original condition. This watch has been bought by a serious Speedmaster collector from the daughter of the first owner and comes with an Extract of the Archive dating this watch to June 18, 1965 delivered to the Dutch Antilles.
Now a bit on the history of the Moonwatch. Since its launch more than half a century ago, the OMEGA Speedmaster has been the classic chronograph, known for its robust reliability and timeless design. And since the 21st of July 1969, when it was first worn on the lunar surface, it has been popularly known as the Moonwatch. This watch was first chosen by astronauts themselves to measure time in space. Three years before the Speedmaster's official qualification for space flight, astronaut Walter “Wally ”Schirra and Lery Gordon “Gordo” Cooper privately purchased their very first chronographs, the second generation Speedmaster with the reference CK2298. Wally Shirra took his personal CK 2998 aboard Mercury-Atlas 8 (Sigma 7) on October 3, 1962 during the Mercury-Atlas 8 (Sigma 7) mission.
At the beginning of the Gemini program in 1964 and on astronauts once again asked the Flight Crew Operations Director, Deke Slayton to provide a watch during training and flight. In October 1964 James Ragan, a NASA engineer, sent out a Request of Quotations Letter to different watch manufacturers. Of the brands contacted, only four reacted. James Ragan purchased three of the four chronographs that met the requirements. After a lot of severe test (high/low temperatures, G-force tests up to 40G, highly corrosive 100% oxygen environment, 130 decibels etc.) from different kind of manual wound chronographs, the Omega Speedmaster had finally been chosen in 1965 to become the official NASA astronaut watch.
Gus Grissom and John Young wore the first officially qualified Speedmasters on Gemini 3 on March 23, 1965. Several months later, Ed White made the first American space walk during Gemini 4 with a Speedmaster 105.003 strapped to the outside of the left-side sleeve of his G4C space suit. In 1966, Speedmaster reference 105.012 was updated to reference 145.012. These two models would be the two Speedmaster references known to have been worn on the Moon by Apollo astronauts, the original "Moon watches."[1] Speedmasters were used throughout the early manned Apollo program, and reached the Moon with Apollo 11. Ironically, these and prior models are informally known as "pre-Moon" Speedmasters, since their manufacture predate the Moon landings and lack the inscription subsequent models carry: "The First Watch Worn on the Moon".
Although Apollo 11 commander Neil Armstrong was first to set foot on the Moon, he left his 105.012 Speedmaster inside the lunar module as a backup, because the LM's electronic timer had malfunctioned.[2] Buzz Aldrin elected to wear his and so his Speedmaster became the first watch to be worn on the Moon. Later, he wrote of his decision:
It was optional to wear while we were walking on the surface of the Moon ... few things are less necessary when walking around on the Moon than knowing what time it is in Houston, Texas. Nonetheless, being a watch guy, I decided to strap the Speedmaster onto my right wrist around the outside of my bulky spacesuit.[2]
Jack Swigert with Speedmaster, prior to Apollo 13 launch. (8 April 1970)
Aldrin's Speedmaster was lost during shipping when he sent it to the Smithsonian Institution, its reference number being ST105.012,[3] although it is sometimes erroneously reported as a 145.012.
From the 105.012 reference 4 sub-references have been produced between 1964 and 1968: 105.012-63, 105.012-64, 105.012-65 and 105.012-66. Production of all the versions is estimated at between 24,000 and 24,500 units. [4]
This particular Omega Speedmaster Professional ST 105.012-64 has just undergone a full service. This work was carried out by our watchmaker using original parts. They also place a new original Omega plexi-glass with the Omega symbol in the center.
As with all of our pre-owned watches this watch comes with a full 12 month WRIST ICONS warranty that will be invoked from the day of purchase. Further: everything is cleaned before sending the items.
The below information is based on the reference book Moonwatch Only from Grégoire Rossier and Anthony Marquié.