| Brand: | Omega |
| Model: | Speedmaster Professional |
| Reference: | 145.022-69 |
| Gender: | male/uni-sex |
| Year: | 1969 |
| Material: | stainless steel |
| Dial Color: | black/brown |
| Dimensions: | 42 mm |
| Watch Movement: | manual |
| Bracelet/Strap: | steel |
| Box/Paper: | Omega Box and Exctract of the Archives |
| Condition: | Excellent |
Omega Speedmaster 145.022-68 transitional with Omega box and Extract of the Archive
WRIST ICONS brings you an excellent example of an almost perfect Omega Speedmaster Professional 145.022-68 transitional. This model is called the transitional model since it has both elements of the pre-moon models as well as the professional models such as the lyred lug case with and the 861 caliber of the professional and the stepped dial with the applied logo of the pre-moon models.
These early calibre 861’s carried a dial with a similar design to the 145.012. The dials have an applied metal Omega logo, and long hour indices that are longer than on the later 145.022 references (they stop at the minute track on the 145.022-69 reference). The dials look the same as the one fitted to the 145.012, but they have different size feet, although in the same position. These pins (or feet) connect the dial to the movement. If it does not have this dial, it cannot be a “Transitional.”
The watch was in production for a relatively brief period from the end of1968 to 1969. This iconic watch has been delivered to the Netherlands and was produced in April 18, 1969. The serial number of the movement is 27.326*** This movement number is also stated on the Extract of the Archive
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. n 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."[13] 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.[19] Buzz Aldrin elected to wear his and so his Speedmaster became the first watch to be worn on the Moon.
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.
The below information is based on the reference book Moonwatch Only from Grégoire Rossier and Anthony Marquié.