Can The 2021 Omega Speedmaster Moonwatch Professional Still Be Considered A Moonwatch?

cvalue13

This idea that “a moonwatch is what Omega says it is” is only nominally true.

When Omega markets a watch as a “moonwatch,” they’re trading on sentimentality and “heritage” behind the space mission and Omega’s roll in that story. So the view of “a moonwatch is what Omega says is a moonwatch” simply ignores the more substantive question many are attempting to discuss: whether Omega’s marketing is stretching too far any meaningful sense of actual sentimentality and heritage attached to a given watch.

A given watch’s actual connection to heritage and sentimentality can vary, despite Omega’s singular label.

D Duckie

Manual wind movement.

cvalue13

Still not sure why this criteria 👎👎😁

marcn

So I know who’s Dwight on this thread, but how many are Jim?

Dan S

According to the statement of specifications I have seen, manual winding was not a requirement. See #6.

STATEMENT OF SPECIFICATIONS

1. Accuracy - Must not gain or lose more than 5 seconds over a 24 hour period. Desirable to have an accuracy equal to or better than 2 seconds per 24 hours.

2. Pressure Integrity - The chronometer [sic] must be immune to large variances in pressure to include a range from 50 feet of water positive pressure to a negative pressure of 10 millimeters of mercury.

3. Readability - All disks, bands, and figures must be readable in various lighting conditions. The chronograph must be readable under both "red" and "white" lighting conditions to or beyond a 5 foot candle illumination intensity. Either a black face with white figures and numerals or black on white is satisfactory. The chronograph should not cause glare at the high illumination levels. A stainless steel case with a satin finish is preferred.

4. The chronograph must have stop-start elapsed dials with

a. Seconds to 1 minute
b. Minutes to 30 minutes
c. Hours to 12 hours or greater.

5. The chronograph must be shockproof, waterproof, and antimagnetic. In addition, the face cover must be shatterproof.

6. The chronograph may be powered electrically, manually or the self-winding type; however, it must be capable of being manually wound and re-set.

7. Reliability - the Manufacturer must guarantee the watch to operate properly under normal conditions for at least one year time period. Performance data and specifications should be supplied by the manufacturer. Manufacturer guarantee and/or warranty should also be included.

cvalue13

Dan S

According to the statement of specifications I have seen, manual winding was not a requirement. See #6.

..............................

Dan S

In the context of the overall conversation on this thread (e.g. the discussion about rotor motion in microgravity), I just think it's interesting to note that NASA didn't require a hand-winding watch. They were perfectly willing to consider an automatic or electric watch.

Dan S

This was from the original statement of specifications from Deke Slayton attached to the famous memorandum. Auto-winding chronographs were imminent, so apparently they were willing to consider them.

ducatiti

😀

But isn't the key here if the 3861 certified to be one thus the change of wording...... .

Archer

Well...could say 18 years after actually...

Dan S

Absolutely. Manual winding is an incredibly distinctive feature of the watch that was chosen. Emotionally, it would be hard to imagine a Moonwatch Speedmaster that wasn't hand winding.

In the context of the overall conversation on this thread (e.g. the discussion about rotor motion in microgravity), I just think it's interesting to note that NASA didn't require a hand-winding watch. They were perfectly willing to consider an automatic or electric watch.

Dan S

Absolutely. Manual winding is an incredibly distinctive feature of the watch that was chosen. Emotionally, it would be hard to imagine a Moonwatch Speedmaster that wasn't hand winding.

In the context of the overall conversation on this thread (e.g. the discussion about rotor motion in microgravity), I just think it's interesting to note that NASA didn't require a hand-winding watch. They were perfectly willing to consider an automatic or electric watch.