That's one hell of a watch...I hadn't even considered until I witnessed this!

 

Very...very nice.........

 

That's a great dial/strap combo! I will have to go hunting for one of these if you guys keep posting pics like this!!

 

Love it!

 

Sploosh...

 

Ah, good to know. The -61 and -62 were not clear to me. If there are any other inaccuracies, let me know! The article was almost typed from the top of my head, as I didn't have my literature with me.

RJ

 

Ah, that's the part I have no doubts about. These questions were asked by Alexander Linz (Austrian journalist) to the NASA guy responsible for buying the watches for the space missions. The interview was in Chronos magazine of 2009, probably has been translated to WatchTime (US) as well. However, I am at Omega in Bienne this Thursday and ask if they can confirm as well.

 

Found it, interview by Alexander Linz (WatchTime/Chronos) with James H Ragan.


WT: Do you recall how much NASA paid for a Speedmaster back then?
JR: (Laughs.) Yes, I remember exactly how much. The initial price was $85, and later it was $92. The first 15 to 20 Speedmasters I ordered still had the case where the crown and pushers stood out so much. They were always catching on things and our crews complained about it, so I put in a request to Omega to make a quick modification. The next generation of cases had the flank guards as we know them today. So, Omega can thank me for this modification to the Speedmaster.

 

Here you go for the entire article (page 9 and 10): http://www.fratellowatches.com/watchtime/WT_2009_06_114.pdf

 

Hi,

So yesterday I visited OMEGA and talked to their archive responsible and the new museum curator, very nice guys and passionate about the brand I might say. Anyway, I asked about James H Ragan and they told me he visited the museum once. Also, they told me that it could be very well so that NASA indeed advised Omega to start using crown guards on the Speedmaster. So, he wasn't denying the things James H Ragan said in the interview as published above. I think he needs to check archives to give a 100% answer to this, but it seems that NASA is responsible for these beautiful crown guards as we know them now

 

Wasn't the question not about the crown guards, but instead the change from straight to hooded lugs?