Timeline Watch
1999

Omega Speedmaster Professional Moonphase

The Euro currency is introduced

1999 white gold Omega Speedmaster Professional Moonwatch Moonphase ref. 3689.30.31.

It was only available for a limited time but its not a limited edition and commemorated the 30th anniversary of the Apollo XI landing in 1969. The caliber 1866 movement is based on Omegas caliber 1861, which you probably recognize as being the hand-wound chronograph movement of the Speedmaster Professional. Caliber 1866 is based on Lemania caliber 1884, except that this one features a moon phase disc, a date and has a higher grade of finishing (as with Omega caliber 1863 used in the Moonwatch models with display back).

The Omega Speedmaster was created in 1957 with motorsport in mind, the Speedy was the first wrist chrono to feature its tachymeter scale on the bezel instead of the dial for increased legibility and in 65 was chosen by NASA as its official chronometer in Space, 4 years later, now the Moonwatch was the first watch to be worn on the Moon, when, on 21 July 1969, Neil Armstrong made his giant leap for mankind.

Omega was founded in 1848 by Louis Brandt at the age of 23. The brands reputation grew fast and in 1895 the watches achieved a precision of 30 seconds a day.
By the turn of the 19th century Omega was one of Switzerlands largest watch companies with 240,000 watches produced annually and employing 800 people.

Omega made its debut in sports during the Gordon Bennett international ballooning Cup in 1917; since then Omega has gone on to be the official timekeeper at 21 Olympic Games.

In 1936 Omega set the remarkable World precision record of 97.8 points at the Kew-Teddington observatory in England. Currently Omega belongs to the Swatch Group.