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Lot Details

STRAP: Brown leather strap with Omega pin buckle
DIAL: Black
MOVEMENT: Manual-Winding Chronograph
CALIBRE: 1861
LIMITED EDITION: 650/2012
FUNCTIONS: Chronograph, Small seconds, Tachymeter
BOX: Fitted presentation box and outer packaging
PAPERS: International Warranty dated 2017, Certificate of Authenticity, Manual, Pictograms, Sales Memo
ACCESSORIES: Special leather watch roll with spare NATO strap and strap changing tool

Please note this lot is the property of a private individual.

LOT ESSAY
Part of the 5th anniversary of #SpeedyTuesday, the current lot is a makeover of the 1978 Speedmaster “Alaska Project III," which was created for NASA. Aside from the central OMEGA logo on the domed hesalite crystal, the screw-in caseback is encircled by the words SPEEDY TUESDAY ANNIVERSARY - A TRIBUTE TO ALASKA PROJECT III as well as the Limited Edition number (X/2012).

Omega

Omega SA is a Swiss luxury watchmaker based in Bienne, Switzerland. Before it was Omega, the forerunner of the company was La Generale Watch Co., which was founded in 1848 by Louis Brandt. His two sons Louis-Paul and César later developed a revolutionary in-house manufacturing and total production control system that allowed parts to be interchangeable. Watches developed with these techniques were marketed under the Omega brand of La Generale Watch Co. and by 1903, the success of the Omega brand led to the establishment of its own company. Originally known as Louis Brandt et Frère - Omega Watch & Co., the brand was officially founded in 1903. It will later officially change its name to Omega SA in 1982.

From 1917 onwards, Omega invested in aviation. This investment proved fruitful as Omega soon became favored by aviators, serving as the official timekeepers for Britain's Royal Flying Corps and later the U.S. Army in 1918. With a proven track record of performance in the most demanding conditions, it was also chosen as the official timekeeper of the Olympic Games since 1932.

Its biggest breakthrough, however, would be in aeronautics when NASA decided to equip its astronauts with Speedmasters chronograph, making it the first watch on the moon in 1969 for the Apollo 11 mission. The following year, the brand received the Silver Snoopy Award from NASA for its contribution to the historic feat. Since then, Omega has participated in all the American space programs.

After conquering space, Omega produced the iconic Seamasters line which descended with deep-sea divers to depths of 1600 feet and has been associated with James Bond movies since 1995 when Pierce Brosnan as the titular character wore the Omega Seamaster Quartz Professional in the movie GoldenEye.