But this very special watch was popular with more than just astronauts…
The story had begun several years earlier, in 1957. Since the end of World War II, so-called professional watches had been on the rise. Science, industry, sports and leisure were the themes that watch manufacturers must now address in the design of their models, which could no longer be confined to simple timepieces, elegant but soon outdated.
Omega responded to these new expectations by creating a Railmaster – Seamaster – Speedmaster trilogy. The latter, a chronograph watch, was equipped with an extremely high-performance mechanism developed in the 1940s by its sister company Lemania. It also featured a timeless design and some fundamental innovations such as an external tachymeter bezel to improve readability.
Thanks to its intrinsic qualities, the Speedmaster proved an immediate success. It was well appreciated by a clientele of individuals and professionals who were delighted to have an innovative, solid and reliable measuring instrument on their wrist.
Period advertising, highlighting the link with science, industry and sport. The illustration is a car race, as the Speedmaster has not yet entered the space age.
Iolanda Cristina Gigliotti (17 January 1933 – 3 May 1987), professionally known as Dalida, was an Italian naturalized French singer and actress. Leading an international career, Dalida has sold over 140 million records worldwide.
Initially an actress, she made her debut in the film A glass and a cigarette by Niazi Mustapha in 1955. A year later, having signed with the Barclay record company, Dalida achieved her first success as a singer with Bambino. Following this, she became the top-selling recording artist in France between 1957 and 1961. Her music charted in many countries in Europe and Latin America. She collaborated with singers such as Julio Iglesias, Charles Aznavour, Johnny Mathis and Petula Clark.
Although she made a few films during her career as a singer, she effectively reconnected with cinema with The sixth day, a film by Youssef Chahine released in 1986. In France, although the film was hailed by critics, it was a commercial failure.
Despite many tragic events in her life, she forged ahead with her career, forming the record label International Show with her brother Orlando, recording more music and performing at concerts and music competitions. After struggling with bouts of depression for many years, Dalida killed herself by drug overdose on 3 May 1987.
Source: Wikipedia.
The San Remo tragedy
Luigi Tenco (21 March 1938 – 27 January 1967) was an Italian singer-songwriter.
Luigi Tenco wearing his Omega Speedmaster.
During the summer 1966 in Rome, Dalida was introduced to Tenco on a RAI set and they sang La danza di Zorba as a duet. Later in September, her Italian managers suggested that she participate with Tenco in the next Sanremo Music Festival. Although in previous years she has turned down the festival, this time she accepted as she was in a secret relationship with Tenco.
Dalida and Luigi Tenco in San Remo (1967).
Dalida is wearing an Omega Speedmaster.
Ciao amore, ciao, written and composed by Tenco, was released alongside as it had been chosen as their competing song for the Sanremo Music Festival. The festival premiered on 26 January and they both separately sang their own version. Under the influence of stage fright and alcohol, Tenco delivered a poor performance, while Dalida concluded the evening with an ovation, but eventually they were eliminated in the first round.
The following night ended tragically when Tenco was found dead by Dalida in their hotel room. It was reported that a suicide note explained that he had taken his life owing to the elimination from the contest, as a protest against the corruption and bribery of the jury, but major suspicion of the involvement of the mafia emerged.
Dalida, after the discovery of Luigi Tenco’s body. She wears the Speedmaster.
Although the public did not know anything of their relationship, the event greatly affected Dalida and her next concert in Boulogne-Billancourt scheduled for 31 January was cancelled. The following week on 7 February, she appeared on the TV show Palmarès des chansons, dedicating her rendition of Parlez-moi de lui to Tenco. Wearing the same dress that she had been wearing when she found his body, the performance was highly sentimental but indicated nothing of an emerging depression. On 26 February, Dalida attempted to take her life, ended up in hospital and spent five days in a coma. The truth was revealed about her involvement with Tenco, leaving her worldwide public stunned. Her career was put on hiatus for three months.
Since meeting Luigi Tenco in 1966 and in the years that followed his death, Dalida was frequently photographed wearing an Omega Speedmaster, which we can reasonably assume belonged to her late lover. One can identify a straight lugs model, which could probably be a reference 105.003.
And so Dalida became one of the first women to wear a men’s sports watch, without imagining that several years later it would become a very trendy fashion item.
Jacques Romain Georges Brel (8 April 1929 – 9 October 1978) was a Belgian singer and actor who composed and performed theatrical songs. He generated a large, devoted following – initially in Belgium and France, but later throughout the world. He is considered a master of the modern chanson.
Although he recorded most of his songs in French and occasionally in Dutch, he became an influence on English-speaking songwriters and performers. English translations of his songs were recorded by many performers, including Bowie, Walker, Anderson, Ray Charles, Judy Collins, John Denver, The Kingston Trio, Nina Simone, Shirley Bassey, James Dean Bradfield, Frank Sinatra, and Andy Williams.
Source: Wikipedia.
Many pictures of Jacques Brel show an Omega Speedmaster on his wrist.
The actor
Brel was a successful actor, appearing in ten films. He directed two films, one of which, Le Far West, was nominated for the Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival in 1973. Having sold over 25 million records worldwide, Brel is the third-best-selling Belgian recording artist of all time. Brel married Thérèse “Miche” Michielsen in 1950, and the couple had three children. He also had a romantic relationship with actress and dancer Maddly Bamy from 1972 until his death in 1978.
In 1967, his film Les risques du métier was released, in which the Speedmaster 105.003 features prominently. However, one swallow does not make a summer, and Jacques also wore a new version of the Speedmaster at the same time. This was the Professional version with lyre lugs, reference 145.012.
Jacques Brel, wearing his Omega Speedmaster (Les risques du métier, 1967).
The aviator
Although he was neither a racing driver nor an astronaut, he still made us dream, cry and explore unknown worlds in his own way. A rebel, poet, sensitive artist, sailor, adventurer and experienced pilot, Jacques Brel was many things.
His passion for aviation dates back to the 1960s, and he obtained his pilot’s licence in 1965. At that time, measuring distance and time required the use of a chronograph. This is why, in photos from that period, he is often seen wearing a Speedmaster with straight lugs, reference 105.003, on his wrist.
Jacques Brel’s pilot’s licence.
In 1975, suffering from cancer, he decided to leave in the Marquesas Islands, where he purchased a twin-engine Bonanza aircraft, which he nicknamed Jojo after his late friend, the accordionist Georges Pasquier.
Once there, he will use his aircraft to serve the local island communities, operating shuttle flights to deliver medical supplies or provide medical transport with almost always an Omega Speedmaster on his wrist…
In 1978, illness overtook him and his body was laid to rest on his adopted island of Hiva Oa, not far from Gauguin’s grave.
Disclaimer:
Some of the photographs and information described in this article were obtained from the internet. In particular, we would like to thank Simon Tran and his website moonphase.fr for the section relating to Jacques Brel. These photographs are presented here for educational and non-commercial purposes. In the event of any dispute or infringement of rights, we will remove them from this publication.
