The present watch is an incredibly rare Speedmaster Radial, named after its special dial, which was developed during the Alaska Project III in 1978 to equip Space Shuttle astronauts.
The Alaska III models are characterized by:
Fifty six Alaska IIIs were sent to NASA in October 1978 and used by Shuttle Astronauts.
A few more remained at OMEGA (Unissued), along with probably 30-40 additional dials. It is likely that since the 1980s, some of these dials have been fitted to standard Speedmasters. The present watch is such an example of a radial dial, mounted here in a Speedmaster ST 145.022-78.
#44.818.xxx was produced in February 1979 and originally delivered to the USA.
The NASA Alaska IIIs are the property of the US Government and thus not for sale. Unissued Alaska IIIs were OMEGA property, a very few left the factory and have been sold (only 3 seen).
To our knowledge, this Radial Speedmaster is the only one currently available for sale.
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The present watch is an incredibly rare Speedmaster Radial, named after its special dial, which was developed during the Alaska Project III in 1978 to equip Space Shuttle astronauts.
The Alaska III models are characterized by:
Fifty six Alaska IIIs were sent to NASA in October 1978 and used by Shuttle Astronauts.
A few more remained at OMEGA (Unissued), along with probably 30-40 additional dials. It is likely that since the 1980s, some of these dials have been fitted to standard Speedmasters. The present watch is such an example of a radial dial, mounted here in a Speedmaster ST 145.022-78.
#44.818.xxx was produced in February 1979 and originally delivered to the USA.
The NASA Alaska IIIs are the property of the US Government and thus not for sale. Unissued Alaska IIIs were OMEGA property, a very few left the factory and have been sold (only 3 seen).
To our knowledge, this Radial Speedmaster is the only one currently available for sale.
The Omega Speedmaster, born in 1957, is one of the most iconic wristwatches ever produced. Since 1965, it has been the choice of space programs for over half a century and has been associated with some of mankind’s greatest space adventures, earning it the name The Moonwatch.
Naturally, beyond its professional use for more than sixty years, the Speedmaster, with its incredible history and its timeless design, has appealed to a much wider public throughout the world.
The reference ST 145.022 is the successor of ST 145.012 and the first fitted with the caliber 861. During the first years of production of the ST 145.022, the year of manufacture was engraved inside the caseback: 68, 69, 71, 74, 76 and the last one 78, all made by the case maker Huguenin Frères SA.
In 1848, Louis Brandt founded a company in La Chaux-de-Fonds which would become Omega. In the 1880s, the Louis Brandt & Fils company moved to its current site in Bienne and in 1894 the caliber Omega was created, which would give its name to the company. Renowned for its precise, innovative and affordable watches, it became the largest supplier of watches to the British Army during World War II. It also became the first company to time the Olympic Games in 1932. Among its range of numerous professional watches, the Speedmaster became the first watch worn on the moon in 1969.
The purpose of this document is to determine whether the constituent parts of the watch are conform to the model reference /period or not, and to value their condition and importance.
All the watches are provided with a digital certificate (the Watchfid-ID), that will be uploaded on your protected and anonymous digital wallet.
This document presents each watch in the most objective and detailed manner possible, thanks to a substantiated analysis, high-resolution photos designed to highlight all elements of the watch and an innovative rating system. Available in printed and digital versions.
On request and when available, an extract of the archives from the manufacturer can be obtained.
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