Baselworld/SIHH

In 2007, Lot 211 sold for SFr 64,900 (commission included) at the Omegamania Auction.

It was listed as "ALASKA PROJECT " prototype:
Omega, "Speedmaster Professional", No. 29116425, Ref. ST. 145.0022-69. One of a small number of prototypes made between 1971 and 1973. Exceptionally rare and fine, asymmetric, water-resistant, stainless steel gentleman`s wristwatch with round button chronograph, 12-hour and 30-minute registers, black bezel with tachometer, "Apollo" hands for the 12-hour and 30-minute registers and a stainless steel Omega bracelet and deployant clasp. Accompanied by a large red two-body thermo-protective case.

The Alaska Project was led by Pierre Chopard from 1971 to 1973 to improve the Speedmaster by creating a watch suited to the low temperatures in space. The Swiss patent CH 537170 was granted on 31 May, 1973, for an outer case designed to protect the watch from extreme temperature variations. The watch's dial was coated with zinc oxide; this material provided the highest resistance to solar radiation. NASA's response to the prototype, however, was that they saw no need to improve on the Speedmaster.

The project therefore remained a prototype...........until today.

This caught our eyes as a novelty limited edition and the numbers produced are not too silly. 1970 pieces is not that "limited" but it's better than 2008 or some such number. The good news is that under the fancy aluminium alloy outer thermo-case there is a decent Speedmaster watch with matt white dial. I wonder if it is still made of Titanium Oxide like the prototypes?

Speedmaster Moonwatch "Alaska Project"
311.32.42.30.04.001

Movement: OMEGA calibre 1861 Manual-winding Chronograph
Jewels: 18
Frequency: 21'600 A/h (3 Hz)
Power reserve: 45 hours
Features:
Glucydur balance
Movement used in the famous "Moon Watch"

Watch case
Diameter : 42.00 mm
Height : 13.55 mm
Water resistant up to : 50 m (167 ft)
Polished and brushed stainless steel casebody, stainless steel bezel, black aluminium ring with tachymeter scale
Stainless steel crown and pushers, Omega logo on crown
Domed hesalite crystal with Omega logo at the centre
Screwed-in stainless steel caseback stamped with seahorse medallion, "Flight-qualified by NASA for all manned space mission", "Alaska Project" and engraved with limited edition number

Outer case
Diameter : 58.00 mm (closed)
Height : 26.00 mm (with watch inside)
Material : aluminium
Surface treatment : red, by "sulphuric decorative anodising" (eloxage)
Velcro strap openings : at 6H and 12H
External chronograph pushers : polished stainless steel, inner protection tip in Delrin
Inner ground for watch holding : 4 stainless steel pistons, protection tip in Delrin

Front inscriptions : "Alaska Project" at 12H, "Outer Space Extreme Temperature Instrument" at 6H, 60-minute track

Back inscriptions : Omega name-logo, "Speedmaster Professional" at the centre; "Limited edition of 1970 watches"; "Temperature resistance [-148°C — +260°C]
Side inscriptions : Omega logo between pushers; "Close" with directional sign between 9H-10H

Display
Central hour-minute hands, small seconds at 9H
Central chronograph seconds hand, 30-minute recorder at 3H
12-hour recorder at 6H

Dial: Semi-matt white dial; Transferred Omega name-logo, hour markers coated with Super-LumiNova

Hands:
Varnished black-and-white hour-minute hands coated with Super-LumiNova, varnished black small seconds hand at 9H
Red central Chronograph seconds hand with Super-LumiNova
Varnished black chronograph recorder hands in shuttle shape, coated with Super-LumiNova

Bracelet:
Polished and brushed stainless steel bracelet with safety clasp; Two Velcro straps with brushed red aluminium buckle
Fitting: 20 mm between lugs

Specifications:
Limited edition of 1970 pieces
Special presentation box with a set of tools

For Baselworld 2008, Omega presented too many new watches. Many of them were emblazoned with the Olympic logo or theme because Omega has the watch marketing tie-up with the Beijing Olympics 2008. Assuming nothing else goes wrong, the Games are scheduled to start at 18:00 local time on 08/08/08....okay...we get the symbolism already as the numeral '8' is considered lucky by Chinese.

We have the Olympic Collection Beijing 2008 with their cutesie 5 multicoloured rings at 8H position on the dial, Olympic Collection Timeless and the Olympic Pocket watch 1932  -  we're all "Olympic -ringed" out and it's still only April.

The Speedmaster Moonwatch "Alaska Project" is probably Omega's best piece presented at Basel this year. Affordable, Funky, Fun.

Regards,
MTF