{"product_id":"omega-speedmaster-professional-as03129","title":"Omega Speedmaster Professional","description":"\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eWhy We Love It\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eTake a poll amongst wristwatch collectors, and we'd bet the consensus would be that there might be nothing more \u003cem\u003eimportant \u003c\/em\u003eor \u003cem\u003eiconic\u003c\/em\u003e in a watch collection than an Omega Speedmaster.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eDue to its legendary standing, virtually every iteration of the Speedmaster became a resounding success. Of course, with this success also comes perpetually increasing values, which puts once-attainable models from the 'Apollo Era' out of reach for many. Fortunately, the design language and materials used in the 1960s and 1970s was carried on through the mid 1990s- allowing enthusiasts access to bargain-priced timepieces that are virtually indistinguishable from their forefathers.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eThis particular example, a Reference 145.022, dates to the early 1990s, and shares the same design cues as Apollo Era Speedmaster Professionals. The instantly recognizable 41mm stainless steel twisted lug case houses the same Calibre .861 used since 1968, and the classically un-cluttered matte black dial features richly patinated Tritium luminous indices with a matching handset.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eRegardless of age, the Speedmaster Professional consistently takes our vote for one the best-wearing and best value chronographs. When asked to recommend a chronograph with a price tag under $5,000, we'd be hard pressed to come up with a better answer than an Speedmaster from the 80s or 90s.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eAll of the style. All of the history. All of the patina.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eHalf the price.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Story\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eWith the 50th Anniversary of the Moon Landing looming like the Death Star on the horizon, collectors are focusing on space-related ephemera. Major auction houses are holding sales of anything that an astronaut might have even\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003ebreathed\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eon. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eBut there is a piece of space history that anyone can own: The Omega Speedmaster.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eSince 1965, this little machine has been issued to the crew of every manned space mission. Ed White, Buzz Aldrin, Jim Lovell—these are just a few heroes who strapped the Speedy to their wrists as they headed to the final frontier. As one of Omega’s longest-running models, the Speedmaster has seen variants as numerous as stars in the sky, from special editions honoring spaceflights to the simpler black-dialed “Moon watch” that everyone knows and loves.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eThere's something to be said for the popular appeal of the Reference 145.022. Produced from the late 1960s to the 1980s, the Reference 145.022 straddles the period between the pre-moon and post-Moon landing Speedmasters. Like the references that came before it, the Reference 145.022 represents a pivotal era in the development of the Speedmaster.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eWhile the earlier References of Speedmaster contained the Caliber .321 movement, the Reference 145.022 was the first to contain the Caliber .861. Additionally, the sub-reference 145.022-69ST was the first to feature a caseback that commemorated the 1969 Moon Landing, which still adorns the backs of Omega Speedmasters today. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eThe 145.022 was amongst the last references to feature Tritium luminous material on dials and hands; it wasn’t until the introduction of the Reference 3570 in the mid 1990s that Omega started using the non-radioactive Super Luminova.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Omega","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":26377448489047,"sku":null,"price":4650.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0809\/1255\/products\/Omega_Speedmaster_Professional_AS03129_6.jpg?v=1559850868","url":"https:\/\/www.analogshift.com\/products\/omega-speedmaster-professional-as03129","provider":"Analog:Shift","version":"1.0","type":"link"}