{"product_id":"omega-speedmaster-professional-sapphire-sandwich-as03535","title":"Omega Speedmaster Professional 'Sapphire Sandwich'","description":"\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eWhy We Love It\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eTimeless. Cliche, yes and no?\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eIn the case of the Speedmaster, timeless is an accurate description of this iconic watch. Virtually unchanged since the mid 1960s, while this watch is only a year old - you could be forgiven for mistaking it for one of its NASA used relatives. The design is both instantly recognizable and extremely modern. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eTruth be told, you could walk into any room full of watch collectors - from Swatch to Patek - and if you're wearing a Speedy, you'll get looks of respect. It's a watch that's been around since 1957 and truly been a witness to history. You would be hard pressed to name three other models enduring the same lifespan with the same widespread admiration.  \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eThe example we have here is known in collector circles as the 'Sapphire Sandwich' for its sapphire crystal and sapphire case back showing the Omega Cal 1863 - a decorated version of the venerable 1861 which is still flight approved by NASA and has been in production since 1969.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eComplete with the oversized Omega suitcase full of spare straps (and bracelet) strap changing tool, Speedmaster loupe, and lots of other 'case candy' this is sure to be a loved piece in anyone's collection - or a great start down the wrist watch rabbit hole. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e  \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Story\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eWith 2019 marking the 50th anniversary of the Moon Landing focus is now on space-related ephemera. Major auction houses will no doubt hold sales of anything that an astronaut might have even\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003ebreathed\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eon. Now, with demand for those items soaring high, it might put a damper on anyone’s aspirations to own a piece of history.\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. Also, the 145.022 retained the tritium that adorned the dials of previous iterations; it wasn’t until the introduction of the Reference 3570 in the mid 1990s that Omega started using the non-radioactive SuperLuminova.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Omega","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":31360711819351,"sku":null,"price":4750.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0809\/1255\/products\/OMEGA_SPEEDMASTER_PROFESSIONAL_SAPPHIRE_SANDWICH__AS03535_5.jpg?v=1576791978","url":"https:\/\/www.analogshift.com\/products\/omega-speedmaster-professional-sapphire-sandwich-as03535","provider":"Analog:Shift","version":"1.0","type":"link"}