A Pre-Professional "Ed White" Speedmaster from Omega

Model: Speedmaster

Reference: 105.003

Circa: 1965

Movement: Cal. 321 manual-wind chronograph movement with column wheel

Case: 38mm; stainless steel with straight lugs, chronograph pushers at 2 and 4 o'clock, and faded tachometer insert on bezel

Dial: "Tropical" dial with baton hour and minute hands, chronograph registers at 3, 6, and 9 o'clock

More about Omega:

The story of the Omega Speedmaster began in 1957, with the launch of the CK 2915. A departure from previous chronographs, the CK 2915 bore the tachometer on the bezel, rather than on the dial. Omega produced the CK 2915 for only two years, making it one of the most sought-after and elusive Speedmaster models. Yet the story of the Speedmaster continued. The CK 2915 was succeeded by Speedmaster models with an array of dial, hand and case configurations, all bearing the revered Cal. 321 column wheel movement.

The ref. 105.003, released from 1963 to 1966, gained notoriety for its use by American astronaut Ed White during his EVA in 1965--the first ever for NASA, solidifying its reputation as a part of space history. This reference, like its predecessor the CK 2915, also departed from traditional chronograph models in that it was the first Speedmaster to have baton, rather than dauphine, hands. The present watch is a handsome example of the ref. 105.003 with a tropical dial faded over the years to a warm dark brown.