- OMEGA’s Speedmaster, the “Moonwatch,” solidified its legendary status during the Apollo 11 mission.
- NASA’s rigorous testing regimen proved OMEGA’s Speedmaster unmatched.
- The release of Fly Me to the Moon highlights OMEGA’s iconic partnership with NASA.
There’s no denying that Swiss luxury watchmaker OMEGA has had an incredible year. From the thrill of the Paris 2024 Olympics and America’s Cup to the brand’s first watch in space, OMEGA has continued to set the horological standard to remain at the forefront of one’s industry.
And this is certainly not a new phenomenon for the manufacture: in 1965, OMEGA earned a certification that would forever change the trajectory of this brand, and every watch released thereafter.
Back then, the Space Race was in full swing. The United States and the Soviets were locked in a high-stakes competition to see which nation would be the first to successfully land on the moon, pumping inordinate sums into their rapidly accelerating space programs. The only problem? NASA’s PR.
Now, with the release of Fly Me to the Moon – a film that has just debuted on streaming platforms – OMEGA’s integral role in the space race is brought to life, positioning the Swiss brand as a crucial member of the space race narrative, weaving its rich legacy into the cinematic retelling of humanity’s most daring achievements.
How OMEGA Became NASA’s Watch of Choice
The Speedmaster was subjected to a gruelling series of tests to determine its suitability for manned spaceflight. These tests were designed to replicate the harshest conditions of space, from extreme temperature fluctuations to relentless vibrations.
Naturally, OMEGA was confident their iconic release could deliver, putting the Speedmaster up against the likes of the Rolex Daytona, the Longines-Wittnauer 242T and Bulova, an American brand with a strong history of technological innovation.
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Some questioned why NASA, a symbol of American innovation, chose a Swiss watch over an American-made alternative. Brands like Bulova, which had a longstanding relationship with the U.S. government, lobbied for inclusion, arguing that American taxpayers deserved to see an American watch on astronauts’ wrists.
Yet NASA’s rigorous testing regimen, including extreme temperature fluctuations, intense vibrations, humidity, and decompression, was unforgiving; only one watch could emerge victorious. Outperforming competitors, it earned its status as the first and only watch certified by NASA for all manned missions, a permanent milestone that forever etched OMEGA’s name in history.
Although the Speedy ultimately prevailed, it wasn’t chosen for marketing reasons. In fact, it earned its place through rigorous testing and unparalleled performance. In retrospect, any PR turbulence was a small price to pay for a relationship that gave both NASA and OMEGA a lasting legacy tied to humanity’s greatest adventure.
Which OMEGA Watch Was In ‘Fly Me to the Moon’?
Famously dubbed the “Moonwatch,” the Speedmaster was more than a silent observer; it was a lifeline, relied upon by astronauts to keep critical mission timings on track, including the manual timing of burn sequences that ensured safe re-entry to Earth’s atmosphere.
Beyond the obvious PR points that OMEGA enjoyed as the first watch in space, the Swiss brand had to deliver when it mattered most, in a hostile environment that humanity hadn’t yet dared to venture into. The now iconic NASA-OMEGA partnership ultimately became a case study in the power of authentic brand alignment.
“Brands get a tie-in money can’t buy and NASA works its way into the minds of everyday people,” Kelly Jones, played by Scarlett Johansson, says in Fly Me to the Moon.
Johansson’s character, a savvy PR expert flown in from New York to save NASA’s image, captures the symbiotic relationship between NASA and OMEGA that still exists today. Of course, in the film, her role was to shake up the place with fresh ideas that would enamour the astronauts to the American people, hoping to gain some favour as they continued to spend money on space exploration.
But in doing so, positioned the OMEGA Speedmaster as the timepiece of choice for the bravest explorers alive. Since then, the Speedmaster has become one of the most important watches in horological history, enjoying an eternal spot in the
The release of the film is a reminder of the enduring role that OMEGA had in the first Moon landing in history. More than simply attaching itself to the movie as a sponsor or an inflated prop, OMEGA’s carefully curated inclusion in Fly Me to the Moon feels like a natural continuation of its real-life partnership with NASA – a timeless collaboration, immortalised on the big screen.
