As we recently saw with Charlotte's Top 5 Rolexes feature, Kibble Watches of London is the perfect source if you are actively seeking a pre-owned luxury brand watch. They have various brands with superb entry-level watches from under £500 to elite and rare models peaking at £40,000.
If you have a particular interest, such as Apollo/NASA-connected Omega Speedmaster Moonwatches, you may think that's a detail too far for any dealer. However, Kibble has this covered, and here are my top five "must have" space-related Speedmasters currently available from Kibble.
1995 Omega Speedmaster Apollo XI Tritium 3592.50
To many NASA enthusiasts, Apollo 11 will always be the iconic, if one of the shortest, Moon missions. Omega has introduced several commemorative models to celebrate man's "giant leap" and this example is a 1995 engraved special edition with tritium, reference 3592.50. Some of the special edition Apollo Speedmasters can be a little tacky, especially the Apollo 17 edition. Hence, the subtlety of the XI engraving on this watch means you are getting externally an original NASA-style Speedmaster with just the most subtle hint of the Moon.
At 42mm, the watch will wear well, and the simple, unadorned stainless steel case is timeless in style. Powering this gem is a gilt manually wound Omega Cal. 863, hand-wound chronograph beating at 21,600 vph. This is the direct descendant of the original 1960s Cal. 361 movement. NASA Speedmaster purists like to have Hesalite crystal and tend to shy away from the sapphire. This model, however, provides the best of both worlds with genuine Hesalite on the main dial and tough sapphire on the exhibition case back.
- Reference: 3592.50
- Movement: Manually Wound Omega Cal. 863
- Age: 1991/2000
- Specific Age: Circa. 1995
- Case Size: 42mm
- Case Thickness: 13.5mm
- Lug to Lug: 48mm
- Lugs: 20mm
- Condition: Pre-Owned
- Box & Papers: None
- Case Material: Stainless Steel
- Price: £4495
2023 Omega Speedmaster Professional Hesalite Cal. 3861
This is the very latest edition to benefit from Hesalite crystal. Since the 1950s the Speedmaster has changed remarkably little however, with each evolution, there is a strong argument that Omega have improved the watch and successfully addressed specific issues found over the last 60 years of operation in space. This 2023 4th-generation reference typifies that process.
The compelling words "Flight - Qualified By NASA in 1965 for all Manned Space Missions" and "The First watch worn on the Moon" still remain on this new model however, they are now joined by a modern technical statement: "Professional Moonwatch Co-Axial Master Chronometer." And it is the movement that differentiates this watch from older models. The heart of this machine is the new hand-wound Omega Master Chronometer Calibre 3861 featuring a Co-Axial column-wheel, COSC accreditation, 26 jewels, beating at 21,600 vph and additionally with METAS Certification providing additional reassurance against anti-magnetic resistance. It would help to have it when flying around the Dark Side of the Moon.
- Reference: 310.30.42.50.01.001
- Movement: Manually Wound Omega Cal. 3861
- Age: 2021/2030
- Specific Age: January 2023
- Case Size: 42mm
- Case Thickness: 14mm
- Lug to Lug: 47mm
- Lugs: 20mm
- Condition: Pre-Owned
- Box & Papers: Box & Papers
- Case Material: Stainless Steel
- Price: £5350
2017 Omega Speedmaster First Omega in Space 311.32.40.30.01.001
Dare I say this is the Speedmaster that we wish I had bought? When Wally Shirra orbited the Earth in 1962 in the spaceship Sigma 7, he was wearing his own Omega Speedmaster, which looked quite different to the model that would eventually become selected by NASA. This 50th-anniversary special edition pays homage to Wally Shirra's 1962 flight and watch.
With different hands and no PROFESSIONAL written on the dial, this watch harks back to the iconic "Ed White" but is far more affordable. With those few subtle changes, it perfectly captures the essence of the early Mercury and Gemini flights and would make a fine addition to a space watch collection.
With a manually wound Omega Cal. 1861 and leather strap, the watch presents a clever pre-Apollo look, and there is good reason for this Omega to be one of the most sought-after space-related Speedmasters.
- Reference: 311.32.40.30.01.001
- Movement: Manually Wound Omega Cal. 1861
- Age: 2011/2020
- Specific Age: November 2017
- Case Size: 40mm
- Case Thickness: 13.5mm
- Lug to Lug: 47mm
- Lugs: 19mm
- Condition: Pre-Owned
- Box & Papers: Box & Papers
- Case Material: Stainless Steel
- Price: £3995
2014 Omega Speedmaster Apollo 11 45th Anniversary 311.62.42.30.06.001
Consistently divisive yet compelling, the 2014 45th anniversary Speedmaster is a watch that demands your attention. It is one of the most unusual Speedmaster ever designed, and no self-respecting NASA Omega fan is unaware of its creation.
The materials and colour of this watch are far removed from the original Moonwatch, and people have questioned its connection to Apollo. The titanium case and grey dial represent advanced materials used for the first time in space travel and the tones of the surface of the Moon. The 18ct Sedna Gold pays homage to the various elements of the Lunar Module, which had this colour finish on several exterior aspects of the descent stage.
Limited to only 1969 models, this highly specialised edition is rare and shows that Omega is prepared to think out of the box with Moon homage watches. We may never see a Speedmaster like this again, making this model more desirable.
- Reference: 311.62.42.30.06.001
- Movement: Manually Wound Omega Cal. 1861
- Age: 2011/2020
- Specific Age: November 2014
- Case Size: 42mm
- Case Thickness: 13.5mm
- Lug to Lug: 47.5mm
- Lugs: 20mm
- Condition: Pre-Owned
- Box & Papers: Box & Papers
- Case Material: Titanium & Sedna Gold
- Price: £8950
1996/97 Omega Speedmaster Professional 345.0022 Cal. 861
Here, we see the Speedmaster at its most accurate to the original Moonwatch and arguably one of the best models to acquire today.
The Professional 345.0022, with a 42mm stainless steel case, was one of the very last models to have tritium as opposed to
Super Luminova. The hands and batons will age and patina in the way only tritium can. The smooth hand-wound Omega Calibre 861 is powering this model, which has just 18 jewels and is based on the Lemania 1873.
Topped off with Hesalite crystal, this watch is the quintessential Moonwatch, and if you only buy one, then this would be a fine choice.
There is a compelling argument that the Omega Speedmaster Professional Moonwatch is the most impressive tool watch ever. It's a hard one to argue against as no other watch survived the NASA testing and hence is front and centre in one of humanity's greatest-ever achievements, with photos to prove it. Find any NASA image of a Speedmaster strapped across an astronaut's spacesuit; you cannot fail to be impressed by this one-of-a-kind watch.
- Reference: 345.0022
- Movement: Manually Wound Omega Cal. 861
- Age: 1991/2000
- Specific Age: Circa. 1996/1997
- Case Size: 42mm
- Case Thickness: 14mm
- Lug to Lug: 47.5mm
- Lugs: 20mm
- Condition: Pre-Owned
- Box & Papers: None
- Case Material: Stainless Steel
- Price: £3995
