Omega Speedmaster Co-Axial Master Chronometer Chronograph "Silver Snoopy Award" – 42mm
The Beagle Has Landed: Omega Announces A Non-Limited Edition Snoopy Speedmaster
The Swiss watchmakers continue its celebration of the Apollo 13 mission with a new moon watch.
By Rhonda Riche
Editor-At-Large
This is the kind of October surprise that we live for. Omega has just announced a non-limited edition of its famed Snoopy Speedmaster. This launch is in honor of the year-long celebration of the historic 1970 Apollo 13 mission.
As you may remember from history books and the movies, Apollo 13 was the seventh crewed mission in the Apollo space program and the third meant to land on the Moon. But what started as a routine stir of an oxygen tank resulted in an explosion that caused all electrical systems on the craft to shut down and vent oxygen from supply tanks into the void of space. Thus, prompting astronaut Jack Swigert to utter the now oft-quoted phrase, “Houston, we’ve got a problem.”
Using his NASA-issued Omega Speedmaster, Swigert successfully guided the lunar module through the earth’s atmosphere to a safe landing. And upon return, NASA and the astronauts of Apollo 13 awarded Omega with the Silver Snoopy award – an honor given to employees and contractors for outstanding service contributing to flight safety and mission success.
Blue Moon
At the time, the Peanuts cartoon strip was just as popular as the space program. Cartoonist Charles M. Schulz, who created the character of Snoopy, was a supporter of Apollo missions and even designed the special sterling silver lapel pin given to employees and contractors for outstanding service contributing to flight safety and mission success.
Over time, the Speedies of the 1970s became highly sought after by collectors, not just for its association with NASA but also for their iconic looks and exemplary precision. In 2003, Omega decided to award enthusiasts for their devotion with its first Snoopy Award Speedmaster, an edition limited to 5,441 pieces, representing the duration of the Apollo 13 mission, which was 142 hours, 54 minutes, and 41 seconds.
That watch featured an image of the beloved beagle in a blue space suit against a blue sky on the seconds sub-dial. The sapphire case back also featured a sticker of Snoopy with the same motif. This model became known as the Blue Snoopy.
Silver Surfer
In 2015, Omega CEO Raynald Aeschlimann created a white dialed Snoopy to celebrate the 45th anniversary of this amazing award and its story. Omega has generally reserved white dials for white gold Speedmasters, so this special edition “Silver Snoopy” became highly sought after.
This rare Speedy also featured Snoopy rendered in Super Luminova and planked across the continuous seconds counter. A thought bubble rising from his head read, “Failure is not an option.”
On the seconds track, 14 small squares reference both the frames of a comic strip and Apollo 13’s 14-second re-entry rocket bursts timed with the Omega Speedmaster along with the words, “What could you do in 14 seconds?”
The Silver Snoopy Speedmaster was limited to just 1,970 watches, each with a numbered sterling silver medallion sitting in a bed of blue enamel flecked with silver to represent the infinite promise of space.
Looks To The Stars
Considering the rarity of these pieces, the announcement of a non-limited edition is a very big deal. This is not to say that this edition is infinite, but it does offer collectors an opportunity to get in the game.
Here’s what we know.
The new 50th anniversary "Silver Snoopy Award" Speedmaster comes in a 42mm stainless steel case with a blue ceramic (ZrO2) bezel ring and white enamel tachymeter scale. Driven by the Omega Co-Axial Master Chronometer Calibre 3861 with a 50-hour power reserve, the laser-engraved silver dial has blue PVD hour markers and hands, and there is an embossed silver Snoopy medallion on the blue sub-dial at 9 o'clock.
The NAIAD LOCK caseback offers a breathtaking view of the Earth as seen from the far side of the moon that is imprinted on the sapphire crystal using micro-structured metallization. Not just for show, the Earth rotates once per minute in sync with the small seconds hand. Plus, an animated Snoopy in his Command and Service Module rotates across the caseback on a magical hand when the chronograph function is engaged.
Finally, in addition to the black engraving on the caseback paying tribute to the Apollo 13 and Omega’s Silver Snoopy Award, this new non-limited Speedy is presented on a blue nylon fabric strap, which features the trajectory of the Apollo 13 mission embossed in the lining.
Coming in a special presentation box, the new "Silver Snoopy Award" Speedmaster will be available in stores in late October and will cost $9,600. For more information, visit Omega's website.
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