Omega Speedmaster Moonwatch: history, price and the MoonSwatch

The Omega Speedmaster Professional is the "Moonwatch": NASA qualified it for spaceflight in 1965, and Buzz Aldrin wore one on the Moon on July 21, 1969. A new Moonwatch with caliber 3861 costs about $7,800 (Hesalite) to $9,000 (sapphire) in the US in 2026; a used one typically sells for $4,400 to $5,800.

Launched	1957, ref. CK2915
First Omega in space	Wally Schirra, Sigma 7, Oct 3, 1962
NASA qualified	March 1965
On the Moon	Buzz Aldrin, July 21, 1969
Current movement	Caliber 3861 (since 2021)
MoonSwatch launched	March 26, 2022, at $260

From racetrack to the Moon

Omega launched the Speedmaster in 1957 as a chronograph for racing drivers, reference CK2915, with the hand-wound caliber 321 and a tachymeter scale on the bezel for measuring speed. It was never designed for space.

On October 3, 1962, Mercury astronaut Wally Schirra wore his own Speedmaster CK2998 on the Sigma 7 flight. Omega calls it the "First Omega in Space". In 1964 NASA quietly bought chronographs from several brands and put them through brutal tests: extreme heat and cold, vacuum, humidity, shock and vibration. In March 1965 the Speedmaster was the one that passed, and it was flight-qualified for all crewed missions.

In June 1965 Ed White wore one on the first American spacewalk. On July 21, 1969, Buzz Aldrin wore his Speedmaster on the surface of the Moon. Neil Armstrong had left his inside the lunar module as a backup, because the module's electronic timer had failed. From then on it was the "Moonwatch".

In April 1970 the crew of Apollo 13 used a Speedmaster to time a 14-second engine burn that put their crippled spacecraft back on course for Earth. NASA's astronauts gave Omega their "Silver Snoopy Award" for it.

Speedmaster timeline

Year	Milestone
1957	Speedmaster CK2915 launched with caliber 321
1962	Wally Schirra wears CK2998 on Sigma 7: the first Omega in space
1965	NASA qualifies the Speedmaster (March); Ed White's spacewalk (June)
1968	Caliber 861 replaces the 321
1969	Apollo 11: Buzz Aldrin wears his Speedmaster on the Moon
1970	Apollo 13 rescue; Silver Snoopy Award
2021	New Moonwatch with caliber 3861, a co-axial Master Chronometer
2022	Omega x Swatch MoonSwatch launched (March 26)

Omega Speedmaster price: new and used

Model	New (US, 2026)	Pre-owned (approx.)
Moonwatch Professional, Hesalite crystal 310.30.42.50.01.001, caliber 3861	about $7,800	$4,400 to $5,800
Moonwatch Professional, sapphire crystal 310.30.42.50.01.002, display back	about $9,000	a little more than Hesalite
Previous Moonwatch 311.30.42.30.01.005, caliber 1861	discontinued 2021	about $3,500 to $5,500
Vintage 145.022 caliber 861, 1968 onward	n/a	roughly $4,000 to $18,000, by condition
Vintage 105.012 / 145.012 caliber 321, the Apollo era	n/a	roughly $12,000 to $80,000+

Omega has raised US prices several times since 2025, partly because of tariffs on Swiss goods, so check omegawatches.com or an authorized dealer for today's list price. Vintage prices vary hugely with originality: an untouched dial and original bezel can be worth more than the rest of the watch.

Buying a used Speedmaster: what to check

Box and papers: the warranty card adds value and helps prove it is genuine.
Service history: a full service costs several hundred dollars; factor it in if none is recorded.
Hesalite vs sapphire: Hesalite (acrylic) is what went to the Moon, scratches easily but polishes out; sapphire is scratch-resistant.
Correct parts on vintage: collectors check that the bezel, dial, hands and movement match the reference and year.
Buy the seller: use an authorized pre-owned program or a dealer with a strong return policy.

The MoonSwatch

On March 26, 2022, Omega and its sister brand Swatch (both owned by Swatch Group) launched the Bioceramic MoonSwatch: the Speedmaster's shape in colorful bioceramic with a quartz movement, in 11 versions named for the Sun, Moon and planets. It cost $260, and people queued around the block at Swatch stores. Prices have risen since (to $270, and higher after 2025's US tariffs), and Swatch has added versions such as the Snoopy "Mission to the Moonphase" (2024). See every MoonSwatch edition.

The MoonSwatch 1965, or "Mission to the Moon 1965", came out on March 1, 2025, at $270, 60 years to the day after NASA qualified the Speedmaster. Its subdials read 19, 65 and 60. The MoonSwatch is sold only in Swatch stores and on Swatch's website, never at Omega boutiques.

Omega and James Bond

James Bond's watch is the other famous Omega: a Seamaster, not a Speedmaster. Pierce Brosnan wore a Seamaster Diver 300M in GoldenEye (1995), and Bond has worn an Omega ever since. In No Time To Die (2021), Daniel Craig wore the Seamaster Diver 300M 007 Edition, reference 210.90.42.20.01.001, in titanium with a mesh bracelet. See every James Bond watch.

Questions people ask

What was the first Omega in space?

Wally Schirra's own Speedmaster CK2998, worn on the Mercury Sigma 7 flight on October 3, 1962.

Did Neil Armstrong wear an Omega on the Moon?

No. Armstrong left his Speedmaster inside the lunar module as a backup because the module's electronic timer had failed. Buzz Aldrin wore his on the lunar surface.

How much is an Omega Speedmaster?

In 2026, a new Moonwatch Professional costs about $7,800 with a Hesalite crystal or about $9,000 with sapphire in the US. Used, the current model sells for about $4,400 to $5,800.

Hesalite or sapphire?

Hesalite is the acrylic crystal that flew to the Moon: shatter-resistant but easy to scratch (and easy to polish). Sapphire is nearly scratch-proof and has a display back.

Is the MoonSwatch an Omega?

It is a Swatch made with Omega's blessing (both belong to Swatch Group). It copies the Speedmaster's shape in bioceramic with a quartz movement and is sold only by Swatch.

Sources

Last updated October 18, 2026. Prices are auction hammer-plus-premium results or published list prices as reported by the sources below; retail prices change, so check an authorized dealer before buying. Brand and model names belong to their owners and are used here only to identify the watches; onlineclock.app is not affiliated with any watch brand. Found an error? Tell us.