Omega Speedmaster 105.003 Ed White Released in 1957 and based on their earlier chronographs from the 1920s and '30s, the Omega Speedmaster is one of the most iconic chronographs ever. Named after the purpose of the tachymeter along its bezel, the Speedmaster was designed for race car drivers and pilots to time events and make rapid calculations. While these adrenaline-fueled activities might be not for the faint-hearted, they weren't what made the Speedmaster so iconic - that was its use in space and on the Moon. Following a grueling series of tests with several competing brands, the Speedmaster debuted in space as a piece of NASA standard-issue equipment during the Gemini program of 1965. However, which reference of Speedmaster was it that underwent those rigorous NASA tests in late 1964? None other than the ref. 105.003 that we have here. Approved on March 1st, 1965, the ref. 105.003 was the watch given to many astronauts on the Gemini missions as part of their NASA standard-issue equipment. Already an iconic watch in its own right, the ref. 105.003 earned its stripes in 1965, during the Gemini 4 mission, when Ed White became the first American to conduct a spacewalk. Today, the ref. 105.003 is affectionately known as the “Ed White.” As with all "Ed White" Speedmasters, this example lacks crown guards and the Speedmaster's famed twisted "lyre" lugs and features flat bracelet links and rather typical flat lugs. While typically used to commemorate the Speedmaster's achievement as the first watch worn on the moon, this pre-moon example's comparatively bare caseback confirms its pre-1969 construction. This reading was taken (crown down) with a ONEOF Accuracy Boutique Edition timing machine at time of cataloging. It is provided as a courtesy only, and shall not be construed as a warranty or guarantee of any kind. Please refer to our terms and conditions of sale for more information.
