Welcome to our Omega Speedmaster References overview. In the past 17 years, we published many articles on the world’s most iconic chronograph, and on this page, you will find these articles sorted by Speedmaster reference and on specific selections.

For the classic Omega Speedmaster, we decided to make a selection per generation until 1988 starting with the Speedmaster CK2915 from 1957. In 1988, Omega introduced a new coding system and a wider variation of Speedmaster (Moonwatch) models. For the Mark-series, which were introduced from 1969 to 1984, there’s a separate section as well, as well as for other modern non-Moonwatch models. We will keep this page up-to-date and add our Speedmaster articles to the dedicated sections below.

Speedmaster CK2915

The first Speedmaster on the market was reference CK2915. Introduced in 1957 as part of this trilogy of watches for professional use included the Railmaster and Seamaster 300 as well. The Speedmaster CK2915 was the first chronograph in the world to use a tachymeter on the bezel (instead of on the dial). Initially, the Speedmaster was meant for motorsport and racing but also aimed at technicians and scientists who needed a chronograph. Omega used its caliber 321 movements in the Speedmaster watches until they introduced reference 145.022 in 1968.

Production years: 1957 – 1959
References: CK2915-1 to CK2915-3
Dimensions: diameter:38.6mm (39.7mm on the CK2915-3 with black bezel) / lug-to-lug: 48mm / lug-width: 19mm

Speedmaster CK2998

The Speedmaster CK2998 was the second generation of Speedmasters and actually the first watch to be used in space before NASA did their tender. Astronauts Wally Schirra and Gordon Cooper purchased their Speedmaster CK2998 watches privately and used them in space since 1962. The hands and bezel are different from the CK2915, but the (center) case is the same on the first three generations of Speedmaster watches.

Production years: 1959-1962
References: CK2998-1 – CK2998-6, CK2998-61 & CK2998-62
Dimensions: diameter 39.7mm / lug-to-lug: 48mm / lug-width: 19mm

Speedmaster 105.003

The third generation Speedmaster was sent to NASA for their wristwatch chronograph tender at the end of 1964. The Speedmaster 105.003 was the only watch to pass all NASA’s tests (unlike the watches submitted by Rolex, Longines-Wittnauer, and later on Bulova).  The Speedmaster 105.003 was qualified by NASA to be the official watch for all manned space missions. Ed White was wearing two of them on the wrist during his EVA (spacewalk) in 1965. Interesting to know is that it was also the last watch worn on the Moon, on the wrist of Eugene Cernan during Apollo 17. The 105.003 was the last straight-lug case without crown guards.

Production years: 1964 – 1967
References: 105.003-63, 105.003-64, 105.003-65
Dimensions: diameter 39.7mm / lug-to-lug: 48mm / lug-width: 19mm

Speedmaster Professional 105.012

The Speedmaster Professional 105.012 was the first watch worn on the moon by Edwin “Buzz” Aldrin on July 21st, 1969. After the 105.003 was qualified by NASA in 1965, Omega also started sending the 105.012 (and 145.012) for use by the NASA astronauts. These watches had a slightly larger case, and crown guards (to prevent the pushers from being knocked off). A common misunderstanding is that the “Professional” refers to the NASA qualification, but it does not. The Speedmaster Professional 105.012 was already in production before NASA qualified the Speedmaster.

Production years: 1964 – 1968
References: 105.012-63, 15.012-64, 105.012-65, 105.012-66
Dimensions: diameter 42mm / lug-to-lug: 48mm / lug-width: 20mm

Speedmaster Professional 145.012

In 1967 Omega introduced the Speedmaster Professional with reference 145.012, a minor visual update of the 105.012. The difference between the 145.012 and 105.012 is mainly in the type of pushers. On the 145.012, the pushers are mounted differently to the case (screwed-in) and have larger caps. This Speedmaster Professional is the last one to have the caliber 321 movement and was worn by astronauts Michael Collins, Thomas Stafford, and Alan Shepard. Collin’s Speedmaster Professional 145.012 can be found on display in the Smithsonian.

Production years: 1967 – 1968
References: 145.012-67 145.012-68
Dimensions: diameter 42mm / lug-to-lug: 48mm / lug-width: 20mm

Speedmaster Professional 145.022

In 1968, Omega introduced a new movement for the Speedmaster, caliber 861. A shuttle cam mechanism instead of a column wheel, and a higher ticking speed (21,600vph instead of 18,000vph). The first iteration in 1968 looked very similar to the last 145.012 references, but in 1969 the Speedmaster Professional also had a slightly different look with its printed Omega logo instead of an applied metal logo. This watch was never used on the moon, but it has been near the moon during Apollo 17 as a board instrument attached to a metal plate. In 1978, NASA qualified the Speedmaster Professional 145.022 to become the watch for the Space Shuttle astronauts. It was also the reference to be available in gold, with the BA145.022-69 and later on in gold & steel (DD145.022).

Production years: 1968 – 1988
References: 145.022-68, 145.022-69, 145.022-71, 145.022-74, 145.022-76, 145.022-78, 145.0022
Dimensions: diameter 42mm / lug-to-lug: 48mm / lug-width: 20mm

Speedmaster (Professional) Mark Series

In 1969, as a result of a prototype for NASA (codename Alaska), Omega introduces the Speedmaster Professional Mark II. A tonneau-shaped case, with a tachymeter scale under the crystal and using Omega’s caliber 861. Omega continued the Mark series until the mid-1980s, with the Speedmaster Mark V. In between, there were the Mark III, Mark IV, and the “unofficial” Mark 4.5. The Mark III and Mark IV used Omega’s automatic chronograph caliber 1040, based on Lemania’s 1341. The Mark III was introduced in 1971 and the Mark IV in 1973. The Mark 4.5 was introduced right after, in 1974, although it never was an official Mark-series. However, we include it in this overview anyway. The Mark V was introduced in 1984 and like the 4.5, fitted with a caliber 1045 movement (based on the Lemania 5100). The Mark V was based on a previously designed Speedmaster, reference 345.0803, that was only delivered to the German market. The Mark V was delivered worldwide though. In the same case, Omega created a moonphase model in 1985. In 2014, Omega re-introduced the Speedmaster Mark II watch, with a slightly larger case and a modern Omega movement. These are in the “Modern Speedmaster Variations” section below.

Modern Speedmaster (Professional) Moonwatch References

In 1988, Omega introduced a new coding system for their reference numbers. 145.022/145.0022 (as many other references) were continued to be used as a reference for the case part, but the watches themselves received an entirely new reference number. In the case of the Speedmaster Professional, it became the reference 3590.50. The first model was basically the same as the last 145.0022, but in the years after, Omega carried through changes to the movements, bracelets, etc. In 1997, Omega started to use the new caliber 1861 movement. A slight update on the previous 861. Caliber 1861 was used for the Moonwatch till 2020. In 2021, we saw the introduction of the new Moonwatch with Master Chronometer-certified caliber 3861 movements. Then, of course, there are a plethora of special, limited, and numbered editions of the Speedmaster Moonwatch. Omega likes to celebrate and commemorate the Apollo 11, Apollo 13, Apollo 15, and Apollo 17 missions, for example. But you will also find other events celebrated with a special edition of the Speedmaster. In 2019, Omega re-introduced the column-wheel chronograph caliber 321 movements. First used in a special platinum Speedmaster Professional with an onyx dial with subdials made of lunar meteorite, and in 2020 in a straight-lug reference 105.003 based Speedmaster. These are not limited editions, but the production capacity for this caliber 321 is limited to 1000-2000 movements every year.

Modern Speedmaster Variations

Besides the classic Moonwatch and Mark-series, Omega also had the Speedmaster Reduced models since the 1980s. Today, Omega has a 38mm version that replaces the Reduced and also makes the Speedmaster suitable for the smaller wrist. In 2013, Omega introduced the Speedmaster “Dark Side of the Moon”. The first Speedmaster to have a case, bezel, and dial made of (black) ceramic. This 44.25mm Speedmaster also has the in-house developed caliber 9300 movement. In the years after, Omega introduced a number of variations on the Dark Side of the Moon, the latest being the Apollo 8 and Alinghi, both featuring skeletonized dials to have a closer look at the movement. Below, you will find articles and reviews covering modern Speedmaster variations, including the ones mentioned above and of course the famous Michael Schumacher editions as well as some of the rare variations they did for specific markets, such as a perpetual calendar for the Japanese market.

Speedmaster 125

In 1973, Omega celebrated its 125th anniversary with a special Speedmaster: the Speedmaster 125. This huge chunk of steel has impressive dimensions (42mm x 51mm x15mm) and a weight of approx 180 grams. Inside was the world’s first automatic chronograph chronometer movement, caliber 1041. Often incorrectly assumed is that there were only 2000 of these watches produced, but recent research (also by the Omega Archives) shows that this number has been much higher.

Speedmaster Professional Apollo XI 345.0802

To commemorate the fact that the Speedmaster Professional was qualified (again) by NASA in 1978 to serve as the chronograph during the Space Shuttle program (starting in 1981), Omega introduced this numbered edition Speedmaster Professional in 18kt gold. There were 300 of them in yellow gold and 20 of them in white gold. The white gold edition was only delivered to the German market. Approximately half of the amount of the yellow gold watches also went to Germany. This particular model was also the first Speedmaster to have a transparent case back.

Production year(s): 1980-1988
References: BA345.0802 (yellow gold), BC345.0802 (white gold)
Dimensions: diameter 42mm / lug-to-lug: 48mm / lug-width: 20mm
Movement: Caliber 861L (L = Luxury finish)

Speedmaster Moonphase

In 1986, Omega introduced three different Speedmaster references with a Moonphase complication. One is based on the Moonwatch, and has reference 345.0809. Only 1300 of those have been produced. Omega used the teutonic Speedmasters (based on the German market reference 345.0803), limited to 700 pieces in total (two references). So in total, Omega created 2000 Speedmaster Moonphase watches in the mid-1980s with caliber 866. Later on, in the 2000s, Omega re-introduced this model as reference 3575.20 with a slightly modernized dial and new movement variation (caliber 1866). Today, Omega has a number of Speedmaster Moonphase references in the collection, based on their 44.25mm case and using their in-house caliber 9905 with a Master Chronometer certification.

Speedmaster GTG

Speedmaster Holy Grail – Photo by NielsZ

Speedmaster Automatic “Holy Grail”

In 1987, Omega did something amazing. They combined the typical Speedmaster Professional case with the caliber they used previously for the Mark 4.5 and Mark V: caliber 1045. This Lemania 5100 based movement featured a central second and minute hand for the chronograph, and a day, date, and 24-hour indicator. Only 2000 pieces have been made of this watch, and they’ve become heavily sought-after. The watch has been nicknamed “Holy Grail” as the late and legendary Speedmaster collector Chuck Maddox referred to it.

Production year: 1987
Reference: 376.0822 (bracelet reference 1450)
Dimensions: 42mm x 15mm

Do you want to discover more Speedmaster content? Make sure to visit our dedicated Speedy Tuesday section with +500 articles on the world’s most iconic chronograph.