Photo: Courtesy of Omega

The elegant and understated, yet immediately recognisable Speedmaster is one of the most iconic chronographs in the world. Last week, Omega celebrated the 60th anniversary of the classic timepiece with a star-studded bash at London’s Tate Modern.

The night was hosted by professor Brian Cox, with George Clooney and Buzz Aldrin as the guests of honour. Paying tribute to the Speedmaster’s unique legacy in space exploration and pushing human boundaries, the theme of the evening was  “Lost in Space”.

Photo: Courtesy of Omega

First launched in 1957, the affectionately-termed “Speedy” has a storied history as the first watch ever worn on the Moon. Watch aficionados will know that Buzz Aldrin, the second man to walk on the Moon, had it on his wrist when he stepped onto the lunar surface in July 1969’s Apollo 11 mission.

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The Omega timepiece has been on every one of NASA’s piloted missions since 1965, after being officially tested and qualified by the space agency, and the Moonwatch has been worn by astronauts, Air Force pilots, explorers, athletes and actors. It has a legion of fans all around the world, including Ellie Goulding, Clemence Poesy, David Gandy, and Liv Tyler, who all turned up to celebrate the chronograph.

Photo: Courtesy of Omega

Buzz Aldrin, who appeared onstage wearing a spacesuit and the Speedmaster Moonwatch Professional Chronograph, recounted memories of his time in space: “We weren’t scared. More so, we were proud to have been able to represent everyone and to have the skills and the knowledge to carry out something that was very meaningful to us as astronauts, of course, but also to so many other people.”

 

Photo: Courtesy of Omega

George Clooney, wearing the Speedmaster Moonphase, also shared a glimpse of his childhood.

“Speedmasters were a big part of my growing up. My uncle and my father, we all had them because it was such a big part of the moon landing. And it was huge in our lives. My father gave me, as my graduation present, a Speedmaster. There’s every reason to love them because they’re elegant watches. But I also love them because of the history.”

Watch the event video below:

Video: Omega

 

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