Omega Speedmaster Moonwatch APOLLO XI -69 JAPANESE MARKET Ref.145.022-69

The holy grail of the Japanese market: The Speedmaster 145.022-69.

The year 1969 marked not only a “giant leap for mankind,” but also a crucial turning point for the world’s most iconic watch: the Omega Speedmaster. As the dust clouds settled on the moon, a quiet revolution was taking place in Omega’s Swiss workshops. The result was a watch that collectors today consider an absolute rarity: the Speedmaster Moonwatch Apollo XI – 145.022-69, specifically produced for the Japanese market.

Imagine: an estimated only 300 of this particular edition were produced. While the rest of the world received standard Speedmasters in the early 1970s, Japan received an exclusive series. This watch is more than just a timekeeper; it’s a historical document on the wrist.

What immediately sets this piece apart is the caseback. No standard “pre-Moon” text, but a proud, horizontal inscription: “The First Watch worn on the Moon Apollo XI 1969.” This engraving shares its DNA with the legendary gold limited editions and makes this steel model a unique bridge between the moon landing and commercial watchmaking.

Beneath the dial lies the heart of the transition: the Caliber 861. In 1969, Omega retired the complex 321 movement to make way for this new generation. With a higher beating frequency (21,600 movements per hour), the 861 movement was not only more accurate but, thanks to its “shuttle-cam” construction, also more robust and easier to maintain. It was this movement that would power the later Apollo missions and the Space Shuttle program.

For the connoisseur, this watch is a visual feast of period-correct details:

The “Step Dial”: The characteristic recessed edge on the outer edge, a feature that disappeared after 1974. The Logo: A beautifully applied Omega logo adds depth to the dial.

The DON Bezel: The coveted “Dot Over Ninety” tachymeter bezel, the ultimate proof of originality for this reference.

Flat Link Bracelet: The watch rests on the original flat-link style steel bracelet, which creates that classic, slim profile that modern bracelets often lack.

Wearing this Speedmaster is a connection with the men of Apollo XI. It commemorates the moment Neil Armstrong sacrificed his own watch as a backup in the lunar module, making Buzz Aldrin’s Speedmaster the first to actually touch lunar soil.

This Japanese-market edition is more than a collector’s item; it’s a tribute to that mission. It’s a rare witness to an era when technology, adventure, and design were perfectly aligned. A classic that not only tells the time but also tells a story that begins on Earth and ends in the stars.

You can admire this limited edition watch with its original bracelet in our store. Along with other special Speedmasters, displayed in our display cases specifically for Speedmaster collectors, this is a wonderful opportunity to admire a truly unique piece. Our staff will be happy to tell you more. Visit our store and be enchanted by the “watch museum.”