Latest news with #OmegaSpeedmaster
Yahoo
5 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Neil Armstrong's watch inspires $17K donation for students across northeast Wisconsin
GREEN BAY, Wis. (WFRV) – A watch once owned by Neil Armstrong — the first man to walk on the moon — has sparked a powerful act of generosity in northeast Wisconsin. On Thursday, the Brian LaViolette Scholarship Foundation received a $17,000 donation from Stefan Osdene, a Madison-based watch dealer and owner of Cambridge Golden Antiques. The gift stems from the sale of a rare 18-karat gold Omega Speedmaster that once belonged to Armstrong himself. Former Packer AJ Dillon, Dillon Family Foundation donates $25K to Boys & Girls Club of Door County Osdene came across the watch unexpectedly in a coin shop during a visit to Cincinnati. At the time, he didn't know the full history — only later realizing it was one of the ceremonial watches presented to Apollo astronauts after the 1969 moon landing. While Armstrong didn't wear it in space, the watch was a symbolic tribute to his place in history and a token of appreciation from Omega. 'I made a donation based on the sale of my watch,' Osdene said. 'I've donated several watches over time to this foundation that were sold, then the money benefited the scholarship.' The Speedmaster sold at RR Auction House in April 2025 for over $2 million, setting a world record for its kind. Instead of keeping the profits, Osdene chose to pay it forward — donating a portion to the LaViolette Foundation, and more to causes selected by Mark Armstrong, Neil's son. 'So it ended up full circle in Wisconsin,' Osdene said. 'Finding great watches, selling them on eBay, meeting Doug [LaViolette] through eBay, and realizing something positive can happen with watches — that they can help other people and impact lives.' The Brian LaViolette Scholarship Foundation was established in 1992 after Brian's sudden death in a swimming accident. What started as a single scholarship at De Pere High School has grown into a wide-reaching nonprofit supporting students across Eastern Wisconsin, particularly those entering service fields like teaching, nursing, and community work. 'It was established 33 years ago after Brian died,' said Kim Mosteller, the foundation's executive director. 'We started with one scholarship, and it's grown over the decades.' Osdene, who has supported the foundation in the past, said it's the mission — not the memorabilia — that drives him. Ribbon-cutting ceremony held at Seymour Park to celebrate major improvements 'Doug and his family can turn something so tragic and turn it into something so good,' he said. 'They took something gut-wrenching and made it good to benefit other people.' Thursday's donation will help fund new scholarships for local students — and continue the legacy of two dreamers: Brian LaViolette and Neil Armstrong. To learn more or donate, visit Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Solve the daily Crossword
South China Morning Post
16-07-2025
- Science
- South China Morning Post
Style Edit: Omega celebrates 60 years of space exploration with limited edition timepieces and historic reissues of the iconic Speedmaster, inspired by Nasa missions
Omega has long been the watchmaker of choice for those with an eye on the stars. The Swiss luxury watch brand's relationship with Nasa stretches back 60 years, to when the US space agency went looking for timepieces suitable for its astronauts to wear, and asked the world's top watchmakers to submit prototypes for some of the most rigorous testing imaginable. Only the Omega Speedmaster passed with flying colours. Now, as these two pioneering organisations mark six decades of collaboration, a host of timepieces celebrate the partnership – and the spirit of daring extraterrestrial exploration. Omega's Speedmaster was the only watch submitted to the US space agency that passed with flying colours. Photo: Nasa Advertisement For those who want to reach for the moon, the Omega Speedmaster Moonphase Meteorite offers the opportunity to wear part of it on your wrist. The moonphase indication at 6 o'clock features two cabochon moons crafted from genuine pieces of moon meteorite, with a background that reflects the position of the stars in the night sky when Apollo 11 made its historic voyage in 1969. The dial is formed from iron meteorite – with a pattern of ribbonlike flecks that are unique to each piece – and coloured with either a black PVD or galvanic grey coating. No watch celebrates the history of lunar exploration more profoundly than the Omega Speedmaster Moonwatch, the first timepiece to visit the moon. It's now available with a lacquered white dial, the colour inspired by astronauts' spacesuits and also originally used on the 1969 Alaska I watch, produced as a prototype for Nasa because of its excellent thermal reflectivity. It comes with black detailing and applied indexes, with the Speedmaster name picked out in red. Astronaut Walter Schirra wore an Omega Speedmaster on board the Sigma 7 mission of Nasa's Mercury programme in 1962. Photo: Handout Seven years before Apollo 11, in 1962, an Omega wristwatch had already been to space. Astronaut Walter 'Wally' Schirra wore his own Speedmaster ref. CK2998 on board the Sigma 7 mission of Nasa's Mercury programme, earning the watch the nickname it has kept ever since: the First Omega in Space. Today, it is available in a design that honours the 1959 original but with a state-of-the-art engine at its heart: the Coaxial Master Chronometer Calibre 3861. Reverse of the First Omega in Space. Photo: Handout The first space mission to orbit the moon, Apollo 8, received a fitting tribute half a century later in 2018, when Omega launched the Speedmaster Dark Side of the Moon. It features a relief map of the heavenly body on its movement's main plate and bridges, with the view seen from Earth on the dial side and the fabled dark side on the reverse. The Omega Speedmaster Dark Side of the Moon features a relief map of the moon on the front and back of the watch. Photo: Handout The latest version of this model comes with an even more exquisite relief of the moon, thanks to advanced laser engraving techniques and contrasting surfaces that make the features more pronounced.
Stuff.tv
29-05-2025
- Business
- Stuff.tv
Omega boss teases new Swatch collab, but who's getting the MoonSwatch treatment next?
When Swatch and Omega dropped the MoonSwatch in 2022, chaos ensued. Queues snaked around city blocks. Watches sold out instantly. People flipped them online for double, sometimes triple, the retail price. And all for a $270 / £240 plastic watch inspired by the legendary Omega Speedmaster (one of the best watches around). It was, by any metric, a phenomenon – the kind of marketing moment brands dream of. Not only did it inject a bolt of fun into the luxury watch scene, but it also pulled a younger crowd into horology who might've otherwise bought a smartwatch. Two years on, and while the MoonSwatch is still popular, the hype has died down. But a new collab is coming… At an event in Biel to celebrate Omega's 60-year partnership with NASA, CEO Raynald Aeschlimann dropped a tantalising hint. During a roundtable discussion with journalists, he was asked whether any new Swatch collaborations were on the cards. 'Even today, I saw something different. A collab. Not with Omega, by the way,' he replied, according to Esquire's About Time newsletter. Cue speculation. If it's not Omega, then who is next up for a plastic makeover? Could we be on the cusp of another MoonSwatch moment? Here are a few brands that could be lining up for a shot: Breguet If we're talking anniversaries, Breguet is top of the list. The grand old brand turns 250 in 2025 and that's not just a 'cake in the office' birthday. It's also just had a leadership shake-up. Gregory Kissling, the former head of product at Omega, is now running the show. That's a serious signal that something new is coming. The Classique Souscription was recently relaunched, and a stripped-back Swatch version would bring a slice of horological heritage to people with regular salaries. Imagine getting that gorgeous single-hand design on your wrist for under $300 / £300. Maybe even a Type XX chronograph in bright colours? Sign us up. The only hitch: Breguet is very premium. Possibly too premium. It's Swatch Group's crown jewel, and they might not want to risk diluting that prestige with a plastic twin. But hey, if they do… I'll be camping outside to buy one. Blancpain Technically possible, but unlikely. Swatch already did a collab here – the Scuba Fifty Fathoms series launched in 2023 to celebrate the dive watch's 70th anniversary. It was fun, bright, and unexpectedly educational, thanks to their ocean-themed packaging and bioceramic cases. Blancpain's 290th birthday is this year, but going in for a second collab so soon feels like a stretch. Then again, we didn't expect the first one either. Still, we'll put this in the 'probably not, but never say never' pile. Glashütte Original This could be an inspired pick. Technically, the brand was formally founded in 1990, post-reunification, but its roots in German watchmaking stretch back much further. Plus, it flies under the radar compared to its Swiss siblings, and could use a bit of spotlight. A Swatch version of the Seventies Chronograph Panorama Date? That would be glorious – retro curves, bold colours, and a large date window. Or what about a simplified PanoMaticLunar? That might be a bit too fiddly to recreate with Swatch tech, but we'd love to see them try. A SeaQ diver makes more sense practically – solid, simple, and not a million miles from the Swatch Scubaqua recently launched. But it may feel a little too close to the Blancpain collab. Still, if Swatch wants to champion a lesser-known in-house gem, Glashütte Original is an excellent shout. Hamilton Now we're talking fun. Hamilton already leans into nostalgia and pop culture more than most of its Swatch Group peers, featuring in Interstellar, Oppenheimer, and Death Stranding 2 (to name a few). Swatch could riff off that with a collection of vibrant, plastic Khaki Fields. Imagine military-style dials in ice-cream colours. It would be absolutely perfect for summer. One issue: Hamilton just released its own budget-friendly Khaki Field Quartz line last year. A Swatch tie-in might undercut that or confuse the offering. But if they can find a creative way to separate the two, this feels like an easy win. MB&F Here's where things get truly wild. MB&F, the mad scientists of modern watchmaking, turn 20 this year. And while they're not part of the Swatch Group, we do know that Maximilian Büsser isn't afraid to think outside the box. They've already proven with that they can take that fantastical DNA and make it (relatively) affordable. A Swatch x MB&F collab would be bonkers – not just another watch with cool colours, but something totally unexpected. Unlikely? Sure. But if Swatch wants to flex its creative muscles, this would be the one to watch. Vacheron Constantin And now we're truly in fantasy territory. But hey, if we're dreaming, let's do it properly. Vacheron is celebrating its 150th anniversary. It's already launched a lot of stunning celebration models, including the steel 222 (which has become a bit of a cult icon lately, especially after last year's solid gold reissue). A fun, affordable Swatch version would be a dream come true. The problem? Vacheron is under Richemont, not the Swatch Group. So unless someone's planning an industry-shaking handshake, this one's staying in my dreams. Whatever's coming next, we're all watching, waiting, and wondering. If Swatch can have another MoonSwatch moment – whether with Breguet, Hamilton, MB&F, or someone completely unexpected – it'll be great for the watch world. Let us know which brand you think is most likely! Liked this? TAG Heuer launches a trio of Monaco watches for the Monaco GP, and I'm having trouble choosing a favourite
South China Morning Post
23-05-2025
- Science
- South China Morning Post
Style Edit: The latest Omega Speedmaster blends modern design and mechanics with the watch's enduring space legacy – recalling a time when courage and curiosity took humanity to new heights
When space was still a dream for most, Omega was already ticking among the stars. In 1962, Nasa astronaut Wally Schirra strapped an Omega Speedmaster CK2998 to his wrist for the Sigma 7 mission, unknowingly launching Omega's legacy into the cosmos. Nasa took notice. By 1964, engineers were searching for a timepiece tough enough for the Gemini and Apollo missions. Cue James Ragan, a Nasa engineer who tested contenders from top watchmakers under extreme conditions: crushing pressure, cosmic-level heat, bone-chilling cold, high-G shocks, and more. Only one survived – Omega's Speedmaster ST 105.003. On March 23, 1965, the Speedmaster ST 105.003 made its first journey into space on the wrists of astronauts Virgil 'Gus' Grissom and John Young during the Gemini 3 mission – marking its debut as Nasa's official chronograph for manned missions. Just a few months later, Ed White wore the same model during America's first spacewalk. Advertisement Omega Speedmaster 310.30.42.50.01.001. Photo: Handout When the original Omega Speedmaster was introduced in 1957, it was built with advanced protective technologies of the time – such as the sealing power of O-ring gaskets and the innovative 'Naiad' crown. These features made it a remarkably robust chronograph, hermetically sealed against the elements and water-resistant to a depth of 200 feet. Its Hesalite crystal also offered a crucial benefit: shatter resistance. In the high-stakes environment of space, the last thing an astronaut needs is shards of glass floating inside a spacecraft. Durability wasn't just a feature – it was a necessity. To become Nasa's official space chronograph, contenders were tested under extreme conditions: crushing pressure, cosmic-level heat, bone-chilling cold, high-G shocks and more. Photo: Handout Today's Speedmaster Moonwatch, Ref. 310.30.42.50.01.001, continues that legacy. Its asymmetrical case design – first seen in the fourth-generation Speedmaster – adds extra protection for the crown and pushers, while the twisted lugs offer a distinctive and elegant silhouette. The watch retains the iconic black anodised aluminium bezel with its heritage 'Dot over 90' detail, a tribute to the second generation design. Its black step dial features the 'Professional' inscription, Luminova for visibility, and a classic logo. The caseback proudly states its Nasa flight qualification and Moon legacy, now updated with 'Co-Axial Master Chronometer' since 2021.
India Today
21-05-2025
- Science
- India Today
Indian astronaut will wear this special watch while living and working in space
Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla will don a pair of specially designed Omega watches as he lives and work on the International Space special watch is part of a tradition that dates back to the earliest days of human spaceflight. Axiom Space, the mission organiser, confirmed that Omega's iconic timepieces will accompany the Ax-4 Space expressed enthusiasm for the partnership, stating, 'As we get ready to launch Ax-4, we look forward to having Omega's watches on board once again, continuing a legacy that goes back to the early days of the space program, including NASA's flight certification of the iconic Speedmaster watch 60 years ago'. Axiom astronauts wear the X-33 Skywalker aboard the spacecraft. (Photo: Omega) advertisement The collaboration highlights Omega's pivotal role in space history, with the Speedmaster famously earning NASA's approval for all manned missions in watches are engineered to withstand the extreme conditions of space, from microgravity to intense temperature have undergone rigorous training to qualify for spaceflight. These watches can function in extreme temperatures, vacuum, remain corrosion free, sustain shocks at 40G and even function in high pressure of 1.6 the Ax-4 mission, each astronaut, including Shukla, will receive two Omega Speedmaster watches: the X-33 Skywalker, worn aboard the spacecraft, and the manual-winding Speedmaster Professional Moonwatch, which remains the preferred choice for extravehicular activities (EVA) for both NASA and Axiom Ax-4 mission is set to mark a new chapter for India, Poland, and Hungary, as each nation sends its first government-sponsored astronaut to the ISS in over four mission will involve around 60 scientific experiments and represent a milestone in international collaboration and space equipping its astronauts with Omega's renowned timepieces, Axiom Space not only honors the legacy of past explorers but also ensures precision and reliability for the next generation venturing beyond Earth's atmosphere
