Speedmaster First Omega in Space

/ Omega, Reviews / By Andrew Kendall / September 21, 2020

Buying the Right Strap

I have a few straps for my Speedy that I covered in previous videos, some value straps like the Barton I reviewed a while ago, and a couple of higher end straps as well. I still enjoy the watch on the Omega steel bracelet where it spends most it’s time, but we all know that the Speedy likes a strap.

Not being a massive NATO fan, it doesn’t get any time on the supplied Omega number despite being exceptionally nice. I do have the black crocodile for dressing up, that I purchased from ABP Concept. I’m not inclined to buy dozens of straps and change them on a regular basis as I’m quite conservative in my ownership approach and prefer fewer, higher quality items.  Sadly my watches don’t share the same lug widths, so each strap needs to be specific for each watch.

Omega CK2998

So why this particular strap?  Well, if you watch my video about buying watches in lockdown, you may have noticed I have a soft spot for the Speedmaster First Omega in Space.  Released in 2012 to commemorate 50 years since the Speedmaster was first used on a space mission by  Mercury astronaut ‘Wally’ Schirra who wore his personal Speedmaster reference CK 2998 in the absence of any NASA official flight qualified wrist watch. This watch is very close in style to the Ed White ST105.003 that ultimately replaced it as the official NASA flight qualified watch, and shares the same, and some might say more elegant, straight lug case than the Professional worn by Buzz Aldrin on Apollo 11.   The main difference being the use of alpha hands over the baton hands on the flight qualified version.

The First Omega in Space Review

Other notable points about this watch, well let’s start with the few negatives that are often discussed.  The first being the use of a plain steel alpha style hand design for the constant seconds sub register to match the minutes and hours hands and differentiate it from the stick markers for the sweeping seconds hand and the minutes and hours sub registers.  This is a change from the original that had stick markers for all 3 sub registers.  The other 2 are minor gripes around no dot over 90 on the tachemeter or the use of a heasalite crystal.  But overall, this re-imagining of the original is quite successful in my view had has maintained relevance and popularity amongst enthusiast in the 8 years since it’s release.

Looking at the back of the watch, we have a wonderful guilloche style finish prominent at the centre with the large Omega hippocampus and the words First Omega in Space and the date of the mission around the perimeter.  Out on the polished edge of the case back Omega has seen fit to make this a numbered, but not limited edition. 

The First and Last Watch on the Moon

NASA had a mix of the Ed White 003 design and the Professional 012 and both were used throughout the Apollo missions as Omega continuously updated and improved the watch to suit the needs of the astronauts. And although the Professional, was the first watch on the moon,  the last watch to leave the moon on the wrist of Gene Cernan was the 003 Ed White version.  So you can choose to have the first or the last watch on the moon.  Omega have both bases covered. 

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Looking at Value

Now you’ll struggle to pick up a bargain vintage CK2998 Ed White and it’s fair to say the 321 re-edition from this year will be a little out of most collectors price range at over £12,000, but I’ll certainly be putting money away to get one. 

So the First Omega in Space suddenly looks rather attractive at just £4,080 despite the recent 6% price hike (Sept 2020), and undercuts the Professional big box version by around £200.  With a case diameter of 39mm over the Professionals 42mm, this watch can be a great daily with the sapphire crystal over the more fragile Hesalite. 

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The First Omega in Space on the Wrist

A few months ago I dropped into my local Omega Authorised Dealer and asked to try on the First Omega in Space.  Having spent some time now soaking on Speedmasters and pouring over the detail in the Moonwatch Only Book that I highly recommend for any enthusiast.  I found it to have a different charm to the Professional Moon Watch that I own.  Not only how it looked on the wrist with the slightly smaller no-guards case, but also the presentation on the superb brown leather strap.  The colour choice of the strap is spot on and has a wonderful soft and subtle nature to it that a lot of leather straps don’t.  

Also, the ease in which you can access and wind the 1861 movement on the CK2998 without the crown guards gives it  a different tactile nature to that of the professional that isn’t a pleasure to wind, but you know it’s like that for a reason, so you cut it some slack.  Now you could own both of these watches no problem as they both bring their own unique look and have different stories to tell, and all for the price of the new Seamaster 300 007 edition or an Apollo 8.

Know When to Walk Away from a Sale

So after a few minutes I’m starting to gush over this watch and I could sense that my credit card was in danger.  I think the salesman was getting this impression also and was ready to get the Champaign out.  But on this occasion sense prevailed and I politely handed the watch back.  I’ll never afford the Ed White if I keep buying more watches. So I must keep my eye focussed on my collecting goals.

Changing it Up with a Strap

I know, I thought, I can get part of the look and feel of the first Omega in Space if I just buy the leather strap for my Speedy.  Sadly, the CK2998 case has 19mm lugs, so that was a non-starter as the professional has 20mm lugs.  As I already had the APB crocodile strap, I was aware that there are some excellent artisan strap makers out there, and hit the internet.  

The Strap Tailor

I found the Strap Tailor after a brief search.  They’re based in the UK and I liked their story.  They advertise a bespoke element to the sale at no extra cost where I have seen this service can escalate very quickly on other sites.  I engaged with David and showed him what I was looking for in the Omega strap and we settled on a Whiskey tan with a linen stitch.  

Having now received the strap I can safely say this is an exceptionally nice and well made strap. You may have noticed me posting images on Instagram last week.  It came in plain and understated packaging that emphasised the hand made nature and personal touch I received through the process.  The vegetable tanned leather feels lovely in the hand and is very compliant and soft, so exactly the feeling I was looking for.

Looking closely, you can see the detail and craftmanship that has gone into this, and I’m very pleased.  Now this isn’t a paid review, I paid just over £100 for this, which is good value compared to OEM straps and other independent producers.  So if you decide to give David a go, please let him know the English watch recommended him.  It can’t hurt.

Go for the OEM Buckle

The strap was supplied on this plain pin buckle, but I’ve since bought a genuine Omega buckle as used on the First Omega in Space.  This is part number 945 11 602 and cost £40 direct from the Omega service centre.  I have seen this for sale for more, but Omega were happy to sell to me direct with a small postage fee.  Previously I had bought a cheap knock off from eBay for £10, but this genuine one is worst every penny.

First Omega in Space Specification