Omega Celebrates Speedmaster 60th Anniversary at Singapore Art Science Museum
With 6 decades on its belt, the story of Omega’s Speedmaster is told not just from the perspective of the many real life heroes who wore them, nor the missions they were utilised in but also in the many variations that they have embodied
Omega Singapore invited a crew of astronauts to officiate the 60th anniversary of the Omega Speedmaster. The astronaut stands amidst the “Crystal Universe”, a 2015 Interactive Installation of Light Sculpture, Endless Artwork & Sound by teamLab.
For one night, the Singapore Art Science Museum was transformed into a time travelling exhibit of space exploration and high-art as Omega Singapore celebrated the 60th anniversary of the legendary Speedmaster. Space and Time took literal form, embodied in trio of venues which celebrated Speedmaster’s 60th birthday: First, the re-opening of Omega Singapore’s latest flagship boutique at The Shoppes At Marina Bay Sands; second, just a stone’s throw down the mall’s “watch alley”, a standing exhibit extolling the provenance and virtues of the collection as well as displaying vintage Omega Speedmaster “Moonwatches”, a vivid exhibition in tribute to the 60th milestone date of such an iconic chronograph.
The Omega Speedmaster which started it all. 60 years of epic provenance, more so than almost any other chronograph on the market today.
Spacemen assemble at an exhibition of vintage Speedmasters a walk down from the Omega Singapore boutique at Marina Bay Sands
Omega Celebrates Speedmaster 60th Anniversary at Singapore Art Science Museum
Attended by over 130 guests, mostly VIP watch collectors, members of Singapore watch media and local Mediacorp celebrities (Omega Singapore calls them ‘Friends of the brand’), the attendees were invited to travel to planet Omega through the halls of the Singapore Art Science Museum where we encountered a literal “curtain of stairs”, a high-tech art installation comprised of strings of blinking LED lights which led attendees to the main event hall for Omega Speedmaster’s 60th Anniversary.
The march of astronauts, reminding us that a journey to the moon is not the endeavour of one but a joint effort of men (and one important watch – the Speedmaster Moonwatch)
Dubbed “Crystal Universe”, the 2015 Interactive Installation of Light Sculpture, Endless Artwork & Sound by teamLab was turned into an expanse of white, blinking and flashing stars in a variety of patterns. Conceived as an interactive artwork by teamLab, the concept was to place one at the heart of the universe to enable astrophysical phenomena such as planets, stars, galaxies and gravitational waves. The artwork adopted by Omega Singapore utilises teamLab’s Interactive 4D Vision technology allowing users to directly affect 178,200 LED lights giving the illusion of stars moving in space. Given the obvious space-inspired synergy, passage through the starfield on the way to Planet Omega was especially emotive since it expressed Speedmaster’s legacy in NASA space explorations.
Freeze dried astronaut ice-cream sounds amazing but to this editor, it was like eating concentrated marshmallow cubes, nevertheless, it added literal and metaphorical flavour to the epic 60th anniversary bash for the venerable Omega Speedmaster
Kicking off the festivities was a march in by NASA astronauts and then an opening address by President Swatch Group South East Asia, Jose de Cardoso and entertainment by up and coming Singapore Singer, Tabitha Nauser. Food options consisted of a bevy of Butler served canapes including Snow Queen Crab salad, Orzo Pasta with Crustacean Bisque, Lobster Ravioli and official NASA ice-cream!
Head of Product Management Gregory Kissling was on hand to present Omega Baselworld 2017 novelties
As part of Speedmaster 60th Anniversary celebrations in Singapore, Head of Product Management Gregory Kissling was on hand to present Omega Baselworld 2017 novelties as well
Gregory Kissling, Head of Product Management was on hand at the Omega Singapore Marina Bay Sands flagship boutique to present Luxuo with Baselworld 2017 novelties including:
A true to life (shape and form) facsimile of the original 1957 Omega Broad Arrow Speedmaster.
The “Broad Arrow” was not only the first Speedmaster, it was also the first chronograph wristwatch in the world with its tachymeter scale on the bezel as opposed to printed on the dial. With its perfect match of the original ’57 tachymeter, this 2017 Speedmaster stays true to this design. That said, it comes powered by the 1861 calibre instead of the calibre 321.
Captain Eugene “Gene” Cernan left his mark on history with three historic missions in space as the pilot of Gemini IX, the Lunar Module pilot of Apollo X, and the commander of Apollo XVII. Omega Speedmaster Apollo 17 45th Anniversary ‘Tribute to Gene Cernan’ Limited Edition bookends mankind’s story of space exploration.
Cernan passed earlier this year, January 16, 2017. This Speedmaster is a tribute to his accomplishments and his dramatic place in history as the last time mankind was on the moon.
Where the Speedmaster Professional Moonwatch Apollo 11 40th Anniversary told the story of man’s first step on the moon (2:56 GMT on the 21st of July to be precise), the Omega Speedmaster Apollo 17 45th Anniversary ‘Tribute to Gene Cernan’ Limited Edition bookends mankind’s story of space exploration with the milestone of the last man to walk on the moon.
Captain Eugene “Gene” Cernan spent 20 years as a Naval aviator, including 13 years with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). He left his mark on history with three historic missions in space as the pilot of Gemini IX, the Lunar Module pilot of Apollo X, and the commander of Apollo XVII. He flew to the moon not once, but twice, and also holds the distinction of being the second American to walk in space and the last man to have left his footprints on the lunar surface. 05:34 GMT marks the last footsteps on the moon. Cernan passed earlier this year, January 16, 2017.
Omega Baselworld 2017 novelty: Omega Speedmaster Chronograph Moonphase Co-Axial Master Chronometer “Blue Side of the Moon”
Kissling also presented the Baselworld 2017: Omega Speedmaster Chronograph Moonphase Co-Axial Master Chronometer “Blue Side of the Moon”: A blue, 44,25 mm chronograph with full blue ceramic case. The watch also features a ceramic dial and a bezel with a brushed Liquidmetal Tachymeterscale.
With 6 decades on its belt, the story of Omega’s Speedmaster is told not just from the perspective of the many real life heroes who wore them, nor the missions they were utilised in but also in the many variations that they have embodied; a testament to the versatility and utility of one of the world’s most iconic chronographs.
Omega’s Speedmaster collection is as versatile as it is storied. Here, the Mark II model is configured for racing.
