Probably the most coveted Omega Speedmaster watches is the Alaska Challenge mannequin from 2008. Surrounding it’s a fantasy concerning the unique white-dial Speedmasters that Omega designed for NASA, but it surely additionally stands out due to its stark white dial with rocket fingers and a crimson chronograph seconds hand.
The 2008 Speedmaster Alaska Challenge with and with out its crimson anodized outer case
Codename Alaska Challenge
When Omega launched this Speedmaster Alaska Challenge in 2008 as a restricted version of 1,970 items, Speedmaster watches have been in a distinct place than they’re lately. Even the restricted editions which can be extremely fascinating now took a while to promote again then. At this time, the 2008 Speedmaster Alaska Challenge is a prized possession within the assortment of Speedmaster fanatics.
Jim Ragan (NASA) was answerable for testing chronograph watches within the Sixties — Picture: NASA
The thrilling bit is the story behind this white-dial Speedmaster (with reference 311.32.42.30.04.001). All of it started within the late Sixties when NASA engineer James (Jim) H. Ragan, who had beforehand labored on the testing procedures for watches and cameras for the Apollo challenge, continued creating specs for the gear that astronauts would use.
The challenge identify “Alaska” has little to do with the state apart from its identify. Omega used code phrases for lots of its tasks. This was to attenuate the danger of commercial espionage. The corporate typically used metropolis, nation, or state names for top-secret tasks. The Alaska Challenge codename was for every part regarding NASA, and Omega used it till the late Nineteen Seventies.
Alaska Challenge prototype
Fulfilling NASA’s needs
If astronauts have been to have the ability to use the Speedmaster chronograph throughout extravehicular actions (EVA), it needed to be shockproof to be used on the Lunar Rover but in addition immune to very excessive temperatures. On the Moon, the temperature can go as much as 120 levels Celsius since there’s no ambiance.
Omega Speedmaster Alaska Challenge — Picture: Omega
The primary Speedmaster prototype that Omega accomplished in accordance with these requests was the titanium Alaska Challenge in 1969. The motion, primarily based on Omega’s caliber 861, used totally different supplies and oils to resist excessive temperatures, and the titanium case was protected by a crimson outer case manufactured from anodized aluminum. Moreover, the watch had a silver/white dial to raised replicate daylight and warmth.
Lastly, this Alaska Challenge mannequin used two rocket-shaped — or, extra precisely, capsule-shaped — chronograph fingers for higher readability. They acted as arrows pointing in direction of the minute and hour tracks when the studying situations weren’t optimum, primarily as a consequence of vibrations. Omega produced an preliminary set of 5 Alaska Challenge prototypes in 1969.
The modified caliber 861 — Picture: Omega
Nevertheless, whereas this Speedmaster Alaska Challenge prototype ticked many containers for NASA, the manufacturing prices have been too excessive. Consequently, Omega produced different less expensive prototypes utilizing the usual 42mm Moonwatch case, for instance. The Alaska Challenge prototype from 1970 with a white dial, capsule fingers, and tachymeter bezel was the inspiration for the 2008 Challenge Alaska watch.
Omega Speedmaster Alaska II (1972) — Picture: Omega
The 1970 Speedmaster Alaska II
Omega developed the Speedmaster Alaska II watch proper after the primary model. This piece was similar to the Speedmaster Skilled of that point. It even used the identical case reference (145.022-69). Inside was Omega’s caliber 861, the hand-wound Lemania-based chronograph motion. It isn’t clear to us why the primary Alaska Challenge prototype in titanium had such an odd case form. Whether or not it was for a particular shock-related motive, as a consequence of different technical necessities, or simply purely purposeful, we don’t know. Whereas many components of the primary model disappeared within the second, what stayed was the crimson anodized aluminum outer case to guard the watch from the excessive temperatures (as much as 120 levels Celsius in direct daylight).
The crimson anodized aluminum case had a 60-minute scale, which rendered the tachymeter scale unusable. That mentioned, so far as I do know, the tachymeter scale will not be very helpful in area anyway (right me if I’m incorrect). A 60-minute scale makes extra sense since astronauts may use it to mark a sure time along with the minute hand. Later Alaska II prototypes had a 0–60 bezel as a substitute of the tachymeter-scale bezel.
Curiously, some variations of the 1970 Speedmaster Alaska II additionally used the uncommon “220” tachymeter bezel. That is, in truth, a bezel with an error. There ought to be a “200” the place it says “220.” Common Speedmaster 145.022-69 references (from 1970) with this particular defective bezel fetch greater than the right ones. It’s fairly attention-grabbing that Omega used this bezel for one in all its prototype watches.
Though the dial colour is much like that of the primary model, the 2 are fairly totally different. The primary one had a sloped rehaut, utilized hour markers, and no “Speedmaster” marking. In contrast, the Alaska II featured a stepped dial, printed hour markers, and the “Speedmaster Skilled” designation. The fingers remained related, with capsule-style sub-dial/chronograph fingers, a crimson chronograph seconds hand, and black hour and minute fingers. The capsule-shaped fingers, nonetheless, modified from crimson to black, as you may see. Moreover, the sub-dials have been deeply recessed and featured massive, radial numerals. The widespread perception is that there are solely only a few of those Alaska II watches in existence.
Soyuz 25 cosmonauts Vladimir Kovalyonok and Valeri Ruymin on October ninth, 1977 — Picture by way of Moon Watch Universe
Though the Speedmaster Alaska Challenge by no means made it into any of the NASA missions, it noticed motion on the wrists of Soviet cosmonauts from 1977 to 1981. In line with Philip Corneille, who coated it in an article for SpaceFlight journal in 2018, “Soyuz 25 cosmonauts Vladimir Kovalyonok and Valeri Ryumin wore Alaska II Speedmasters with crimson outer circumstances on the left forearms of their Sokol spacesuits.”
Later, in 1978, the Alaska Challenge II was additionally on the wrists of cosmonauts Vladimir Kovalyonok and Aleksandr Ivanchenkov throughout EVA. So, ultimately, Omega’s specifically developed Alaska Challenge made it to area.
The 2008 Speedmaster Alaska Challenge
In 2008, Omega launched its Speedmaster Alaska Challenge ref. 311.32.42.30.04.001. A re-edition of a prototype is attention-grabbing as only some different manufacturers have made them. Afterward, Tudor did one thing related with the Black Bay P01, for instance.
The unique Speedmaster Alaska II case was primarily based on the common Speedmaster ref. 145.022-69. The brand new mannequin has the common Speedmaster case, 145.0022 (case reference, not watch reference!), much like the Speedmaster Skilled ref. 3570.50. What was totally different was the dial, after all, and the case again.
The case again had the “Flight-qualified by NASA for all manned area missions” in addition to “Alaska Challenge Restricted Collection” and every watch’s distinctive quantity engraved. Just one,970 items have been made.
The total set of the 2008 Omega Speedmaster Alaska Challenge
Whereas the unique 1970 Speedmaster Alaska II housed Omega’s caliber 861, the 2008 restricted version options the 1861. Primarily based on the identical Lemania chronograph caliber, this motion was discontinued to be used within the Moonwatch in 2021 and changed by the 3861. Beforehand, Omega modified from caliber 861 to 1861 in 1997. The latter has a rhodium end, whereas the sooner 861 actions had a copper colour. The 861 motion within the 1970 Speedmaster most likely nonetheless has the metal chronograph brake, whereas the 1861 makes use of the Delrin brake. The caliber 861 additionally has 18 jewels as a substitute of 17. Omega made solely small upgrades to the hand-wound Moonwatch actions between 1970 and 2008, however to the untrained eye, solely the ending colours of the actions are totally different.
The 2008 restricted version of the Speedmaster Alaska Challenge has a white dial in addition to black capsule-shaped fingers for the chronograph counters and a crimson chronograph seconds hand. What modified, after all, is using Tremendous-LumiNova as a substitute of tritium, therefore the now-yellowish hour markers on the 1970 mannequin. Relating to the crimson outer case, specs inform us that it’s immune to temperatures from –148 to +260 levels Celsius. It additionally appears a bit totally different from the 1970 Alaska II’s outer case. There may be some textual content on it, specifying that it’s the “Alaska Challenge” watch and an “Outer area excessive temperature instrument.” Additionally, the 60-minute scale will not be highlighted in silver. It’s also totally different on the bottom. Whereas the unique one had a pure aluminum colour there, the 2008 model is all crimson.
The brand new case can also be a bit thicker than the unique crimson anodized aluminum case, and the pushers have a distinct form.
Omega Speedmaster Speedy Tuesday restricted version
The opposite Speedmaster Alaska Challenge watches
As I discussed earlier, “Alaska” was a codename for all NASA-related tasks at Omega. Do you keep in mind the 1978 Alaska III that Omega made for the Area Shuttle missions? It featured radial numerals on the sub-dials and a case again with NASA serial and product numbers. This challenge was for the Speedmaster’s requalification as an EVA look ahead to the Area Shuttle program. In 1978, it handed the checks, and Omega despatched 56 items to NASA to be used in the course of the Area Shuttle program. Omega and Fratello used this watch as inspiration for the primary Speedmaster Speedy Tuesday version from 2017.
1977 Speedmaster LCD — Picture: Shawn
In 1979, Omega created a brand new prototype for NASA, and Alaska IV was born. It was primarily based on the Speedmaster LCD fashions from 1977. Nevertheless, these watches have been modified to have an illuminated chronograph show. Omega despatched a few these digital variations to NASA for testing.
After the Alaska IV watch, these particular tasks didn’t finish, however Omega stopped utilizing the Alaska codename. Within the mid-Nineties, astronauts determined that they wanted a brand new watch with some helpful features throughout area journey. Omega developed the Speedmaster X-33, which was examined by pilots, astronauts, and cosmonauts. Nevertheless, the Speedmaster Skilled stays the one watch certified for extravehicular exercise by NASA.
