Omega Speedmaster 105.003-65 “Ed White” and the NASA Speedmasters

Collecting · · by Christian Bissener


Omega Speedmaster 105.003-65 with black dial, tachymeter bezel and black strap, front view

Among vintage Omega Speedmasters, the references with NASA history stand apart: the 2998-1 of Walter Schirra, the 105.003-65 of Edward Higgins “Ed” White, the 105.012-65 of Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin, and the 145.012-68 of Michael Collins.

Schirra, 2998-1

In 1962 Walter Schirra flew as the sixth human in space wearing his Speedmaster 2998-1, the first Omega Speedmaster in space. The first human in space was the Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin.

Walter Schirra speaking on a telephone in his space suit, black and white archive photograph
Walter Schirra after his flight, with his personal 2998-1. Photo: NASA

Ed White, 105.003-65

The next step was Ed White, the first American to walk in space, in 1965. On his wrist was the last of the straight-lug Speedmasters, making it the first Speedmaster to take part in a spacewalk. The first human to walk in space was the Soviet cosmonaut Alexei Leonov.

Ed White floating outside his spacecraft, tethered, with Earth below
Ed White during his spacewalk. Photo: James McDivitt

Apollo

Four years later, in 1969, Collins flew as command module pilot of Columbia with his 145.012-68, while Armstrong and Aldrin, wearing the 105.012-65, landed in the lunar module Eagle and took the first moonwalk. It is said that Armstrong left his watch behind in the spacecraft because the on-board clock had stopped working.

Buzz Aldrin standing on the lunar surface in a white space suit
Buzz Aldrin on the moon with his 105.012-65. Photo: Neil Armstrong

Neil Armstrong on the moon beside the Eagle’s landing gear
Neil Armstrong near the Eagle. Photo: Buzz Aldrin

These four references belong in any serious collection of Speedmasters. Beyond the design, it is the connection to NASA, the spacewalk and the moonwalk that makes them so appealing. The 2915-1, with which it all began in 1957, belongs there too, although it has no NASA history.

A 105.003-65 in NOS condition

Watches like this are almost impossible to find in new old stock condition. The 105.003-65 shown here was the first “Ed White” in truly NOS condition that I had seen, at auction or in a private collection. It came from its original owner, who bought it in the 1980s from an Omega dealer together with the original strap, buckle, box and blank guarantee, and never wore it. It was found for a client and joined his collection. The same watch is described on its watch page.

Close view of the black dial with tachymeter scale and Speedmaster signature
Dial, original Plexiglas and bezel in perfect condition

Close view of the dial and sub-dials of the Speedmaster 105.003-65
The dial, close up

Open caseback with the movement beside the original case back and crystal
The untouched movement, caseback and original Plexiglas with the Omega mark at its centre

Speedmaster held in a hand on its original black strap
With its original strap