The Moon Watch - Moment in History
The selection of the Omega Speedmaster as the moon watch was the result of a very deliberate testing and selection process. While there was no standard issue watch during the Mercury Project, it was recognized that the Gemini and Apollo programs needed one. The standard issue watch was required so that astronauts could use them while performing tasks such as, space walks, photographic timing exposures, fuel cell purges etc....

The prime requirement for the watch that was to become the moon watch, was for a device to provide short term interval timing capability and backup for the main spacecraft timing device. Initially the watch needed to be manually wound, as self winding mechanism would not function in zero gravity. The watch would also need to be able to function in space where a wide variety of temperatures and pressures are encountered.

During the history of the space programs, NASA has subjected watches to a variety of tests. The Omega Speedmaster, moon watch, was extensively tested in three separate trails, 1962 (1965 re-appraisal), 1972 and in 1978. Each time the Omega Speedmaster has prevailed as the watch of choice. The selecting of the moon watch, selecting a Swiss made watch, for the American space program was to become a political issue. American watch companies naturally wanted the coveted title Moon Watch and applied political pressure to NASA at various stages through out the early years of the space program. It was due to this political pressure that NASA did such extensive testing on the moon watch.