Omega
Speedmaster Vintage Seventies - Vintage C-861

“Some Speedmasters tell the story of mankind’s first footsteps on the Moon. Others were born when the final echoes of Apollo were already fading, while, behind the doors of NASA’s engineering departments, another dream was quietly taking shape: a reusable spacecraft that would transform the future of human spaceflight.”

Omega Speedmaster Professional Moonwatch reference ST 145.022-74, produced circa 1974, asymmetrical 42 mm stainless-steel case with lyre lugs and integrated crown and pusher guards, black tachymeter bezel, matte black dial with three-register chronograph, original tritium hour markers and hands, domed Hesalite crystal, screw-down caseback engraved “Flight-Qualified by NASA for All Manned Space Missions – The First Watch Worn on the Moon”, Omega manufacture calibre 861 hand-wound chronograph movement with cam-operated switching system, operating at 21,600 vibrations per hour, approximately 48-hour power reserve after full winding, 17 jewels, vintage collector’s watch produced in 1974, carefully inspected, authenticated and covered by Mostra’s 3-year warranty. The originality of the bezel, bracelet, caseback and individual components is naturally verified and described for each specific watch offered by Mostra.

When collectors think of the Speedmaster, they almost instinctively think of Apollo 11, the Sea of Tranquillity and the first lunar landing. Yet the history of the Moonwatch did not stop once the last astronauts left the Moon. The Speedmaster ST 145.022 produced in 1974 belongs to one of the most fascinating periods of the programme, a time when humanity was no longer trying to conquer another world but was beginning to learn how to live and work permanently in space.

By 1974, Apollo had already become history. Apollo 17 had returned to Earth two years earlier, bringing the lunar programme to its conclusion. At the same time, however, NASA was entering a completely different chapter. Skylab had demonstrated that astronauts could spend weeks in orbit, Apollo-Soyuz was preparing to symbolise a new era of international cooperation, and the first components of what would become the Space Shuttle were already under construction. The objective was no longer to launch a spacecraft for a single mission, but to create a reusable vehicle capable of flying repeatedly into orbit.

That is precisely why this Speedmaster occupies such a remarkable place in the history of the collection.

• It still belongs to the world of Apollo.
• Yet it already belongs to the future of the Shuttle.

The watch was produced while engineers at Rockwell International and NASA were transforming an ambitious concept into the spacecraft that would eventually become Columbia. Enterprise had not yet flown. Columbia would not leave the launch pad until April 1981. Nevertheless, the Shuttle programme had already begun to reshape NASA’s philosophy. Space exploration was no longer about isolated heroic expeditions. It was becoming a long-term commitment to orbital operations, scientific research and permanent human presence beyond Earth.

The reference ST 145.022 perfectly reflects this transition. It preserves all the visual characteristics that made the Speedmaster famous during the Apollo years: the asymmetrical case, the black dial, the Hesalite crystal, the manually wound chronograph and the unmistakable three-register layout. At the same time, it introduces the movement that would carry the Moonwatch through the following decades of American space exploration.

Its 42 mm stainless-steel case remains one of the finest examples of functional watch design ever produced. The twisted lyre lugs soften the overall profile, while the integrated crown guards provide protection without disturbing the elegance of the silhouette. Even more than fifty years after its introduction, the proportions remain astonishingly modern. Unlike many contemporary sports chronographs, the Speedmaster wears considerably smaller than its dimensions suggest, making it equally comfortable beneath a jacket, a shirt cuff or casual clothing.

The matte black tritium dial has acquired the warm personality collectors appreciate so deeply today. Time gradually transforms the original luminous material into shades ranging from pale ivory to rich cream, giving every surviving example its own individual character. Unlike artificially aged modern dials, this patina cannot be reproduced. It reflects decades of genuine life and makes each vintage Speedmaster unique.

The original Hesalite crystal contributes equally to that personality. Its gently domed profile softens reflections, adds warmth to the dial and recreates the visual experience known by generations of NASA astronauts. More importantly, Hesalite was chosen because it does not shatter into dangerous fragments under impact, a critical requirement for crewed space missions.

Powering the watch is the legendary Omega calibre 861, one of the most important chronograph movements ever produced. Developed by Albert Piguet at Lemania, it replaced the earlier calibre 321 while preserving the Speedmaster’s exceptional reliability. Operating at 21,600 vibrations per hour, fitted with 17 jewels and offering approximately 48 hours of power reserve, it became the movement that carried the Speedmaster into the second great chapter of NASA’s history.

That point is particularly significant.

This watch was produced before the Space Shuttle entered service.

Yet it belongs to the exact mechanical generation that NASA would officially requalify in 1978 for the Shuttle programme.

It therefore occupies a remarkable historical position. It is neither purely an Apollo watch nor yet a Shuttle watch. It is the Speedmaster of transition, linking two of the greatest eras in American space exploration.

The manual-winding experience remains central to the pleasure of ownership. Every morning begins with a few deliberate turns of the crown, restoring energy to the movement exactly as generations of astronauts once did before their missions. It is a simple ritual, yet one that creates a direct relationship between owner and watch, reminding us that true mechanical watchmaking remains a living interaction rather than an automatic process.

Collectors have increasingly recognised the importance of these mid-1970s references. For many years, attention focused almost exclusively on pre-Moon watches or calibre 321 models. Today, the 145.022 has earned its own place as one of the most satisfying vintage Speedmasters to own. It preserves all the historical character of the Moonwatch while benefiting from the maturity, durability and long-term reliability of the calibre 861. It remains historically important without becoming too fragile to wear regularly.

Living with a 1974 Speedmaster is therefore unlike owning many vintage chronographs. It feels remarkably contemporary. Its proportions remain balanced, its chronograph remains genuinely useful and its design has aged with extraordinary dignity. It is a watch equally at home beside a leather jacket, a business suit or a simple T-shirt, explaining why the Moonwatch has remained virtually unchanged for more than half a century.

Why choose this Omega Speedmaster from Mostra?

Acquiring a vintage Omega Speedmaster means far more than finding the correct reference. The lasting value of a collector’s watch depends upon its authenticity, historical consistency, originality and mechanical condition. Two Speedmaster ST 145.022 watches produced in the same year may appear almost identical while differing significantly in their dial, hands, bezel, bracelet, movement, servicing history or overall originality.

This is precisely where Mostra makes the difference.

For more than forty years, Thierry Serna has selected collectible watches according to standards extending far beyond appearance alone. Every watch offered by Mostra is examined in our workshop by Jean-Baptiste Contini, authenticated, tested and carefully prepared before sale. Particular attention is paid to the calibre 861, chronograph operation, timing performance, originality of the tritium dial, condition of the Hesalite crystal, bezel, case, bracelet and the overall historical coherence of the watch.

The objective is not simply to ensure that the watch functions correctly. It is to ensure that its next owner fully understands the quality, originality and historical significance of the specific example being acquired.

This Omega Speedmaster Professional ST 145.022-74 is offered following comprehensive inspection of its authenticity, movement, chronograph functions and overall condition. It is accompanied by a Mostra Certificate of Authenticity, personalised advice and the reassurance of Mostra’s 3-year warranty, an especially valuable commitment for a vintage mechanical chronograph.

Choosing this Speedmaster from Mostra also means establishing a long-term relationship with specialists who understand the history, evolution and technical particularities of the Moonwatch. It means purchasing from a company whose reputation has been built over more than four decades through transparency, technical expertise, carefully selected collector’s watches and the confidence of enthusiasts throughout Europe.

• A Speedmaster such as this is not chosen simply because it was produced in 1974.
• It is chosen because it preserves one of the most extraordinary moments in the history of human spaceflight.
• The moment when mankind slowly stopped conquering the Moon…
• …and began preparing to live among the stars.