Description
A watch born from one of watchmaking’s most secretive programmes — the Omega Speedmaster Alaska Project (ref. 311.32.42.30.04.001) is unlike anything else in the Speedmaster catalogue. Limited to just 1,970 pieces in 2008, it brings to life the covert Alaska Project prototypes that Omega developed for NASA from 1969 onwards: a Speedmaster engineered to survive deep space temperatures from -148°C to +260°C. The name “Alaska” was chosen deliberately to mislead competing brands and conceal the project’s true purpose.
The prototypes that emerged featured a white matte dial, rocket-shaped sub-dial hands, and a red anodised aluminium thermal shield. They never flew to the moon — NASA deemed the standard Speedmaster sufficient — but they did reach space, worn by Soviet cosmonauts during Soyuz missions in 1977 and 1978. When one of the original prototypes surfaced at the Omegamania auction in 2007 and sold for CHF 64,900, Omega responded the following year with this 1,970-piece re-edition.
The dial is immediately striking. Against a clean matte white background, the subdials carry rocket-shaped capsule hands — a faithful reference to the Alaska II prototype — while red appears only on the central chronograph seconds hand. The 42mm stainless steel case retains the classic Speedmaster architecture, with a fixed tachymeter bezel and domed hesalite crystal. The screwed caseback is engraved with “Alaska Project Limited Series,” “Flight-qualified by NASA for all manned space missions,” and the unique edition number 1555/1970.
This example is new old stock, never worn and still stickered, complete with the red thermal shield, 2 velcro straps, stainless steel bracelet and full original packaging. Over the past five years this reference has one of the strongest performances across the entire Speedmaster family. Full sets in this condition are increasingly difficult to find.
What we love:
- New old stock — never worn, original stickers intact
- Complete collector’s set: red thermal shield, 2 velcro straps, bracelet and full packaging
- Unique number 1555/1970 with deeply compelling provenance
- One of the most storied and rapidly appreciating references in the Speedmaster catalogue
What you should know:
- Full Set (original box and papers)
