Ever since 2012, an online community of #SpeedyTuesday fans has been steadily growing around the world.
This was a uniquely created hashtag on social media that had gone viral and started movement. It was not born of a catchy-sounding alliteration, much like #ThrowbackThursday or #FollowFriday.
In tribute to these enthusiastic Speedmaster (or "Speedy" in short), OMEGA has introduced on a Tuesday, no less, a new Limited Edition model that captures some of the iconic timepiece's most popular design features.
The design is inspired by OMEGA’s Speedmaster "Alaska Project III" model, created for NASA in 1978. At the time, NASA insisted that the watch had to be both anti-reflective and easy-to-read, so that it could be used for space travel. As such, a brushed matte-finish stainless steel case and large radial numerals on the sundials, bring back a vintage touch to the watch.
A "Reverse Panda" dial, first used by OMEGA in 1966, makes a reappearance, with the white opaline-silvery subdials set against a black dial, encircled with a bezel ring and tachymeter scale in matte black aluminium.
A vintage OMEGA logo and all markings and radial subdials have also been coated with bright luminescent ink.
Other classic Speedmaster touches include a domed hesalite crystal with a central OMEGA logo, as well as a vintage-cut brown leather strap with vintage buckle and stitching.
Inside the calibre 1861, the movement used in the famous Speedmaster Moonwatch, is retained.
The screw-in caseback is stamped with the Speedmaster's iconic Seahorse medallion, encircled by the words SPEEDY TUESDAY ANNIVERSARY - A TRIBUTE TO ALASKA PROJECT III as well as the Limited Edition number. Around the outer sloped edge are the letters spelling out RADIAL.
A special leather watch roll containing a spare NATO strap with #SpeedyTuesday engraved on the strap's loop, as well as a strap-changing tool, come with every purchase.
This is the first time in OMEGA's history that a watch is sold online, and the effort certainly raises the bar for all other watch brands that have placed significant attention to their social media presences, but never tested it to the limit as OMEGA has.
Reserve your OMEGA SpeedyTuesday here
