Highlighting the Omega Speedmaster Silver Snoopy Apollo XIII 45th Anniversary Watch
The Apollo 13 mission, which took place in 1970, was the third crewed mission intended to land on the moon. However, an oxygen tank exploded, leading to the famous phrase "Houston, we have a problem." The mission had to be aborted, and the crew, including astronauts Jim Lovell, Jack Swigert, and Fred Haise, faced life-threatening challenges. The astronauts needed to execute a critical engine burn to adjust their trajectory and return to Earth.
However, the spacecraft's onboard computer was not functioning properly, and the astronauts had to rely on manual control for this critical maneuver. This is where their NASA-issued Omega Speedmaster watches came into play. Jim Lovell, the mission commander, used his Omega Speedmaster chronograph to time the precise 14-second engine burn needed to correct the spacecraft's trajectory. If the burn were too short, the spacecraft might not correct its trajectory sufficiently; if it were too long, it could result in an incorrect re-entry angle. Thankfully, the chronograph function of the Speedmaster allowed Lovell to measure the exact duration of the engine burn, ensuring that they could make the necessary adjustments to bring the spacecraft safely back to Earth.
Due to the Speedmaster’s critical role during Apollo 13, NASA awarded Omega the Silver Snoopy Award in 1970. The Silver Snoopy Award, which features the famous Peanuts character Snoopy wearing a spacesuit and helmet, is a special honor given by NASA to individuals and organizations who have made outstanding contributions to the success and safety of human spaceflight missions.
Omega's Speedmaster, already known as the "Moonwatch" for being the first watch worn on the moon during the Apollo 11 mission, further solidified its iconic status in space exploration with the Silver Snoopy Award. In 2015, the Omega Speedmaster Silver Snoopy Apollo XIII 45th Anniversary watch was released in honor of the occasion. The 1,970-piece limited edition series quickly became a must-have collector’s item and is one of three Omega Snoopy watch models made so far. Let’s get a closer look at the highly collectible Omega Speedmaster Silver Snoopy Apollo XIII 45th Anniversary watch.
A Trio of Omega Snoopy References
As mentioned, Omega has actually produced three Snoopy Speedmasters so far as a tribute to receiving the Silver Snoopy Award in 1970. The first was the Speedmaster ref. 3578.51.00, produced in 2003. It included the Snoopy “Eyes on the Stars” patch on the dial and was limited to 5,441 pieces in reference to the length of the mission – 142 hours, 54 minutes, and 41 seconds.
The second, which is the subject of this article, is the Speedmaster ref. 311.32.42.30.04.003, launched in 2015 to commemorate the 45th anniversary of Apollo 13 and the subsequent Silver Snoopy Award given to Omega. It was limited to 1,970 as a nod to the year that the mission took place.
Finally, the third Omega Snoopy is the Speedmaster ref. 310.32.42.50.02.001, released in 2020 (to mark the 50th anniversary) and currently still in production. While this specific reference, which features a white and blue dial complete with a depiction of astronaut Snoopy is not limited, it is often out of stock due to high demand.
Omega Speedmaster Snoopy ref. 311.32.42.30.04.003
Now that we've covered the background story of the Omega Snoopy watch, let's focus on the second iteration, the Speedmaster Snoopy ref. 311.32.42.30.04.003. In true Speedmaster Moonwatch fashion, this Snoopy Apollo XIII 45th Anniversary watch sports a 42mm stainless steel case with a black ceramic bezel engraved with a tachymeter scale. That scale lights up in the dark thanks to Super-LumiNova. The case also includes a sapphire crystal shielding the dial and the watch is water resistant to 50 meters.
The star of the show is undoubtedly the dial, which is rendered in bright white. Like all Speedmaster Professional chronographs, this Snoopy includes a trio of counters (placed at 3, 6, and 9) but there are a handful of details that make this a standout model.
For instance, inside the counter at 9 o'clock is a depiction of Snoopy saying "Failure is not an option," which is a line actor Ed Harris said in the movie Apollo 13 while playing the role of Gene Kranz, NASA Flight Director. Moreover, the first 14 seconds of the dial are marked with squares mimicking the panels of the Peanut comics. They're accompanied by the inscription, "What could you do in 14 seconds?" in reference to the amount of time it took the Apollo 13 astronauts to execute one of their mid-course corrections.
The caseback of the watch includes a 925 silver Snoopy medallion with dark blue enamel, along with the words "Silver Snoopy Award. Eyes on the Stars." Beneath the caseback of the Omega Speedmaster Silver Snoopy Apollo XIII 45th Anniversary watch is Caliber 1861, a hand-wound movement with 48 hours of power reserve.
Completing the look of this limited edition black and white Omega Speedmaster is the coated black nylon fabric strap with white stitching, which is furnished with a steel deployant buckle. Omega limited the production run of the Omega Speedmaster Silver Snoopy Apollo XIII 45th Anniversary watch to only 1,970 pieces, making it an even more appealing collector's watch.
Pre-Owned Omega Speedmaster Watches at Gray & Sons
Gray & Sons is proud to offer a wide selection of pre-owned Omega Speedmaster watches including this limited edition Omega Speedmaster Silver Snoopy Apollo XIII 45th Anniversary watch. If you're looking for a Speedmaster Professional chronograph, browse our selection of pre-owned luxury watches to find the right one for you. On the other hand, if you're looking to sell a used Omega watch, then visit our sister company Sell Us Jewelry for the highest price and best service in the market.
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