One of the most touching images from the entire Apollo program is that of the Lunar Rover left in its final resting place on the Moon's surface after it had taken the astronauts further from their landing module than had been possible on previous missions.
Forty years after David Scott and Jim Irwin drove on the Moon, (we noted the anniversary just last week) OMEGA has released a limited edition wristwatch to celebrate the adventure.
Each of NASA's six lunar landings was distinguished by its own scientific and technological achievements.
 Red, white and blue: the Apollo 15 Omega watch dial |
The fourth mission to land on the Moon was Apollo 15. It was the first to feature a long duration stay on the lunar surface and there was a greater focus on science than there had been on previous missions. Most notably, it was the first mission where the Lunar Rover was used.
The Apollo 15 mission began on July 26, 1971; the crew landed on the Moon four days later and they wouldn't splash down until the 7th of August. The adventure had lasted more than twelve days.
To commemorate the successful and important mission, OMEGA has created the Speedmaster Moonwatch "Apollo 15" 40th Anniversary Limited Edition.
A classic Moonwatch, it has a polished and brushed stainless steel case and bracelet, a black aluminium ring with a tachymeter scale on the bezel and a domed shatterproof hesalite crystal.
 Fancy a spin? The caseback shows the buggy in action |
Its three subdials are arranged in true Speedmaster Professional fashion on the familiar black dial: the small seconds at 9 o'clock, the 12-hour counter at 6 o'clock and the 30-minute counter at 3 o'clock.
There are also some features which distinguish the Apollo 15 40th Anniversary model from the classic Speedmaster Professional. This Limited Edition timepiece has a minute track in blue, white and red - the three colours of the Apollo 15 patch.
There is a blue ring around the small seconds subdial; there are white and red rings around the 12-hour and 30-minute counters respectively.
The screw-in caseback is embossed with an image of the Lunar Rover and the words "APOLLO 15" and "40th ANNIVERSARY". The outer circle of the caseback is black chrome engraved with "THE FIRST WATCH ON THE MOON", "JULY 30, 1971" and the limited edition number.
At the heart of the Speedmaster Moonwatch "Apollo 15" 40th Anniversary Limited Edition wristwatch is the OMEGA calibre 1861, the same manual-winding chronograph that equips the legendary Speedmaster Professional.
Marking the crucial year, there will be exactly 1,971 examples issued, so it could become a valuable asset if carefully looked-after.
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