Omega Speedmaster NASA Alaska III "Prototype", Star Watch Case
Serial: 44818059
Circa: 1978
Reference: 145.022
CASE: 42mm, stainless steel, steel with black bezel tachymeter, satin matte finish, produced by Star Watch Case Co
Caseback engraved with NASA part number: P/N SED12100312-301
DIAL: Black matte dial with Radial configuration and tritium hour markers (no Swiss Made on dial)
MOVEMENT: Calibre 861, hand-wound chronograph, 17 jewels
BRACELET: Nylon strap
CONDITION REPORT: Previously worn, all original and untouched condition. There are some signs of wear throughout, but all the parts are original and the dial tritium has aged nicely to a rich cream color.
NOTES: In late 1978, Omega produced and delivered 56 pieces of the Speedmaster Alaska III for NASA intended for the shuttle missions. This specially designed and NASA issued Speedmaster had several unique attributes. The most visually striking is the specially developed radial dial with a unique configuration for rapid lecture. This dial also stands out with the absence of the 'swiss made' at the bottom of the dial. This was due to the Buy American act in place at the time, which obligated American government agencies (like NASA) to buy American made products within its supply chain. However, the engineer and man in charge of testing and buying these watches, Jim Ragan (James H Ragan), did not want any other watch than the Omega Speedmaster for his astronauts. In order to circumvent these restrictions, the satin/matte finished cases were specially made by US based Star Watch Case Co and then sent to Switzerland for final assembly. Each of the 56 issued watches were in a tight consecutive batch of serial numbers from 44,818,000 to 44,818,055 and had a P/N (part number) P/N SED12100312-301 that was the internal model reference number and each had a S/N (serial number) for inventory and tracing issuing. In addition to these 56 pieces, 4 prototypes were held back at Omega for testing, like the present example. These were never issued and although they had the P/N number, the did not have an individual S/N number. This also means they can be sold without any recourse from the US government reclaiming any flown watch as property of its museums. They were in the same serial batch as the issued watches but higher serials out of the order range. For example, this example is 44,818,059 (presumably the 60th watch produced in the series). The next non-issued prototype to have appeared on the market with the correct configuration and P/N (no S/N) was at Phillips NYC auction in 2017 and had serial 44,818,062. Two years later, in 2019, Sotheby's offered an Alaska III prototype, but it appears that the seller was worried about its ties to NASA and lapidated the P/N off the back, sadly that was totally unnecessary since it was never issued. That example carried serial number 44,818,060 (the next consecutive movement number after ours).
SOLD |