Simply Abu Dhabi Magazine XIX

1 1 0 S I M P LY A B U DH A B I Speedmaster ProfessionalMark II, 1969 In 1969, OMEGA made a major shift in the outward design of the Speedmaster Professional and christened it the Mark II, which was offered in several derivations, including stainless steel with black dial, stainless steel with grey and orange ‘racing’ and ‘yachting’ dials, gold-plated with a gilt dial and a very rare version in 18-carat yellow gold. Though outwardly distinctive, the Mark II was powered by the same calibre 861. The barrel-shaped case was more than simply an aesthetic decision; it was designed for enhanced strength for prolonged spacewalks. Fifth Generation, 1968 A year before Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin wore Speedmasters on the moon, OMEGA made a giant leap of its own and replaced the calibre 321 that until this time had powered every Speedmaster with the new manual- wound calibre 861. Dubbed the 145.022, the new Speedmaster Professional would be the predecessor to all Moonwatch models today. s s