A tribute to the 45th anniversary of the legendary Apollo 13 mission and the Silver Snoopy Award that OMEGA received from the astronauts upon their safe return to Earth, this Omega Speedmaster Apollo 13 Snoopy dial watch replica tells a story of the brand’s role in space exploration and highlights NASA’s connection to Snoopy and the rest of the Peanuts gang.
Silver Snoopy Award
If you are a Speedmaster aficionado as well, and you know a thing or two about the Apollo missions, you probably are already familiar with the use of Snoopy by NASA. In 1968, NASA chose the famous beagle as an icon to act as a sort of “watchdog†over its missions. In the same year, NASA decided to use a sterling silver Snoopy pin as a sign of appreciation to NASA employees and contractors together with a commendation letter and a signed framed Snoopy certificate.
In May 1969, the Apollo 10 mission flew to the moon to do the final checks in order for the following mission, Apollo 11, to land on the Moon. The Apollo 10 mission required the LM (lunar module) to check the moon’s surface from nearby and “snoop around†to find a landing site for Apollo 11. Because of this, the Apollo 10 crew (Gene Cernan, John Young and Thomas Stafford) named the LM “Snoopy.â€
Super-LumiNova Snoopy
Reminiscent of the black and white comic strips printed in newspapers, the Omega Speedmaster Apollo 13 Silver Snoopy Award replica features a white dial with black varnished hands. The white dial with its black elements is at once recognisable as the inverse of that of the Speedmaster Professional.
The 42.00 mm polished-brushed case is made with stainless steel. The indexes are made of Super-LumiNova and have black varnished top cavities and a polished black ceramic bezel ring, as opposed to the Moonwatch’s indexes which have Super-LumiNova in the centre. A small Snoopy, created with a special Super-LumiNova paint, decorates the sub-dial at 9 o’clock. The Super-LumiNova tachymeter scale emits a green light.
Enamel Caseback
This Omega Speedmaster Apollo 13 wristwatch replica features a caseback that is unlike any other. A 925 silver Snoopy medallion, mounted on a plate of the same material, is surrounded by alluring dark blue enamel. A silver powder is sprinkled on each individual caseback by hand, giving the impression that Snoopy is floating in space. The silver medallion resembles the pin – the Silver Snoopy Award – that was presented to OMEGA for its contribution to the success of the Apollo missions.
14 Seconds
A small inscription on the dial between zero and fourteen seconds asks: “What could you do in 14 seconds?†– a nod to the amount of time it took the Apollo 13 astronauts to perform one of the smaller mid-course corrections before re-entering Earth’s atmosphere. The frames at each second recall a classic comic strip.
Technical Data
Model: Omega Speedmaster Apollo 13 Silver Snoopy Award
Features: Chronograph, Limited edition (1,970), Small seconds, Tachymeter
Between lugs: 20 mm
Bracelet: coated nylon fabric strap
Case: Steel
Case diameter: 42 mm
Dial color: White
Movement: Calibre 1861
Crystal: Scratch‑resistant sapphire crystal with anti‑reflective treatment on both sides
Water resistance: 5 bar (50 metres / 167 feet)
Conclusion
So now you know. When there is a Snoopy on an Omega Speedmaster dial, it actually means something. In the end, of course, one need not be versed in all this history to purchase and appreciate this watch; one may just be a fan of Snoopy. More information about Omega Speedmasters replica in general can be found on Omega replica store on aaareplicawatch.co.