The OMEGA Speedmaster Silver Snoopy Award 50th Anniversary is one of the world’s most captivating commemorative timepieces. Having been created to celebrate the prestigious award that OMEGA received from NASA astronauts in 1970, this exceptional watch is an impressive representation of the brand’s contributions to space exploration, including the critical role it played during the Apollo 13 mission. Presented on a blue nylon fabric strap featuring the trajectory of the Apollo 13 mission embossed on the lining, this 42mm OMEGA Speedmaster in stainless steel showcases a stunning silver dial with blue PVD angle shaped hour markers and an embossed silver Snoopy medallion on the blue subdial at 9 o’clock.
The true magic lies in the NAIAD LOCK caseback, where a vision of the far side of the moon has been meticulously decorated using micro structured metallisation on sapphire crystal. When the chronograph function is activated, an animated Snoopy in his Command and Service Module travels on a magical hand, while behind him, an Earth disc rotates once per minute in sync with the watch’s small seconds hand. The watch is powered by the OMEGA Co Axial Master Chronometer Calibre 3861, which ensures exceptional precision and performance even in the presence of strong magnetic fields.
Condition: Immaculate pre-owned condition
Includes: Complete box set
Guarantee: Warranty valid until 2029
Shipping: Free UK delivery
For over half a century, Snoopy has acted as the “watchdog” for NASA’s safety programme. As well as representing total mission success, he can also keep things light in serious situations. Since 1968, the Silver Snoopy Award has been presented to people or companies who have contributed significantly to “the success of human space flight missions.”
In 1970, OMEGA received this prestigious award from the astronauts at NASA in recognition of the brand’s unique contributions to space exploration, including the critical role the Speedmaster played during the Apollo 13 mission. When an oxygen tank exploded on board, the crew was forced to abort their moon landing and return to Earth. With electrical power severely limited, the astronauts relied on their OMEGA Speedmaster chronographs to time the critical 14 second engine burn that would correct their trajectory and ensure a safe return.
This 50th anniversary timepiece celebrates that extraordinary moment in both OMEGA and NASA’s history, with numerous thoughtful details that connect the wearer to the remarkable heritage of space exploration and the special relationship between Snoopy, NASA and OMEGA.
The Silver Snoopy Award represents one of NASA’s highest honours, reserved for those who have made outstanding contributions to mission safety and success in the space programme. Unlike many corporate or governmental recognitions, this award is particularly special because it is personally presented by astronauts themselves to acknowledge exceptional service.
When Charles Schulz began drawing his Peanuts comic strip in 1950, he could hardly have imagined his beagle character would become an emblem of space safety. Yet in 1968, NASA adopted Snoopy as their safety mascot, with the lovable character serving as a “watchdog” over operations. During the dangerous early days of the space programme, the Silver Snoopy Award became a way to recognise those whose work demanded absolute perfection often behind the scenes.
The award itself consists of a sterling silver Snoopy pin approximately 1 inch in size that has actually flown in space aboard a NASA mission. This means each Silver Snoopy Award contains a piece of genuine space history, having orbited the Earth before being presented to recipients. This direct connection to space flight makes it uniquely valuable among corporate recognitions.
For OMEGA, receiving this award in 1970 acknowledged the critical role the Speedmaster played during Apollo 13’s near disaster, when the chronograph was used to time the precise engine burns needed to return the crippled spacecraft safely to Earth. This 50th anniversary timepiece doesn’t merely commemorate an award, it celebrates a moment when precision watchmaking genuinely contributed to saving human lives in one of history’s most dramatic space emergencies.
The animated caseback of the Speedmaster Silver Snoopy Award 50th Anniversary represents one of the most innovative mechanical presentations in modern watchmaking, cleverly disguising sophisticated engineering beneath playful storytelling. The magic begins with the NAIAD LOCK system, which ensures the caseback always maintains perfect orientation regardless of how many times it’s opened and closed. A small but significant detail reflecting OMEGA’s attention to presentation.
The animation itself operates through an ingenious mechanical connection to the chronograph mechanism. When the chronograph is activated by pressing the top pusher, power is transferred through a series of hidden gears to the animated elements. Snoopy, seated in his Command and Service Module, travels across the far side of the moon on a central hand that rotates when the chronograph function is in use. This movement creates the illusion of Snoopy circumnavigating the lunar surface.
Simultaneously, a separately powered mechanism drives the Earth disc, which completes one full rotation per minute in perfect synchronisation with the watch’s small seconds hand. This constant motion creates a mesmerising effect, as our planet appears to spin in real time behind the travelling Snoopy.
What makes this system particularly remarkable is that OMEGA achieved this complex animation without compromising the watch’s primary functions or water resistance. The mechanics are ingeniously isolated from the timekeeping components, ensuring that the playful display doesn’t affect chronometric performance. The sapphire crystal featuring micro structured metallisation to depict the lunar surface completes this extraordinary feature, turning what could have been a simple commemorative engraving into an interactive experience that brings the Apollo mission history vividly to life with each press of the chronograph pusher.
The Calibre 3861 represents a significant evolution of OMEGA’s legendary Moonwatch movement, carefully balancing historical authenticity with modern innovations that enhance both performance and reliability. While maintaining the same basic architecture as the famous Calibre 1861 that powered Speedmasters for decades, the 3861 incorporates several crucial advancements that transform the ownership experience.
Most significantly, the 3861 features OMEGA’s Co Axial escapement, a revolutionary design that reduces sliding friction between components compared to traditional lever escapements. This technical improvement enhances long term accuracy while simultaneously extending the periods between servicing, as the reduced friction minimises wear on critical components. The inclusion of a silicon balance spring provides complete immunity to magnetic fields up to 15,000 gauss, approximately 30 times stronger than what affects traditional watches. This practical advantage eliminates a common cause of timekeeping irregularity in our electronics-filled modern environment.
The movement has also been upgraded to achieve Master Chronometer certification from METAS, the Swiss Federal Institute of Metrology. This demanding certification process subjects the fully assembled watch to eight rigorous tests examining accuracy, magnetic resistance, power reserve, and water resistance under real world conditions. Only movements that demonstrate exceptional performance across all parameters earn this prestigious designation.
What makes the 3861 particularly special is how it achieves these technical advancements while maintaining the soul of the original Moonwatch experience. OMEGA deliberately preserved the 21,600 vibrations per hour frequency, the manual winding operation, and the triple register chronograph layout of its predecessors. The result is a movement that offers authentic connections to the watches worn during the Apollo missions while providing reliability and performance that meet contemporary expectations, a thoughtful evolution rather than a revolutionary departure.
The blue nylon fabric strap of the Speedmaster Silver Snoopy Award 50th Anniversary watch represents far more than a stylistic choice; it serves as a tangible connection to the Apollo 13 mission through several thoughtful details that might escape casual observation. Most significantly, the embossed lining of the strap features the actual trajectory of the Apollo 13 mission, including their famous slingshot around the far side of the moon that NASA engineers calculated to return the crippled spacecraft safely to Earth.
The specific shade of blue used for the strap directly references NASA’s iconic colour scheme, particularly the blue used in mission patches and agency branding during the Apollo era. This colour connection extends to the blue ceramic bezel and subdials, creating a cohesive aesthetic that immediately evokes the space agency’s visual identity.
The material choice itself reflects practical considerations from spaceflight. Nylon fabric became associated with space missions through its use in spacecraft components and astronaut equipment owing to its exceptional durability, temperature resistance, and lightweight properties. By backing this technical material with grained calf leather on the underside, OMEGA created a strap that combines space heritage with everyday comfort.
The pin buckle fastening system, while appearing simple, actually references the straightforward, failsafe mechanisms preferred in aerospace applications where complexity creates potential failure points. This philosophy of reliable simplicity guided NASA engineers and is reflected in this detail.
For those familiar with space history, wearing this strap creates a direct physical connection to what Flight Director Gene Kranz called NASA’s “finest hour” the successful recovery against overwhelming odds of the Apollo 13 crew. The trajectory embossed in the lining traces not just a path through space but a remarkable story of human ingenuity, courage, and precision, the very qualities that earned OMEGA the Silver Snoopy Award being commemorated.
The Speedmaster Silver Snoopy Award 50th Anniversary model masterfully balances unique commemorative elements with several key design features that maintain its authentic connection to the original Moonwatch worn during lunar missions. OMEGA carefully preserved these essential characteristics to ensure this special edition remains a true Speedmaster despite its distinctive presentation.
The fundamental 42mm case diameter and overall profile remain faithful to the fourth generation Speedmaster case design that NASA originally qualified for spaceflight. The distinctive twisted lug shape, created by the combination of brushed and polished surfaces, maintains the unmistakable silhouette that has defined the Speedmaster since the 1960s. This case architecture isn’t merely aesthetic; it was specifically engineered to provide protection for the pushers and crown during the rigours of space missions.
The technical aspects of the chronograph function remain authentic to the original, with the characteristic triple register layout preserving the small seconds at 9 o’clock and 30 minute and 12 hour totalizers. The tachymeter scale, though rendered in white enamel on blue ceramic rather than the original black aluminium, maintains the same calculations and positioning that made the Speedmaster a practical tool for astronauts.
The manual winding operation, a defining characteristic of the original Moonwatch, has been deliberately maintained despite the trend toward automatic movements in modern luxury watches. This operational connection creates the same daily ritual of winding that astronauts would have performed before missions.
Even the domed sapphire crystal, while offering superior scratch resistance compared to the Hesalite crystals of vintage models, maintains a similar profile to preserve the characteristic light play and distortions at extreme angles that Speedmaster enthusiasts appreciate. These thoughtful continuities ensure that despite its special features, the Silver Snoopy Award edition remains firmly anchored in the authentic Moonwatch tradition that earned OMEGA its place in space history.
The exceptional desirability of the Speedmaster Silver Snoopy Award 50th Anniversary model among collectors stems from a perfect convergence of factors that transcend typical limited edition releases. Unlike many commemorative watches that rely primarily on cosmetic changes or simple caseback engravings, this Speedmaster offers genuine horological innovation through its animated caseback, a feature that represents true mechanical creativity rather than mere decoration.
The model brilliantly bridges multiple collecting interests, appealing simultaneously to dedicated OMEGA enthusiasts, space memorabilia collectors, Peanuts aficionados, and those who appreciate mechanical ingenuity. This intersection of different collecting communities has created extraordinary demand across diverse groups rather than within a single collector niche.
While not officially limited in production, the intricate nature of the animated caseback mechanism and the detailed hand finishing required for each piece creates natural scarcity. OMEGA’s production capacity for such complex pieces is inherently constrained, making them difficult to obtain despite their non limited status. This combination of high demand and restricted availability has created a market dynamic where obtaining an example at retail has become extremely challenging.
The timing of this release during a period of increased interest in space themed watches has further amplified its appeal. As significant anniversaries of the Apollo programme have renewed public fascination with space exploration, this model’s direct connection to one of the most dramatic episodes in NASA history provides compelling storytelling that transcends typical watch collecting.
Perhaps most significantly, the Speedmaster Silver Snoopy Award 50th Anniversary achieves something increasingly rare in modern horology genuine originality. The animated caseback delivers a sense of delight and surprise that experienced collectors seldom encounter in an industry often criticised for iterative designs. This genuine innovation, combined with its authentic historical connections and cross collector appeal, has transformed what might have been merely another commemorative edition into one of the most sought after modern Speedmasters ever produced.
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