Famed as the watch that was first worn on the moon during the Apollo moon landings, the Omega Speedmaster has long been known as one of watchmaking's most iconic timepieces. However, while its claim to fame is legendary, it was not originally conceived as a watch for space. Instead, it was a watch designed for race car drivers, hence its name. Launched in 2004 as a Japan-only edition of 2004 pieces, the ref. 3570.40 that we have here is a racing dial variant of the Speedmaster that swaps the Moonwatch's typically refined monochromatic dial for a dial with a little more personality. Based on the 1968 racing dial Speedmaster, the ref. 3570.40 features a manual-winding movement, orange chronograph hands, and a red dial periphery with red five-minute markers that embody the colorful spirit of the 1960s that improve legibility. Linked to the Speedmaster's lesser-known heritage, the ref. 3570.40 is a wonderfully unique watch that will certainly be a fantastic addition to a Speedy fan's collection.

Watch is in excellent overall condition. Case exhibits sharp and crisp edges and minimal surface wear or marks. Enameling in caseback is fully intact and numbers are fully legible. The dial is in near mint condition with little to no wear. The hesalite crystal has scratches as shown in the images. Bracelet has 14 links with 4 removable, as well as 4 extra links on the side. There is minimal stretch.

A wonderfully unusual watch that was only released in Japan, this is a wonderful opportunity to grab a highly desirable and rare variant of the Speedmaster that plays on the timepiece's original design inspiration and use case, car racing. Many examples typically seen on the market are dial swaps or conversions, and it is quite unusual to be able to find an original one as born with box and papers in this condition.