Famed as perhaps one of watchmaking's most universally well-known watches, the Omega Speedmaster became the first timepiece ever to be worn on the moon following Omega's successful bid for the Speedmaster to become NASA's choice timepiece for their standard astronaut kit. After its successful inclusion in the 1965 Gemini program, the Speedmaster also adorned the wrists of the astronauts during the Apollo moon landing missions, and so, in 1969, following Buzz Aldrin's historic steps on the moon (Neil Armstrong left his watch on the lunar module) it became the Moonwatch that we all know and love. After the successful 1969 touchdown on the lunar surface, Omega launched the ref. 145.022-69 from within the previously created 145.022 collection as a means to commemorate one of the most legendary moments in human history. As part of the 145.022 collection, Omega created several variants across the years that feature small changes from one reference to another such as different dials, bezels, casebacks and other small details. This ref. 145.022-69 example boasts a "Dot Next to 90" bezel, a pre-moon landing caseback that came on the Speedmaster before the 1969 Moon landings were referenced in later variants, and a stunning and equally rare tropical dial that has developed a chocolate color over the years, marking a large departure from the jet-black color that it would have once had.

Watch is in overall excellent condition. The steel case shows surface scratches and small nicks, while the case back displays scratches and retains a largely well-defined engraving. The bezel insert remains very clean, with only a couple of tiny marks. The dial has developed a pleasing tropical brown hue, particularly evident in direct light, while the white hands remain excellent. It is fitted with a brown leather strap and a steel pin buckle.

A rare watch in its own right, this pre-Moon Speedy boasts a stunning chocolate-brown tropical dial that sets it off as a wonderfully special piece of Omega history.