60 years of the Speedmaster

Amazingly, 2017 marks the anniversary of the Omega Speedmaster. This iconic timepiece designed exclusively for motor racing earned its reputation as an aviator's timepiece through the NASA testing process.

Released back in 1957, the almost identical Speedmaster is still available with heslite crystal and the hand-wound Calibre 1861 movement. Now promoted by Hollywood superstar George Clooney, the Speedmaster in its many forms is the epitome of style and is cool again.

Omega is becoming increasingly difficult to purchase, in order to maintain their exclusiveness, they strongly control their retail chain with Omega outlets in selected markets and branded retailers in thinner markets. What I have found is retailers offering Omega watches are tightly controlled with distributorships lost when price discounting occurs.

As an MBA student, I find this market manipulation interesting, whilst price fixing is unlawful in the majority of worldwide markets, it occurs almost unabated. Yet, whist standing in an Omega boutique plenty of people walked through the door asking about the moonwatch, the Speedmaster Professional is still in big demand 60 years on.