OMEGA | SPEEDMASTER REF 105.012-65 'BUZZ ALDRIN', A STAINLESS STEEL CHRONOGRAPH WRISTWATCH WITH BRACELET, MADE IN 1967

Produced between 1964 and 1968, the reference 105.012 represents a milestone in the Speedmaster’s development, as it brought to the market the chronograph’s case design as we know it today, favoring integrated crown-guards, twisted lugs and shorter, wider pushers. With space exploration in mind, this new case construction further-strengthened the chronograph’s reliability and user-friendliness in extreme conditions. As the 105.003 had already been harshly tested and certified by the NASA, the 105.012 was naturally immediately selected to officially accompany the Astronauts in the Apollo missions. 

Over the course of its production, the reference was progressively launched in the 105.012-63, -64, -65 and 66 executions. The 105.012-65 is identical to the 105.012-64 and is the last Speedmaster to bear a double-beveled caseback.

Edwin Eugene Aldrin, commonly referred to as Buzz Aldrin, is a world-famous American astronaut born on January 20, 1930. Originally trained as a mechanical engineer and a fighter pilot amidst the Korean War, Aldrin was then subsequently selected to be part of the NASA Astronaut Group 3 after obtaining a PhD in Astronautics. The astronaut’s first space mission occurred during the 1966 Gemini 12 mission alongside Jim A. Lovell with the help of backup and support crews. Both astronauts successfully completed the Gemini Program when Buzz Aldrin performed a series of 3 Extra-vehicular Activities (EVA), walking in space for a cumulative 5 hours and 30 minutes. Three years later, Aldrin went to space again, this time with Neil Armstrong during the Apollo XI mission, resulting in both men walking on the Moon on July 21, 1969. Buzz Aldrin was the second man to ever walk on the Moon.  

The present watch is accompanied by an Omega presentation box autographed by Buzz Aldrin.