Omega Speedmaster Apollo 13 Silver Snoopy Award

It was 45 years ago, on April 14, 1970 that three astronauts, namely: Jim Lovell, Jack Swigert and Fred Haise were on their way to the Moon, as members of the Apollo 13 mission. At more than 300,000 km from Earth, one of their two oxygen tanks exploded, leaving them with no choice but to abort their mission and find their way back home through an epic journey of survival, a story of ingenuity and team work.

As a recognition for Omega’s contribution to the entire Apollo programme, the same year, NASA awarded the Swiss watchmaker with the Silver Snoopy award. Consisting of a sterling silver “Silver Snoopy” lapel pin flown during a NASA mission, a commendation letter (stating the mission the Silver Snoopy pin was flown on) and a signed, framed Silver Snoopy certificate, the award is given personally by an astronauts to NASA employees and contractors for outstanding achievements related to human flight safety or mission success.

The Omega Speedmaster Apollo 13 Silver Snoopy Award is limited to 1,970 pieces.

To commemorate the safe return of the Apollo 13 crew, Omega released the limited edition Speedmaster Apollo 13 Silver Snoopy Award, inspired by the black and white comic strips printed in newspapers. The white dial contrasts the black varnished Moonwatch-style hands and the polished black ceramic bezel, which features a Super-LumiNova tachymeter scale. Super-LumiNova is also found on the central hour, minute and chronograph seconds hands.

Distinguishing this limited edition timepiece are the two inscriptions that decorate the dial. Fourteen small squares between zero and 14 seconds on the dial come together to form a long comic strip, with the words “What could you do in 14 seconds?” written underneath. The question is a nod to the 14-second mid-course correction that the Apollo 13 astronauts timed with their on-board back-up timing device: the OMEGA Speedmaster.

At the centre of the dial is the quote: “Failure is not an option.” These inspiring words were spoken by actor Ed Harris who played Apollo 13 Flight Director Gene Kranz in the 1995 film about the historic mission, Apollo 13. A small image of a sleeping Snoopy painted on the dial with Super-LumiNova is positioned in the small seconds sub-dial at 9 o’clock and it appears as if he is dreaming of the token phrase that is often used in association with the mission.

The back of the Speedmaster Apollo 13 Snoopy is decorated with the same figurine as the one on the Silver Snoopy Award lapel pin.

Among the most interesting and intriguing features of the timepiece is its alluring caseback. Protected by a scratch-resistant sapphire crystal is a 925 silver medallion that resembles the pin that accompanied the Silver Snoopy Award that OMEGA received in 1970. The silver Snoopy is mounted on a plate of the same material and is surrounded by dark blue enamel. Silver powder is sprinkled by hand over the enamel of each individual caseback, giving the impression that Snoopy is floating in space. “SILVER SNOOPY AWARD”, “EYES ON THE STARS”, “45TH ANNIVERSARY”, “0000/1970” and “APOLLO XIII” are engraved in the stainless steel caseback in black.

Omega Speedmaster Apollo 13 Silver Snoopy Award

he 42 mm stainless steel timepiece is presented on a black coated nylon fabric strap with white stitching and a foldover clasp. The Speedmaster Apollo 13 Silver Snoopy Award will be produced in an edition limited to 1,970 pieces. At its heart is the OMEGA calibre 1861, the same manual-winding chronograph movement that powered the legendary Moonwatch.

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