What does “Speedy / Moonwatch” mean?

'Speedy' and 'Moonwatch' are the everyday names for the Omega Speedmaster Professional, a manual-wind chronograph that began as the Speedmaster in 1957. NASA qualified it for crewed space missions in 1965, and it was worn on the Moon during the Apollo 11 mission in 1969, which is where the Moonwatch name comes from. Over the decades it moved from caliber 321 to caliber 861 (from 1968), then 1861, and in 2021 to the Co-Axial Master Chronometer caliber 3861.

'Speedy' is also used loosely for the wider Speedmaster family, so dealers specify whether a watch is a Professional Moonwatch and which reference and caliber it has. Collectors pay attention to the crystal: Hesalite (acrylic) versions are the traditional choice, while sapphire versions often have a display case back. For vintage pieces, the originality of the dial, hands, bezel and pushers, and the correct caliber for the reference, are the key checks. Limited and commemorative editions are numerous, so confirm exactly which edition is on offer.

Example: 'Speedmaster Professional, Hesalite, caliber 3861, 2023, full set with warranty card.'