From the moment of splashdown on the 24th of July 1969, the watch world had found an indelible hero: the Omega Speedmaster Professional. Everyone at Omega was abuzz. The Speedmaster Professional had accompanied NASA pilots on countless test flights and near-wins, to say nothing of the banks of gruelling technical tests enforced by Jim Ragan, NASA Project Engineer throughout the 1960s, and had come up with the goods again and again, culminating in the historic landing on the moon's surface.

No wonder that the casebacks of the very next production run declared (as on this very watch): Flight-Qualified by NASA for all Manned Space Missions. This is the origin of the designation "straight writing", to contrast it with later variations where the engraving circled round the edge of the case-back. 

For the collector, this Speedmaster ticks every box: early production (1970–1971), correct original "step" dial (notice the sculptural second layer just within the inner edge of the minute track) with deliciously evocative mocha-coloured tritium markings and correct original "wedge" style chrono-seconds with tritium-inset assegai tip.

In many ways this model, 145.022-69 ST, is the standard by which all other post-moon Speedmasters are measured, because they are all derivatives of this model. One interesting fact we've learned over the years is that the suffix -69 in the model number is definitely not the year of production. Rather, this number is Omega's design revision year, when they began working on a particular new case shape concept.

Other things to look out for from models in this period immediately post-lunar landing are the case made by Huguenin Frères (notice their "HF" signature in the case-back) and the beautiful rose-gold (some call it copper) finish to the Omega calibre 861. The original anti-magnetic dust cap is present, although not shown in these photographs. The movement is from the early series with the fully metal chronograph brake. Later editions used a plastic component here, starting in 1971. 

The bezel is also original and correct, identifiable by the fiducial dot placed beside the number 70, and no grave accent in the word Tachymetre. 

The stainless steel bracelet is a true vintage Speedmaster model, albeit from slightly later, in the 1980s. 

All said, this is a solid, decent early example of one of the world's greatest and certainly most iconic chronographs. A true piece of space history, it embodies Omega’s enduring bond with manned spaceflight and remains one of the most historically important Speedmaster references ever made. Two-year Watch Club warranty.