Watches That Are Headed Back to the Moon – The Artemis II Story

A watch has always been more than an accessory in space. Long before digital dashboards and onboard computers, it was the wristwatch that served astronauts in silence — timing burns, tracking missions, backing up systems when everything else was at stake.

Among the watches that answered that call, two stood apart. The Omega Speedmaster Professional — the first watch worn on the Moon. And the Omega Speedmaster X-33 — the standard of NASA missions for decades since. Built to endure extreme temperatures, pressure, and vibration, they were not chosen for their prestige. They were chosen because they could not afford to fail.

With the Omega Speedmaster X-33 worn by all four Artemis II crew members, that legacy continues.

Different space-tested watches

Over decades of space exploration, certain models have become part of history.

Omega Speedmaster Professional — First qualified by NASA in 1965. Worn by Buzz Aldrin on the surface of the Moon in 1969. Known simply as the Moonwatch.

Omega Speedmaster X-33 — A digital-analogue hybrid, built for the demands of professional spaceflight. A permanent fixture aboard the International Space Station. Known as the Mars Watch.

Breitling Navitimer Cosmonaute — Worn by Scott Carpenter in 1962. The first Swiss wristwatch to travel to space.

Rolex GMT-Master — Carried as a personal timepiece by astronauts across multiple missions, including Apollo 13.

Each one earned its place not through marketing, but through performance.

A New Lunar Chapter, Five Decades Later

Fifty years after the last Moon mission, watches are once again part of history.

The Artemis II mission marked NASA's return to lunar exploration — sending astronauts around the Moon in preparation for long-term deep space travel. The spacecraft carried the most advanced systems ever developed for human spaceflight. And yet, on the wrist of every crew member: the Omega Speedmaster X-33.

Some traditions endure because they deserve to.

The watch worn on Artemis II

The Omega Speedmaster X-33 is not a tribute to the past. It is a precision instrument engineered for the present.

Designed for professional pilots and astronauts, it combines a digital display with traditional analogue hands — offering multiple timing functions within a single, compact form. Its titanium case keeps it lightweight across the duration of long missions. Its backlight ensures legibility in darkened cabins.

In space, where every second of a mission is accounted for, the Speedmaster  X-33 provides elapsed time, alarms, chronograph modes, and a GMT display — instantly, without navigating a system or waiting for a screen to load.

Reliability, at a glance. Every time.

Why are wristwatches still important in space missions? 

Spacecraft carry computers. Crews have access to advanced systems at every moment of a mission.

And still, they wear watches.

The reason is straightforward. A watch requires no menu, no power-up, no interface. In an emergency, it simply tells the time. That immediacy — that absolute reliability — is something no system can fully replace.

A watch worn in space is not a luxury. It is the last line of precision.

Experience the Legacy

The Artemis II mission is a reminder that true craftsmanship is timeless, whether on Earth or beyond.

At Exclusive Lines India, we carry the Omega Speedmaster collection and a curated selection of the world's most respected timepieces. For collectors and enthusiasts who understand the weight of heritage, we invite you to visit us — and experience what it means to wear a watch with a history or explore our collection of premium watches online.