First Watch In Space? Tag Heuer Vs. Omega *ding Ding*

[docblackrock]

'Recent discovery'??? John Glenn??? It's as if they're trying to score points off Omega rubbishing their claims of NASA-approved and the Apollo missions heritage link that Omega hold dear.

What next, an official release from Rolex stating (what we all know to be true anyway ) that all the Apollo boys wore their own GMT Masters rather than the 'official' Speedy they were given?

[KB]

Ah but TAG may indeed be the first watch in space, Omega's claim is the first watch on the Moon.

Ken

[chrgod]

Note that they say the first ever SWISS timepiece in space..

The first watch in space is generally considered to be the Poljot Shturmanskie, on Yuri Gagarins wrist in 1961. These can be obtained from eBay for 30-40 USD..

However, this theme is always causing debate. Cool info from TAG Heuer, guess they will use this in advertising.

[docblackrock]

Note that they say the first ever SWISS timepiece in space..

The first watch in space is generally considered to be the Poljot Shturmanskie, on Yuri Gagarins wrist in 1961. These can be obtained from eBay for 30-40 USD..

However, this theme is always causing debate. Cool info from TAG Heuer, guess they will use this in advertising.

I noticed that SWISS too, thanks for pic, I remember reading about the Poljot I think when they came out with a modern commemorative version (what's LV in the Cyrillic alphabet? ??? )

As usual, just another back-slapping exercise by the marketing boys

[swdivad]

It was Heuer, not a TAG Heuer

time...changes...things

[Guest avitt]

The first watch in space is generally considered to be the Poljot Shturmanskie, on Yuri Gagarins wrist in 1961.

This makes me proud to be wearing a Poljot today!

[speedy1]

Actually all the American astronauts wore two watches into space. Each set to mission time and then greenwich time for the 2nd watch.

They were each issued 2 Speedmasters.

Many wore other watches along side their speedmasters, these included a GMT and a Bulova Astronaut.

EVERY astronaut wore a speedmaster.

Some just backed it up with something else.

The omega is considered the first watch in "OUTER" space. It is splitting hairs but it was the first watch to actually break earths gravity and therfore the first to be in SPACE and not just in the outer atmospheric well.

It just boils down to how each manufacturer will define the history to benefit them. All the facts can be looked at in different angles.

Edited November 2, 2006 by speedy1

[gran]

Yes! The soviets were first and BULOVA was probably the first captitalist watch in orbit

However and this might be true:

The First watch worn in to (= outside capsule = on an EVA) space...Edward H. White II's NASA Issued Speedmaster (ST105.003)

[gran]

Rodina was the first wrist watch in space

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Wristwatches in Space - A Time Line

1961 April 12: Yuri Gagarin becomes the first man in space and the first to orbit, while wearing a Soviet State-Mandated Sturmanskije watch. Sources differ about the watch... The "Time in Space" IWW magazine article reports that Gagarin wore a Sturmanskije chronograph, while this Poljot site , and the RusGoods site claims that he didn't. While the case for the non-chrono is compelling, I note what the IWW article states as I don't know for sure which one he actually wore. Howard Webb who hails from the UK recently contacted me with additional insights on the topic and he states that Mr. Gagarin wore a Rodina time only watch. Howard has also picked up an example of the same model as Gagarin's which is pictured at right. Other Soviet Cosmonauts have been quoted as wearing Sekonda Chronographs.

While the Russian-made watches were reliable and accurate enough, Russian cosmonauts reportedly later coveted the Omega Speedmaster worn by their American rivals

[chrgod]

Nice history lesson!

[ArtM3]

nice thread...good info

I still love my Speedy Moony

[Guest Carl]

Note that they say the first ever SWISS timepiece in space..

The first watch in space is generally considered to be the Poljot Shturmanskie, on Yuri Gagarins wrist in 1961.

Yes, it generally accepted that Yuri was wearing a POLJOT.

[RageRover]

The First watch worn in to (= outside capsule = on an EVA) space...Edward H. White II's NASA Issued Speedmaster (ST105.003)

The only first for Omega is first (and supposidly only) watch worn on the moon.

The first watch worn on an EVA was a Poljot/Sekonda "Strela" Chronograph. Soviet cosmonaut Alexey Leonov was the first human to step into the vacuum of open space, he did so wearing a Sekonda marked Poljot chronograph (March 18 1965 first space walk wore white Sekonda).

As far as what was the very first watch worn in space, there has been a lot of argument about that. Supposidly the Rodina that belonged to Gagarin WAS NOT used in space. It was presented to him after his trip.

The first watch worn in space is the Shturmansky (NON Chronograph).

[V]

Excellent thread

Thanks ....