Omega Speedmaster Calibre 321 Ed White 39.7mm 311.30.40.30.01.001

Omega Speedmaster Calibre 321 Ed White – Stainless Steel, 39.7mm 311.30.40.30.01.001 2024

The story of the Calibre 321 — the movement that went to the Moon

The original Omega Speedmaster Calibre 321 was a lateral-clutch, column-wheel chronograph movement that powered the Speedmasters that went to the Moon. It was the movement inside the ST 105.003 — the very watch worn by astronaut Ed White during the first American spacewalk in June 1965. Ed White wore his personal Speedmaster on his wrist during a 23-minute extravehicular activity (EVA) on June 3rd, 1965, tethered to the Gemini IV capsule 160 miles above Earth. A few years after it accompanied Ed White on his historic spacewalk, the Calibre 321 movement powered the Speedmaster ST 105.012 when it became the first watch worn on the Moon in 1969.

Omega discontinued the Calibre 321 in 1968, replacing it with the Calibre 861 — simpler to produce, but without the column-wheel lateral clutch architecture of its predecessor. For five decades, the 321 existed only in vintage references, growing in collector significance with every year. To reconstruct the movement, Omega used tomography — scanning technology — to examine the internal components of the Calibre 321 from the Speedmaster worn by astronaut Eugene “Gene” Cernan on Apollo 17, ensuring every dimension was historically accurate.

The reintroduced Calibre 321s are produced in a dedicated department in Biel, assembled and adjusted by hand by a single watchmaker. This is not a movement that comes off a production line — it is hand-finished, hand-assembled, and made in limited quantities by craftspeople who work on nothing else.

The Ed White reference — what distinguishes it from the Moonwatch Professional

The Speedmaster 321 takes its design cues directly from the 3rd-generation Speedmaster, the 105.003 — meaning it eschews the “Professional” twisted lugs and crown guards of the standard Moonwatch. The result is a Speedmaster that reads as a direct ancestor of the modern collection: the same DNA, the same movement lineage, but in the case shape that existed before the Professional became the canonical Speedmaster.

Key differences from the standard Moonwatch Professional (reference 310.30.42.50.01.001):

• Case: 39.7mm straight symmetrical lugs, no crown guards — the 105.003 profile
• Movement: Calibre 321 (hand-wound, column-wheel lateral clutch) vs. Calibre 3861 in the Professional
• Bezel: Black ceramic with Grand Feu enamel tachymeter scale, replicating the original “Dot Over Ninety” (DON) placement
• Display caseback: Sapphire crystal revealing the Sedna gold-plated Calibre 321 — the Professional has a solid caseback
• Bracelet: Vintage flat-link design replicating the original 1039 reference bracelet

The “Dot Over Ninety” (DON) bezel

The bezel replicates the “Dot Over Ninety” configuration of the original 105.003 — the characteristic placement of a dot directly above the “90” position on the tachymeter scale — along with the specific font details including the “È” in TACHYMÈTRE and period-correct letterforms. Collectors searching for the DON bezel specifically are looking for exactly this reference. The ceramic execution preserves the visual detail in a material that will not fade or scratch.

The watch in detail

• Reference: 311.30.40.30.01.001
• Year: 2022
• Nickname: “Ed White” / “Calibre 321”
• Case: 39.7mm × 13.5mm, stainless steel, straight symmetrical lugs, no crown guards — 105.003 profile
• Bezel: Fixed, black ceramic, Grand Feu enamel tachymeter scale, “Dot Over Ninety” (DON) configuration
• Dial: Black step dial, “Dot over Ninety” layout, applied luminous hour markers, vintage Omega logo, simplified “Speedmaster” typography — 105.003 inspired
• Sub-dials: 30-minute counter at 3, small seconds at 9, 12-hour counter at 6
• Crystal: Box-shaped sapphire, anti-reflective treatment
• Caseback: Sapphire display caseback — movement fully visible
• Water resistance: 50m / 5 bar
• Bracelet: Stainless steel flat-link, polished and brushed, replicating original reference 1039, modern folding clasp
• Crown: Period-correct 24-tooth design, Omega Ω logo
• Pushers: Larger pushers replicating the 105.003 specification
• Movement: Calibre 321 — hand-wound, column-wheel, lateral clutch chronograph
• Power reserve: 55 hours
• Frequency: 21,600 vph (3 Hz)
• Jewels: 17
• Movement finish: Sedna gold PVD plating
• Functions: Chronograph, tachymeter, small seconds
• Certification: METAS Master Chronometer certified
• Condition: Mint
• Set: Full — original Omega box, inner box, papers, documentation. However please note there’s one screw missing from one of the spare links.

Condition

Mint. Full set complete and intact with 2022 documentation. However please note there’s one screw missing from one of the spare links.

A note on the movement — hand-wound

The Calibre 321 in the Ed White is manually wound — there is no automatic rotor. The watch requires daily winding by the crown, which given the 55-hour power reserve means the wearer interacts with the movement regularly. This is not a limitation — it is the correct specification for a watch that replicates the manual-wind original, and the hand-winding ritual is part of the ownership experience. Buyers accustomed to automatic movements should be aware of this before purchase.

Buying from Calibre24

Calibre24 is a Perth-based dealer specialising in pre-owned Rolex, Patek Philippe, Audemars Piguet, Vacheron Constantin, and Richard Mille — and selected exceptional OMEGA references. Every piece is authenticated in-house before listing. This Ed White ships fully insured to any address in Australia. Viewings by appointment in Perth. Trade-in and consignment available.

FAQs

Is this Omega Speedmaster Calibre 321 Ed White available in Australia? Yes. This 2022 Omega Speedmaster Calibre 321 “Ed White” reference 311.30.40.30.01.001 is held in Perth by Calibre24 and ships fully insured across Australia, including Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, and Adelaide. Viewings by appointment in Perth.

What is the Omega Speedmaster Calibre 321 “Ed White”? The “Ed White” is the collector nickname for the Omega Speedmaster reference 311.30.40.30.01.001 — the modern reissue of the third-generation Speedmaster 105.003, the watch worn by astronaut Ed White during the first American spacewalk on June 3rd, 1965. It carries the re-manufactured Calibre 321 movement — hand-wound, column-wheel, lateral clutch chronograph — in a 39.7mm straight-lug case without crown guards, replicating the 105.003’s pre-Professional silhouette. The black ceramic “Dot Over Ninety” bezel, vintage flat-link bracelet, and sapphire display caseback revealing the Sedna gold-plated movement complete the specification.

What is the difference between the Omega Speedmaster 321 Ed White and the Speedmaster Professional (Moonwatch)? Both are Speedmasters with hand-wound chronograph movements, but they differ in case shape, movement, and specification. The Ed White (ref. 311.30.40.30.01.001) uses the pre-Professional 39.7mm straight-lug case without crown guards, replicating the 105.003 silhouette from 1963; the Moonwatch Professional (ref. 310.30.42.50.01.001) uses the 42mm twisted “bombe” lug case with crown guards introduced in the 1968 145.012. The Ed White’s Calibre 321 is a column-wheel lateral clutch movement, hand-finished and assembled by a single watchmaker; the Professional’s Calibre 3861 is a co-axial movement produced in larger quantities. The Ed White has a sapphire display caseback; the Professional has a solid caseback. Both are hand-wound.

What is the Calibre 321 and why is it significant? The Calibre 321 is the movement that powered the Speedmasters NASA tested and used during the Mercury, Gemini, and early Apollo programmes — including the watches worn on the Moon. It is a manual-wind, column-wheel, lateral clutch chronograph with a pedigree unmatched in space exploration history. Omega discontinued the 321 in 1968 and replaced it with the simpler Calibre 861. To reintroduce it, Omega used tomography to scan the original movement from Gene Cernan’s Apollo 17 Speedmaster, rebuilding the calibre to historical specifications with minor improvements including a longer power reserve (55 hours vs 44 hours in the original). Each movement is assembled and adjusted by hand by a single watchmaker in a dedicated Omega department in Biel.

What is the “Dot Over Ninety” (DON) bezel on the Speedmaster 321 Ed White? The “Dot Over Ninety” refers to the specific placement of a dot directly above the “90” position on the tachymeter scale — a detail found on the original 105.003 and several other vintage Speedmaster references, and one of the most referenced details in vintage Speedmaster collecting. The Ed White’s black ceramic bezel replicates this placement, along with period-correct typography including the “È” in TACHYMÈTRE. The DON bezel is one of the details that distinguishes the Ed White from the standard Moonwatch Professional.

Is the Omega Speedmaster 321 Ed White an automatic or hand-wound watch? The Calibre 321 is hand-wound — there is no automatic rotor. The watch requires manual winding via the crown, typically daily. With a 55-hour power reserve, it will run for just over two days without winding. This is the correct specification for a watch replicating the original 105.003, which was also hand-wound. The display caseback means the owner can observe the movement without the visual interruption of a rotor.

Does this Omega Speedmaster 321 Ed White come with box and papers? Yes — complete full set with original Omega inner and outer boxes and papers. 2022 documentation.

Can I sell or trade in my Omega or other luxury watch? Yes. Calibre24 buys and takes consignment on Omega, Rolex, and other high-end references. Contact us for a current valuation.