Omega Speedmaster Instruction: How To Use The Tachymeter Bezel & Chronograph Function

In this video, we will be discussing the classic Omega Speedmaster Moonwatch and how you can use its various functions and features. Click here to shop our full collection of Omega Speedmaster Watches: https://www.bobswatches.com/omega/spe...

To read more about how you can use your Omega Speedmaster watch, read the instructions here: https://www.bobswatches.com/rolex-blo...

For over half a century, the Omega Speedmaster has been the official go-to timepiece for astronauts. To this day, the classic manually-wound Omega Speedmaster remains the only wristwatch to be qualified for both spaceflight and EVA (spacewalks).

The Omega Speedmaster has an instantly recognizable design and its distinct tachymeter bezel, which can be used to measure both speed and distance, is a core element of its overall aesthetic. However, even if you’re the lucky owner of an Omega Speedmaster watch, that doesn’t automatically make you a pro at using it.

There may be elements of the Speedmaster’s design that you may love for their aesthetic value, but you might not fully understand how to take full advantage of them. With that in mind, it might surprise you to learn just how easy the Omega Speedmaster is to operate. First we’ll look at the chronograph functionality of the Omega Speedmaster and then we’ll go into detail about how you use its clever tachymeter scale bezel to measure either distance or speed.

How to you use the chronograph on the Omega Speedmaster
The traditional dial of the classic Speedmaster is black with three sub-dials located at 3, 6, and 9 o’clock. The counter positioned at 3 o’clock provides a 30-minute scale, the 6 o’clock houses a 12-hour counter, and the 9 o’clock dial is a running seconds indicator. The chronograph second hand is the large, thinner hand, centrally mounted to the dial. It can be used in conjunction with the tachymeter scale to calculate either speed or distance.

The classic Omega Speedmaster Moonwatch will time events up to 12 hours. All you need to do is start the chronograph by pressing the pusher located on the side of the case at the 2 o’clock position. Pressing this same pusher once more will stop the stopwatch mechanism. To reset the chronograph, simply press the pusher located at 4 o’clock while the chronograph is stopped. This innovative yet simple design is also used on many other popular chronograph wristwatches such as the Rolex Daytona.

How to use the Tachymeter bezel on the Omega Speedmaster
If you look at the bezel of the Omega Speedmaster, you’ll see that it’s equipped with a scale graduated from 60 to 500 units. Whether you’re measuring in kilometers or miles, this feature will enable you to accurately compute average speed based on a known distance, or allow you to measure the distance based on your average speed.
Rather than relying on an algebraic equation to calculate these values, the centrally-mounted chronograph seconds hand used in conjunction with the Omega Speedmaster’s sleek and easy-to-use tachymeter scale performs these calculations for you.

You’ll need to have an accurate knowledge of the distance you will be traveling before you start measuring your speed - or conversely, you will need to know your average speed in order to calculate distance. You press the top pusher to start the chronograph when you pass the first distance marker, and then press it again to stop the chronograph once you pass the second distance marker. You can then check where the chronograph seconds hand has stopped and read the value that it points to on the bezel’s tachymeter scale to see how fast the object or person was traveling.

While the chronograph dial of the Omega Speedmaster watch and its accompanying tachymeter scale look incredibly impressive, they are intended to serve specific functions and represent the defining elements of this iconic watch collection. Many collectors will never really use these features to their full extent; however, knowing how to use the Omega Speedmaster can be incredibly useful should you ever need to manually calculate either speed or distance.

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