Celebrity Style

Save E-mail Print Most Popular RSS Reprints

Omega 'Speedmaster' ads to feature JFK

May 01, 2009

Similar Stories | Topics
An ad from Omega's new worldwide campaign featuring President John F. Kennedy.

New York--Swiss watch brand Omega is basing a worldwide campaign for its "Speedmaster" watches around a photograph of President John F. Kennedy, the chief in office when the nation took its first manned space flights.

Omega has quite a connection with that time in history: Prior to astronaut Gordon Cooper's launch into space on May 15, 1963, during which time he wore the Omega Speedmaster, the timepiece had already become the only watch approved by NASA for use on all of its manned flights.

Cooper was one of seven astronauts in the Mercury space program, and a second astronaut, Wally Shirra, also wore the Speedmaster during his spaceflight.

President Kennedy was instrumental in promoting America's lunar landing program. On May 25, 1961, Kennedy voiced a challenge to Congress, saying "I believe that this nation should commit itself to achieving the goal, before this decade is out, of landing a man on the moon and returning him back safely to the earth."

About a year later, he echoed his thoughts in a speech at Rice University, where he spoke the words: "We choose to go to the moon."

Those words are featured in Omega's new campaign, printed along with Omega's iconic timepiece against the backdrop of an image of Kennedy giving a speech at a podium.

Though Kennedy was not alive when it happened, a little more than eight years later, Apollo 11 would land on the moon, with Neil Armstrong stepping onto the lunar service while wearing an Omega Speedmaster.

The use of Kennedy's image was arranged in cooperation with the John F. Kennedy Library Foundation, which administers the rights to the late president's name and image.
Save E-mail Print Most Popular RSS Reprints
Post a Comment
* Required field
* Author:
* Comment:
 

More Celebrity Style Watches

More Celebrity Style Watches

More Like This

Antiquorum to offer Kennedy-Onassis, Gandhi watches
February 09, 2009 | National Jeweler Network
Gandhi watch ignites interest at Antiquorum sale
March 09, 2009 | National Jeweler Network
Robbins Diamonds' treasure hunt gets Philly on the run
April 24, 2009 | National Jeweler Network
TOPICS
Cultural History | Culture and Lifestyle | History | History of Science | History of Space Exploration | Manned Space Flight | Science and Technology | Space Technology | Technology

Design Portfolio

advertisement

Video

Small multi video player located on right rail of NJN site

advertisement

Sponsored by:

Retailer Toolbar

America's Best Jewelers
Join the ONLY Social Network for Jewelry Retailers. Get access to expert content, peer best practices, and more.
Start networking today.
Newsletters
Newsletters
Topic-specific newsletters that deliver the latest news on jewelry, diamonds, wholesale operations and high-volume buying directly to your in-box.
Reader Connect
ReaderConnect
Supplier information presented with every article, bringing you related, actionable content on every topic.
Jewelry Yellow Pages
Yellow Pages
A comprehensive listing of associations, organizations, suppliers and services for the jewelry industry.
Classifieds
Classifieds
A comprehensive listing of job postings, product offerings and other materials for sale for the jewelry industry.
NJN Customer Connect
CustomerConnect
The most sophisticated suite of marketing services available for jewelry retailers, from Internet tools to data marketing.

advertisement