Politician Joe Biden spotted wearing a Omega

When InStyle magazine photographed Joe Biden ahead of his inauguration as the 46th President of the United States, eagle-eyed readers noticed something telling on his wrist: a stainless steel Omega Speedmaster Moonwatch Professional, reference 311.30.42.30.01.005, complete with its signature hesalite crystal — the very detail that separates the purist Moonwatch from its sapphire-equipped siblings.

The Omega Speedmaster Moonwatch Professional ref. 311.30.42.30.01.005 measures 42mm in stainless steel and houses the hand-wound calibre 1861, a movement whose lineage traces directly back to the calibre 321 that rode aboard Apollo 11 in July 1969. Beating at 21,600 vph with a 48-hour power reserve, the 1861 is deliberately low-tech by modern standards — no quick-set date, no rotor — yet it has never failed a NASA qualification test. The black step dial, symmetrical three-register chronograph layout, and hesalite crystal are all faithful to the watch's 1969 aesthetic, making this reference the most historically accurate Speedmaster available today outside of limited vintage reproductions.

Among collectors, the hesalite-crystal Speedmaster occupies a unique position. It is simultaneously the most affordable entry point into the Omega Speedmaster Moonwatch family and the most historically correct. Purists actively seek it over the sapphire-sandwich variant, arguing that the slightly warm, lens-like quality of hesalite replicates the original lunar experience. The reference 311.30.42.30.01.005 has maintained steady desirability on the secondary market precisely because Omega has resisted over-updating it.

Biden's choice of the Omega Speedmaster Moonwatch aligns with a broadly understated approach to personal style. Rather than reaching for a dress watch befitting a head of state, he opted for a tool watch with genuine historical credentials — one worn by astronauts on all six lunar landings and qualified by NASA for extravehicular activity. It is a watch that communicates competence and continuity without ostentation.

At retail, the Omega Speedmaster Moonwatch Professional ref. 311.30.42.30.01.005 carries a list price of approximately $6,300, making it one of the most accessible watches in the Omega Speedmaster Moonwatch lineup. On the grey market it trades close to or at retail, a sign of healthy organic demand rather than speculative flipping — further evidence that this is a watch bought to be worn, not warehoused.