Space Race

Conventional pens will not work in a vacuum. To overcome this, NASA developed a specially pressurised pen that will work in a vacuum, upside-down or in zero gravity.

The Soviets gave their cosmonauts pencils.

After a series of exhaustive tests in which they considered offerings from Breitling and Rolex, NASA picked the Omega Speedmaster for their astronauts. So the Omega Speedmaster is the only watch that has been on the moon. The Speedmaster is a beautifully-engineered Swiss chronograph with an automatic winding mechanism.

The Russians let their cosmonauts use their standard Air Force watches. When Yuri Gagarin became the first man to orbit the Earth, in 1961, he wore a Shturmanskie (Navigator) from the First Moscow Watch Factory.

Nowadays, Speedmasters sell for hundreds or even thousands of pounds. But, you can pick up a Sturmanskie for under £40!

This is my new watch. It is lovely!