Gregory Swift, Colonel Buzz Aldrin, Teo Halm, Sergio Harford, & Jean-Claude Monachon

OMEGA and VANITY FAIR marked the 45th anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing with astronaut Buzz Aldrin at a cocktail event on July 16, 2014. The evening benefitted the MAK Center for Art and Architecture and took place at the renowned Sheats-Goldstein House in Los Angeles, California.

July 17th 2014 – read more below the gallery

OMEGA also celebrated the launch of the OMEGA Speedmaster Professional Apollo 11 45th Anniversary Limited Edition wristwatch. Only 1,969 models of this timepiece will be produced; the number of the limited edition timepieces reflects the significant year that the first humans walked on the moon.

A highlight of the celestial-themed evening was the display of an actual moon rock, on special loan from NASA. Telescopes were positioned throughout the property for stargazing and provided a panoramic view of the Los Angeles skyline.

The overall event echoed a theme of modern innovation and classic design and included a 20’ LED video screen showcasing a video montage of archival VANITY FAIR images and historic images from OMEGA and NASA, including pictures of the moon landing. The interactive visual presentation also highlighted six historical OMEGA Speedmaster timepieces from each of those four decades.

Representing the current decade in the interactive display was the OMEGA Speedmaster Professional Apollo 11 45th Anniversary Limited Edition wristwatch. Recalling the colors of the Moon and the Apollo 11 lunar and command modules, the Limited Edition timepiece features a 42 mm completely brushed grey grade 2 titanium case with a touch of gold. The black PVD dial, with its 30-minute and 12-hour recorders and small seconds sub-dial, has been produced using a special laser, which creates the design elements on the watch’s face by removing the material surrounding the name, sub-dial numerals and hour markers.

Furthering the evening’s tribute to innovative design, the event benefitted the MAK Center for Art and Architecture, which is a contemporary, experimental, multi-disciplinary center for art and architecture headquartered in architect Rudolph M. Schindler’s House and Studio in West Hollywood, California. The cocktail event took place at the famed Sheats-Goldstein House designed by American architect John Lautner in the 1960s. The expansive and open space house blurs the lines between the interior and exterior and has been featured in numerous films.

[SpeedyWatches.com note – check out our own pictures of this stunning watch right here]