Reinhold Messner used an Omega Speedmaster for navigation on his 1989–90 crossing of Antarctica, according to OMEGA’s own historical chronicle. He did not make the trip alone. He and the German explorer Arved Fuchs crossed together on foot, in about three months. Which Speedmaster Messner used is not established. Neither OMEGA’s chronicle nor Fratello Watches’ 2025 account gives a reference number.
What is actually documented about the watch
Two sources tie the Speedmaster to the expedition. OMEGA’s historical chronicle calls the crossing the first crossing of Antarctica by foot and says Messner used his Speedmaster for navigation. Fratello Watches (June 10, 2025) repeats the association in its detailed expedition account. The OMEGA page shows no publication date, and as a brand chronicle it is evidence of the company’s own account rather than independent verification.
The sources do not give a reference number, a production year, a movement type or a strap. A specific vintage model should not be named as “Messner’s watch” on this evidence. A Speedmaster sold today should not be presented as the same watch either. Any modern Speedmaster is at best a thematic link to the story.
The expedition at a glance
| Item | Figure | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Team | Reinhold Messner and Arved Fuchs | Fratello; OMEGA |
| Dates | November 13, 1989 to February 12, 1990 (92 days) | Fratello (OMEGA says “three months”) |
| Distance traveled | About 2,800 km | Fratello; OMEGA |
| Straight-line distance | 2,580 air kilometers | Fratello |
| Temperature | Down to -40°C | Fratello; OMEGA |
| Wind | Up to 150 km/h (Fratello); exceeding 145 km/h (OMEGA) | As attributed |
The two distances measure different things. The 2,580 km figure is the straight-line distance. The roughly 2,800 km is the ground the pair actually covered, which is longer because of the detours a real route needs. The wind figures differ slightly between publishers, so treat them as “roughly 145–150 km/h” rather than one exact speed.
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- Model 310.30.42.50.01.002
The route, step by step
This itinerary follows Fratello’s account.
- Start, November 13, 1989: The pair began on the Ronne Ice Shelf. Fratello says logistical problems ruled out the planned start at Berkner. They were dropped further inland, at a point later known as the Messner Start. This detail comes from one secondary account and has not been checked against an expedition archive.
- Thiel Mountains: After 23 days they reached a supply depot here.
- South Pole, December 31: They arrived at the Pole on the last day of 1989.
- Onward, January 3, 1990: They set out toward McMurdo Sound across glacier and icefall terrain. Fratello describes two supply depots along the way.
- Finish: They reached Scott Base on the Ross Sea coast after the 92-day crossing.
Why a watch mattered for navigation
Both sources say the Speedmaster was used for navigation. Neither describes how. Without landmarks, timekeeping can help establish position and heading on a featureless ice sheet. That is general background, though, and neither source says Messner used the watch that way. Nothing in the sources records how the watch performed in the cold.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Messner’s own words
Fratello attributes this passage to Messner’s book Antarctica: Both Heaven and Hell: “The sleds behind us and the skis under us, mixed with our breathing and pulses, were the only sounds. Else all was silence. What silence!” The wording is quoted as Fratello gives it. It has not been checked against a particular edition or translation of the book, and no page number is available.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- Rubber
- Rotating bezel, gmt
- Automatic-self-wind movement
- Case diameter: 40mm
- Water resistant to 330 feet
Rank #4
- OMEGA Speedmaster Racing Chronograph 326.30.40.50.01.001
Rank #3
- Model 310.32.42.50.01.001
Rank #2
- Stainless steel case
- Black dial
- Swiss-automatic movement
- Case diameter: 40mm
- Water resistant to 330 feet
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