Omega toasted its links with space exploration by hosting a Cocktails in Space event at the Omega House in Rio, attended by the legendary astronaut and Omega brand ambassador Buzz Aldrin.

With human achievement being witnessed every day at the Rio 2016 Olympics, where Omega is the timekeeper, Cocktails in Space was an opportunity to celebrate the brand’s heritage of space exploration. 

Located on the sands on Ipanema Beach, the house was made to look the part with a giant luminescent moon hanging above the patio. There was also a line-up of white-haired space girls to greet and salute guests as they arrived.

Cocktails were served in space ration hydropacks and made with Tang, the powdered drink that astronauts took to space.

As part of the Apollo 11 lunar landing in 1969, Aldrin famously stepped onto the lunar surface wearing an Omega Speedmaster, making it the first watch ever worn on the moon. 47 years later, he was recounting his memories to guests in Rio de Janeiro. 

“It’s the same thing that drives everyone who wants to appreciate what they stand for. What they can do. What their contribution may be. It may be small. But you want it to be the best that you can do.

We’re all working towards something. And I can put that into other words. We explore, or we expire. You’ve got a choice.”

In 1965, Omega’s Speedmaster was certified by Nasa for all manned missions and has since gone on to iconic status, accompanying astronauts on all six lunar landings. Even today, the Swiss brand’s watches are still a part of Nasa’s kit.

Omega President and CEO Raynald Aeschlimann said: “Even in the watches we create today, the story of space and the moon is still an essential part of our DNA. It’s critical to our brand story. Tonight is a fun way to celebrate that connection and to have such a legendary astronaut here with us makes it all the more special.”