A new Omega Speedmaster Moonwatch! The latest version of the first watch worn on the moon features a white lacquered dial and black hands for the first time. A red Speedmaster lettering provides a striking contrast and is inspired by the rare Speedmaster Alaska Project. A first version was spotted on the wrist of Omega brand ambassador Daniel Craig at the Planet Omega exhibition last year. The excitement for the new model, which 007 had long known about, grew accordingly. It is now available and comes on a stainless steel bracelet as well as a new leather and rubber strap.
The Case Remains True to The Family
The Omega Speedmaster Moonwatch has the same 42 mm stainless steel case as the classic Speedy. Accordingly, it has an asymmetrical shape that serves to protect the crown and pushers. The sides showcase a brushed finish, whilst a polished strap stretches to the lugs, which then drop sharply. The width of the lugs is 20 mm. Lug-to-lug, the watch measures 47.5 mm with a height of 13.2 mm. A box sapphire crystal protects the dial. There is no option with hesalite. The bezel with tachymeter scale is still of aluminium and the dot-over-ninety is also in the right place, true to the historical original. The case back is see-through and allows a view of the movement. The water resistance is 50 metres.
The New White Dial
The classic Speedmaster has a black dial with white hands to ensure optimum legibility. The new white dial Moonwatch inverts this colour scheme while retaining the high-contrast display. Unlike the black dial and for the first time on a Moonwatch, Omega has given this dial a glossy lacquer finish. According to the manufacturer from Biel, this is a tribute to the spacesuits worn by astronauts. For connoisseurs, however, the dial is also reminiscent of the Speedmaster Alaska Project from 1969, a prototype that was to become the perfect space watch. The red accents on the dial, which are a reference to the red protective case that surrounded the original ALASKA I, also speak in favour of this.
Both the Speedmaster lettering and the tip of the central chronograph hand stand out in this colour, providing a contrast to the ice-cold white of the dial. The applied hour indices on this Speedmaster are, like the hands, black. However, each of them has a recess for luminous material to ensure a certain degree of legibility in the dark. The main hands meanwhile are more generously lumed.
The small seconds and the two counters are recessed in the step dial, which this Omega Speedmaster Moonwatch takes over from its sister models. However, the hands are also black here, while the inscription is printed. Also previously unseen is the black applied Omega logo, which appears polished on the sapphire sandwich versions.
Familiar mechanics
Inside is the Calibre 3861, which also powers the other models in the Speedmaster Moonwatch collection. Remarkably, Omega has not yet integrated the Spirate system here, which made its debut last year with the Speedmaster Super Racing and promises a rate of 0/+2 seconds per day. However, the Calibre 3861 offers impressive performance in its own right. This is corroborated by the METAS certification, which makes the watch a Master Chronometer and attests to its precision, anti-magnetic properties and longevity. The deviation is accordingly between 0/+5 seconds per day.
The power reserve of the Omega Speedmaster Moonwatch is 50 hours. With this generation, hacking-seconds also made it to the collection. As usual, the chronograph uses cam actuation and a horizontal clutch. The free-sprung balance integrates a silicon hairspring and beats at a frequency of 3 Hertz, which is typical for a Co-Axial. The industrial mechanics are streamlined but aesthetically pleasing with a large balance wheel, Côtes de Genève and bevelled edges.
Price, Strap & Availability
The Omega Speedmaster Moonwatch Professional in steel with a white dial (Ref. 310.30.42.50.04.001) comes on three different strap options. Firstly, of course, with the collection’s stainless steel bracelet with five links per row. The bracelet tapers towards the folding clasp, which also offers on-the-fly adjustment. Two other versions are also available, including one on a black perforated leather strap with red and white stitching, and another on an antibacterial rubber strap with a moon surface pattern in positive relief on the underside. The price for the watch with stainless steel bracelet is 8,900 euros.
Louis Vuitton's very own Metiers d'Art is introducing three new 'Cabinet of Wonders' pieces, all of which are Escale models. The very special watches are limited editions of a mere twenty pieces each. The romantic trio of Escale watches, which appear to take inspiration from Japan, are titled Koï's Garden, Snake's Jungle, and Dragon's Cloud.…
Nestled away amongst deep red hearts, gold thorns and shiny green leaves, Louis Vuitton reveals its latest innovative timepiece for women: the amorous Tambour Fiery Heart Automata. With its sparkling diamond-set crown and spinning tourbillon, the automaton timepiece certainly shows Louis Vuitton's La Fabrique du Temps artisanal and watchmaking abilities at their absolute finest. An…
At this year's Watches & Wonders 2020, A. Lange & Söhne presents a limited edition of the Zeitwerk Minute Repeater. Ever since 2015, this model has been the only watch to combine a mechanical jumping numerals display with a decimal minute repeater. Furthermore, only 30 pieces of the new model are available. It now comes…
In keeping with the season, OMEGA is presenting three new variants of the Globemaster Annual Calendar in subdued colours. The first watch has a trendy green dial. The second has a burgundy dial and a bezel in OMEGA's Sedna Gold. Lastly, the Manufacture presents a variant with a Sedna Gold case paired with a dial…
When it comes to timepieces, craftsmanship and art are aligned. When it comes to MB&F, these two have masterfully merged. As the world's first watchmaking concept laboratory, the brand has made a name for itself with its artistic timepieces, so-called "Horological Machines". Ten years ago, MB&F started a collection inspired by automobiles, and it was…
Tudor‘s new model shows off a part of the brand’s history, that has only been firmly known until now. The Black Bay P01 (Ref. 70150), which was introduced for the first time on the watch fair Baselworld 2019, is inspired by a prototype from the late 1960’s and has been proposed the US Navy. The Swiss watch…
The latest addition to the Omega Seamaster Aqua Terra family features a ceramic bezel, an integrated matt-black rubber strap and a turquoise dial. Two case sizes are available. The Story of the Aqua Terra With the Aqua Terra line, part of the Seamaster collection first launched in 1948, Omega has been paying tribute to its…
Geneva-based manufacturer Patek Philippe is presenting three intricate chronographs, each with a further complication. The house is showing the 5204R-011, a split-seconds chronograph with a perpetual calendar. In addition, the 5905/1A-001, a sporty chronograph with a stainless steel case. In this article, however, we present the Patek Philippe 5930P-001. This offers a flyback chronograph together…
Among the highlights of Chopard's releases at Watches & Wonders 2024 are two particularly attractive, vibrant models: a new Alpine Eagle Chrono and the L.U.C Forest Green. Both showcase handsome dial colours as well as equally high quality movements that one would indeed expect from the luxury maison. The Chopard Alpine Eagle Chrono The case…
Rolex is extending its 'Yacht-Master' range with a new 42 mm model in 18 ct white gold, the Oyster Perpetual Yacht-Master 42 (Ref. M226659). 'Yacht-Master' sailing watches are recognizable thanks to their distinctive bidirectional rotatable bezel with a raised 60-minute graduation. They offer legibility in all circumstances, and especially in the dark, thanks to its Chromalight display.…
Porsche Design has unveiled the Chronograph 911 Turbo 50 Years, a limited-edition timepiece that honors the legendary 911 Turbo. This chronograph, limited to 1,974 units, embodies the performance and design ethos of the iconic sports car. Exclusively available to the owners of the Porsche 911 Turbo 50 Years special model, the watch is a testament…
Jaeger-LeCoultre’s minute repeater collection is enriched with a model in a new design. The new interpretation of the Master Grande Tradition Grande Complication incorporates two of the most technically challenging complications in horology – a minute repeater and a celestial vault. The complex mechanism is further elevated by an orbital flying tourbillon. Jaeger-LeCoultre offers one…
Vacheron Constantin has introduced the Overseas Perpetual Calendar Ultra-Thin Skeleton watch. The model manages to integrate a perpetual calendar into a slim case measuring 41.5 mm x 8.1 mm. The completely skeletonised dial reveals the movement. However, the watch is available in 18-carat 5N rose gold only. The sapphire crystal protecting the Overseas perpetual calendar…