Matt Clymo 
We’ve been teased with it now for a week or so, but the new Omega Speedmaster has been released complete with what we all thought, a meteorite dial and dual moonphase.
This year, as we are all probably aware, is a big year for watches. Omega is no exception as it is the 20th Anniversary of the Seamaster Planet Ocean, originally released in 2005, the 30th Anniversary of Omega working with James Bond (Expect to see a new Seamaster Diver celebrating that this year) and of course, it is the 55th Anniversary of the Silver Snoopy Award – the award NASA first gave to Omega in 1970 for its efforts in helping with space exploration. Whilst some people (including me) had some first thoughts that this new drop could be a new Snoopy, it seems that this may have to wait for later in the year. Nonetheless, we have been graced by a new, and good-looking I may add, Speedmaster, which Omega launched to coincide with #Speedytuesday and a full moon. Talk about timing!
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We’ve been graced with not one, but two variations of the new Speedy, one in black, with the typical black bezel and a black PVD meteorite dial and another with a blue bezel and subdials and the main dial done in a galvanic grey coated meteorite dial. Each shares the same sizes and specs but gives people the option of which look resonates better with them.
While this may look like another Speedmaster with a new dial, Omega has developed a new movement for this to show off the new dual moonphase indicator at 6 o’clock. This is handy as you can track the phases of the moon in each hemisphere, depending on where you are in the world, as indicated by the N and the S on the dial. Omega have gone a step further with this, and actually crafted each moon from genuine pieces of Moon meteorite, giving them a hyper-realistic look about them. It’s about as close to the real thing on a moonphase as you can get! Another small detail, which is a little nerdy, but also very cool is the fact that the stars on the moonphase are positioned exactly as they were on the night that Apollo 11 reached the Moon in 1969, but as seen from Omega’s home in Bienne, Switzerland.
On the dial, aside from the black PVD or galvanic grey meteorite, you have a subdial at 3 o’clock that tracks the minutes and hours of the chronograph, up to 12 hours of timing, and at 9 o’clock, a small seconds and date display, which is indicated by the red aluminium hand. You also have 18K white gold hands and hour markers, and a black or blue ceramic bezel with white enamel tachymeter scale completing the look.
Driving this dual moonphase is the new Co-Axial Master Chronometer Calibre 9914. This movement is an evolution to the Calibre 9904, which is found in the existing Speedmaster 44.25mm Moonphase pieces. Omega has altered this Calibre to take into account the dual hemisphere moonphases, but the major difference is the manual winding on the 9914 vs the automatic winding movement in the 9904. So, while I say it’s an evolution, perhaps it’s more of a re-invention of sorts. The watch still beats at 4Hz and has a 60-hour power reserve with anti-magnetic properties to 15,000 gauss, more than enough for modern life. Like all modern Omega’s, this movement is METAS certified. It is highly durable and super accurate – tested in six positions at two different power levels and accurate to 0 to +5 seconds per day.
The Speedmaster Moonphase Meteorite models have been sized a little more proportionately compared to the pre-existing Moonphase pieces. Each measures 43mm in diameter, has a lug-to-lug of 48.6mm and due to the flat sapphire caseback and manual movement, is 13.6mm thick. This is a much more wearable size compared to the 16.9mm thickness of the current moonphase models. These are on Omega’s newer styled steel bracelet with the comfort extension link in the clasp, so these will be more comfortable on those warmer, or cooler days depending on how much your wrist changes size.
Final Thoughts
I’ve said it before, I’m a sucker for a moonphase complication in a watch. Even more so if the moonphase indicator is done more realistically as opposed to just a flat polished disc, and with Omega, they do moonphases very well. This new edition is no exception here either, as the three-dimensional effect using actual moonrock is a home run for me. The combination of this with the meteorite dial works well, and both the black and grey dial variants have their individual charms. However, I may be edging towards the grey dial on first looks.
The fact that these are manual wind will tick a lot of boxes for those Moonwatch enthusiasts who love a manual Speedmaster, but those who are not phased by this may miss the automatic winding found in the Calibre 9904. However, the upside to the manual wind calibre is the size is better, with the watch slimmer in all aspects compared to the Speedmaster Moonphase models and given the smaller lug-to-lug and thickness, should wear extremely well. The price is considerably a little more, however, with a A$28,400 price tag, almost A$10,000 more than the current Moonphase on steel. But, you do get a meteorite dial, a new movement with a dual moonphase and moons made from actual moonrock (which is you’re familiar with sales of actual pieces of rock from the moon, then you’ll understand the price increase), plus a more ergonomic case size. Overall, while I was secretly hoping for a new Snoopy, the new Speedmaster Moonphase Meteorite models from Omega have given collectors yet another Speedmaster to consider, and a good option at that.
References: Grey – 304.30.43.52.06.001 / Black – 304.30.43.52.01.001
Specifications
- Dimensions: 43mm diameter x 48.6mm lug-to-lug x 13.6mm thick
- Case material: Steel case, brushed and polished
- Dial: Grey or blue meteorite dial with dual moonphase indicator, 18k white gold hands and indices
- Bezel: Black or blue ceramic with enamel tachymeter scale
- Crystal: Domed, scratch-resistant sapphire crystal with anti-reflective treatment both sides
- Water resistance: 50 meters/ 5ATM
- Movement: Omega 9914, manual-winding chronograph movement, beating at 4Hz and METAS certified
- Power reserve: 60 hours
- Bracelet: Steel bracelet with brushed and polished links with a pushbutton folding clasp with comfort extension.
