Omega Speedmaster 321 Platinum

by Chamath Gamage 6 August, 2019

As part of the 50^th anniversary for the Apollo 11 moon landing, Omega has released a Speedmaster Moonwatch which now houses the iconic 321 calibre movement. A few months ago, Omega unveiled the Apollo 11 50^th anniversary limited edition model to commemorate the release of the first ever Speedmaster Moonwatch 50 years ago. The Speedmaster 321 Platinum is a non-limited version but limited in production, which has a different take on the 50th anniversary.

Omega has kept the dial of the Speedmaster 321 Platinum the same as the iconic layout of the Speedmaster range by only giving the watch a few aesthetic updates. The main visual change in the Speedmaster 321 Platinum is the three meteorite counters which is Omega’s tribute to the Lunar history of the speedmaster model. Omega has used real slices of meteorite on the three counters which makes the dial just as special as the movement used in this watch. The step dial is made from Onyx material which gives the dial a deep black colour and allows the 18k white gold indexes and hands to shine in direct contrast. The 42mm casing of the Omega Speedmaster 321 Platinum is made from a special platinum alloy with gold and comes in a polished and brushed finish.

The movement used in the Omega Speedmaster 321 Platinum is what makes this watch so special. The original calibre 321 was the first movement used in a Speedmaster model back in 1957. The calibre 321 movement was used in various space missions along with the expeditions to the moon made by Apollo 11. The Omega Speedmaster ST 105.003 was the first model that was tested and qualified by NASA to be worn by astronaut Ed White during the first American spacewalk. Along with the Speedmaster ST 105.003, the Speedmaster ST 105.012 (which was the first watch worn on the moon) included the original 321 calibre movement.

When re-designing the calibre 321, Omega got together a dedicated team of professionals that worked tirelessly and in total secrecy over the span of two years to bring the iconic movement back into the modern world. To get the Calibre 321 as accurate as possible to the original movement, the team at Omega did extensive research and made use of original plans for the reconstruction process.

Watchadvice’s thoughts:

Bringing the original 321 calibre movement back into this latest piece by Omega is a great tribute to the first speedmaster model released 50 years ago. With the case back of the Omega Speedmaster 321 Platinum being open, the calibre 321 movement can be seen. The movement is beautifully crafted with a level of detail that will leave the viewer in constant admiration. The words “The first watch worn on the moon” has also been engraved around the case back as a constant reminder of the rich history behind the watch. With the use of meteorite on the three counters of the dial, it gives the wearer the satisfaction of knowing that you really are carrying a piece of history with you whenever the watch is worn.