The Next Evolution of Omega’s Moonwatch is Here, and It’s a Triple Threat

Here’s the headline: the latest incarnation of the Moonwatch has arrived with pared-down proportions, a never-before-seen dial configuration, and an all-new calibre.

Everyone – watch enthusiasts and space enthusiasts alike – knows the story of the Omega Speedmaster. In 1969, it solidified its place in horological history and the cultural zeitgeist on the wrist of Buzz Aldrin during the first lunar landing. This gave the model its affectionate nickname, “Moonwatch.”

Since then, the Speedy has become an icon and an exemplary heritage piece. And yet, it has also continued to evolve with the times, taking many forms in the past five decades, from ones celebrating Snoopy to ones in Moonshine Gold.

In 2016, Omega revamped the collection with a contemporary look, including an oversized 44.25mm case and the brand’s Master Chronometer movement. Now, once again, we get a few more upgrades from the inside out – let’s dig into the details.

These Moonwatches offer a slightly slimmer build. Their cases measure 43mm in diameter and only 13.6mm thick, down from 16.9mm in the previous 44.25mm version. However, the case and bracelet are still made of stainless steel, retaining their beautiful weight and sporty look and feel.

Move on to the dial, and things start to get interesting. Here, you have a face in iron meteorite. This isn’t the first time we’ve seen the fittingly cosmic material used on the dial of a Speedy. Back in 2010, Omega released a limited edition iteration of 1975 pieces in honor of the 35th anniversary of the Apollo-Soyuz mission.
 

Now, we get a meteorite dial as part of a permanent collection.

This time, we get two interpretations of the material. First, there’s a monochromatic version with a black PVD-coated meteorite dial, 18-karat white gold hands and hour markers, black sub-dials, and a black ceramic bezel.
 

The second variation has a bit more contrast with a galvanic grey coated meteorite dial on a blue PVD-coated base with a blue ceramic bezel. For this iteration, the 18-karat gold hour markers and hands also get a blue PVD treatment while the sub-dial hands still appear in 18-karat white gold.
 

The magic of the dial doesn’t stop there. For the latest Moonwatch, Omega offers a display that has never been seen on a Speedmaster before. At 6 o’clock, the moonphase indication shows two cabochon Moons crafted from genuine pieces of Moon meteorite. As they turn, they reveal the changing illuminations seen from the northern and southern hemispheres.
 

The brand brings the night sky further to life on this dial with the stars in the background positioned precisely as they were on the night that Apollo 11 reached the Moon in 1969, as seen from Omega’s watchmaking home in Bienne, Switzerland.
 

Still, the pièce de résistance of these Speedmasters is under the hood: the manual winding Co-Axial Master Chronometer Calibre 9914, which has been certified by METAS and features a chronograph function, moonphase indication, and a 60-hour power reserve.