Omega Speedmaster Moonwatch Professional Co-Axial Master Chronometer white dial sapphire crystal leather strap 42 mm

A Speedmaster eagerly awaited by collectors

Already recognized as one of the most iconic chronographs on the planet, the OMEGA Speedmaster Moonwatch is launched in its all-new edition, this time with a lacquered white dial inspired by space exploration and the collection's celebrated heritage.

This captivating model has been eagerly awaited by Speemaster Moonwatch fans since November 2023, when the very first edition was spotted on the wrist of OMEGA brand ambassador Daniel Craig at the Planet OMEGA exhibition in New York. Today, the design is finally officially revealed and available for sale.

The Speedmaster "White"

The most distinctive feature of this new Speedmaster is its "rare" white dial. Indeed, when the original model was created in 1957, one of the designers' main objectives was to make a watch with the easiest-to-read time and timing display and with the greatest possible legibility. Hence the white hands and hour markers on a black dial. On this new version, the opposite color gives the same result. Not only has OMEGA produced this new dial in white with black details and new applied indexes, but the designers have also added the Speedmaster name in red and given the entire surface a high-gloss lacquer finish, and this is indeed the very first time this technique has been used on the Moonwatch's stepped dial.

Why white? The primary inspiration for this new "Albino" look is the white and black color of astronauts' spacesuits, particularly those used during extravehicular activity (EVA), such as spacewalks. A genuine link after all, since the Speedmaster Moonwatch has been officially worn by NASA astronauts since 1965 and is known as the first watch worn on the Moon. What's more, since Apollo 13 in 1970, red lines have appeared on the suits to indicate the commander's rank.

But there's also another special reason for choosing white. In 1969, OMEGA created the ALASKA I prototype as part of a secret NASA project to design the perfect space watch. After months of experimentation, OMEGA chose a white dial as it offered a particularly effective thermal reflection coefficient. The red Speedmaster name on the new model is also a nod to the protective red case that surrounded the original ALASKA I watch.

Finally, there have been a few special, commemorative, regional or limited editions with white dials in the past, but nothing permanent. These models, highly sought-after by collectors, are few and far between... We can cite, for example, the 2015 Speedmaster Moonwatch Apollo 13 Silver Snoopy Award, but also the Speedmaster 40th Anniversary "Albino" made for the Italian market in 1997 produced in 500 examples. According to Omega specialist R.J. Broer, this was "the last Speedmaster Professional with a white dial, no "panda", no cartoon character, moon phase display or special reference" produced by Omega. So it's great news to finally have a white model in the current collection!

The design

Beyond the white dial, OMEGA has even more to reveal when it comes to the design of this watch. This timepiece retains the new 42mm-diameter steel case in steel. It is mounted on a micro-perforated black leather strap with white and red stitching and a folding clasp.

For Moonwatch fans, the black anodized aluminum bezel of this "White Speedmaster" has retained the famous "Point over Ninety" on the tachymeter scale!

The OMEGA Co-Axial Master Chronometer calibre 3861

Through its sapphire caseback, we find the Co-Axial Master Chronometer 3861 caliber. This movement is nothing new, as it has already equipped all new versions of the Moonwatch since 2021. It's the most recent version of the legendary caliber 321 trusted by astronauts on the moon, and this movement is partly based on caliber 1861, albeit with no less than 50% new components.

It features a Co-Axial escapement, which reduces friction and increases its precision, which averages between 0 and +5 seconds per day. Officially certified by METAS, this caliber is capable of withstanding magnetic fields in excess of 15,000 gauss and has a 50-hour power reserve. As for decoration, the Omega 3861 caliber of this Speedmaster Moonwatch is rhodium-plated and its bridges are decorated with Côtes de Genève.