Five Non-Classic Omega Speedmasters Worthy Of Any Collection
The Omega Speedmaster Moonwatch is truly one of the few iconic watch designs from the 20th century. Indeed, it may be one of the most recognizable designs in all of horology. Some of us, however, are fans from afar. We appreciate the Omega Speedmaster, but our eyes go elsewhere. For those enthusiasts after something with that Omega Speedmaster magic but a little extra spice, here are five suggestions that take the design brief in totally different directions.
Before I begin, it is worth noting that I won’t be spending much time going into the specifications of these watches. This article is not a review story. Rather, it is to spark a discussion about your favorite Speedmaster design that sits outside the classic Moonwatch look we all know and appreciate. Therefore, consider it an ode to interesting design and aesthetics. For more detailed specifications and background, I’ll provide links to in-depth Fratello features.
The Omega Speedmaster Pilot Flight Qualified
This is the watch that, frankly, inspired this article. The Speedmaster Pilot Flight Qualified ref. 332.10.41.51.01.002 is a relatively new release from Omega. It offers a marvelous and fiendishly attractive mix of color and function.
We have the playfulness of 1970s watch design mixed with modern sensibilities and a 40mm case with a straight-lug design. Well, to be specific, the watch has a 40.85mm diameter, a 49.6mm lug-to-lug, and a 14.65mm thickness. In addition to that, we have the wonders of modern manufacturing: the hour markers are actually solid luminescent blocks. The glow is a sight to behold, for sure.
The Pilot Flight Qualified is the Speedmaster I would buy today
Inside beats the Omega caliber 9900. It’s an automatic chronograph with manual winding and hacking, a 28,800vph frequency, and a generous 60-hour power reserve. Inside are 54 jewels, a column wheel, and a Co-Axial escapement. It’s a METAS-certified Master Chronometer (antimagnetic to 15,000 gauss, accurate to 0/+5 seconds per day) decorated with arabesque Geneva stripes.
The full list of specifications and details of the watch can be found in RJ’s article here. Long story short, this is the Omega Speedmaster I would buy if I were to get one today. It has a lot of funk and a huge amount of function. Best of all? With its 100m water resistance rating, you can bet I would quickly put this watch to the test in the Pacific Ocean.
The Omega Speedmaster Automatic”Mk40″
One of my close friends, Jack, is a fellow watch enthusiast. I know for a fact that this has been a dream watch for him for many years. Handling one in the metal the other week, I started to understand why. This day-date Speedmaster, widely known as the Mk40, came out around 1996 and was available with different dials.
While there are multiple versions of the Mk40, the one pictured above (ref. 3820.53.26) is an intriguing option for those of you after a neo-vintage watch full of quirky design decisions and a great use of color. The Omega Speedmaster Mk40 has the advantage of being an automatic chronograph rather than a manual-winding one, and it offers a nice 39mm case size. This is smaller than the traditional 42mm Speedmaster Moonwatch.
The Mk40 became associated with the Formula 1 racer Michael Schumacher because of Omega’s advertising in that period. I can say that regardless of one’s passion for F1, the watch stands on its own as a fascinating horological option that differs greatly from the Moonwatch. Have at it, fellow neo-vintage fans.
Image: Analog:Shift
The Omega Speedmaster Reduced with a yellow dial
This watch is from around the same time as the Mk40 above. We could call it neo-vintage, then. What we get is a different take utilizing a 39mm case. It’s hard to understate the joys of owning a yellow-dialed watch. And this perhaps shows my ignorance, but until recently, I didn’t realize that Omega has produced this version in yellow!
Image: Analog:Shift
The Speedmaster ref 3510.12.00 has a bit more of the DNA of the Omega Speedmaster Moonwatch than the Mk40. We see the use of contrasting colors, including the yellow dial and the red of the chronograph hands. This not only makes for a wonderfully playful watch, but it also seems reasonably easy to read. The fact that the hour and minute hands have black borders helps in the pursuit of legibility as well.
The Omega Speedmaster Professional Alaska Project
This is my other favorite on this list. In fact, it is my dream Omega Speedmaster. It’s also a watch that I don’t ever see myself owning because the prices on the secondary market have gone beyond what I can afford. Nevertheless, this example from Omega is most alluring.
The Omega Speedmaster Professional Alaska Project ref. 311.32.42.30.04.001 is a favorite of mine simply because I find the aesthetics of the watch so wonderful. I never get sick of looking at the dial and the way it so elegantly does its job. The use of contrast in this design is so engaging. There is also a very cool backstory to this particular watch, and I encourage you to go read it.
The Omega Speedmaster Professional “Tintin”
I could not, in good conscience, write this feature without mentioning the Speedmaster Professional “Tintin” ref. 311.30.42.30.01.004. The design around the corner of the dial is a reference by Omega to the rocket ship we see in the Tintin comics Destination Moon and Explorers On The Moon. For those of you who don’t know who Tintin is, he’s an intrepid reporter and investigator who finds himself on globetrotting adventures (and, in this case, a space adventure) with his reliable dog Snowy and alcoholic sidekick Captain Haddock.
The watch itself provides just enough complexity with its differing style of dial to merit being on this list from a purely aesthetic perspective. To be honest, though, the main reason it is here is because I love the Tintin comics, which are a key reason I fell into journalism in the first place.
Concluding thoughts
Another watch that could have been featured on this list was the Omega Speedmaster ’57, a modern ode to the original Speedmaster that started it all. This design originated in 1957 (hence the name) and features a straight-lug case and a Broad Arrow handset. It is a very 1950s design that looks as handsome now as it did nearly 70 years ago.
What do you think, Fratelli? What else should be on this list? Let me know in the comments. I look forward to reading your suggestions!
