It may surprise you to learn that the Omega Speedmaster was originally created for motorsports. But when Buzz Aldrin stepped onto the moon’s surface for the first time in 1969, wearing the Speedmaster Moonwatch, it put the Swiss manufacturer on the map for becoming a master in a whole new realm of watchmaking. Since then, Omega has gone from strength to strength, creating Speedmaster watches that are beloved the world over for their reliability, their durability, and their affordability. Here's a simple guide to the different styles of the popular Omega Speedmaster collection.
The Omega Speedmaster Professional Moonwatch
Vintage Omega Speedmaster ref. 145.012-67 / Credit: Shane Lin
Depending on taste and budget, there are several Omega Professional Moonwatches to choose from including automatic models, quartz models, and limited editions. These designs cement the company’s long-standing relationship both with the aerospace and motorsport industry, so if you’re a lover of their vintage designs you’ll be pleased to know that accurate historic recreations of the original Moonwatch are still available today. The 42 mm stainless steel automatic model with a Hesalite crystal lens, luminous hands and indexes, and a black tachymeter scale is as close as possible to the original Omega Speedmaster Professional Moonwatch created over 50 years ago.
The Omega Speedmaster Reduced
Omega Speedmaster Reduced ref. 3510.50 / Credit: Wrist Watch Review
Mike Richmond’s Omega Speedmaster Reduced ref. 3510.50 / Credit: Wrist Watch Review
As its namesake suggests, the Omega Speedmaster Reduced is better suited to slender wrists, so if you don’t want your arm to become swamped with a hefty looking Professional Moonwatch, the more manageable 39 mm case width of the Omega Speedmaster Reduced model will ensure you can enjoy all the features of the Speedmaster, without getting lost under a big chunk of steel. Oh, and you’ll like this bit - it’s also more affordable since the model is now only available in the pre-owned market. You’ll note that the sub-counters of the Speedmaster’s chronograph are displayed closer to the edge of the dial in an Omega Speedmaster Reduced.
The Omega Speedmaster Co-Axial Chronograph
Omega Cal. 321 movement / Credit: Shane Lin
Watches with Omega’s Co-Axial escapement benefit from greater mechanical efficiency, ensuring a more stable and consistent precision. It operates by a system of three pallets that separates the locking function from the impulse. Since being incorporated into the first Omega watch in 1999, many other watch companies have adopted a similar concept. The Omega Speedmaster Co-Axial Chronograph boasts a confident 44 mm case width, so it’s ideal for those in search of a bold, attention-grabbing timepiece. Here’s where it looks a little different from the archetypal Speedmaster watch, its dial layout foregoes the three-counter layout that has become such a recognisable characteristic of the Omega Speedmaster. The 9 o’clock counter combines both the chronograph minutes and hours in one, with a double-handed format. The 6 o’clock counter is replaced by a date aperture instead. Suffice to say the Omega Speedmaster Co-Axial Chronograph is for you, if you like the larger of Omega’s offerings, combined with a more modern dial layout and the company’s finest in mechanical movement manufacture.
The Omega Speedmaster MKII
Omega Speedmaster Mark II ‘Racing’ 1969 Telestop ref. 145.0037, Cal. 861 / Credit: Døgen
Last on the list is the Omega Speedmaster MKII which adds a whole new twist to the Speedmaster mix. Its barrel-shaped case design comprises a tachymeter scale and a flat crystal lens. The original size of the Speedmaster MKII grew from 41.75 mm to 42.4 mm during the 1970s. The watch will still communicate subtle characteristics of the iconic Speedmaster look, albeit with zesty coloured highlights, a tachymetric scale that sits underneath the flat crystal lens, and the added benefit of the updated Co-Axial escapement movement. Again, depending on taste, several Speedmaster MKII models take inspiration from vintage watches of the past, but also designs that answer to the desires of the modern watch lover.
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