In 2019, Omega revealed their latest Gold Speedmaster that took inspiration from the ref. BA145.022 – admittedly my jaw still drops every time I see one in the metal. For 2022, Omega have seen it fit to introduce a couple more gold variations, which looks rather splendid. For many of you who may not be aware the Speedmaster is NASA’s first choice of wrist wear when conducting space shuttle missions. One of the most important space flights was the Apollo XI mission, this was because in July 1969 astronauts Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin stepped onto the Moon for the first time, creating history. Strapped around Buzz Aldrin’s spacesuit as he leapt onto the Moon was an Omega Speedmaster Professional.
Like the remake of the BA145.022 introduced a few years ago, the case, bracelet, dial, hour-markers and hour-minute hands have all been crafted from Omega’s 18-carat gold alloy, dubbed Moonshine gold. This gold alloy is paler in hue than traditional 18-carat yellow gold. Moreover, it is said to offer high resistance to the fading of colour and lustre over time. Furthermore, the bracelet Omega have adorned these new gold Speedmasters with is reminiscent to that of the one originally fitted to the BA145.022.
The two new Gold Speedmasters that Omega have introduced this year sport dials that are rather fitting. One features a gold dial, with black registers, indices, hands, text, and minute track – which offers a nice contrast but also harks back to gold Speedmaster from the 1960s. The other new Speedmaster features a PVD coated deep green dial with gold indices, hands, text, and minute track, which I think is a winning combination.
For both new versions, Omega has included a bezel ring that has been fashioned out of ceramic [ZrO2], with its tachymeter scale in Ceragold. Green for the green dial version and black for the gold dial version. The scale is graduated to 500 units per hour and features a marker dot above 90 (aka DON bezel), which aficionados alike will appreciate.
The movement housed in this new iteration of Speedmaster is perhaps the most significant update, which sees the arrival of the Co-Axial Master Chronometer Calibre 3861. The new movement ensures that the Moonwatch will now be unaffected by even the most extreme magnetic fields reaching 15,000 gauss. In addition, it ensures that the entire watch is certified as a Master Chronometer – the highest standard of precision, performance and magnetic- resistance in the Swiss watch industry. The outer ring of the exhibition case back features the engraving “THE FIRST WATCH WORN ON THE MOON”.
To fix the Speedmaster to the wrist, Omega have chosen to go with the same bracelet with seen on the Apollo XI 50th anniversary piece. An integrated, fully-brushed bracelet offers a five–arched-links-per-row design. Like Moonwatch styles of the past, it includes a new clasp with a polished Omega logo on a satin-finished cover. Additionally, Omega is also offering the option of a black integrated rubber strap with a lunar surface texture on the back and an 18-carat Moonshine Gold deployant for the gold dial version and a green leather strap for the dial green dial version.
These new Speedmaster Moonwatch Moonshine Gold (ref. 310.60.42.50.10.001 – Green) & (ref. 310.62.42.50.99.001) will retail for £31,160 on a bracelet and £22,060 on a strap, and £32,710 on a strap and £23,610 on a rubber bracelet – respectively. For more information on these new Speedmaster Moonwatch Moonshine Gold, visit omegawatches.com.
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