In 2018, Omega launched the Speedmaster Darkish Facet of the Moon Apollo 8 for the fiftieth anniversary of the mission the place astronauts noticed the opposite aspect of the Moon for the primary time. Now it’s 2024, and that watch will get an replace, kicking off what we anticipate to be an awesome yr for Speedy lovers.
The Apollo 8 crew (Anders, Lovell, and Borman) — Picture: NASA
In December 1968, NASA astronauts Frank Borman, Jim Lovell, and William Anders have been the primary people to journey to house with the Saturn V rocket. Commemorating this mission, the Speedmaster Darkish Facet of the Moon Apollo 8 received an awesome reception in 2018 and shortly grew to become a much-loved Speedmaster version outdoors the Moonwatch sequence.
The brand new Apollo 8
Now Omega is introducing a brand new model of the Speedmaster Apollo 8. It not solely contains a new caliber (3869) and Grasp Chronometer certification, however additionally, you will discover the design components of the watch to have a a lot finer degree of detailing. Plus, it pays tribute to the primary manned house flight utilizing the Saturn V rocket in a neat manner that the earlier model didn’t.
The brand new Omega 3869 motion
This new Speedmaster Darkish Facet of the Moon Apollo 8 ref. 310.92.44.50.01.001 makes use of the brand new caliber 3869. It’s primarily based on the caliber 3861 however contains a illustration of the lunar floor made by way of laser ablation. On the entrance, you will note the a part of the Moon that you simply see from Earth at nighttime. The bottom, nevertheless, reveals the “darkish aspect” of the Moon that astronauts noticed for the primary time in 1968.
Extra element and a Saturn V rocket
What you’ll discover is that the brand new lunar floor on the motion reveals extra particulars than its predecessor. It’s because laser ablation has turn out to be extra superior and now makes use of the next decision. Additionally, sure particulars, just like the craters, have turn out to be darker as a result of laser ablation on the brass materials earlier than the varnishing course of. If we keep on the dial for a second, we additionally see that the house beneath the 9 o’clock sub-dial is deeper than its predecessor. It offers the brand new small seconds hand extra presence.
The sub-seconds hand is now a miniature model of the Saturn V rocket. This hand is made from Grade 5 titanium and formed right into a rocket by way of laser know-how. After it will get its form, it receives an software of white varnish. Then, utilizing “coloration laser marking,” the rocket will get its black surfaces. Utilizing a loupe, you’ll discover that the rocket even reveals “USA” in black. This patent-pending Saturn V hand represents a scale of 1:19,000 — that’s simply neat in itself!
The screws are much less seen
Except for the brand new sub-seconds hand, the minute hand and yellow (varnish) chronograph seconds hand modified; they’re now domed. Additionally, you will see that the laser-ablated base plate appears totally different because the motion has modified as effectively. The seen screws are in much less outstanding locations. The aluminum skeletonized dial remained the identical, aside from the hour markers. These at the moment are beveled with two sides. The Omega and Speedmaster logos are additionally carried out in white and yellow lacquer.
The brand new Apollo 8 (high) and the earlier model
A brand new case model for the brand new Darkish Facet of the Moon Apollo 8
Zooming out, we see that the 44.25mm ceramic case has a brand new form as effectively. Similar to the present 42mm Speedmaster Skilled fashions, this new Apollo 8 version makes use of a form primarily based on the fourth era of Speedmasters (105.012). This case is available in at 12.97mm thick and measures 50mm from lug to lug.
The bezel is made from a separate block of ceramic, and it now has the tachymeter scale in white (Grand Feu) enamel, whereas, up to now, it was carried out in Tremendous-LumiNova. The identical applies to the Omega emblem within the crown, which is now additionally white enamel as an alternative of Tremendous-LumiNova.
A quote by Apollo 8 Command Module Pilot Jim Lovell
Turning the watch round, we see the darkish aspect of the Moon’s floor on the motion. Whereas you wanted to flip the earlier model vertically to see the lunar floor from the right perspective, with the brand new caliber 3869-based model, you flip it horizontally. Similar to its predecessor, the black ceramic case again has the identical quote by Apollo 8 Command Module Pilot Jim Lovell: “We’ll see you on the opposite aspect.” Now, nevertheless, it’s black on black, with simply sufficient distinction to make it readable.
The 3869 motion gives an extended energy reserve than the earlier 1869 and options an Omega Co-Axial escapement. The complete watch has been examined and authorized as a Grasp Chronometer by METAS. This implies it’s going to run between 0 and +5 seconds per day on common. One other element that I like is the optimistic diamond engraving of the Omega title and caliber quantity.
The brand new DSOTM Apollo 8 on the wrist
The brand new Omega Speedmaster Darkish Facet of the Moon Apollo 8 may be very wearable on my 18cm wrist. With a 50mm lug-to-lug, it’s not that a lot larger than the traditional Moonwatch. Whereas the 44.25mm diameter is, after all, bigger, that’s good to have as now there’s additionally lots of motion to indicate on the dial aspect. However the Saturn V rocket hand at 9 o’clock steals the present, after all, and it’s very clearly seen when sporting the watch.
A brand new rubber strap and folding buckle
The perforated black strap with a yellow inside is now absolutely made from rubber. The skin and lining are separate elements, and it feels tremendous snug. As a substitute of an ardillon buckle, the Darkish Facet of the Moon Apollo 8 now makes use of a folding clasp made from ceramized titanium with a ceramic closing mechanism. The strap tapers from 21mm between the lugs to 18mm on the clasp.
Coming in at 99 grams
This new Speedmaster Apollo 8 weighs roughly 99 grams, and regardless of the bigger case diameter, together with the rubber strap, it’s a very snug watch on the wrist. I can think about that somebody might even use this watch as a “day by day driver.”
Sporting each variations. The brand new Apollo 8 is on the left wrist, and its predecessor is on the precise.
At 5 bar, the watch’s water resistance may be very typical of the Speedmaster. Nevertheless, now that the (whole) watch is licensed by METAS, it’s also assured to be water-resistant. You may swim with this watch however not dive with it. METAS examined it to 50 meters + 10%, identical to the present customary Moonwatch fashions.
The worth of the watch is CHF 13,500 / €15,800 / US$14,300, and it’s accessible now. For extra data, go to the official Omega web site, and don’t overlook to tell us what you consider this launch within the feedback!
