For watch enthusiasts, OMEGA‘s Speedmaster has always held a very special position within both their hearts and their collections given its incredible history as the world’s first watch to ever grace the surface of the Moon, but just because its pedigree goes back half a century doesn’t mean it can’t continue to grow and improve, and now OMEGA has done just that for the ultra-iconic Moonwatch, elevating it with Master Chronometer certification for the first time in the model’s history.
While the new generation of the Speedmaster carries design elements inspired by the original ones worn by Apollo 11 astronauts on the Moon back in 1969 such as the asymmetrical case, the step dial and the double bevel caseback, the highlight of the new timepiece is no doubt the movement. Powering the watch now is the Co-Axial Master Chronometer Calibre 3861, resistant to extreme magnetic fields reaching 15,000 gauss. The certification also represents “the highest standard of precision, performance and magnetic-resistance in the Swiss watch industry.”
“When updating a sacred timepiece like the Speedmaster Moonwatch, every detail must be true to its original spirit,” said OMEGA’s president and CEO Raynald Aeschlimann. “This chronograph is recognized the world over, so we’ve approached its design with the most sincere respect while taking its movement to the next level.”
For those interested, the updated Speedmaster Moonwatch will be available shortly at OMEGA in two crystal variations: hesalite and sapphire. The former will retail for CHF 5,800 (approx. $6,613 USD) while the latter will go for CHF 6,300 (approx. $7,184 USD).