Uhrinstinkt Magazine
On July 20, 1969, Neil Armstrong became world famous during the first moon landing and with him a timepiece from Switzerland. On board was the so-called Speedy because of its outstanding materials and technology. Omega follows up on this with the Speedmaster ceramic watches, which are galactically beautiful.
The dark side as a ray of hope – Omega “Dark Side of the Moon”
In the early 1960s, the U.S. president decided: We’ll conquer the most popular celestial body after sunset. NASA immediately started working on the project, looking for equipment that could meet the challenges of space. Omega’s Speedmaster won the race among wristwatches. A few years passed before the final mission, during which the Swiss timepiece was privately on board and, after official approval as a space wristwatch, was vigorously optimized.
The astronauts also had to approach their big goal in small steps. In December 1968, they flew around the moon for the first time and saw its far side. Omega dedicates the Speedmaster “Dark Side of the Moon” to this revolutionary expedition. In keeping with the event, its ceramic case is presented in black, joined by the strap. The dial design, which emphasizes impeccable readability, refers to the glorious history.
Dark Side of the Moon Sedna-Black
The conquest of the universe is not so much what the manufacture has in mind for the watch family, the first model of which debuted in 2014. Rather, Omega’s aim with the ceramic watches is to honor the courage of the Apollo 8 team and carry its pioneering spirit into the future. In addition, the Sedna Black version of the Speedmaster “Dark Side of the Moon” captures the mystical aspects of night and seemingly endless space. The Speedy model stays true to the black case of ceramic watches, but delights with its vintage aura. It is due to the matte gray dial and hands in the Sedna tone.
Bright white tribute to the moon and progress
In the summer of 1969, the spectacular Apollo 11 mission succeeded when the trio of astronauts landed on the moon and even disembarked. The images of the crew in their white spacesuits, who dared to take their first steps on another star, resemble a symbol of civilization. Up close and personal was the professional timepiece from Omega, which has since become known as the Professional Moonwatch.
The “White Side of the Moon” ceramic watches brilliantly stage the milestone in human history that has lost none of its radiance to this day. The strap made of leather is just as pure white as the bezel, case and dial made of ceramic. The nuance is joined by the hands made of 18-karat white gold and the tachymeter scale, which characterizes matte chrome nitride. This is an enormously hard special coating, which is valued for its excellent protection against abrasion, corrosion and wear.
First ceramic watch as Moonwatch
The first moon watch was made of state-of-the-art materials, but ceramics did not yet play a role. It still seems authentic that Omega brings the anti-magnetic material into play in the Speedmaster “Dark Side of the Moon” series. It scores with its advantageous combination of lightness and robustness. This also applies to fluctuating temperatures, high pressure, and impacting rays.
Today, high-performance ceramics are often used in aerospace applications. The industrial material would probably also have characterized the legendary Moonwatch, but was not yet an issue in 1969. For about ten years now, the Swiss manufacture has been successfully using ceramic components in watch production. The technical advantages are exploited to the full, as are the aesthetic benefits of the material, which allows plenty of freedom in terms of color design. The “White Side of the Moon” ceramic watches are successful examples of this.
Shadowy sides with a happy ending – thanks to outstanding watchmaking technology
Everything went smoothly with the world-famous NASA moon expedition. In 1970, however, the crew came within a hair’s breadth of a catastrophe. After an explosion, the return had to be improvised as quickly as possible – without on-board electronics. Space fans may be reminded of this tightrope walk in the universe by the “Grey Side of the Moon,” which had a smooth ending. The Speedmaster (at that time still without ceramics) was in the spotlight: the engines had to be ignited with split-second precision in order to catch the right flight path and land safely. This was achieved with the precise clock, which suddenly became vital in the middle of space.
The event stokes curiosity about what movement characterizes the “Grey Side of the Moon” and its relatives today. The ceramic watches contain the caliber 9300 with Co-Axial escapement. It reduces friction and thus ensures precision over a long period of time. The excellence of the self-winding movement is also reflected in the free silicon balance spring and the two barrels, which are installed one after the other. The power reserve of the chronograph is 60 hours. The watchmaker’s art deserves some attention, which the transparent caseback gives to the inner workings.
Space watch with a piece of meteorite: Omega Speedmaster Moonwatch Co-Axial Chronograph 44,25mm
Speedmaster ceramic watches are about significant moments in space history. The design is allowed to be a bit more spectacular. If you share the opinion, the Moonwatch Co-Axial Chronograph with 44.25mm case and meteorite is a precision landing.
In this “Grey Side of the Moon” version, extraterrestrial rock actually shapes the dial. The rare material is elaborately processed to create a unique pattern. This makes each copy of the gray ceramic luxury watches unique. The fascinating aura is completed by accents of 18-karat gold. They adorn the hands and bezel in a shade that does not look glamorous, but inspires with retro charm.
Fascinating as the full moon: Speedmaster Moonwatch Moonphase Ceramic
Representatives of the Speedy were on board all six lunar missions. The history inspired the watchmaker to create a masterpiece that romantics can hardly resist. The dark blue color of the Omega Speedmaster Moonwatch Moonphase Chronograph with a diameter of 44.25mm is reminiscent of a starry sky at night. It characterizes the bezel ring as well as the case and strap.
Wonderfully, the white gold indices and hands stand out against the dark background. The same goes for the integrated moon phase display. It ensures that you never miss an opportunity to admire the full moon. The luxury watch with ceramic case has earned as much attention as its source of inspiration. Absolutely appropriate, therefore, seems the stately 44.25-mm case that all Omega Speedmasters from the “Dark Side of the Moon” collection boast. It ensures that the moon watch does not go unnoticed on the wrist.
