I didn’t think I’d be waking up this morning to write about a Speedmaster, but here we are. Omega just released a highly anticipated new variant of their iconic Speedmaster, this one implementing a gorgeous glossy white lacquered dial with red accents on the Speedmaster logo and seconds hand. You may know me as a Speedmaster critic, if not just check out my Moonwatch article on Forbes here – but I do have to say this is a very tempting iteration and if I were to add one to the collection this would be it.
Who is This For?
This new white dial release is for those of us who have always admired the original black dial Moonwatch but just found it to be a touch too mundane. The black dial Moonwatch is the original that made it to the moon, and it was specifically chosen to debut with a black dial for reasons of legibility.
What Omega has decided to do here it to release somewhat of an “inverse dial” of the black version in order to retain the important high legibility qualities. I’d say that this new lacquered white dial is going to be even more legible than the original, at least that’s always been the case for essentially any white dial watches that have black applied markers or simple text – as is the case with the stainless steel white dial Rolex Daytona variants. We’ll only really be able to tell for certain once we manage to get hands-on with one of these, which will hopefully be sooner than later.
If you’re like me and you’ve always been intrigued by the Speedmaster Moonwatch but just couldn’t bring yourself to purchase one, this really could be the perfect release for you.
Similarities to the Daytona
As a Rolex collector myself I feel obliged to touch on this point. The Speedmaster Moonwatch has always been a great alternative or pairing to the coveted Rolex Daytona, but it’s also always been significantly different in schematic layout and dial design.
This new white dial Moonwatch is one step closer to looking like a white dial Daytona. It’s now sporting the sought after white dial with the red “Speedmaster” text, in a near identical way to the Daytona that has the red “Daytona” text. Mind you, they still differentiate significantly where it counts, such as the sub-dial placement and aesthetics, the step dial, of course the fonts and the rest of the watch case shape and bracelet.
Although with that said, if you’re the owner of a black dial Daytona this could be the ultimate chronograph pairing as you’d now have two of the coolest chronographs on the market from different top tier watchmakers, and both sporting different dial colors. Here’s a bonus: you probably wouldn’t have to waste your life on a waiting list for it either.
Final Thoughts
This might be one of the best watch releases of the year. Of course watch enthusiast and collectors are always skeptical of new releases at first, with some even saying that this white dial variant is a step away from the original roots of the Moonwatch. This is a watch that’s going to grow on the community in a very positive way as time rolls on.
The only real change to this watch is the dial color and touches of red, the rest of the watch is identical to the black dial variation. It retains the same case sizing, retro domed crystal, bracelet, and very importantly the heritage driven hand-wound calibre Omega 3861 movement.
For more information visit the official Omega website here.
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