BY HARLAN CHAPMAN-GREEN
How many different iterations of Omega’s Speedmaster have there ever been, do you think? Does RJ from Fratello know? Does Omega even know? That was a rhetorical question because the answer surely must be that no one knows how many versions of Omega’s Speedmaster there have been. The so-called Speedmaster “Reduced” as we know it was made from 1988 to 2010 and was a downsized version of Omega’s classic chronograph fitted with a self-winding movement, and it’s got quite a following – Jovan had one a while ago and still talks about it. The point is that the smaller ‘Speedy’ left such an impression that Omega took the time to revive it with seven new variants for late 2026.
All seven versions of the 2026 Omega Speedmaster 38mm collection feature cases measuring 38mm x 14.75mm with 100m of water resistance, but there are two different sides to the new range. One side features the sole watch without a date window on the dial, reference 324.30.38.50.01.002. It comes only in steel with a black dial, which is the most classic version of any Speedmaster. The other side of the collection only features light-coloured dials, and they all have a date window.
Reference 324.30.38.50.02.003 has a steel case with a grey dial and an aluminium bezel insert, while reference 324.30.38.50.04.001 (my favourite) has a white dial with blue details, including a blue ceramic bezel. References 324.15.38.50.03.001 and 324.15.38.50.05.001 feature stainless steel cases with either a blue or a mother-of-pearl dial and diamond-set bezels. Reference 324.20.38.50.02.001 comes in two-tone, with a steel and 18k Moonshine gold case with brown accents,, including the aluminium bezel, or there’s reference 324.20.38.50.02.002, which has a stainless steel case with 18k Sedna gold. Every watch features the same five-link style bracelet as the Speedmaster Moonwatch, which is good, as that’s a particularly excellent bracelet.
Inside the Speedmaster 38mm no-date sits the calibre 3332, and in every other watch is the calibre 3330. All movements are obscured by a closed caseback, although I’m not really sure why Omega decided to do that in this day and age. It’s based on a Longines calibre L688.2; if you dig further, you’ll find it started as an ETA A08.L01, and if you dig further still, you’ll find a bronze-age helmet and some coins. It seems odd to cover up these movements, as if Omega were ashamed. These movements are good on paper, with 52 hours of power reserve and 31 jewels, 4Hz beat rates and column-wheel chronographs – those are good specs, and yet we don’t get to see them in action.
Prices start at €6,400 for the Speedmaster 38mm no-date and top out at €12,900 for the mother-of-pearl piece with the diamond bezel. Omega isn’t doing anything radical with these new pieces, but a solid release is a solid release, and I think there’s a market for them. None of them are limited editions, either.
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