BY JOVAN KRSTEVSKI
Omega’s Speedmaster is a legend in the watchmaking world and the connection between Omega and space exploration is deeply ingrained in the brand’s DNA. The Dark Side of the Moon collection takes that legend to new heights. The latest addition to the collection, the Speedmaster Dark Side of the Moon Apollo 8, is a 55th anniversary tribute to the historic Apollo 8 mission that first took humans around the moon in 1968.
The original Dark Side of the Moon Apollo 8, released in 2018, was a bold departure from the classic Moonwatch. Its 44.25mm black ceramic case and skeletonized dial with moon-textured finishing were unlike anything Omega had done before. This new model retains the essence of the original while making some key improvements.
The case’s slight redesign pays homage to vintage asymmetrical models. The skeletonized black dial, protected by a sapphire crystal, retains its moon-textured plates with enhanced detailing. But the real star of the show is the patent-pending small seconds hand. Shaped like a miniature Saturn V rocket and crafted from grade 5 titanium, this intricate detail is a delightful homage to the spacecraft that carried the Apollo 8 crew on their lunar odyssey.
The 3D structure of the hand is achieved through laser turning and a combination of white varnish, ablation, and laser blackening. The bezel, crafted from a single block of ceramic, features a tachymeter scale in white grand feu enamel.
The most significant change is the new Calibre 3869 movement. This METAS-certified powerhouse offers superior precision and magnetic resistance compared to the Calibre 1861 used in the previous model. Visible through the sapphire crystal caseback, this hand-wound chronograph movement with lunar texture boasts the Co-Axial escapement and Master Chronometer certification and is beautifully decorated with a laser-ablated moon relief, with the dial side representing the moon’s Earth-facing surface and the caseback showcasing the “dark side.”
Completing the ensemble is a 21/18mm perforated black and yellow rubber strap, a departure from its leather predecessor, secured with a folding clasp made of ceramized titanium. Priced at EUR 15,700, CHF 13,500, or USD 14,300, the Omega Speedmaster Dark Side of the Moon Apollo 8 is a permanent addition to the collection.
