OMEGA Speedmaster Moonwatch "Enamel" from Basel World 2008

OMEGA finally has done the unthinkable... they have given the Speedmaster its OMEGA Co-Axial calibre 3313 movement!!! While it was bound to happen sooner or later, many OMEGA watch enthusiasts, like myself, were holding onto slim hope that the classic Speedmaster "Moonwatch" will continue to live on, with its 1861 engine, forever.

Here is the new OMEGA Speedmaster Moonwatch "Enamel".



Now what will happen to the 3570.50.00 Moonwatch? No one knows yet. My guess is that OMEGA will eventually phase it out, in favor of the new Speedmaster Moonwatch "Enamel". Or maybe they will keep both in the Speedmaster line-up. Afterall, the 3570.50.00 is NASA certified and one of the requirements from NASA is that the watches need to be manual-wind or battery powered, as an automatic may not work in space. I doubt OMEGA will throw away decades of tradition with the new Speedmaster Moonwatch "Enamel".

Regardless of what happens, I like the new Speedmaster Moonwatch "Enamel". The enlarged 44.25mm size will have better wrist presence while the addition of the date feature will prove to be extremely useful.

OMEGA Speedmaster Moonwatch "Enamel"

The larger, Co-Axial evolution of a space pioneer - The Moonwatch finally gets a date!

We never get tired of saying it: the OMEGA Speedmaster Professional Moonwatch is the only watch ever to have been worn on the Moon. The new Speedmaster Moonwatch "Enamel" respects the legendary design aesthetics of its famous ancestor and combines them with some distinctive features which give it its own unique personality. The Speedmaster Moonwatch "Enamel" has a 44.25 mm case, reflecting the current enthusiasm for large watches. It houses the exclusive self-winding OMEGA Co-Axial calibre 3313 whose Escapement and free sprung balance deliver long-term accuracy and reliability. The Speedmaster Moonwatch "Enamel" is a COSC-certified chronometer with a sophisticated column-wheel chronograph mechanism. The dial, created in brilliant black enamel, is the centrepiece of the watch's dramatic appearance. The date window at 6 o'clock also sets the Moonwatch "Enamel" apart from the Speedmaster Professional Moonwatch. The Speedmaster Moonwatch "Enamel" pays homage to the Speedmaster Professional Moonwatch – there's a distinct family resemblance. However, its stunning enamel dial and its Co-Axial performance announce that this is a watch which would succeed on its own terms even without a celebrated relative!

Source: OMEGA