By Mustafa Cint
When Omega held their Planet Omega Exhibition in New York last November, the focus was supposed to be on the history and DNA of the company. And it was, until Daniel Craig, aka James Bond, showed up on the red carpet wearing a watch that hadn’t even been released yet.
Ever since, the rumor mill has been churning over whether the watch would ever officially see the light of day, and if so, when? Well, now it’s official: What is arguably the most popular chronograph in the world is getting a new white dial.
Speedmaster Models: A Brief Overview
This isn’t the first time that Omega has released a Speedmaster with a white dial. There have been several special edition models like the coveted Silver Snoopy Award with its blue bezel and subdials, and others like the Speedmaster Racing Edition, which shares traits with the Rolex Daytona Panda, and, as its name suggests, the Albino Speedmaster Reduced.
I’d say the best-known Speedmaster featuring a white dial is the so-called Alaska Project, with its unmistakable red chronograph hand. While some still think this watch was intended for cold-climate adventures, it actually has very little to do with the northernmost US state. Omega has often turned to geographical monikers to subvert industrial espionage. Thus, all the collabs between Omega and NASA were carried out under the project name “Alaska.”
For a number of decades, only prototype watches were ever given the name; watches that never actually made it onto the wrists of astronauts. Then, in 2008, Omega decided to strike a new course and integrate a special edition of the Alaska II prototype into the Omega Speedmaster Professional Moonwatch. And thus, the ever-popular Speedmaster Alaska Project was born.
The “New” Omega Speedmaster With a White Dial
In the aftermath of the Daniel Craig spotting, there was a lot of speculation about the watch and its specs, but how different is the new watch in actual fact?
Other than the white lacquer dial and contrasting black hands, the former of which Omega claims is a nod to the spacesuits worn by astronauts, the watch is identical to the former sapphire crystal version. And while the lore of a white spacesuit sounds kind of cool, I personally think it’s a bit far-fetched.
At the heart of the watch is the 3861 chronograph movement, which is a certified Master Chronometer. The watch measures 42 mm in diameter, features a “dot over 90” aluminum bezel, and comes on a bracelet with polished links.
In short, nothing but the dial color is different here, and not even that is wholly novel. The often requested updates, e.g., a new bracelet with easy adjustment or a new caliber, were largely implemented with the then-new Speedmaster in 2021.
That said, one big wish among collectors did come true: a true white-dialed Speedmaster Professional Moonwatch. This means fans will no longer need to “settle” for special editions like the Alaska Project, which is limited to just 1,970 pieces, or the Albino Speedmaster Reduced.
Prices and Details for the New Omega Speedmaster Professional Moonwatch
Prices
- Leather strap: €8,600 / 7,400 CHF / $7,800
- Rubber strap: €8,600 / 7,400 CHF / $7,800
- Steel bracelet: €9,000 / 7,700 CHF / $8,100
Specifications
| References: | 310.30.42.50.04.001 (steel bracelet) / 310.32.42.50.04.001 (rubber strap) / 310.32.42.50.04.002 (leather strap) |
| Lug width: | 20 mm |
| Lug to lug: | 47.5 mm |
| Case thickness: | 13.2 mm |
| Case diameter: | 42 mm |
| Case: | Steel |
| Dial colors: | White |
| Crystal: | Curved, scratch-resistant sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating inside |
| Depth rating: | 5 bar (50 m / 167 ft) |
| Weight: | 140 g |
| Caliber: | Omega 3861 |
| Movement type: | Manual winding |
| Power reserve: | 50 hours |
