As far as idioms and phrases go, putting a rocket under something is rarely a good thing, but as Swiss watchmaker OMEGA has just proven, sometimes a little extra firepower goes a long way. Just four years after the iconic maison unveiled a unique Speedmaster to commemorate 50 years since the launch of the Apollo 8 mission, OMEGA has returned with an update that dazzling release. The new Speedmaster Dark Side of the Moon Apollo 8 is a unique watch that nods to one of mankind’s greatest achievements and the brave souls that made it happen.
At 44.25mm, the new black ceramic piece is substantial in size but OMEGA has really worked to get the most out of the wrist real estate. According to the brand, the latest Apollo 8 watch “elevates the same design with an even finer level of detailing and refinement” and when you notice the incredible additions on the dial, it’s hard to disagree.
It boasts a skeletonised dial crafted from black anodized aluminium, which allows for visibility of the watch’s major talking point – the Calibre 3869. This movement features a laser-ablated Moon relief on the blackened main plate and bridges, with a handy dual-sided design.
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As OMEGA explains, the movement, much like the Moon itself, reveals two different vantage points. The dial side represents our view of the lunar surface, as seen from Earth, while the back of the watch shows the dark side that only astronauts get to see. OMEGA has also upgraded the definition of the Moon by introducing laser engraving practices and contrasting surfaces, which stand out prominently against the light grey coated wheels and dark grey gold coated balance wheel.
Inside, OMEGA has fitted the new piece with the manual-winding Calibre 3869, which helps power the tachymeter scale, central chronograph seconds and small-seconds functions – the latter of which will undoubtedly turn heads. Shaped like NASA’s famous Saturn V rocket, the small-seconds hand is crafted from Grade 5 Titanium and boasts a remarkable likeness to the iconic shuttle.
On the caseback, OMEGA has even added a series of engravings, including the slightly ominous “WE’LL SEE YOU ON THE OTHER SIDE”. These were the final words spoken to ground control by Command Module Pilot Jim Lovell, just before the Apollo 8 mission disappeared to the far side of the Moon, and out of radio contact, for the very first time.
“The Moon’s distant surface has always been a source of mystery and curiosity,” OMEGA said in a press release.” To wear this watch is to make an authentic connection with our lunar neighbour, as well as OMEGA’s own connection to space exploration. As the world now looks further ahead to the possibilities of the future, the Apollo 8 mission stands as a reminder of what shared human power can achieve.”
Of course, the brand’s connection to space travel has long been heralded, with the story of Buzz Aldrin’s iconic ‘Moonwatch‘ helping to build the OMEGA mythology. However, that classic piece was not the only OMEGA novelty to make its way into orbit. In 1968, one year before Armstong, Aldrin and Collins made their fateful journey, astronauts on the Apollo 8 mission were also fitted with a Speedmaster.
This venture, the first manned flight to reach the Moon, marked a pivotal moment in human exploration with astronauts Frank Borman, James Lovell, and William Anders becoming the first humans to witness and photograph the far side of the Moon.
Fifty years on from the remarkable feat, OMEGA celebrated their achievements by releasing a stunning special edition ‘Dark Side of the Moon’ Speedmaster and just four years later, the brand has done it again. The new OMEGA Speedmaster Dark Side of the Moon Apollo 8 watch is available now and priced at AUD$23,650. You can read more about the incredible new timepiece at OMEGA’s official online store.
OMEGA Speedmaster Dark Side of the Moon Apollo 8
- Brand: OMEGA
- Model: Speedmaster ‘Dark Side of the Moon’ Apollo 8
- Reference: Ref.310.92.44.50.01.001
- Movement: Manual-winding Calibre 3869
- Diameter: 44.25 mm
- Thickness: 13mm
- Water-Resistance: 50m
- Power Reserve: 50 hours
- Price: AUD$23,650
