Making it more appealing to a wider audience with modern classic taste
Omega, over the decades, has introduced numerous other series of Speedmaster, with different layouts of sub-dials and featuring various complications, all to demonstrate their flexibility in their iteration of what the series is all about. They even introduced a superbly high- tech model which includes a digital quartz as its timing feature. Today, apart from the Moonwatch, they have consolidated the family into the Heritage Models, The Dark Side Of The Moon, the Two Counters, and last but not least, the Speedmaster 38mm.
This classification leads us to the main subject of the latest novelty recently unveiled by Omega, the new Speedmaster 38mm. Well, the smaller-sized Speedmaster is not new, it was first introduced in 1988 with a 39mm diameter, its aesthetic treatment was exactly like the Moonwatch, and it was in production for 20 years or so, and quietly disappeared from view. Then in 2017, Omega introduced another smaller size Speedmaster 38mm. The smaller size was probably done to accommodate the demands of the ladies’ segment of the market, who wanted something sporty just like the men’s. Hence the 38mm was born, but with feminine touches; instead of the round sub-dials, they have oval sub-dials laid horizontally, probably inspired by the De Ville design in the late 60s and early 70s, and they also throw in the diamond bezel for the feminine appeal.
After much thoughts, this year, coinciding the year building up the crescendo to the next year, which is a milestone for Speedmaster, as it will celebrate its 70th Anniversary. Meanwhile the introduction of the redesigned Speedmaster 38mm is here to help build up the momentum to the big do next year.
The new Speedmaster 38mm comes in, as a separate range from the Moonwatch Professional, but a range of its own, though it is closely inspired by the range. Let’s have a closer look at the newbie. It is definitely a revamp, as the older models will be phased out and replaced by the new design, albeit a minor aesthetic change. Omega has unveiled seven new references, each with a different combination of colours and materials to accentuate their individuality. First, let’s start with the 38mm; for us Asian, this is a sweet spot for our smaller wrists, and it is also in the Zeitgeist of the moment, when, after decades of large-sized watches, it is appealing to exciting to see the smaller sizes again, which was once the norm.
From the aesthetic standpoint, there is hardly any difference from the Moonwatch series: an aluminium bezel with a tachymeter scale, framing a dial that is decorated with appliqué indexes dotted with SuperLumiNova and also coated on the hour and minute baton hands. The central Chronograph second hand has the iconic teardrop pointer coated with SuperLumiNova. The three sunken sub-dials are located at three o’clock for the chrono ‘30’ minutes counter, at six o’clock is the chrono hours counter, and at nine o’clock is the continuous seconds with a colour complement to the hour indexes and the rectangular date window at six o’clock.
The latest novelty has seven variants; the steel on steel has two renditions, the white lacquered dial comes with a blue ceramic bezel with a tachymeter scale in white enamel, the indexes come with blue CVD coating and the date numerals are in the same hue. The pointers on the sub-dials share the same blue. A clean and stunning rendition. The second rendition is with a Silvery opaline dial; it is framed by a handsome grey aluminium bezel with a white enamel tachymeter scale. The SuperLuminova-filled baton indices and the hour and minute hands are given a Sedna Gold PVD treatment. The Chrono seconds hand is grey and filled with SuperLumiNova. The hands for the sub-dials are in Sedna Gold PVD. A rather sophisticated combination of colour contrast.
For those who want a little more, there are two variations that come in bicolour, stainless steel and Moonshine gold. The silvery opaline dial comes with a Moonshine Gold bezel with an aluminium insert and tachymeter scale in yellow gold. The indexes and the baton hands are in Moonshine Gold PVD, repeated on the seconds hand and all coated with SuperLumiNova. The hands on the sub-dials are also in Moonshine Gold PVD and also spotted on the small links in the bracelet. The ivory dial version is based on their much-loved “Cappuccino” aesthetics. It has a Sedna Gold bezel with a brown aluminium insert and enamel tachymeter scale. Framing a bicolour dial of ivory with three brown sub-dials complementing the bezel. The indices and the hands are in Sedna Gold PVD, and repeated on the hands on the sub-dials, and also appear in the small links in the bracelet. Chic and yet
Then, with added glamour and luxury, there are two variations that come with a PVD sunburst ice blue dial or a mother-of-pearl dial. Though they look highly contrasting, they share the same detailing. Their dials are decorated with rhodium-plated baton hands and indexes filled with SuperLuminova, and the hands on the pointers are also in complementary steel. They are framed by a bezel set with 53 diamonds totalling 1.53 carats. These two may be different as day and frosty afternoon, but they have the same alluring glamour about them.
And the last variant is special; it is the closest to the Moonwatch in its aesthetics, as there is no date for this black version. It has a lacquered black dial decorated with SuperLuminova-filled baton indexes and hands. This rendition will inevitably be a standard bearer of the new Speedmaster 38mm without a doubt, and with a dark and mysterious look one always finds attractive.
The watches are powered by the ETA based automatic Calibre 3320 for the watches above with a date complication, and the automatic Calibre 3332 powers the black variant without the date. And they are housed in a brushed-polished 38mm stainless steel case, with a two-tone stainless-steel bracelet and their designated gold mirror-polished small links.
These lucky seven should bring much joy to those who have been waiting for the reduced size of the Speedmaster with round sub-dials; your wait has been worth it. And they don’t disappoint.
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