The Omega Speedmaster Moonwatch Moonshine Gold (Live Pics & Price)

The classic Moonwatch by Omega is one of the most iconic and laureled chronograph watches in history. It is forever intertwined with the Apollo space missions, the moon landing and NASA. But since the 1970s, the Speedmaster has made it into a full-blown collection and remains one of the pillars for Omega. New for 2022 is the introduction of two 18k Moonshine gold models, one in deep green, and one with a black-and-gold Panda dial. Here are the two Omega Speedmaster Moonwatch Moonshine Gold.

We’re not going to spend too much going through the entire history of the Speedmaster, as we’ve already shared the story in previous in-depth articles (Part 1, Part 2, Part 3). Instead, we dive straight in with these two novelties and the special alloy used by Omega. Moonshine gold is a proprietary alloy with a pale, yellow-ish shine that’s said to evoke the lunar glow set against a deep blue sky. It joins the 18k Sedna Gold and 18k Canopus Gold models released in previous years. Moonshine Gold has a higher resistance to fading of colour and lustre compared to traditional gold alloys. It is composed of 75% gold, 14.5% silver, about 9% copper and 1% palladium.

The exterior hasn’t changed one bit and still measures 42mm across and 13.18mm in height. The entire case is made with 18k Moonshine Gold, including the bezel, and the crown and pushers. The bezel features a ceramic insert in either classic black or deep green. In both, the tachymeter scale (with Dot Over Ninety, or DON layout) is made in Omega’s Ceragold. On top, there’s a box-type sapphire crystal with AR coating on the inside, and we find a flat sapphire crystal set in an 18k Moonshine Gold caseback on the reverse side of the watch.

Omega presents two evocative dials. The first is perhaps the most striking, and has a “Panda” display, with a solid 18k Moonshine Gold stepped dial and black subdials matching the ceramic bezel insert. The second has a sunray brushed deep green PVD dial (not in solid gold), again with the stepped design. Applied indices are either fully polished in 18k Moonshine Gold, or coated in black PVD. The hands follow in line with the theme of each of the two now references, so black PVD coated for the Panda version, and polished 18k Moonshine Gold for the green watch. Regardless of which, the contrast between dial and hands is really good. Naturally, all hour markers and hands are given a Super-LumiNova insert in white, with a green glow in the dark.

Power comes from Omega’s in-house made Calibre 3861, which we know from the Steel, Sedna and Canopus Gold versions. This hand-wound movement needs little introduction and features a cam-lever chronograph construction. It ticks at a frequency of 21,600vph and once fully wound has an autonomy of 50 hours. Of course, it comes with Omega’s Co-axial escapement and Master Chronometer certification. It’s also worth mentioning it’s anti-magnetic up to 15,000 Gauss, partly thanks to the silicon balance spring. The finishing is a combination of Geneva waves, circular graining, rhodium-plating, gold-plated engravings, satin-finishing on the chronograph components and polished and bevelled edges.

There are four references in total, with each dial configuration available on a full 18k Moonshine Gold bracelet with a folding clasp that has a fine-adjustment system to allow for some play in length. Alternatively, there’s a green leather strap available for the green dial, and a new rubber strap for the Panda dial. The inner lining of the black rubber strap is given a lunar surface texture as a tribute to its history. The watches are priced at EUR 27,900 for the Panda dial on rubber strap, EUR 26,000 for the green dial on leather strap, EUR 36,500 for the green dial on bracelet, and EUR 38,300 for the Panda dial on bracelet.

For more information, please visit OmegaWatches.com.