This year saw the release of two remarkable models that have made a significant impact, adding substantial value to Omega’s Speedmaster lineup in just seven months. I’m referring to the new Omega Speedmaster with a white dial and the new Omega Speedmaster FOIS, which stands for “First Omega in Space.”
Let’s go in order: in November 2023, at the Planet Omega event held in New York City, the last James Bond, Daniel Craig, appeared wearing what we can now consider a teaser: an Omega Speedmaster Professional with a white dial. In truth, a Speedmaster with a light dial had already been available in the catalog, but in the form of a white gold model with a silver dial. So, seeing Daniel Craig wearing a white-dial Speedmaster stirred up considerable excitement among fans eager for a steel model to complement the iconic black-dial Speedmaster.
In March, fans’ wishes came true when Omega introduced the new Speedmaster: featuring the same case and bracelet design as the Professional model refreshed in 2021 (including the 3861 Co-Axial Master Chronometer movement) but with a new lacquered white dial, black hands and indices, and the red Speedmaster logo.
This release was highly anticipated, as there are very few precedents (and all in limited editions) for a white-dial Speedmaster, one of which is the famous Alaska Project. That model, in particular, was the first Omega Speedmaster to feature a white dial. Beyond marketing reasons, this choice was scientifically significant. In the 1970s, following the Moon landing, it was believed that space missions would become increasingly frequent and ambitious. It was discovered that in high-radiation environments, black dials were vulnerable and prone to wear, whereas white dials were far more resilient. Thus, the Alaska Project and the concept of a white Speedmaster came to be.
The second Speedmaster model, unveiled in early October 2024, is a reissue of the Omega CK2998—the first watch worn in space during the Sigma 7 mission in 1962. Unlike the famous Omega Speedmaster Professional worn by astronauts during the 1969 Moon landing, this model was not selected by NASA after rigorous technical and durability testing but was instead the personal watch of astronaut Walter Schirra. It’s fair to say that Schirra had an excellent eye, as he chose the watch that would later beat other brands, including Rolex, to become the official timepiece of NASA missions—and eventually the first watch to go to the Moon.
A reissue of the original 1962 model was already been released in 2012 (and discontinued in 2016), but the new model includes features that make it even more faithful to the original, stirring mixed reactions among purists. Starting with the indices and, more generally, the luminous material selected for this reissue, it’s a yellowish Super-LumiNova that mimics the tritium hue of the 1962 model, giving the watch a distinct vintage look. This is further enhanced by a stunning domed sapphire crystal, which closely resembles the historic hesalite crystals. One last, noteworthy feature of this model is an intriguing gray-blue dial that shifts considerably depending on the light it reflects.
To conclude, it’s worth noting the fundamental difference between this Speedmaster model (derived from the CK2998) and the more famous Speedmaster Professional (the one that went to the Moon, mentioned above in relation to the new white dial). The latter was, in fact, an evolution of the former, designed by Omega to withstand even more extreme conditions: the case size increased from approximately 40mm to 42mm, and another important innovation was the addition of crown guards.
In summary, 2024 has brought two major new releases for Omega, particularly in the iconic Speedmaster line. If the first model represents a quest for a modern look and the inclusion of a highly anticipated dial in a non-limited, steel edition, the second appeals to vintage detail lovers, transporting us back to the era when the dream of space was becoming a reality.
