Omega Speedmaster: Is It Worth It? Men’s Swiss Watch Review

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There are a handful of great names in watchmaking that offer unique and world-renowned timepieces. Today, we’ll be looking at one of the most iconic timepieces from a famed Swiss watchmaker – namely, the Speedmaster from Omega – to examine what it’s made of, how it works, and ultimately, ask the question, “is it worth it?” 

Even though the watch is among our favorites, our review will be honest and unbiased. Also, this is not sponsored.

History of Omega and the Speedmaster

La General Watch Company was founded in 1848 by Louis Brandt. They incorporated the name Omega in 1903, becoming Louis Brandt et Frere-Omega Watch and Co. When they became a subsidiary of this watch group in 1982, they officially changed their name to Omega SA.

Since the beginning, Omega has been located in the Swiss city of La Chaux-de-Fonds, which achieved UNESCO recognition for its history of watchmaking in 2009. As a side note, some other great names in watchmaking come from this region, including Girard-Perregaux, Tissot, Movado, Zenith,  and, of course, Rolex.

Louis Brandt own workbench
Louis Brandt’s workbench; note his portrait in the frame.

But, Omega isn’t content just to sit among these other watchmakers. In 1892, founder Louis Brandt created the first minute-repeating wristwatch in collaboration with Audemars Piguet.

The British Royal Flying Corps chose Omega as the timekeeper for its combat units in 1917. The Olympics have utilized Omega as the official timekeeper since 1932. The British Military was still using Omega in the 1940s during World War II.

You can see Tom Hardy’s character, Ferrier, use his Omega timepiece to calculate how much flying time he had left in the movie “Dunkirk.” And Omega has been on the wrist of everyone’s favorite secret agent, James Bond, since 1995.

Perhaps, Omega’s greatest achievement happened in 1969 by putting the first watch on the moon. And which watch did it? None other than the Omega Speedmaster.

A photograph of an astronaut in a space capsule wearing an Omega watch.
Omega on the moon

Interestingly, the Speedmaster was never created for lunar voyages. It actually joined the Omega lineup in 1957 as a racing chronograph. Specifically, the model 2915-1.

What, then, is a chronograph?

A chronograph is a type of watch, which features smaller sub-dials within the larger main dial of the watch. The primary function is to keep a record of elapsed time versus the actual time of day. The chronograph’s tachymeter scale can also be used to calculate the speed of a moving object. So, the easiest way to think of a chronograph is like a stopwatch.

Of course, chronographs can also incorporate other features known as “complications.” Those complications can include the date, the phase of the moon, and many others. The Speedmaster’s design followed the simple, yet functional chronographs of the 1920s and 30s.

The Speedmaster’s name was given to complement Omega’s already-established Seamaster and Railmaster collections. These original racing chronographs were powered by a manual wind movement, which means, unlike a quartz or an automatic movement, the Speedmaster has to be wound by hand on a regular basis to keep time.

Being manual wind allows the watch to not lose any function in low gravity. Because automatic watches utilize the pull of gravity on the rotor to wind the watch, this wouldn’t be functional in space. And quartz watches weren’t even available until 1969.

A photograph of a wrist watch being wound.
The Speedmaster, like many chronographs, has to be wound manually.

Even though the Speedmaster is famous for being the “Moonwatch,” it actually went into space several years earlier. It journeyed to space on the wrist of astronaut Walter Schirra in the 1962 MA-8 mission.

The Speedmaster worn was Schirra’s personal Omega CK2998. Although Schirra’s watch performed well, it didn’t stop NASA from wanting to make sure that they could rely on the Speedmaster for future missions.

NASA set rigorous testing for all watches that they were considering to be the “Moonwatch.” This included being able to cope in temperatures as extreme as 200-degrees Fahrenheit to zero-degrees Fahrenheit. That’s roughly 93-degrees Celsius to negative 18-degrees Celsius. 

Watches had to pass both high and low pressure tests and a test to ensure function in a pure oxygen atmosphere with no seals breaking. Watches submitted also had to be shockproof and anti-magnetic. All dials and numbers had to be legible in low light conditions, which makes sense for a dark spacecraft.

The crystalline case had to be anti-reflective, which is why Omega chose a satin-finished steel case. And, of course, timekeeping accuracy was measured.

Out of the shortlist of selected watches, both the Longines Wittnauer and the Rolex Cosmograph both failed testing, which means, on June 1st, 1965, the Omega Speedmaster was chosen as the watch that was certified for manned space missions. This means, to this day, Omega is likely NASA’s longest consistent supplier.

As a fun fact: Hamilton actually submitted a pocket watch for consideration. Needless to say, the idea of a pocket watch floating around made them immediately disqualified.

In 1969, the Speedmaster was on the wrist of the Apollo 11 crew, who were on their way to the moon. Due to a malfunction on an electronic timer, Neil Armstrong actually opted to keep his watch in the spacecraft as backup. However, Buzz Aldrin opted to wear his Speedmaster as he journeyed out of the spacecraft and onto the moon. Buzz, by the way, is actually a self-professed watch guy.

One year later, in 1970, the Speedmaster once again journeyed into space on the Apollo 13 mission. Famously, a ruptured oxygen tank jeopardized the descent journey, which gave us everyone’s favorite line when something goes wrong: “Houston, we have a problem.”

By using his Omega Speedmaster, Jack Swigert was able to time the critical burn to get the crew home safely. Omega was given the Silver Snoopy Award by NASA for its critical role in the safety of the astronauts on this mission.

The Speedmaster Today

Truly, the Speedmaster represents an incredible chapter in watchmaking and NASA’s history. Omega provides a ton of information on their website, including a downloadable PDF guide, which, you’ll see, is quite useful because there are so many variants in the Speedmaster line.

There are models such as the Speedmaster racing line, which pays homage to the timepiece’s racing routes, the Speedmaster 38, which showcases some smaller Speedmasters, and there are different editions of the “Moonwatch,” including the Dark Side Of The Moon, White Side of the Moon, and many more.

The Dark Side of the Moon and the White Side of the Moon versions of the Moonwatch.
The Dark Side of the Moon and the White Side of the Moon versions of the Moonwatch.

The watch we’re looking at today is the Omega Speedmaster Professional – reference 310.30.42.50.01.001.

Traditionally, the Omega Speedmaster Professional comes in a black dial. But, as we’ve mentioned, there are limited editions that come with gold, silver, white, and other color dials. But, there’s no denying that the iconic “Moonwatch” has always had a black dial and, overall, the design has changed very little throughout its history.

Photograph of the Omega Speedmaster pro
The Omega Speedmaster Professional, reference 310.30.42.50.01.001.

If you go on Omega’s website and to the Speedmaster collection, there’s a special section for just the Moonwatch, where you’ll find the Moonwatch with various strap options as well as the white gold and rose gold Speedmasters.

Omega Speedmaster Details

The watch is crafted in stainless steel with a 42-millimeter case and a 20-millimeter lug width. As we already know, the dial is finished in black and features three sub-dials. These sub-dials measure the elapsed hours, minutes, and current running seconds.

The hands, including the chronograph hand, are finished with Super-LumiNova to improve legibility in low-light settings.

The dial is protected by a Hesalite acrylic crystal. Given that it’s shatterproof, it’s safer for use in space. A traditional sapphire crystal is available as well, which is what I have on my watch. 

The crown isn’t a watertight screw-down, but rather a push-pull, which results in only 5 bar of water resistance. 5 bar is equivalent to 50 meters or 167 feet. This, in watch terms, means the Speedmaster is only splash-proof.

Photograph of the Omega Speedmaster pro
Note details like the three subdials, the Super-LumiNova finished hands, and the Hesalite acrylic crystal.

The watch is powered by Omega’s manual wind 3861 movement. This is Omega’s newest growth from the original 321 movement. It now boasts a master chronometer certification and a co-axial escapement.

And, although the Speedmaster typically comes on a stainless steel bracelet, it’s entirely possible to swap it out for a leather or fabric strap.

Omega Speedmaster Price

Omega’s website has the Speedmaster listed in a range of $6,300 to $7,150. This depends on your choice of crystal or if you want it on a strap or on the bracelet.

And, like most elements of pre-owned clothing, you can pay less for gently-used models. But, as always, beware of fakes on the market. After all, a watch that has this much cachet definitely has its fakes out there.

And, as is the case with a lot of iconic watches, certain vintage Speedmasters can cost a lot more depending on the model and the condition. Luckily, if you go to an Omega boutique or find yourself in an authorized retailer, you can be safe knowing you’re buying the real thing.

Is the Omega Speedmaster Worth It? 

If you’re the type of person who likes a simple, minimalist watch design, then the Speedmaster probably isn’t for you. After all, this is a highly-functional watch with a complicated dial, which definitely pushes it further towards being a sports watch than a formal dress watch.

As we mentioned earlier, if you want a watch that can handle water, this probably isn’t it either. Honestly, this is my biggest gripe about the watch. I find that I have to be quite conscious of the watch when I’m near water. So, if I’m by the pool or doing dishes, the Speedmaster is not on my wrist. It can handle a splash or two, but you don’t want to dive in.

A photograph of Speedmaster watches at various price ranges.
The range of Speedmaster prices.

It’s not worth it if you’re set on having a quartz or an automatic movement. The traditional Speedmaster Professional is a manual wind, so it needs to be wound nearly every day. Granted, this is a great way to bond with your watch. But, if you’re likely to forget, the watch will die.

However, if you want an automatic Speedmaster, Omega offers those, too.

All these points considered, we certainly feel that, on balance, the Omega Speedmaster is worth it. It has enough of a unique take in style and a ton of history.

The value of a watch can be personal

For me, the Speedmaster has a personal connection to my childhood. My dad is an aerospace engineer who grew up during the space race. He was a young boy when Apollo 11 landed on the moon.

As a kid from Ohio, Neil Armstrong was his hero, as well as other astronauts and pilots of the Space Age. My dad joined the Aerospace Engineering Program because he found out that Neil Armstrong was a professor at his local university.

I grew up sharing a passion for aviation and space history with my dad. Therefore, I feel like I’m wearing a piece of history on my wrist. It was a tool worn by early space pioneers to make their way home.

Furthermore, a watch is only made better by an emotional attachment like this. Naturally, my story will differ from yours, but if you have items that have deep sentimental value, then you’ll know where I’m coming from.

The Speedmaster can be a multi-tasker, style-wise

From a style standpoint, the Speedmaster has great versatility. The stainless steel bracelet is timeless and shows the heritage of the watch. It looks sporty and can be worn with many casual ensembles.

A photograph of a Speedmaster worn with a dark red corduroy shirt.
As a sport watch, the Speedmaster pairs well with most casual outfits.

You can give the Speedmaster a different dimension by going with various fabric straps. NATO straps are typically inexpensive, so you can go with different colors and designs. A simple black fabric strap looks elegant and harmonizes with the dial, as well as being accurate with the NASA spacesuit. But, you probably don’t want to wear it over your sleeves.

The watch looks fantastic on a distressed leather strap paired with a sport coat. The dark dial makes the watch easy to dress up.

speedmaster fabric strap
Use interchangeable fabric straps to improve versatility.

Granted, it’s not a traditional dress watch like this gold Fabergé, rose gold H. Moser, and this dressy, vintage reissue Omega Seamaster. But, in our world today, you’ll see various casual items like an Apple watch and sneakers worn with tailored clothing. So, having a really nice mechanical wristwatch will set you apart from the crowd.

And, although 42 millimeters is about average for a watch these days, I know that it can be a bit large for some people. If that’s the case for you or maybe you want to go for a more vintage style, then smaller models like the 38, reduced, or “First Omega in Space” are great choices. 

Plus, the watch from the 1962 Mercury-Atlas 8 mission had a 39-millimeter case, so the 38 is closer in size while retaining all the style points of the full-size model.

Conclusion

Overall, the Speedmaster is a testament to Omega as a company as well as their dedication to making beautiful, functional timepieces. Put it next to a similar watch from Breitling, Rolex, or Tag Heuer and we’re confident that you’ll agree, in a great many cases, it’s worth it.

Outfit Rundown

Nathan models his outfit on the street.
Nathan wearing his trusty Omega Speedmaster with a brown distressed Hodinkee strap with accessories from Fort Belvedere.
Grenadine Silk Tie in Navy Blue

Fort Belvedere

Grenadine Silk Tie in Navy Blue

White Linen Pocket Square with Navy Blue Handrolled X Stitch - Fort Belvedere

Fort Belvedere

White Linen Pocket Square with Navy Blue X Stitching

Do you think the Omega Speedmaster is worth it, too? Share your thoughts (and your favorite watch) in the comments section!