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Review“Dark Side of the Moon” Omega Speedmaster Moonwatch

Exploring a timepiece that pays homage to the 1969 Lunar Exploration

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Inspired by the Apollo 8’s legendary voyage, Omega has created a stunning chronograph that’s made almost entirely of black ceramic. The Omega Speedmaster “Dark Side of the Moon” is driven by the Omega Co-Axial calibre 9300 and pays homage to the original ‘Moonwatch’.

With excitement in their hearts, curiosity in their minds and Omega Speedmasters on their wrists, the astronauts of the Apollo 8 were the first to set eyes upon the fabled dark side of the moon.

The original Omega Speedmaster was launched in 1957 as a sports watch. In 1965, on NASA’s Gemini 4 mission, it was worn by astronauts during the first American spacewalk. A few years later, it was worn during the Apollo 8 mission and even in the Apollo 11 mission. Buzz Aldrin wore the timepiece as he walked out on to the surface of the moon, and so the Speedmaster became the first watch to be worn on the moon. Subsequently, it was worn in all of the Apollo missions that followed and came to be popularly known as the ‘Moonwatch’. Even today, the Speedmaster Professional is among the group of watches that have been qualified by NASA for spaceflight. As far as Extra Vehicular Activities (EVA) are concerned, it is the only watch.

Omega Speedmaster Professional is the only watch qualified for EVA – activity done by an astronaut or cosmonaut outside a spacecraft beyond the Earth’s appreciable atmosphere.

The Speedmaster’s nylon fabric strap has red stitching and a black ceramic buckle

The manual winding Speedmaster Professional has been used in space on a number of occasions to great benefit. In 1970, the Service Module oxygen tank on the Apollo 13 was ruptured. An Omega Speedmaster was used to perfectly time the 14-second Mid-course correction. The accurate timing by the Speedmaster ensured the crew’s safe return home. The Apollo 13 astronauts awarded Omega the Snoopy Award “for dedication, professionalism and outstanding contributions in support of the first United States Manned Lunar Landing Project.”

The Omega logo is engraved on the polished black ceramic crown

The entire timepiece is created from a single block of black zirconium oxide ceramic.

The COSC certified chronometer Omega Speedmaster Moonwatch is encased in a 44.25 mm case made of black ceramic. The case has a thickness of 16.50 mm and is water resistant to a depth of 50 metres. The polished black ceramic crown has the Omega logo engraved on it, which gives it a rather classy touch. The black ceramic bezel is lined with a matt chromium nitride tachymeter scale. The coated nylon fabric strap has red stitching and comes with a black ceramic buckle. Even the lugs are made of ceramic to maintain consistency in the design of the watch.

A scratch resistant sapphire crystal on the caseback allows one to see inside the Speedmaster

The dial is made of high gloss black zirconium oxide ceramic and is covered with anti-reflective scratch resistant sapphire crystal. The two sub-dials are lined with raised black rims and their indexes are of silver colour. The date window is displayed at 9 o’clock. The 3 o’clock sub-dial displays both chronograph hours and minutes while the running seconds hand is displayed in the 9 o’clock sub-dial. The indexes as well as the hour, minute and chronograph hands are coated with Super-LumiNova to ensure that you can check the time in any kind of lighting conditions.

The Omega Co-Axial calibre 9300 beats at 28,800 vibrations per hour and contains 54 jewels. It features an innovative column wheel mechanism and Si14 silicon balance spring, which makes it highly shock resistant. It is the first of Omega’s in-house movements to feature a chronograph.

The Omega Speedmaster “Dark Side of the Moon” is a worthy tribute to the spirit of discovery and the perfect timepiece for those who have the boldness and courage to traverse unexplored spaces.

The Speedmaster’s indexes and hands are coated with Super-LumiNova for better visibility in the dark

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