On the eve of the 50th anniversary of humankind touchdown on the Moon, Omega introduces its Omega Speedmaster Moonwatch 321 in platinum, with a ceramic and enamel bezel, powered by the just lately re-launched Calibre 321. Right here’s all you’ll want to know.
As any hardcore Moonwatch nerd will instantly acknowledge, the 42mm large case design is impressed by the asymmetrical 4th era Speedmaster case, full with the twisted lugs of reference ST 105.012. What couldn’t probably be noticed is the particular platinum alloy the case of the Omega Speedmaster Moonwatch 321 is made from: it’s platinum combined with white gold, aptly referred to as Pt950Au20. Omega is but to launch additional particulars on this materials — though it has used it for a set of extremely restricted Speedmaster Moonwatch items with rubies and emeralds, launched additionally earlier this yr. For sure, Omega reserves using platinum for its most respected and most restricted items, with just a few completely different references a yr being launched on this treasured metallic.
The step-dial — once more, a connoisseur-pleasing element — follows go well with by incorporating slices of actual moon meteorite. First found in 1979 and 1982 within the Antarctica, and later present in choose deserts as nicely, all lunar meteorites had been ejected from the Moon prior to now 20 million years. Their origin is established by evaluating their chemical composition, mineralogy, and the isotopic composition between meteorites and samples from the Moon, as collected by Apollo missions. As such, Lunar meteorites are one’s greatest likelihood to personal a bit of the Moon, as the one legally obtainable lunar samples collected by probes and delivered again to Earth simply offered for $855,000. So yeah, lunar meteorites — within the form of Omega Speedmaster Moonwatch 321 sub-dials — are your greatest likelihood to personal a slice of the Moon.
Though at first sight the Omega Speedmaster Moonwatch 321 appears to be like very near a bathroom commonplace Moonwatch, we’ve got already established that it, the truth is, is stuffed with delicate, but extremely Moonwatch-fan-enticing particulars. And the listing goes on. The bezel is crafted from black ceramic, with the Tachymètre scale rendered in enamel. The step dial is shaped from onyx and options 18kt white gold indices and arms — Omega commendably provides “except the central chronograph seconds hand.” The image is rendered full by a period-correct, utilized Omega brand underneath the 12 o’clock marker.
Powering the Omega Speedmaster Moonwatch 321 is the just lately relaunched Omega Calibre 321 that we debuted again in January. Chances are you’ll learn all about it in our devoted article. In essence, the Omega Calibre 321 is made to be as near the Calibre 321 that powered the Speedmaster — these which were to the Moon — as doable. Once we broke the information on this new caliber, we mentioned that we mentioned that this particular motion will possible be reserved for extremely particular items, given the truth that every trendy Omega Calibre 321 is manufactured in a devoted section of Omega’s services, rendering their manufacturing restricted and, when mixed with the engineering and design work associated to re-introducing it, additionally very pricey.
All that mentioned, we couldn’t probably consider a motion extra suited to energy the Omega Speedmaster Moonwatch 321 than Calibre 321. It simply appears to be like and sounds every kind of proper and renders this 50th anniversary piece, in a means at the very least, the be all and finish all of Moonwatch particular editions ever launched. The caseback is in fact sapphire, which isn’t one thing NASA would have tolerated — however getting hung up on that might be lacking the purpose totally.
Pricing and availability of the Omega Speedmaster Moonwatch 321 stays to be confirmed by Omega — however don’t have any illusions of it costing anyplace under excessive 5 figures, contemplating its platinum case, onyx and lunar meteorite dial, Calibre 321 motion, significance within the line-up of Omega Speedmaster Moonwatch watches and the demand this piece will get pleasure from amongst well-heeled Moonwatch collectors throughout the planet. Chances are you’ll scout the official Omega web site for extra particulars — and extra reasonably priced, however simply as fascinating, Moonwatches.
