Omega Speedmaster Moonwatch 321 Platinum

The wait is over! On the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the Moon Landing, we now know which watch is featuring the re-edition of the iconic movement Omega 321 – a movement as legendary as the Moonwatch itself. Announced earlier this year, this movement is going to equip one of the most high-end Speedy models ever. Meet the Omega Speedmaster Moonwatch 321 Platinum.

Some might have expected Omega to come out with something slightly different on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the Moon Landing. We, at MONOCHROME, anticipated an ultra-limited version of the watch worn by astronauts on board Apollo 11 – the Speedmaster Professional 105.012. Well, what Omega is launching is slightly different, not vintage-oriented and extremely high-end marking the first time that the re-edition of the calibre 321 is implemented into the case of a watch.

What you see here is the Omega Speedmaster Moonwatch 321 Platinum, and as you’ve guessed, its case is made in platinum – in fact, a special platinum alloy with gold (Pt950Au20). The case retains the classic Speedmaster Professional “Moonwatch” shape, with a 42mm diameter, twisted lugs and a combination of brushed and polished surfaces. No major differences compared to the classic steel Speedmaster. The only evolution on the habillage concerns the bezel, which is crafted in black ceramic with a tachymeter scale executed in white enamel – with the dot over 90.

To evoke the Moon Landing theme, the Omega Speedmaster Moonwatch 321 Platinum features a superb black polished onyx dial, on which you’ll see 18k white gold hands and applied indexes – all filled with Super-LumiNova. Meteorite has been used to decorate the three sub-counters and to be perfectly consistent with the theme, Omega has used real slices of lunar meteorite. The Omega logo at 12 is applied.

The pièce de résistance in the context of the Omega Speedmaster Moonwatch 321 Platinum is, of course, the movement inside the case. While introduced back in January, the re-edition of the 321 hadn’t been incorporated in a watch. That’s all changed now and Omega has created a 1-to-1 reproduction of the movement without the use of modern technology – meaning no Co-axial escapement and no Master Chronometer certification. Just like the original movement, the “new” calibre 321 runs at a slow pace of 18,000vph and is finished with gold plating. It is visible through a sapphire caseback.

The Omega Speedmaster Moonwatch 321 Platinum 311-93-42-30-99-001 is worn on a black alligator strap with a platinum buckle. No indication of the price has been given yet.

As for the availability, Omega doesn’t mention this watch as being a limited numbered edition. However, when the 321 was re-introduced, the brand stated that no more than 2,000 movements would be made per year. Knowing that there will be a second Speedmaster to feature this movement, you can expect production to be pretty exclusive.

More details at omegawatches.com.