Apollo 8 Revisited: OMEGA’s Enhanced Speedmaster

In 1968, Apollo 8 made history by becoming the first human flight to orbit the Moon. Each astronaut on this mission used an OMEGA Speedmaster, a tool crucial for NASA’s lunar campaign. OMEGA now honors this story with a new Speedmaster Dark Side of the Moon, crafted using advanced technology, various materials, and expert skill.

OMEGA released the first Speedmaster Dark Side of the Moon Apollo 8 timepiece in 2018, commemorating the mission’s 50th anniversary. This time, they’ve revisited the design, enhancing it with more details and refinement.

The watch’s Calibre 3869 showcases a laser-ablated Moon relief on the blackened main plate and bridges, revealing two sides like the Moon itself. The dial-side reflects our Earth view of the lunar surface, while the back shows the dark side seen only by astronauts. Laser engraving and contrasting surfaces enhance the Moon’s definition, complemented by light grey coated wheels and a dark grey gold coated balance wheel.

The manual-winding Calibre 3869 meets the Co-Axial Master Chronometer standard, offering precision, chronometric performance, and magnetic resistance.

The Moon-themed movement is visible through the skeletonized dial made of black anodized aluminum. The 44.25 mm case, polished bezel, and caseback are created from separate pieces of black ceramic, with a tachymeter scale filled with bright white “Grand Feu” enamel.

The central chronograph seconds hand and the perforated strap continue the yellow color theme. The small-seconds hand at 9 o’clock, shaped like NASA’s Saturn V rocket, is crafted from Grade 5 Titanium with a 3D structure achieved through laser turning and colored with varnish and laser blackening.

The caseback features engravings, including “WE’LL SEE YOU ON THE OTHER SIDE” – the last words from Command Module Pilot Jim Lovell before Apollo 8 went out of radio contact on the far side of the Moon.

Wearing this watch connects you authentically with the Moon and OMEGA’s space exploration history. The Apollo 8 mission serves as a reminder of the remarkable achievements possible through shared human effort as we look ahead to the future.