Ah, finally, a Speedmaster that isn’t a MoonSwatch! The story behind the Omega Speedmaster Anniversary Series First Omega in Space watch is a cool one not because it was a NASA-certified instrument, but precisely because it predates all that and was simply the watch of choice of astronaut Walter “Wally” Schirra. It is little wonder, then, that until the world as we know it comes to an end, Omega will continue to pay homage to the FOIS, or the First Omega in Space. 2024 sees the latest of such Speedmaster “Anniversary Edition” watches with this reference 310.30.40.50.06.001.
Situated under the creamy glow of a “Hesalite-like form, scratch-resistant sapphire crystal” is a serious-looking dial in CVD-coated blue and gray, replicating the tone of some CK 2998 watches produced in the 1960s. The hour markers, as well as the alpha hands, are filled with “vintage” (Omega probably only meant vintage-look) Super-LumiNova, something critics like to call “fauxtina” (you can read our thoughts on the matter).
You can expect this yellow-toned lume to glow less bright and for less time than your bog-standard greenish-white Super-LumiNova, but it is also true that many of these colored luminescent materials have improved somewhat in recent years. As befits a quality dial, its colors change massively depending on the type and strength of light that hits it. Hands-on, we expect the new Omega Speedmaster Anniversary Series First Omega in Space’s sunray dial to appear all-gray from some angles, with a dark blue base color revealing itself some other times.
The bezel is in aluminum, with a “Dot Over Ninety” execution that has become so ubiquitous on modern Speedmaster watches that it has arguably lost some of the little charm it has ever had. (You can tell me if you were ever excited by the dot over ninety in the comments below.) Likewise, there are two vintage Omega logos on this new Omega Speedmaster FOiS, one on the dial, and one on the crown.
The 2024 Omega Speedmaster First Omega in Space watch measures 39.7mm wide, 13.4mm thick, 48mm lug-to-lug, and has a lug width of 19mm. It is rated water resistant to 5 bar (equivalent to 50 meters or 167 feet). The overall proportions will likely be special enough to revive a vintage vibe that many seek, which is a good thing, even though some of the beauty that comes from the relative fragility (both in terms of proportions and execution) of original 1960s watches will forever be lost on modern watches. On a personal note, that is not something that bothers me, but it might gnaw at some blue-blooded vintage fanatics.
The “historical celebration,” as Omega calls it, continues on the caseback, where we find a Seahorse medallion along with engravings that read “SPEEDMASTER,” “THE FIRST OMEGA IN SPACE,” and “OCTOBER 3, 1962.” Under the screw-down caseback lies the Omega Calibre 3861, a hand-wound chronograph movement with a Co-Axial escapement that has introduced Master Chronometer performance and compliance in 2019 and more widely in 2021.
Compared to the Omega Calibre 1861 before it, the Calibre 3861 marked the introduction of a free-sprung balance wheel with a silicon hairspring, strong anti-magnetic properties, more rigorous testing, hacking seconds, and a new construction around half of which is not interchangeable with the 1861. It is a top-tier Speedmaster movement, besides the Calibre 321, also revived in 2019 and also available in steel since then.
The new Omega Speedmaster Anniversary Series First Omega in Space is available in three variations, the only difference being the bracelet or strap option you can choose. Reference 310.30.40.50.06.001 comes on a steel bracelet with brushed center links and weighs a total of 133 grams; reference 310.32.40.50.06.001 is fitted with a black-grained calf leather strap on a pin buckle and weighs 79 grams; and reference
310.32.40.50.06.002 comes on a brown non-grained calf leather strap on a pin buckle and weighs 79 grams. All three versions have sapphire crystal fronts with anti-reflective treatment inside and a solid caseback on the rear.
The Omega Speedmaster Anniversary Series First Omega in Space watch costs $7,500 USD on the leather strap and $7,900 USD on the metal bracelet. You can learn more at the brand’s website.
