Omega has just released the latest in its Apollo series of Speedmaster timepieces with the Omega Speedmaster Dark Side Of The Moon Apollo 8 watch, updated for 2024. Fans of the brand might remember a predecessor, this exciting and indeed rather special Speedmaster Apollo 8 from 2018 that we covered hands-on, and this new version brings some exciting updates including a refreshed movement.
Part of the charm of the Speedmaster, modern or vintage, lies in its erratic complexity, where the most dedicated enthusiasts try to memorize and make sense of myriads of variations. The Dark Side Of The Moon Apollo 8 stood out of the so-called “Omega DSotM” collection by having not the usual two but three subdials, powered by a fantastic-looking movement that ditched self-winding for an expansive look at the chronograph mechanism. Shortly before the launch of this latest model, we saw a teaser video from Omega that hinted at a hand-wound, openworked black movement, a black ceramic case with “Dark Side Of The Moon Apollo 8 December 21,” and the eagle-eyed might have even spotted a dial with a cutout to the left from the 6 o’clock subdial. These, combined with the yellow contrast stitching on the strap, were all the clues one needed to lean forward in expectation of a refreshed Speedmaster Apollo 8 watch.
This latest model, new for 2024, is officially called the Omega Speedmaster Dark Side Of The Moon Apollo 8 watch, and these are the most important specifications that you should know about. The new Speedmaster Apollo 8 is now powered by the Omega Calibre 3869, a Master Chronometer-certified movement that shares much of its architecture with the 1869 found in 2018’s model. The main difference, again, lies in its Master Chronometer certification, which is approved by METAS. This certifies that the movement is now resistant to magnetic fields reaching 15,000 gauss, and it now sports a free-sprung balance wheel with a silicon balance spring, all considerable updates from the regulator pin setup inside the 2018 Speedmaster Apollo 8. Omega also claims that this new Omega Speedmaster Dark Side Of The Moon Apollo 8 watch offers “greater lunar detail thanks to defined laser engraving and contrasting surfaces,” as its lighter dial side represents our view of the moon’s surface from Earth, while its back shows the dark side that only astronauts got to see.
From the front, the best way to tell these two generations of the Speedmaster Apollo 8 apart are the TACHYMÈTRE text on the bezel, which is now in white enamel instead of yellow, and the running seconds display at 9 o’clock that now sports a Saturn V rocket hand — exactly the sort of stuff select Speedmaster fans and collectors go crazy for. A cool detail is that the skeletonized dial is crafted from aluminum, not brass (as is common with watches). The caseback and its “WE’LL SEE YOU ON THE OTHER SIDE” script pays homage to the first humans to ever see the far side of the moon, also known as the dark side of the moon, in December 1968, as the crew on Apollo 8. Notably, the entire crew of Apollo 8 each wore an Omega Speedmaster during that mission.
That said, the “DSotM” collection is a decidedly modern take on the Speedmaster Moonwatches originally used during Apollo missions. It is considerably wider, and the new Omega Speedmaster Dark Side Of The Moon Apollo 8 watch keeps that going with the 44.25mm diameter measurement we have come to associate with a ceramic-clad Speedmaster. The case is nevertheless full of unique details, including alternating brushed and polished elements, and a bezel that is as complex in its shape (when viewed from the profile) as they get.
The Omega Speedmaster Dark Side Of The Moon Apollo 8 watch is priced at $14,300, which is a considerable hike from the $9,750 price tag the now-outdated (but no less gorgeous) Speedmaster Apollo 8 used to have. You can learn more at the brand’s website.
