Omega produces the white ceramic base case and then applies what they refer to as a special “plasma heat treatment” which colors it to deep gray. What is interesting is that the gray is not just a coating or surface treatment, but is a color that is applied through the entire case. Omega then carefully polishes the case to achieve the mixture of polished and brushed surfaces – which allow this ceramic case to be finished just like the metal Omega Speedmaster Co-Axial Chronograph cases.
Compared to the Dark Side Of The Moon, the Grey version isn’t as stealthy looking, but the plasma treated case does play with the light in a more satisfying way. Further, the textured platinum dial is arguably more legible due to its overall lighter color tone. If the Omega Speedmaster Dark Side Of The Moon is a watch that celebrates the color black, the Lunar Dust is a watch that celebrates gray.
Like the other Omega Speedmaster models in this family, the case is 44.25mm wide and wears very nicely. I continue to love the bowl-style sapphire crystal caseback that allows for a wonderful view into the movement. Another interesting detail on the case is the application of luminant into the markers and numerals on the tachymeter scale on the bezel.
Inside the watch is the Omega in-house produced Caliber 9300 Co-Axial automatic chronograph movement. We’ve discussed this movement at length so I will not take this opportunity to explain it once again. Suffice it to say that it is among the finest movements Omega currently produces and offers a full 12 hour chronograph between two subdials.
While my watch tastes aren’t dictated by fashion, I am well aware of how “in” gray is. Part of that is because gray more or less fits with anything (like black), and this is a thoroughly gray watch (though Omega does include the requisite red trim on the dial, rear of the strap, and movement. Oh, and I should include a very important disclaimer in regard to this prototype watch. Omega did not produce the correct caseback as this one still says “Dark Side Of The Moon.” That will change by the time this watch gets on to the wrist of any consumer–which hopefully will be soon.
The good news is that the price for the Omega Speedmaster Grey Side Of The Moon is no more expensive (or a little bit more expensive in some markets) than the Dark Side Of The Moon. Though that model does ask for a premium over the steel version. The potential bad news regards how long people may have to wait to get one, and whether some who purchased the Dark Side Of The Moon are upset that this model came out so quickly after. So if the Dark Side Of The Moon watch is still so hard to get, it should follow that the Omega Speedmaster Grey Side Of The Moon won’t be a piece of cake to get either – but we shall see. Overall it is a lovely new flavor of ceramic Omega Speedmaster, and I think Omega did a really lovely job with it. In the US, the Omega Speedmaster Grey Side Of The Moon will be priced at $12,000, the same as the Dark Side Of The Moon. We are told that in the rest of the world it will be priced at about 500 Swiss Francs more than the Dark Side Of The Moon. omegawatches.com
