While that exhibition case back dome does increase the overall height of the watch, it gives you a very good look at the in-house 9300 movement. Complete with a column wheel for the chronograph, the 9300 also features a silicon balance wheel and the namesake co-axial escapement. I won’t go into the details of the movement, as there are a variety of articles covering it (including ours here) – just know that’s a great movement. While it’s a shame that the movement can only be seen when the watch is off your wrist, hats off to Omega for placing such a large window around back for us to peer in. Speaking of size – the ’57 also gives us a new size in the Omega Speedmaster family.
The Omega Speedmaster ’57 comes in at a very nice (not too big, not too small) 41.5mm, which means that this Speedy will likely fit quite a few more people than the 44mm iterations will. This is also the smallest case size we’ve seen from Omega that houses that 9300 movement and it’s my guess from looking through that case back that it couldn’t get much smaller. Pricing comes in just like the case size – just right. This watch starts around $8,000 for steel, pops up to $9,000 for titanium, and tops out at $30,000 for yellow or rose gold. Availability should be in August or September.
For my first hands-on with an Omega Speedmaster, I think I may have been spoiled. While I’ve been exposed to more of them as of late, it has always been the classic black dial versions, aka the Moonwatch. Given my recent leaning towards white-dialed watches, I was curious what a Speedy would look like with that option, and Omega has answered that question with a beautiful watch. If I ever get to the point of clearing out my personal watch collection and having just one (or maybe three) watches, the titanium model (with white dial, of course), would be a top contender. Omegawatches.com
Necessary Data
>Brand: Omega
>Model: Speedmaster ’57 Co-axial Chronograph
>Price (USD): $8000 (steel), $9000 (titanium), $30,000 (gold)
>Would reviewer personally wear it: In a heartbeat.
>Friend we’d recommend it to first: Someone looking for a luxury sport watch that is ready for everyday (and formal) use that breaks away from the ETA-driven mold
>Best characteristic of watch: The style. This includes the modern retro design, sizing, and variety of case finishes and dials available
>Worst characteristic of watch: The “double bubble” sapphire crystals makes the watch taller than some might expect
