History was made in 1968: Apollo 8 completed the first manned orbit of the moon. On board this landmark mission, each astronaut was equipped with an OMEGA Speedmaster – an instrument relied on throughout NASA’s lunar program. This year, OMEGA honors the legacy of Apollo 8 with a new Speedmaster Dark Side of the Moon, crafted using state-of-the-art technologies, diverse materials and world-class expertise.
OMEGA presented the first Speedmaster Dark Side of the Moon on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 8 mission in 2018. Now the brand has turned to this model again to refine its design with even more detail and sophistication.
The caliber 3869 that powers the watch features a unique decoration: the blackened main plate and bridges have been laser-machined to depict the lunar surface. Just like the moon, this movement has two sides: the dial side shows the view of the moon from Earth, while the back of the watch reveals its dark side that only astronauts can see. In this new edition, the representation of the moon is reproduced even more precisely thanks to laser engraving and contrasting surfaces. All details are fine worked out and perfectly complement the light gray coated wheels and the dark gray coated gold balance wheel. In addition, the hand-wound caliber 3869 meets Co-Axial Master Chronometer standards, offering the highest Swiss precision, performance and magnetic resistance.
The decorated movement can also be seen through the skeletonized black anodized aluminum dial. But the journey doesn’t end there: the 44.25 mm case, polished bezel and caseback were crafted by OMEGA from separate pieces of black ceramic, while the tachymeter scale is finished in bright white “Grand Feu” enamel. The central chronograph second hand is painted yellow – a color that the watch’s perforated strap picks up with black rubber and yellow lining. The patent-pending small seconds hand at 9 o’clock sets another new accent: it is made of grade 5 titanium and has the shape of NASA’s famous Saturn V rocket. The striking 3D structure was created by laser turning, while white paint, ablation and laser blacking were used for the coloring. A small but impressive detail that honors the success of the Apollo program.
Various engravings are immortalized on the caseback, including „WE’LL SEE YOU ON THE OTHER SIDE“ – the last words that Command Module Pilot Jim Lovell said to ground control shortly before the Apollo 8 mission took off for the first time the far side of the moon disappeared without radio contact. The distant surface of the moon is a mystery that has always aroused curiosity. This watch creates an authentic connection to our Earth’s satellite, just like OMEGA’s connection to space exploration. As the world now looks to the possibilities of the future, the Apollo 8 mission is a stark reminder of what people can achieve together.
