Few objects in modern luxury carry the cultural gravity of the OMEGA Speedmaster Moonwatch. Since its historic journey to the lunar surface in 1969, strapped to the wrist of Buzz Aldrin, the chronograph has transcended horology to become a symbol of human ambition itself. As 2026 dawns, OMEGA opens the year by revisiting this most storied of timepieces, unveiling two new Speedmaster Moonwatch models that reinterpret an icon through a striking black-and-white lens.
MODERN TAKE ON A CLASSIC
At first glance, the new editions feel both familiar and refreshingly subversive. The classic Speedmaster aesthetic remains intact, yet the inverted dial configuration introduces a graphic, contemporary energy. Central to this redesign is the Moonwatch’s essential step dial, constructed using a refined double-plate technique. The upper plate is rendered in polished black, finished with layers of varnish and lacquer that lend an almost liquid sheen. Rhodium-plated subdial frames punctuate the surface, while beneath them, a crisp white base layer provides contrast and clarity.
This monochromatic interplay continues through the dial’s finer details. The minute track is transferred in white against the black dial, while the subdials reverse the scheme, their markings executed in black. The effect is more than aesthetic: legibility is enhanced, and the watch takes on a confident, modern sharpness without compromising its tool-watch roots.
POWER & PRESTIGE
Encircling the dial is a black ceramic bezel ring, filled with a tachymeter scale in white enamel—an enduring Speedmaster signature, rendered here with elevated refinement. A box-form sapphire crystal, treated with anti-reflective coating, protects the dial while subtly echoing the vintage hesalite profiles favoured by purists. On the wrist, both models are finished with the classic Moonwatch bracelet, its polished and brushed links offering understated brilliance, complemented by OMEGA’s patented comfort release adjustment system for effortless wear.
The collection is offered in two distinct 42 mm executions. The stainless-steel version channels restrained elegance, with rhodium-plated hands and hour markers filled with white Super-LumiNova for clarity in all conditions. Its counterpart, crafted in 18K Moonshine™ Gold—OMEGA’s proprietary yellow gold alloy designed to retain its lustre over time—leans unapologetically into luxury. Here, the hands and markers are rendered in matching Moonshine™ Gold, while a PVD Moonshine™ Gold chronograph hand adds a final, opulent flourish.
Powering both timepieces is the Co-Axial Master Chronometer Calibre 3861, the most advanced evolution of the legendary Calibre 321 once trusted by NASA astronauts. Offering exceptional precision, magnetic resistance, and reliability, the movement earns Master Chronometer certification and is supported by a five-year warranty.
In black and white, OMEGA proves that even the most mythic of watches can still find new ways to surprise—grounded in history, yet resolutely forward-looking.
(Images: OMEGA)
