Precious metal Speedmasters are always in an odd space. On the one hand, they don’t really track with the whole aerospace performance angle; on the other, they’re pretty damn spectacular to look at. And hard on the heels of the Canopus Gold version and the Sedna before that, Omega has draped the Speedmaster in their own lunar-inspired precious alloy in the Speedmaster Moonwatch Moonshine Gold.
While it might sound like the product of an alcoholic alchemist, Moonshine Gold is essentially a more corrosion resistant take on yellow gold with a paler hue, adding palladium into the mix to stop the metal discolouring over time. It joins the other two proprietary golds in Omega’s metallurgic arsenal for a fully-rounded trio of rose, yellow and white.
The new Speedmaster metal makes an appearance on two very different feeling pieces. The first showcases a midas-touched Panda with a Moonshine Gold dial and contrasting black subdials and, again, a black ceramic tachymeter bezel. It’s cool and luxurious in equal measure.
The second however is a touch more interesting. At first glance you could mistake the PVD dial and bezel for black; instead, they’re very dark green. It’s so dark that in low light you’ll never be able to tell this is anything other than the black usually associated with the Speedmaster and, personally, I appreciate the subtlety. There’s enough more obvious green, like with the new Seamaster 300m Green out there as it is.
Inside each watch is the calibre 3861 manual-wind movement which, like the colourfully dialled Speedmaster ’57 models is Master Chronometer certified. It does however have 10 hours less power reserve at 50.
The finishing touch is your choice of a black rubber bracelet with a Moonshine Gold clasp or a full polished and brushed precious bracelet. If money were no object, I’d opt for the bracelet. By the time you’ve gone for a proprietary gold speedmaster, you may as well shoot for the moon.
Price & Specs:
Model: Omega Speedmaster Moonwatch Moonshine™ Gold
Reference: 310.62.42.50.99.001 (18k Moonshine™ Gold case, 18k Moonshine™ Gold sun-brushed “Step” dial and black subdials)
310.60.42.50.10.001 (18k Moonshine™ Gold case, PVD green sun-brushed “Step” dial)
Case/Dial: 42mm diameter x 13.18mm height, 18k Moonshine™ Gold case, 18k Moonshine™ Gold or PVD green sun-brushed “Step” dial
Water resistance: 50m (5 bar)
Movement: Omega Co-Axial Calibre 3861, manual winding, 26 jewels, Master Chronometer Certified, approved by METAS
Frequency: 21,600 vph (3 Hz)
Power reserve: 50h
Functions: Hours, minutes, central chronograph seconds, small-seconds at 9 o’clock, 30-minute subdial at 3 o’clock, 12 subdial at 6 o’clock, date
Strap: Rubber or 18k Moonshine™ Gold bracelet
Price/availability: £23,610 (18k Moonshine™ Gold case, 18k Moonshine™ Gold dial and black subdials), £31,160 (18k Moonshine™ Gold case, PVD green dial)
More details at Omega.
