Omega Speedmaster Dark Side of the Moon 2025 Watch Review

The Omega Speedmaster is an undeniable icon, a watch so closely associated with spaceflight that it’s been officially dubbed the Moonwatch. But while the overall look of the core watch hasn’t changed much in its 50-odd years, there is a more modernised subcollection – the Speedmaster Dark Side of the Moon and its slightly more recent contemporary, Speedmaster Grey Side of the Moon – and now for 2025 both watches are welcoming new versions into their (space) capsule collections.

Omega Speedmaster Grey Side of the Moon

Let’s tackle the outlier first, the Grey Side of the Moon. Rather than revamping the previous all-grey model (which I personally loved), this new watch is more similar to the racier Apollo 8 Dark Side of the Moon. What that means is an open dial where the bridges underneath have been laser ablated into a stunning facsimile of the lunar surface. It’s absolutely stunning and honestly, images don’t do it justice – and it looks better than ever with the lighter tones of grey.

That front-facing lunar surface, however, is only the near side of the moon; flip the watch over and you get the far side laser ablated onto the reverse of the Co-Axial Master Chronometer Calibre 3869. Forget perlagé, Côtes de Genève and whatever other classical movement finishing you can think of, this is the coolest treatment for a movement since… well, since the last time Omega did it. As a finishing touch, the philosophy of the watch is engraved on the black, words uttered by astronaut Jim Lovell as he travelled around Luna: “The Moon is essentially grey.” Wise words.

The movement’s wrapped in 44.25mm of plasma treated ceramic (the same type of ceramic that Rado often have a penchant for) and given a polish. I’d have preferred matte personally, just as the glossy finish really shows up fingerprints – which is a shame as it’s also incredibly tactile. But still, the shine is definitely eye-catching. Not that a skeletonised watch with the moon lasered onto it needs any help.

Otherwise, everything is monochrome grey. Unlike the Apollo 8 Dark Side of the Moon, the grey drops the flashes of racing yellow, which calms things down and makes for a much more refined watch. It’s less immediately readable, but then pure legibility isn’t everything – as the next release shows.

Omega Speedmaster Dark Side of the Moon Black Black

Well, you can’t get darker than black and the new Omega Dark Side of the Moon Black Black both in name and design doubles down on that idea. Black case, black hands, even black indexes across its classic bi-compax layout, it’s the ultimate stealth watch. And if that weren’t enough, the automatic calibre 9900 has been blacked out too in a sexy new finish that somehow emphasised its Geneva waves.

Yes, there will be a lot of discussion about whether this is even a fit watch for timekeeping, especially when the Speedmaster’s so inextricably linked to official space missions. But I’m here for it and my argument is twofold. First, the contrast between finishes means that it’s not actually as hard to read as you might imagine. I wouldn’t rely on it for timing an atmospheric burn, but as someone that never needs a chronograph in daily life, I don’t mind it. Especially as – my second point – it’s really, really cool.

And hey, at least the indexes and hands are actually lumed so that, when the lights come on, it’s a lot more readable. Reminds me of something else. The 44.25mm case here is black ceramic and again, has a shine to it. But the black is more forgiving than the plasma grey of the previous watch, so you’ll find yourself obsessively wiping it less often.

Omega Speedmaster Dark Side of the Moon Red

If you wanted the cool, stealthy look of a fully blacked-out watch but wanted to actually, you know, read it, this is the Dark Side of the Moon for you. The main point is the bright red chronograph seconds hand that, paired with the red Omega logo, really pops out of the black dial. But there are other nods to practicality too. Both the tachymeter and the subdial numerals are now in grey, which while not the classic Speedmaster high contrast, means they’re readable without upsetting the darker tone overall.

Once again, the movement has been blacked out, but instead of the automatic calibre 9900, we have the manual-wind 9908, which looks even better with the new finish. The uninterrupted Geneva waves somehow pop more in all-black than they do in steel.

Otherwise, it’s very similar to the Black Black version, with its 44.25mm black ceramic case and matching black ceramic dial. It has to be said that while 44.25mm is by today’s standards a beast of a watch, none of these Speedmaster releases feel it. The shortish lugs help it sit nicely central and the rubber strap especially hugs the wrist comfortably.

That rubber strap deserves special mention. In keeping with the bridges of the Grey Side of the Moon, the underside has been printed with the lunar surface for the usual and immensely practical texture rubber straps need, but in a distinctly Omega fashion.

Pricing and Availability

Given that the Grey Side of the Moon has some intense finishing techniques on it, you’d imagine it to be in a different price bracket (or at least substantially more expensive) than the others. But you’d be wrong. The Speedmaster Grey Side of the Moon will set you back £13,800, compared to the Black Black and Black Red, which are both £13,500. That’s £300 more for something that looks and feels much higher-end.

That said, of the three my favourite is by far the Black Red. It still has the stealthy look of the all-black, but with a pop of colour and a nod to, you know, readability.

It also has to be said that as part of this Speedmaster drop, there is a black and white version that we didn’t get hands-on with. It’s also the least interesting by far, pairing the automatic 9900 calibre with a more traditional Speedmaster white-on-black look. It will set you back £13,200, if you’re interested.

Whatever your choice, none of the new Speedmaster Dark Side of the Moon pieces are limited. But as a perennially popular version of an iconic watch, availability might be another matter entirely.

More details at Omega.