6 important things you have to know before buying Omega Speedmaster Moonwatch Professional 

I so wish people would stop banging on about it not being an everyday watch, it so is! and its waterproof for everyday use, it's fine! I've worn a speedmaster for the best part of 30 years virtually everyday, I swim regularly with it, wash the car, played on the beach with the children, snorkelled more times than I can remember, even water skied once, its had 3 services in all that time and is on its second crystal, the crystal doesn't scratch as much as people make out, a quick buff with some polywatch and its gone. Stop babying things made to take a beating. I wouldn't say it was big like you make out. and boo hoo, winding it for 10 seconds a day isn't exactly a chore and going to eat into ones day. I honestly cant remember the last time I fully wound mine, literally 10 seconds before I put it on in a morning... just wear it and enjoy it and stop worrying.

Bought my first Speedy this year, hesalite 3861, and I have worn it everyday for the past 6 months. During that time, it has experienced daily life commuting to an office environment, as well as on two vacations - one to Hawaii, the other to Italy. It has performed absolutely flawlessly, looks fantastic with literally anything in my entire wardrobe, and the accuracy of the movement is beyond incredible. I look down at it and smile, knowing that some of the world's greatest space explorers trusted this device to help get them to the moon and back, one of the greatest feats of engineering in the history of mankind, and here I have it on my actual wrist. I am a huge space fan and this means so much to me. I don't wear my watches in the shower, and when I swim, snorkel and dive in the ocean, I wear a g-shocks that provides far more real-time surf data - so I don't need a daily to perform in this regards. For me, the Speedy is the absolute PERFECT daily watch :)

I had my Omega Speedmaster for 42 years!! Still going strong!!

I'm not going to space so I chose sapphire! 😁😁

The Speedmaster is one of the most recognizable watches on the market and also is a proven watch. Good review of the Omega moonwatch. Not meant to be luxury but it's a time piece worth discussing at an event.

Very fair overview. I recently landed an Omega 50th Anniversary GMT and just love it. Not an everyday, but for special occasions.

I got the Sapphire Speedy with the leather strap a few months back, definitely suitable at my workplace and almost everyday. Would recommend this over the Rolex Daytona!

Great review and even as a Speedy fan and multiple owner, I have to agree with your points. The only point you made I’d maybe challenge a bit is that it’s not a luxury product, I’m still on the fence on that one.

Idk but the Sapphire Sandwich 3861 definitely looks impressive. The slight differences on the polished center links definitely makes it pop out. Love my SS 3861.

Just chanced upon this video - probably one of the best Speedmaster intro videos out there. Very concise and to the point, very helpful especially since I just started my ownership of one recently.

Excellent overview of an icon. As a child of Apollo, this watch has always been on my radar. I'm getting close to buying one now (finally!), and am balancing the "authenticity" of the Hesalite models with the more modern and visible sapphire sandwich models. You are absolutely correct that this is a tool watch, but I'm willing to sacrifice "moon-worthiness" to enjoy the view of the movement and save myself trouble with scratches. For the Mars trip? Well, I bought the X-33 Marstimer and absolutely love it. 😄 Cheers!

1. Hesalite. The one. The only. The original. No milky ring. Not flat. No see-through case back- so what. I wear it with the dial side up so i can see what time it is. And no polished bits on the bracelet. And $1k cheaper. 2. Self wind. No big deal. 30 quick turns and done. If you have a watch rotation you have to wind your autos too. 3. Case size. Not a fan of big watches but the Speedmaster wears smaller than you would think. Fine on my 18mm wrist. Slips under a cuff just fine. 4. It's a very good daily unless you are a lifeguard or a diver. I don't understand people complaining of 50m water resistance. That is plenty for daily wear. And screw down pushers are a total pain. 5. Service cost. It's a mechanical device so yes it needs servicing. Like a car, a motorbike, a lawn mower. If you don't want that buy a quartz cheapie and toss it out when it stops working-if that ever happens. 6. In the real world where people have families to support, jobs yo run, have bills to pay spending over $5k on something as completely redundant as a wind up watch is if not a luxury definitely a frivolity. The speedmaster was under $2k in current money in 1968. We're all getting ripped off! And we all bought the marketing kool aid.

I just bought one today (2017 one) we will see how it goes. Keep up the great work brother 👏

Excellent take on the Speedmaster, I totally understand your opinion that it's not a luxury watch, it just has a luxury price tag. I believe the same goes for the Rolex Submariner and many other pieces. A Rolex Day-Date is luxury.

I loved owning the Speedy 1863 Sapphire Sandwich, however I sold it on as my Submariner 124060, Tudor Pelagos FXD, Pelagos 39, Seiko Speedtimer 🐼, Sinn 856 S UTC and Sinn 103 sa BE was getting more wrist time.

I’ve had one for ages. Great watch. Part of my small collection with a Rolex Submariner and GMT Master. I always wear it on the anniversary of the first moon landing.

I'm not sure if I love that band but I'm envious you have the watch!

re: not being a luxury watch. I recently bought an Aqua Terra and compared it to a friend's Speedmaster, both with and without a loupe. Obviously the dial of the Speedmaster is more complicated, but the AT looks and feels more luxurious overall. Most popular chronos look more sporty than luxury to my eyes, and that is especially true of the Moonwatch, which is why I can't justify shelling out for it at current prices. No applied markers (other than the Omega logo), non-ceramic bezel etc.

Buy the previous model with the Big display box. Hesalite

I wish i could stop selling them! I've had two 1861s...hesalite... i just found them a little too bulky on my wrist, for a one watch collection.... my aim now is OP36 or Black Bay 54 You are very right. I was also worried about the water proofness.... it may not be the best every day watch, but I'm sure it can be for some people.... But... having said all that.....I can't get that Speedy out of my mind... even though I've had two, I'm still wondering... maybe the new slightly smaller version on that lovely bracelet could still be the one? Would you say 3861 is just as good as the previous version? Is the hand winding any better or worse? Do you find any other differences? Thank you!

I agree... I was actually disappointed with true "moonwatch" and ended-up picking "moonwatch look" Speedmaster Racing Chronometer. Main reasons - sapphire sandwich and automatic movement, it as well came with 100m water resistance (I was worried about 50, but even 100 is way too low). In conclusion, I am still just partially happy with what I got - it is beautiful watch, but 100m really limits where you can wear it (once I got caught in the rain when cycling and I got water ingress), so 50m is real deal breaker for me when it comes to watch... I am sure it is fine on moon, but in practice it is "indoor only watch". And being a "tool watch" this is just not good. That said Omega only recommends checking watch every 10 years (that is 99xx movement), and they reckon it may not need service even longer. Price for service in UK for my particular watch is ~£630, but that includes polish, so realistically ~£400, which once in 10 years really isn't that bad. But I would say that for everyday watch Seamaster is much better, even 300m models (which are still not dive watches)... so if I were to do it again, then I would have picked-up Seamaster first and only later Speedmaster. Problem is - I don't particularly like Seamaster hands and generally much prefer Speedmaster looks.

I have 2 1960s Speedies, one a 1969 861, the other a 1967 321. Why ? Childhood memories. I was 8, watching the Apollo missions in awe on TV. These were defining moments for me as a kid. So a true 1960s one on my wrist has major emotional power, and a 321 even more. It is like connecting with the past, with my childhood, feeling the memories. Material luxury is irrelevant. And no 2023 Patek, AP or VC can do to me what the above can.

Great information about this watch 👍🏻real life information

For now the Moonswatch does it for me, giving me the idea of the legendary Moonwatch. But if I were to buy one, then only the full gold version with the green dial.

I have just received Speedy racing and I’m very pleased.

Great review. And i agree it’s not an everyday watch. Had to get another one to take the every day beating. I have the sapphire one; love it.

I have the watch with Hesalite and the watch with Sapphire . My problem is remembering which watch to choose when I go into space in 14 days. Poor me.

Ohhhhh yeah!!!!!! The Speed Master….. I almost forgot about the real thing 😂

Agree in everything you said my friend .

And before buying a moonwatch, remember thar you are buying a homage to the Rodania geometer that was released in 1954, 3 years before Omega released the 'moonwatch'.

How much is the Saphire Sandwich in Canada these days?

Most collectors or enthusiasts have multiple watches hence it’s ok not to wear this watch daily. How do you compare this with the new Breitling Chronograph Navtimer ? Their water resistant is even worse than Omega speedy (30mm )

Is there an automatic version of this watch?

Could you please post a link to your Nato strap?

1. I can't spend this money on a non-auto chrono and not see that movement! 2. If I could get the auto-winding for free that would be great but the additional thickness and rotor blocking the view on a display caseback (though the rotor itself is cool to look at) makes me enjoy a manual wind - especially with 2 days of run time. 3. I encourage anyone with small wrists who is interested but scared by the size to go try one at a jeweler. You may be surprised. 4. It's everyday enough for me. Nothing here bothers me. 5. Yeah that's a bitch. So it goes. 6. Weirdly this fits my pragmatic aesthetic?

Disagree with it not looking like a luxury watch. The Rolex Datejust around a similar price point might look slightly more "bling" but only just.

Good review but criticizing the 50M water proof certification is just silly. I wanna see you dive deeper than 50 meters on your vacation. And yes its really certified for 50 meters depth not only 5ATM. METAS is perfect!

You might need to look up the definition of luxury, which is an inessential, desirable, expensive item. Ok, so it’s more of a tool watch look. That simply means it’s not a dress watch, but it’s still a luxury item. I guess you don’t think a solid gold bar isn’t a luxury item either because of its plain looks.

toolwatch look, you are crazy man.. :D

2024 and the Omega Speedmaster is only 1 of 10 different wrist watch makes that have been used & directly exposed to the outer space environment, but Omega was first in June 1965: #MoonwatchUniverse 4 Omega Speedmaster on Gemini IV during 4 days : ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-QmKhMZg6iLs.html

amiga speemaste

I bought the omega speedmaster moonwatch sapphire sandwich and was insanely dissapointed. stopped working after 24 hours. had to wind every morning. I returned after a month and mayors was excepetionally classy to see my dissapointment and gave me full refund. Unfortunately went back to tacky rolex where it works all the time and money is safe. Gave it try but no thanks on omega speedmaster

That watch doesn't do anything for me. Turns out I'm not scheduled to go to the moon.

You are so right. Not lux and not everyday

1st thing , no one actually went to the moon

The price…? Oh, and the price.

If you bought the sapphire model then you don't have a moon watch

The new speedy pro is no longer NASA qualified, even the hesalite.

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