Meeting The Omega “Speedy White” — From Miami To Germany And Back

March is not my favorite month. It is still cold, windy, and often rainy in Germany. So, what is there to do to beat the early spring gloominess? Book a trip to a warm place with a subtropical climate, preferably across the pond. That’s how I ended up in New York…okay, eventually in Miami, but that came a few days later. As it happened, I was on a business trip in New York and Miami in early March this year when Omega dropped the new white-dial Speedmaster Professional. Sorry, I will never call it “Daniel Craig”; it’s a silly nickname. Like the killer in a whodunit novel, I returned to the “crime scene” months later. Yes, the location was Miami again, and on the wrist was the Omega Speedmaster Professional, aka “Speedy White.”

No, this is not an article for me to brag about my lavish trips to fancy places. Remember, I was on business, and trust me, it was anything but fancy. If you are familiar with Aventura, north of Miami, you know exactly what I mean. But Miami is an integral part of the story of “my” (borrowed) Speedy White. Now that’s a cool nickname. TM it, please.

March

So, this past March, I had to spend a few days in New York when the new Speedy was released. It was either the day of or one day before my departure to Miami, and I also had to conduct some meetings later that week. As I had previously been to the south Floridian city, I knew I would be visiting the Design District. It’s one of my favorite places, not necessarily for its shops (I’m not much of a shopper) but more so for its overall vibe and watch stores. It is now a habit of mine to go to the Design District and, eventually, the Omega boutique every time I visit Miami. That is what I did back then with one goal in mind — to try on the then-new Speedy White.

I was lucky to catch the staff when the shop was relatively quiet. A smartly dressed middle-aged gentleman greeted me at the door and, to my question whether they had the new Speedy in stock, answered me with a grin on his face: “Of course, we do.” I had my 321 on my wrist, so we exchanged watches and had a long discussion about different models, his and my favorites. At this point, I had to reveal my identity as a member of the Fratello gang and tell him how much I liked the watch. It was my first time seeing it, and while I was not sold on it, I truly appreciated it. He showed me around the boutique and even offered to bag me a white one if my heart desired. I had to decline, thank him for his time, and leave.

August

When I visited Miami in March, I already knew I’d return in September. Life went on, and watch events, new releases, and work overtook my attention until my trip to Paris to the Olympics arrived. See, a friend was competing at the games, and I wanted to see him play, but I knew that if I were in town, I would have to visit the Omega House. Thanks to Hannah from Swatch Group Germany, I had the proper accreditation, and we spent a lovely few hours there. In fact, I almost missed my buddy’s game. But during our lunch, the topic of Miami and the Speedy White came up, and I asked Hannah if I could have one for a review around my return trip to Miami. The answer was “yes,” and about a month later, the watch landed on my table.

The Speedy White

I don’t need to rehash the details and specs for you. I’m sure you have seen this watch everywhere online, and RJ covered it extensively. What I can tell you, though, are my thoughts about it. As said above, I was initially unsure what to think of it. The watch looked brilliant, so don’t get me wrong. I loved the case, the display back, and the caliber 3861, which is a masterpiece. In my opinion, the new “bullet-style” bracelet is easily the best bracelet of the past decade. I just simply wasn’t sold on the main “draw” — the dial. It looked a bit shiny, a tad plasticky, or like ceramic. We don’t need to love everything Omega does, even if we are brand fans. And I certainly did not love it. I liked it, but I did not love it.

This, however, changed when I received the review watch. Remember, the first time and until I got the review piece in the mail, I had only seen the Speedy White in the Miami boutique. This time, I had the chance to wear it inside and outside, including in the rain, gloomy weather, sunshine, and at night. And I must tell you that I genuinely enjoyed every moment I spent with it. It is still weird that I look at the dial and see a Speedmaster Professional that’s not black. But this is something I could get used to very quickly.

September

I wouldn’t say I like to travel with many watches when flying anywhere outside of the EU, but one thing was sure: I needed to bring the Speedy White “back” to Miami where we first met. So I packed it with a handful of other watches and flew it over to this steamy town. Just one day before I had to head back to Germany, I made my usual pilgrimage to the Omega boutique in the Design District. This time, I was greeted by another gentleman to whom I told the story of “my” Speedy White. I tried on the two-tone and the Moonshine Gold Speedies (loved them all) and chatted with him about Fratello, Omega’s presence in South Florida, and why the white Speedy is the genuine Miami watch.

I felt that my Speedy White story was complete. This lovely white-dial Omega Speedmaster that was anticipated for so long made it to my wrist for the first time in the boutique. It was only fitting that I returned to finish its story with me. Before we parted ways, I thanked the gentleman for his hospitality and promised to be back the next time I was in the city. Who knows? Maybe next time, it will be with a new Speedy on my wrist…