Speedy Tuesday – Omega Speedmaster Moonphase Co-Axial Master Chronometer

It is Speedy Tuesday and we’ve got something fresh from BaselWorld for you today: the Omega Speedmaster Moonphase Co-Axial Master Chronometer. In January, we showed you the blue version here first, but last week Omega showed us the entire collection of their new Speedmaster Moonphase Co-Axial Master Chronometer watches and we were able to take some great images during our appointment with them. Omega used one of our images on their own Instagram feed as well, the one that shows the photo realistic Moon in detail, including the footprint left by Neil Armstrong.

Not only did Omega came up with the stainless steel version with blue dial and bezel like we showed you previously, they also came up with a black dial and bezel version as well as a couple of bi-color, gold and platinum versions. The platinum we’ll save for a later article.

Today we show you the Speedmaster Moonphase Co-Axial Master Chronometer in steel, steel & gold and full gold.

Omega Speedmaster Moonphase Co-Axial Master Chronometer

As written many times before here on Fratello Watches, the Speedmaster Moonphase isn’t a new phenomenon. In 1985 there was the Speedmaster Professional Moonphase (reference ST345.0809) with a Lemania based caliber 866 movement (and two Teutonic Speedmaster versions for the German market). Since 2003, the Speedmaster Professional Moonphase is constantly present in the collection, with a Lemania based caliber 1866 movement.

But that’s a Lemania based movement. Actually a caliber 1861 chronograph movement with an add-on moonphase module.

Omega Speedmaster Moonphase Co-Axial Master Chronometer caliber 9904

This time, Omega has used their in-house manufactured caliber 9300 movement as a basis and created this new moonphase movement, caliber 9904. The moonphases needs to be set by the crown, the date is being corrected by the independent moving hour hand. Omega’s caliber 9904 is of course a Master Chronometer rated, certified by COSC and METAS (more on METAS here). This column-wheel chronograph movement is therefore anti-magnetic up to 15,000 gauss and runs well within chronometer specification. It has a power reserve of 60 hours due to the two barrels and it has a silicon (Si14) balance spring. The caliber 9904 consists of 368 parts.

The caliber 9904 movement has beautiful finish on the rotor and the bridges, including the Geneva waves in arabesque. Screws, barrels and the balance wheel have been blackened. The caliber 9905 is used for the gold and platinum models and has a gold rotor.

Omega Speedmaster Moonphase Co-Axial Master Chronometer caliber 9905

Whichever version you choose of the Omega Speedmaster Moonphase Co-Axial Master Chronometer, they all come with the ceramic [ZrO2) bezel. The dials have a sun-brushed finish and the indexes are either in 18 carat yellow gold, Sedna gold or rhodium plated.

Most interesting is the moonphase disc of course. It is a metallic crystal disc (no sapphire) that is microstructured to obtain the super high resolution image of the moon. To make it even more cool, Omega decided to put the image of Neil Armstrong’s footprint on the moon. A very much fun detail. The gold cased models don’t have this feature though, they have a gold textured moon on the disc.

Omega’s Speedmaster Moonphase Co-Axial Master Chronometer comes in the ‘regular’ caliber 9xxx Speedmaster case, which has a 44.25mm diameter. For some that might be on the large side, also for me, but I have to say that it is very wearable due to the shape of the case.

There is only a limited correspondence with the Speedmaster Pro Moonphase, of course, as that one has the moon phase indicator at 12 o’clock instead of 6 o’clock and has a total of 4 sub registers instead of the 3 of the Speedmaster Moonphase Co-Axial Master Chronometer. The 3 sub registers of Omega’s caliber 9903 make the dial of the Speedmaster Moonphase Co-Axial Master Chronometer a well-balanced one. Although I don’t mind the bi-compax lay-out of the caliber 9300 Speedmaster watches, this one does resemble the original Speedmaster Professional a bit better of course, although the functions of the sub registers are different.

The date is shown in the sub register at 9 o’clock indicates the normal seconds as well as the date. The date hand has a red tip for easier recognition and read-out.

My favorite models are the one that was initially shown as preview before Basel, the blue dial version with blue ceramic bezel, and the bi-color version with brown dial and brown ceramic bezel. The use of gold adds a bit of warmth to the brown dial and bezel, a very nice combination. As written above, I will give the platinum edition (45,000 Swiss Francs) a closer look in one of the next Speedy Tuesdays.

All Omega Speedmaster Moonphase Co-Axial Master Chronometer watches come on an alligator strap with a folding clasp.

Prices start at 9400 Swiss Francs for the new Speedmaster Moonphase and it will be available starting October 2016.

We’ve put some more images in the gallery below. Please let us know what you think of this Speedmaster Moonphase Co-Axial Master Chronometer by using the comments box below the gallery.

More information via www.omegawatches.com.