Few watches are more iconic than the Omega Speedmaster Professional. Also known as the Moonwatch, this is the model that accompanied astronauts on most of NASA’s Apollo missions, including the first trip to the moon in 1969. Also, it’s just a really handsome chronograph. This week, the Swiss brand unveiled a pair of two-tone versions of the Moonwatch, featuring both Sedna Gold and Moonshine Gold.
What’s Up with Two-Tone Watches?
Combining two different types of metals on the case to create a striking contrast, two-tone watches usually pairs stainless steel with some type of gold, with the latter striped down the middle of the bracelet and featured on the bezel. What was once a mainstay of ‘80s fashion ended up becoming passe for watch lovers, with many people thinking (and still thinking) that two-tone was ugly.
However, the rise of nostalgia has also marked a preponderance of two-tone models, with offerings from even the most iconic brands in the world (in fact, I’m not sure the Rolex Datejust has ever not had a two-tone option).
Omega Speedmaster Professional Bi-Color Basics
For Omega, the two-tone — or Bi-Color in Omega parlance — Speedmaster first came out in 1983, and there have been plenty of all-gold models in various gold types. However, the current Moonwatch lineup didn’t include a Bi-Color version at all, until now.
Based on the 4th-gen Speedmaster Pro which was worn on the Moon, these two new editions are essentially the same, along with the standard Moonwatch, except that each features a different proprietary Omega gold type over stainless steel, as well as on the pushers and crown. Housed inside the 42mm case is the manually-wound METAS-certified 3861 caliber movement, viewed through the sapphire on the caseback and powering the triple register chronograph. Likewise, the black bezels are made of ceramic Ceragold.
The major difference, aside from gold type, is the aesthetic. For the Moonshine Gold variant (Omega’s 18k yellow gold alloy), there is a silver dial with gold-colored subdials. This reference is a bit more accessible for your wardrobe. However, the Sedna Gold variant (Omega’s 18k rose gold alloy) has its charms as well, with the color shared on the PVD-coated dial, contrasted with black subdials. And of course, each watch features a 3-link bracelet featuring the respective gold on the center links.
Spec Sheet
Case Size: 42mm
Lug-to-Lug: 47.5mm
Case Thickness: 13.2mm
Case Material: Stainless steel with either 18k Sedna Gold or Moonshine Gold
Water Resistance: 50m
Movement: In-house caliber 3861 manually-wound chronograph
Band: 3-link bracelet with both steel and either 18k Sedna Gold or Moonshine Gold
Limited Edition?: No
Pricing & Availability
Over twice the price of a regular Moonwatch, the Speedmaster Professional Bi-Color is priced at $18,100. There’s no word of edition size from Omega. If you’re interested, head over to the brand’s site for information on contacting an Omega boutique.
Recap
Omega Speedmaster Professional Bi-Color
Omega now offers two-tone versions of its Moonwatch, using either their 18k Sedna Gold or 18k Moonshine Gold over stainless steel.
