The Omega Speedmaster is undoubtedly one of the most popular watches in the Omega lineup. It’s hard to beat a watch that has been to the moon and back. Though the Moonwatch moniker has stuck over the years, the watch has continued to evolve and Omega has provided fans with unique special editions to covet and collect.
Though these special editions often sell out quickly when they hit retail, there is always another chance to grab one on the second-hand market. If you’ve had your sights on a special edition Omega, BQ Watches has an eclectic selection for you. Let’s take a look at some of the most notable models in the Omega collection.
First, we must begin with something at the heart of what the Speedmaster is known for. The Omega Speedmaster Apollo XVII 40th Anniversary is the perfect collector watch, as it marks the anniversary of the sixth and final moon landing. The real draw here is the silver dial with the Apollo XVII patch design. It immediately draws the eye and makes this watch easy to pick out from the crowd.
Of course, the watch wears well, too. It comes in a well-weighted 42mm case of stainless steel, with a black tachymetre bezel. The watch is powered by Omega’s 1861 calibre. Another notable feature that is sure to impress is the inscription on the caseback that reads “The last man on the moon – December 14, 1972” and “Apollo XVII 40th Anniversary.”
If you admire Omega’s lunar history, this is a watch that you definitely will want to own.
The Omega Speedmaster ‘Silver Snoopy Award’ 50th Anniversary is another well-known collector’s watch from the Omega lineup. Like previous editions of the Snoopy Omegas, this watch references NASA presenting the Silver Snoopy Award in 1970. The Silver Snoopy Award is given to employees and contractors for NASA that have contributed outstanding achievements to space missions.
This particular Speedmaster is certainly an eye-catcher, with a 42mm case and striking blue accents. The blue strap adds to the whimsical design. Then you have Snoopy himself located in the small seconds sub-dial, perfectly completing the design. What really makes this watch interesting is its caseback. The caseback features a design of Snoopy on his Command and Service Module. Using the chronograph seconds hand moves Snoopy and his module to the far side of the moon. The Earth disc also rotates once per minute.
Unlike our previous Apollo anniversary highlight, the Omega Speedmaster Moonwatch Apollo 11 50th Limited Edition commemorates the first lunar landing, instead of the last one. For connoisseurs of space history, this watch is unmissable. With just under 7,000 units of this watch being produced, it’s definitely a rare find.
The 42mm stainless steel case perfectly accentuates the black and dark gray dial. The small gold details help to highlight the more unique components of the design, particularly the design on the running seconds sub-dial. A closer look shows Buzz Aldrin leaving the shuttle to step foot on the Moon. The 11 o’clock hour marker is also unique compared to the others, to denote the Apollo 11. The caseback features a unique design as well, with an astronaut footprint and Neil Armstrong’s historic “That’s one small step for man – one giant leap for mankind” quote engraved on the metal.
In addition to the iconic design work on this watch, it’s a very modern model too, which means top-of-the-line craftsmanship and technology. The watch is powered by Omega’s calibre 3861 movement and is a certified Master Chronometer. You can trust this watch to be highly accurate and resistant to magnetism up to 15,000 gauss.
Let’s return from the Moon for a moment and look at some of the other special editions that Omega has in their repertoire. A more recent special edition from the brand is the Omega Speedmaster 2020 Tokyo. As the official timekeeper of the Olympics, Omega made sure to release a special watch for the occasion. For this collection, they released five Speedmaster professionals to represent each of the Olympic rings. Of course, each edition has a different coloured dial to represent each of the coloured rings. The one we’ve highlighted here has the black bezel and sub-dials with a white dial.
What makes this watch interesting is the fact that the 2020 Tokyo Olympics actually took place in 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but the 2020 moniker was kept. Meaning the 2020 is also engraved on the timepiece. This adds a bit of an interesting story to the timepiece.
Back to the Moon! The Omega Speedmaster Dark Side of the Moon certainly lives up to its name, with its use of dark colours and the moon rock texture on the dial. The yellow flourishes help to increase visibility against the nearly blacked-out case, bracelet, and dial. The luminous tachymetre bezel and the 44m size help to make this watch stand out despite its subtler tones.
This Speedmaster features Omega’s precise 1861 automatic movement, which can be viewed through the clear sapphire caseback. Also featured on the caseback is the quote, “We’ll see you on the other side.” This was said over radio by astronaut Jim Lovell as the Apollo 8 lost communication while circling the other side of the moon.
Now we turn to the racetrack, and we have something a bit different from the watches we highlighted above. The Omega Speedmaster Schumacher falls more in line with the “Speed” aspect of the Speedmaster moniker, as it is named after German F1 driver Michael Schumacher.
The Omega Speedmaster Schumacher scaled things down a bit with a 39mm case, compared to the more common 42mm case on other Speedmasters. However, the watch certainly isn’t scaled down in terms of flair, as it comes in a blazing yellow with red accents. This is an homage to Schumacher’s historic success racing for Ferrari.
The watch also has Schumacher’s signature on the case. For fans of motorsports, this watch might be a little more your speed than the Moon and Olympics versions we’ve highlighted so far.
Finally, we’re heading back to the Olympics with the Omega Speedmaster Mark II Rio. As you may know by now, Omega likes to mark its participation as the timekeeper and sponsor of the Olympics with special edition timepieces.
The Mark II Rio series of Speedmasters paid homage to their Olympic status with a more subtle style, incorporating three different metals for the sub-dials – bronze, silver, and gold. These different coloured sundial rings are juxtaposed against the black dial perfectly.
Overall, it’s a beautiful and subtle commemoration of the 2016 Rio Olympics and Omega’s role in the games.
When you’re in the market for a unique Omega watch, there’s no better place to go than BQ Watches. In addition to our current inventory of Omegas, we’re always adding new items on a consistent basis. If you don’t see something you love right away, just ask us about our sourcing services. We’re happy to find you the watch you’ve been wanting. Fill out our contact form below to let us know what services you require; a member of our team will reach out right away.
