In late August, Omega unveiled the broadest refresh yet of its Speedmaster 38 collection, adding seven references that move the compact chronograph closer than ever to the design of the original Moonwatch. The most visible change is on the dial: round, recessed subdials replace the previous layout, giving the 38 mm watch the three-register look that collectors associate with the 42 mm Speedmaster Professional. The bracelet has been redesigned as well, gaining a comfort adjustment system.
The range spans three stainless-steel models, two two-tone executions in gold and steel, and two diamond-set versions. The stainless-steel black-dial reference is the purist's choice: a black aluminium tachymeter bezel, a matte black varnished dial, white Super-LumiNova on the hands and indexes, and no date window at six o'clock. It is the only one of the seven to run on the Calibre 3332, the no-date variant of Omega's automatic column-wheel chronograph. The other six use the Calibre 3330, which adds a date display.
Both movements carry the Co-Axial escapement and a silicon balance spring, beat at 28,800 vibrations per hour, and offer a 52-hour power reserve. They are COSC-certified chronometers rated to minus 4 plus 6 seconds per day, though they are not Master Chronometer certified. The 3330 descends from ETA's A08. L01, itself derived from the Valjoux 7753, a lineage documented in technical coverage of the launch. Every reference uses a 38 mm case with a screw-in caseback stamped with the Speedmaster Seahorse medallion, and water resistance is rated to 100 metres.
Beyond the black-dial flagship, the steel range adds a lacquered white dial paired with a blue ceramic bezel and a white enamel tachymeter scale, and a silver opaline PVD dial with Sedna Gold PVD detailing and a warm grey aluminium bezel. The two-tone models combine steel with 18K Moonshine Gold or 18K Sedna Gold: one pairs a silvery opaline dial with a green aluminium bezel and gold tachymeter scale, while the other revisits the collection's signature cappuccino look, an ivory dial with brown subdials, a Sedna Gold bezel and a matching brown ring.
At the dressier end, two references set 52 diamonds, totalling 1.53 carats, into the bezel. They are offered with an ice blue PVD dial or a white mother-of-pearl dial, with rhodium-plated hands and baton indexes.
A compact Moonwatch, at a price
"With this latest update, we've taken the Moonwatch inspiration even further, helping to enrich the Speedmaster DNA while still retaining the refined and unique nature that the 38 mm range is known for," Raynald Aeschlimann, Omega's president and CEO, said in the launch announcement.
The new references are available through Omega's boutiques and its website, with prices starting at $6,500 as reported by Men's Journal. That is serious money for a watch some will read as the smaller alternative to the Moonwatch, but the positioning is deliberate: Omega is not offering a cheaper Speedmaster so much as a compact one. For buyers who find 42 mm too much wrist, the no-date black dial is, evaluated from manufacturer specifications and published reporting, the closest the brand has come to a reduced-size Speedmaster Professional.
