Omega Speedmaster Side of the Moon Collection | The Watch Club by SwissWatchExpo

The Omega Speedmaster is easily one of the most iconic chronographs in existence. Introduced in 1957, it was originally devised for the racing tracks, before making history as the first timepiece worn in the cosmos. More than 50 years after its famous participation in the moon landing, the Speedmaster continues to pay homage to its rich space exploration heritage.

One collection that celebrates the brand’s pioneering spirit and remarkable contributions to space missions is the Dark Side of the Moon. Putting a modern twist to the classic Speedy, it salutes the first orbit of the moon through the use of avant-garde designs and advanced technologies. Not only do they exhibit a refined appeal — all pieces under this line are also made with premium materials and can catch everyone’s attention.

Here’s a closer look at the Dark Side of the Moon series:

Omega Speedmaster Sedna Black Dark Side of the Moon Watch 311.63.44.51.06.001

Why Dark Side of the Moon?

The Dark Side of the Moon series was launched at the 2013 Baselworld as a tribute to the Apollo 8’s legendary orbit that took place in December 1968. This expedition made history as the first manned mission to take humans to the moon and back.

All members of the Apollo 8 crew spent three days traveling the distance to the Moon. They entered lunar orbit on Christmas Eve, during which they held a live broadcast in which they showed pictures of the Earth and the Moon’s surface as seen from their spacecraft.

Frank Borman, James Lovell, and William Anders of the NASA Apollo 8 Crew became the first humans to orbit the Moon, paving the way for the momentous moon landing with Apollo 11 in July 1969.

The Apollo 8 mission made NASA astronauts Frank Borman, James Lovell, and William Anders the first group of individuals to see the entirety of Earth, and the first to view the dark side of the Moon in person. The phrase ‘dark side of the Moon’ refers to the far, unseen lunar hemisphere that faces away from the Earth.

This enchanting natural phenomenon, together with the outstanding achievements of the Apollo 8 crew, inspired Omega to create the Dark Side of the Moon collection. The watches under this line began as blacked-out versions of the Speedmaster, made out of a single block of zirconium oxide ceramic.

Watches on the Dark Side of the Moon Collection

The Dark Side of the Moon is split into four subfamilies – the Dark, Grey, White, and Blue Side of the Moon. As mentioned earlier, the first was introduced in 2013, followed by the Grey and White Side in 2014 and 2015, and Blue Side in 2017. Omega also launched skeletonized variations in 2018 and 2020, which showcases its passion for innovation.

Omega Speedmaster Grey Side of the Moon Ref. 311.93.44.51.99.001 /
Omega Speedmaster Dark Side of the Moon Black Black

Dark Side of the Moon

Perhaps the sleekest sub-collection, the Dark Side of the Moon, is a brooding expression of the chronograph watch. It is composed of six watches, carrying an all-black aesthetic with varying touches of Super-Luminova and Sedna Gold.

Omega Speedmaster Dark Side of the Moon Vintage Black / Omega Speedmaster
Dark Side of the Moon Pitch Black

As their names suggest, all Dark Side of the Moon models are offered in 44.25mm black ceramic cases, paired with a tachymeter bezel in the same tone and material. Versatility is expressed through their matte black or grey dials, while the polished and brushed finishes result in an unparalleled masculine look.

White Side of the Moon

Next, we have the White Side of the Moon, composed of crisp white ceramic timepieces with hints of red and black. A feminine take on the MoonWatch, all models under this line are brimming with class and elegance.

Omega Speedmaster White Side of the Moon Ref. 311.93.44.51.04.002

Each design comes with a choice of either a smooth or a diamond-set bezel, and a ceramic or mother of pearl dial. The soft colorway makes the watches perfect all-rounders, while the 18k white gold indices and hands provide a glamorous touch.

Grey Side of the Moon

The Grey Side of the Moon is a luxurious approach to the Speedy, with its grey ceramic construction and lush styling. Composed of two watches – the original Grey Side and the Grey Side Meteorite, this collection remains faithful to the distinguishing elements of the Speedy. These include the luminous MoonWatch-style hands and the legible tachymeter scale

Omega Speedmaster Grey Side of the Moon Ref. 311.63.44.51.99.002

A platinum 950 dial is made available in the original model, while the meteorite version has an acid-etched Gibeon meteorite dial with “Widmanstätten” patterns reminiscent of the Moon’s surface, and 18K Sedna gold hands and hour marker surrounds. Much like the previous models, these watches rely on a Co-Axial Caliber 9300 with a 60-hour power reserve.

Blue Side of the Moon

In 2017, Omega took the collection a step further with the Blue Side of the Moon edition, which takes its name from the dark blue sky. It shares the same dimensions and profile as the rest of the Dark Side collection, but in a rich blue ceramic case.

Omega Speedmaster Blue Side of the Moon Watch 304.93.44.52.03.002 (photo: Omega)

Moreover, it is powered by the Caliber 9904 which adds a moonphase indicator to the chronograph and date functions we’ve seen in other Dark Side models. Displayed at 6 o’clock is the accurate Moonphase indicator composed of a blue ceramic disc and the near and far sides of the moon in LiquidMetal™.

Skeletonized Versions

Omega also unveiled special iterations of the Dark Side watches featuring skeleton dials: the Apollo 8 Tribute and the Alinghi Dark Side of the Moon. The Apollo 8 Ref. 311.92.44.30.01.001 commemorates the 50th anniversary of NASA’s Apollo 8 mission, while the Alinghi celebrates Omega’s partnership with the Alinghi sailing team.

Omega Speedmaster Dark Side of the Moon Apollo 8 Ref. 311.92.44.30.01.001

Boasting a blackened hand-wound movement with patterns that mirror the surface of the moon, the Speedmaster Apollo 8 Tribute has a black ceramic case and a crown filled with Super-Luminova. Its black dial makes the yellow accents and white markers pop, while the caseback is engraved with the words “WE’LL SEE YOU ON THE OTHER SIDE,” spoken directly by Jim Lovell during the first phase of the Apollo 8 mission.

Omega Speedmaster Dark Side of the Moon Alinghi Ref. 311.92.44.30.01.002

Meanwhile, the Speedmaster Alinghi features a striking red and black color scheme, a tactical time display, and an anodized aluminum disc with the Alinghi logo, which rotates whenever the chronograph complication is initiated. Inside, this watch runs on a manual-wind Caliber 1865, adorned with honeycomb patterns reminiscent of the interiors of the Alinghi TF35 catamaran hull.

With their superbly executed designs, highly versatile looks, and robust performance, all Omega Speedmaster Dark Side of the Moon watches will surely stand the test of time. Explore our collection at SwissWatchExpo.com.