Omega Speedmaster makes a comeback to the lunar surface

In honor of the 1968 Apollo 8 mission, which was a crucial step toward the lunar landing the following year, Omega debuted its first Dark Side of the Moon Speedmaster in 2018.

The first manned mission to complete a full lunar orbit and witness life under its shadow was Apollo 8.

Anodized aluminum was used to create a semi-skeletonized face featuring a laser-created depiction of the lunar surface as seen from Earth, replacing the original Speedmaster Dark Side of the Moon's flat black dial.

Parts of the manual-winding Calibre 3869's main plate and bridges have also been laser-cut into the relief of the moon's dark side, which is invisible from Earth, on the watch's underside.

The phrase "WE'LL SEE YOU ON THE OTHER SIDE" is also engraved on the back of the case. This is the last words Command Module Pilot Jim Lovell ever said to ground control before the Apollo 8 mission vanished to the far side of the Moon and lost radio contact for the first time.

The 2018 anniversary model's case was made by Omega using black ceramic.

Parts of the case and the polished tachmeter bezel of this year's watch are likewise made of ceramic.

A varnished central chronograph hand and other accents like markers on the seconds track and stitching on a perforated rubber strap nod to the Speedmaster's long-standing significance in the color yellow, which is gladly returned in the new Dark Side of the Moon.

The titanium hands on the small seconds subdial at nine o'clock, which resemble NASA's Saturn V rocket—which was launched on a manned mission for the first time with the Apollo 8 mission—are a beautiful detail.

It costs £13,500/$14,300 to purchase the 44.25mm watch right now.