Omega Speedmaster Professional Moonphase - The watch to have gracefully carried on the Baton

For a watch that was assigned the mandate of carrying on the legacy and ultimately the quality of a previous watch, the OMEGA Speedmaster Moonphase has certainly delivered. Omega has established a name for itself in the watchmaking industry for being one that incorporates its long-standing history into any new feat it pulls and this was no exception.

Omega Moonphase watch's sporty looks complemented by Gunny X MT Leather Watch Strap - Minimalist Snoopy in Moonswatch kind of style, but with vintage leather in dirty yellow color.

It’s Ancestor - The Omega Speedmaster Moonwatch

Back in the 1980’s , it felt as though Omega had already laid a firm grip on the Moon phase watch series so much so that they released an entire collection of them but amongst those, one that stood out was the Omega Speedmaster Moonwatch. With only about 1300 pieces made, the watch was the first speed master with moon phases and indeed felt like a Holy Grail watch.

Omega SpeedyMoon paired with a Q.R. Performance FKM Rubber Strap by Crafter Blue

Flash forward to 2003, OMEGA released the Omega Speedmaster Professional Moonphase 3576.50.00 but to watch lovers and purists, they knew they had seen something like it before and indeed they were right because Omega released it based on the 1980s SpeedyMoon.

Similar to the Omega x Swatch Moonwatch, the Omega Moonphase watch is an impressive piece of hardware and is powered by an 1866 Omega caliber manual-winding chronograph movement with a rhodium-plated finish. This watch is commonly known with the insignia-” first man on the Moonphase”, a tagline that is associated with the fact that the original Speedmaster watch was worn by the crew of the Apollo 11 mission, indeed this timepiece is one for the ages.

Premium Hybrid Leather FKM Rubber Watch Strap for OMEGA SpeedyMoon (20mm lugs) in Brown

The Function Of a Moonphase Watch

With a cue taken from how the name sounds, a Moonphase watch relays the 29.5 lunar cycle by showing how the current Moonphase looks like in an aperture on the dial. We have two basic types of these kinds of watches- The Bosom watch and the radial watch with each one varying in their designs and outlook. While the former is concerned about showing how the moon appears in its various phases, the latter is designed to track the lunar cycle.

The watch mechanism of the Moonphase has existed for decades and it basically involves having two identical moons placed on a disc under the dial. To control this is a 59-tooth driving wheel that advances the disc once per day with a mechanical finger. Moonphase watches are very accurate and only go off once every 31 months.

Another well-favored Hybrid watch strap fused from Sailcloth and FKM Rubber in Khaki color ready for the Omega Moonphrase to take off the mission

The Omega Speedmaster Professional Moonphase Specifications

Being a timepiece that extends the Omega family even further, it is only normal for it to have a bump in technology and it does so by having a quality Moonphase and a pointer date complication alongside a conspicuous sapphire on both sides. As for the casing, it comes in a 42mm case with 17 mm of pure thickness to ensure the surface retains its polished state.

Rock the Omega SpeedyMoon with a Mesh Watch Band

If you are one that has an eye for the flair, then you would definitely like the accessories it comes with. From the inner and outer colorful boxes with no papers to the plastic crystal protector ad even down to the Omega date/moon setting tool, the watch is a classic in and out.

As for the bezel, it is made with satin-finished ceramic and a liquid-metal tachymeter scale that combines not only to make it durable but highly scratch resistant. Being a tachymeter watch, it has a function for measuring speed; this is done via a dial on which speed can be read up to the range of kilometer per hour.

Another feature that makes this Omega Speedmaster timepiece stand out is its elegant high-resolution Moonphase disc that comes with an ultra-high definition and a photorealistic lunar surface. For a watch that made it aboard the famous Apollo 11 mission, it is only logical that this Moonphase disc is the prominent feature that it is.

The strap it comes with is a 1498 bracelet with a push button clasp. All but two links are present with those two removed to help accommodate the standard wrist size of 7.75 inches.

Ash Grey tone Waffle weaved Nylon is just a perfect fit for the Omega Speedmaster

Here are the watch’s features all in one place;

• Maker: OMEGA
• Model: Speedmaster Professional Mooonwatch with Moonphase
• Reference: 3576.50.00
• Year: 2000s
• Material: Stainless steel
• Dimensions: 42mm diameter; 17.0mm thickness
• Functions: Hours, minutes, seconds, chronograph, date, Moonphase
• Crystal: Sapphire
• Caseback: Exhibition, sapphire
• Dial: Black Moon Phase Dial
• Lume: Yes, Super-LumiNova
• Caliber: Omega, manual, caliber 1866
• Power Reserve: Approximately 48 hours
• Water Resistance: 50 meters/167 feet
• Bracelet/Strap: Omega, stainless steel, bracelet (approximate max wrist size 7.75 inches)
• Lug Width: 20mm
• Manufactured: Switzerland
• Box/Papers: Yes, this watch is accompanied by its original box and manuals.
• Limited Edition: N/A

Chaffle FKM strap has a highly reflective and visible Waffle, weighs ~ 35g, definitely gives great support to the Omega SpeedyMoon

Conclusion

Whether you want it on a sporty look or a dressy look, this Speedmaster addresses your needs and with it on your wrist, it makes you feel like you are a part of a bigger history. Continuing the legacy of the now discontinued Original SpeedyMoon from the 1980s wasn’t going to be an easy feat, but we can gladly say Omega choose a worthy successor in the OMEGA Speedmaster Professional Moonphase 3576.50.00 .

External References

• How to Set a Moon Phase Watch
• What is a Moonphase Watch & How Does it Work?
• Omega Speedmaster Moonwatch Chronograph 42 mm 3576.50.00