Archive 04: omega speedmaster professional: first impressions.
I keep coming back to the Speedmaster. At this point, that probably says more than anything else I could write about it. I’ve owned different Speedmasters before, sold them, moved on, looked at other watches, and somehow ended up right back here again. This time with the current-generation Moonwatch Professional with the Hesalite crystal.
And so far, this one feels different. Not because Omega completely changed the Speedmaster. They didn’t. It still looks like a Speedmaster. It still feels like one. That’s kind of the whole point. It just feels more refined.
The Dial
The first thing I love is the dial. It’s this really deep, flat black, and I think that works perfectly on the Speedmaster. It doesn’t need gloss or anything flashy. The white hands and markers just pop against it and the whole thing looks super clean.
Then you add the Hesalite crystal and that changes the look even more. There’s a little warmth to it that you just don’t get with sapphire. Certain angles distort slightly, reflections are softer, and the whole dial gets this older feel without actually having to wear a vintage watch.
That’s probably one of my favorite things about this version.
It Wears Smaller Than 42mm
I know 42mm sounds big. But on me, it really doesn’t wear that way. The case sits surprisingly slim, and the shape of the lugs lets it hug the wrist really well. It’s one of those watches where the measurements don’t really tell you how it actually feels once it’s on. The finishing is also really nice. You get a mix of brushed and highly polished surfaces, but it never gets too flashy. It still looks like a tool watch. Just a very nicely finished one.
The Bracelet Is Really Good
This might be one of my favorite Speedmaster bracelets I’ve worn. It’s extremely comfortable, it tapers nicely, and it doesn’t feel heavy or bulky. It just works with the watch.
The micro-adjust on the clasp is also a nice touch. It’s one of those things you don’t think much about until your wrist swells a little during the day and suddenly you’re very glad it’s there. That said, resizing the bracelet is a pain in the ass. Once it’s sized, great. Getting there? Not so great.
The Lume Is Insane
I was actually surprised by the lume. It is bright. Like, really bright. It looks awesome in the dark and it’s super easy to read. I wasn’t expecting that to be one of the things I liked most about the watch, but it definitely is. And I think that’s another reason this version works so well. It still has the old-school look, but you get some very modern performance.
The History Is a Huge Part of It
You can’t really talk about a Speedmaster without talking about the history. And that history is a big reason why I like owning one. The Speedmaster wasn’t originally made specifically for NASA. It started life as a chronograph, and later NASA put watches through a brutal qualification process to find something that could handle the demands of spaceflight.
The Speedmaster survived the testing and earned its place. That’s the cool part to me. It didn’t just get a space story slapped onto it years later. It actually earned that reputation. When you look down at your wrist, you know there’s something behind the design. It has a real story.
I think that matters.
Why I Keep Coming Back
There are plenty of watches I like. But the Speedmaster is one of the few that I always seem to come back to. Part of it is probably the history. Part of it is just the fact that the watch feels dependable. It’s something I can put on and not feel like I need to baby it every second. And this generation makes that even easier. I love vintage watches. That’s not changing.
There’s something about an older watch that a new one can’t fake. The wear, the patina, the history — that’s what makes them interesting. But if I’m actually going to wear something every day, I can also appreciate a few modern conveniences. A better bracelet. Micro-adjust. Great lume. Modern construction. This version gives you those things without making the Speedmaster feel like a different watch.
That’s what I like about it.
The Stuff I Don’t Love
It’s definitely not perfect. Like I said, the bracelet is annoying to resize. It’s also manual wind, which is either part of the charm or slightly annoying depending on how you look at it. Personally, I don’t really mind it. You just have to remember to wind it every morning.
Then there’s the water resistance. It’s fine, but it’s probably the weakest part of the watch for me. For something that otherwise feels like such a capable everyday sports watch, I wish there were a little more peace of mind around water. Not a deal breaker.
Just something I notice.
So Far…
This is probably the easiest way I can describe this Speedmaster: It feels like Omega took the Speedmaster we already know and just cleaned it up for modern life. They didn’t mess with it too much. And I’m glad they didn’t. The Hesalite still gives it that older feel. The manual winding still makes you interact with it. The dial still looks exactly how a Speedmaster should look.
But the bracelet is better, the clasp is better, the lume is great, and the whole watch just feels a little more refined. So far, I’m really enjoying it. I’m not ready to give it the full verdict yet, though.
I’m going to wear it properly for a week and see if I still feel the same way once the honeymoon phase wears off.
Then we’ll talk.
— Aged Overtime