Did Omega Just Launch the Next Legendary Speedmaster?

That’s no Moonwatch.

Close-up of a black Omega Speedmaster watch face with red and black hands and white markings.

Published October 14, 2025

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Just one year after its extensive and stunning makeover of the Speedmaster Dark Side of the Moon Apollo 8, Omega is revisiting its dark ceramic line of Speedys with a complete overhaul of the entire lineup.

The brand has launched four new models in its Dark and Grey Side of the Moon lines — seven if you count strap variations as different models, like Omega does — and while all are impressive, there’s one in particular that stands out.

In fact, I think it’s destined to be a future classic.

Ceramic overload

The new Speedmaster Dark and Grey Side of the Moon references all receive some exciting updates, with improved finishing courtesy of a new “bevelled polished ceramic process” and slimmer case sizes across the board, though all retain their original case size of an oversized 44.25mm — which Omega considers a signature trait of the line, and one that’s unlikely to change.

Three Omega Speedmaster chronograph watches with black dials and black straps, the center watch highlighted with a red second hand and red light beneath. — Omega has overhauled its Speedmaster Dark Side of the Moon Speedmaster lineup with four new models across seven references.

There’s also a very cool new fitted rubber strap available across all four models that features a textured lunar pattern on the underside. All but one of the versions also receive a new hybrid strap option as well, with a stitched canvas top layer over a rubber lining. Both straps are secured via ceramic folding clasps.

Now, let’s get into what differentiates these new models, as there’s a lot to take in. Starting with the original Dark Side of the Moon and the blacked-out “Black Black,” both of these models have been slimmed down from 16.14mm to 15.09mm, and both are now powered by Co-Axial Master Chronometer movements (previously, their movements were only COSC-certified). The Calibre 9900 automatic replaces the Cal. 9300 in both, and in the “Black Black,” it’s been given an all-black finish.

Two black Omega Speedmaster chronograph watches side by side, one with a black rubber strap and the other with a black fabric strap. — The OG Dark Side of the Moon is more stunning than ever.

Outside of the blackened movement, the main differences between these two models come down to their dials and bezels. The standard DSotM gets a bezel featuring a tachymeter scale in improved Omega “Liquidmetal” that offers better scratch-resistance than before, while the stepped ceramic dial has a laser-brushed finish with white and red accents. The hands and indices are in 18K white gold and are filled with Super-LumiNova.

The “Black Black” gets black Grand Feu enamel for its laser-engraved ceramic bezel, while the stepped ceramic dial receives a laser-sandblasted finish. The dial text, hands, indices and even Super-LumiNova are all black, just as on the previous version of the model, making this the stealthiest pick of the bunch.

Omega Speedmaster chronograph watch with black textured dial, tachymeter bezel, and black fabric strap. — The new “Black Black’ has received most of the same updates as the standard DSotM.

Next is the massively overhauled Grey Side of the Moon, which takes several cues from the DSotM Apollo 8 launched last year. Namely, it now features a skeletonized aluminum dial featuring laser-ablated pattern of the near side of the moon’s lunar surface. The tachy scale on the bezel here is laser-engraved and filled with Super-LumiNova.

On the reverse side of the watch, the manually wound Co-Axial Master Chronometer Calibre 3869 (the same movement in the Apollo 8) features a similar laser-ablated lunar pattern, this one showcasing the dark side of the moon, but with a new gray finish. Also on the caseback is a quote from Apollo 8 astronaut Jim Lovell, “The moon is essentially grey,” a callout to the model’s gray ceramic case.

The move to a manually wound movement from the old GSotM’s automatic has also translated to a far thinner case, with the profile of the watch shrinking from 16.14mm down to a far slimmer and more wearable 12.97mm.

Omega Speedmaster watch with a textured lunar surface dial, tachymeter bezel, and black rubber strap. — The biggest overhaul comes to the Grey Side of the Moon, which is largely based on last year’s DSotM Apollo 8.

Dark Vader

Lastly, we get to my favorite of these new Speedys, and the one I think most likely to become a collector favorite.

Omega referred to this as the Dark Side of the Moon “Dark-Red” in some press materials, but I’ve already heard people calling it “Dark Vader,” and I much prefer that nickname.

The watch shares some aesthetic traits with the “Black Black,” namely its blacked-out hands, indices and Super-LumiNova paired with its black ceramic case, but it’s decidedly more legible thanks to the use of gray text on the dial and bezel, the latter of which features a Liquidmetal tachymeter scale.

Close-up of a black Omega Speedmaster watch face with red second hand and subdials. — The “Dark Vader” stands out with its striking red varnished seconds hand.

The movement is also different from every other new reference, as “Dark Vader” gets the manually wound Co-Axial Master Chronometer Cal. 9908, which has been given an all-black treatment here that’s just stunning. Like on the new GSotM, the switch to a manual movement here makes the watch seriously slim at just 13.02mm. This is also the only new reference that’s available exclusively on the rubber strap with no fabric option (the strap is black, of course).

But my favorite part of the watch, and what sets it apart, is its striking red varnished chronograph seconds hand. Matching the red “Speedmaster” text on the dial, the bold red seconds hand gives off some serious Darth Vader lightsaber vibes when paired with the blacked-out aesthetic of the watch, hence the model’s hastily appointed Star Wars-derived nickname.

Close-up of the back of an Omega Dark Side of the Moon watch showing the intricate black movement with purple jewels and "50m / 165ft" water resistance marking. — A blacked-out, manually wound chronograph movement keeps the “Dark Vader” nice and slim.

Considering that a couple of other collector favorites with similar vibes already recall the iconic movie villain in the Heuer Monaco “Dark Lord” and Omega Seamaster Chronograph “Darth Vader,” I predict the new “Dark Vader” will ultimately cultivate a similar following of Dark Side-loving acolytes.

Pricing and availability

All of the new ceramic Speedmasters are non-limited and are part of Omega’s permanent collection. They also act as replacement for the previous-generation Dark and Grey Side of the Moon models, all of which have been jettisoned from Omega’s website. That is, execpt for the Apollo 8 from last year, which is considered part of this current generation.

The standard Dark Side of the Moon is the “entry-level” piece of the new collection, coming in at $15,700 on either the fabric or rubber strap. Next are the “Black Black” and “Dark Vader,” both which are $16,100 — the same price as the Apollo 8. Topping out the range is the new Grey Side of the Moon, which clocks in at $16,400. All are available now from Omega boutiques.

Black Omega Speedmaster chronograph watch with red second hand and black rubber strap.

Omega Speedmaster Dark Side of the Moon 310.92.44.51.01.001

Specs

Case Size	44.25mm
Movement	Omega Cal. 9908 manually wound chronograph
Water Resistance	50m

$16,100 at Omega

About the Author:

Johnny Brayson is an editor at Gear Patrol mostly covering watches. He enjoys watches that are packed with blink-and-you’ll-miss-’em details and believes nearly every watch could stand to be a tad smaller.

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