Omega’s Secret New Speedmaster Is a Grail for Golf Lovers

The Omega Speedmaster may be known for being the first watch worn on the moon, but the latest version of the iconic chronograph is more at home on land. Specifically, on the greens and fairways of a golf course.

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Without making any formal announcements, press releases or social media posts, Omega has quietly added a new Speedmaster Moonwatch Professional reference to its catalog.

And while Omega doesn’t explicitly say so, the watch certainly seems like it could’ve been inspired by brand ambassador Rory McIlroy‘s second consecutive win at The Masters earlier this year.

Omega

Speed-Masters

The new Speedmaster is an update to the existing Reference 310.60.42.50.10.001. In fact, there’s just one thing that’s different, which I’ll get to in a minute.

First, let’s go over what hasn’t changed. This remains a 42mm Moonwatch in full 18K Moonshine gold, Omega’s proprietary yellow gold alloy. The case and “Nixon” bracelet are both made of the material, and the gold clasp features the current Speedy’s microadjustment system.

It is a “sapphire sandwich,” meaning you get a domed sapphire crystal over the dial and another sapphire crystal on the caseback showing off the luxury-finished Omega Calibre 3861, a manual-winding chronograph with a co-axial escapement and Master Chronometer certification from METAS.

Omega

The tachymeter bezel features the iconic “dot over 90” and has a green polished ceramic insert with a scale in Ceragold, Omega’s proprietary method of printing real 18K gold onto ceramic. The stepped dial has a green PVD coating and a sunburst finish, with its applied indices, Moonwatch hands and applied Omega logo all in gold.

The only difference between this new watch, Ref. 310.60.42.50.10.002, and the aforementioned 310.60.42.50.10.001, is the subdials. On the older watch, the three sunken subdials are the same green as the rest of the dial.

On the new version, the subdials are coated with Moonshine gold, giving them more contrast and making the watch look a bit more luxurious. What’s more, the subdials have also been given a new “azurage” pattern that Omega says is inspired by the radial design of golf spikes.

Omega

The previous gold-and-green Speedy was already used to promote the brand’s deep golf connections; Omega just shared the watch on Instagram on June 24 to celebrate ambassador Wyndham Clark’s U.S. Open victory, but this new one is even more intertwined with the sport thanks to its subdials taking direct design inspiration from the sport.

Combine the direct golf reference with the green dial, which Fratello, who first noticed the new watch, calls “Masters Green,” and it’s hard not to draw the conclusion that Omega tailored this chronograph specifically for its top golf ambassador, McIlroy, who just so happens to be the current owner of golf’s illustrious Green Jacket.

Omega

Availability and pricing

There are two more curious things to note about the new Speedmaster in comparison to the very similar reference that came before it.

First, the new watch somehow weighs one gram less than the older version at 222g versus 223g. This is despite containing more gold with the new subdials. There must be some other difference in the way the dials are constructed to cause that discrepancy, because the watches are exactly the same otherwise.

Next is the price. Again, despite containing more gold, the new “Masters Green” Speedy is somehow cheaper than the old one, with an MSRP of $49,300 versus $50,900. Why would adding gold, patterned subdials lower the price by $1,600? I have no idea, but I’ll take it!

Omega

Omega Speedmaster Moonwatch Professional “Masters Green”

Specs

Case Size	42mm
Movement	Omega Cal. 3861 manual-wind chronograph
Water Resistance	50m

• $49,300 at Omega

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