OMEGA – Speedmaster Dark Side of the Moon Apollo 8 Black Ceramic

OMEGA – Speedmaster Chronograph “Dark Side of the Moon” Apollo 8 Black Ceramic - 2024

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OMEGA orbits the Apollo 8 story with a new Dark Side of the Moon

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In 1968, history was made when Apollo 8 became the first human flight to ever orbit the Moon. Aboard that pioneering mission, each astronaut was equipped with an OMEGA Speedmaster – a tool that was relied upon throughout NASA’s lunar campaign. This year, OMEGA pays tribute to the story with a new Speedmaster Dark Side of the Moon – created with state-of-the art technology, a rich palette of materials, and masterful expertise.

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At OMEGA, the first Speedmaster Dark Side of the Moon Apollo 8 timepiece was released in 2018, marking the 50th anniversary of the mission. This time, the brand has returned to its watchmaking launchpad, elevating the same design with an even finer level of detailing and refinement.

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SPEEDMASTER Dark Side of the Moon Apollo 8 - 2018

Creating a unique aesthetic throughout the design, the watch’s Calibre 3869 features a laser-ablated Moon relief on the blackened main plate and bridges. Just like the Moon, this movement reveals two different sides. 

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The dial-side represents our view of the lunar surface, as seen from Earth, while the back of the watch shows the dark side that only astronauts get to see. This new update has enhanced the Moon’s definition, thanks to laser engraving and contrasting surfaces. 

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The features are clearly pronounced and sit beautifully alongside the light grey coated wheels and dark grey gold coated balance wheel.

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Furthermore, the manual-winding Calibre 3869 has achieved the Co-Axial Master Chronometer standard, providing customers with the Swiss industry’s highest level of precision, chronometric performance, and magnetic resistance.

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The Moon-decorated movement can be seen through the watch’s skeletonized dial, which is crafted from black anodized aluminium. Yet the journey doesn’t end there. When creating the 44.25 mm case, the polished bezel, and the caseback, OMEGA used separate pieces of black ceramic – while also filling the tachymeter scale with bright white “Grand Feu” enamel.

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The central chronograph seconds hand is varnished yellow, a colour theme that continues on the watch’s perforated strap – which is made from black rubber with a yellow interior.

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Another new touch is the patent pending small-seconds hand at 9 o’clock. This has been engineered from Grade 5 Titanium and shaped like NASA’s famous Saturn V rocket. The powerful 3D structure has been obtained by laser turning, while the colours are achieved with white varnish, ablation, and laser blackening. A small yet inspiring detail that celebrates the success of the Apollo program.

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On the caseback, a series of engravings has been inscribed, including “WE’LL SEE YOU ON THE OTHER SIDE” – the final words spoken to ground control by Command Module Pilot Jim Lovell, just before the Apollo 8 mission disappeared to the far side of the Moon, and out of radio contact, for the very first time.

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The Moon’s distant surface has always been a source of mystery and curiosity. To wear this watch is to make an authentic connection with our lunar neighbour, as well as OMEGA’s own connection to space exploration. 

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As the world now looks further ahead to the possibilities of the future, the Apollo 8 mission stands as a reminder of what shared human power can achieve.

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Technical Specifications

Collection: Speedmaster

Model:  Speedmaster Dark Side of the Moon Apollo 8 Chronograph 44.25 mm
Black ceramic on rubber strap

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Reference:   310.92.44.50.01.001

Case
Black zirconium oxide ceramic case, polished and brushed
Lug‑to‑lug Open Case  50.0 mm
Thickness    13.00 mm
Case diameter    44.25 mm
Black ceramic bezel, engraved with tachymeter in Super-LumiNova and varnish
Crystal: Scratch‑resistant sapphire crystal with anti‑reflective treatment on both sides
Between lugs: 21 mm 
Water resistance: 5 bar (50 metres / 167 feet) 
Dial
No dial architecture. Colour: Black
Main plate of the movement visible with carbon effect
Openworked inner flange in black with applied indexes for the hours, with Super-LumiNova
Openworked module for the sub-counters
Blackened hands with Super-LumiNovan, red accents on sub-counter and seconds hand
Total product weight (approx.)  99 g
Movement
Omega Calibre 3869, Type  Manual‑winding 

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Hand-wound chronograph, cam-operated
Specific decoration by laser ablation (honeycomb effect and carbon texture)
A unique version of the calibre which equipped the famous and contemporary Speedmaster Moonwatch.
Frequency: 3Hz (21’600/H)
Power reserve: 50 hours
26 jewels.
Functions
Hours, minutes, small seconds,
chronograph with 30-minute and 12-hour counters
Tachymeter
Strap
Color   Black ‑ Yellow
Type    Rubber strap
Surface   Rubber
Underside    Rubber
Buckle type   Foldover clasp
Buckle material   Ceramic

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Availability: Special wooden presentation BOX

🔴 Price : RRP  € 11’995 / 14.300 USD 💰 (excl. taxes)


All OMEGA timepieces have a 5-year warranty.

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Press releases - 2024
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Frederique Constant – MANUFACTURE Slimline Perpetual Calendar Designed by Peter Speake Edition

 

Frederique Constant – MANUFACTURE Slimline Perpetual Calendar Manufacture Designed by Peter Speake Limited Edition 2024

Frederique Constant presents its Slimline Perpetual Calendar Manufacture Designed by Peter Speake 

In a continuation of their close relationship, British watchmaker Peter Speake and Geneva-based manufacture Frederique Constant proudly unveil an exceptional timepiece for 2024. Housed in a 42-millimetre steel case, this Perpetual Calendar joins the Manufacture collection, where it offers a subtle balance between style and technical prowess. Thanks to judicious use of openwork, the design yields centre stage to the inner workings of the Manufacture Perpetual Calendar – precise and precious. This contemporary creation is limited to just 135 pieces.

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Renowned for its highly refined styling, slim dimensions, and unashamed classicism, Frederique Constant’s iconic Manufacture collection now welcomes a bold new addition. Indeed, the Geneva-based brand has joined forces with British watchmaker Peter Speake to produce a highly distinctive timepiece limited to 135 pieces and featuring a decidedly strong stylistic approach that’s anything but commonplace. The piece’s imposing personality will appeal to collectors seeking a perpetual calendar complication with a difference.

Laying bare the perpetual calendar

If there’s one word that sums up the Slimline Perpetual Calendar Manufacture Designed by Peter Speake, it’s ‘openwork’. The British watchmaker has brought an ethereal, contemporary touch to Frederique Constant. Solid surfaces have been cut away to reveal the innermost workings of the Manufacture movement. All of the displays have been skeletonised, as have the hands (to which a luminous coating has been applied), revealing the mechanical ballet of the FC-775 calibre in all its glory; the seconds hand has been done away with altogether to preserve the assertively functional ethos.

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The piece adopts the same minimalist approach when it comes to colours: just two have been used, white and matt anthracite grey – a combination offering perfect contrast – plus a dash of red at the end of three of the five hands to add a final touch of clarity to the related reading. A restrained, contemporary approach chosen by Peter Speake, an independent watchmaker of discreet, personal designs that have proved their worth over the past 25 years of his career.

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The movement, meanwhile, bears all the hallmarks of the Frederique Constant Manufacture. Each component boasts its own lined finish; the gears of the perpetual calendar feature a circular satin finish and blued screws in the best traditions of fine Geneva watchmaking. The  transparent caseback reveals the openwork oscillating weight characteristic of the Maison’s Manufacture movements – charging up to a 38-hour power reserve. 

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In a rare move for Frederique Constant, the rotor has also been coloured blue, echoing the blued screws. The words ‘Limited Edition 135 pieces’ are engraved on each timepiece; each comes on a grey nylon strap with matching overstitching.

A paragon of readability

Like the tourbillon, the perpetual calendar is one of the crowning complications of Fine Watchmaking, allowing wearers to read off all calendar information in a single glance and catering for the historic vagaries of the Gregorian system. Indeed, no manual correction is required for February when, once every four years, it has 29 and not 28 days as usual due to it being a leap year.

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The design of a perpetual calendar dial is critical given how many indications need to be displayed. It must be both readable and functional, and Frederique Constant’s Manufacture Perpetual Calendar achieves just that. The day and date – the two most important items of information required on a daily basis – are displayed along the horizontal axis of the dial in that order, so as to be read off in a simple and intuitive manner, from left to right. Additional information is displayed along the vertical axis: the month at 12 o’clock and the moonphase at 6 o’clock.

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That only leaves an event that affects the wearer just once in every four years on February 29th: the presence of a leap year. Since this detail is not needed for everyday use, it has been moved over to the month display at 12 o’clock. 

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Here, it can be housed intuitively together with February, the month affected by leap years. A discreet red dot appears for the month in question when the year has 366 days; at all other times, the window remains white. 

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TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

Collection   MANUFACTURE 

Model   Slimline Perpetual Calendar Manufacture Designed by Peter Speake Edition
 

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Reference FC-775PS4S6

Movement
Caliber FC-775 Manufacture automatic caliber, perpetual calendar,
Perlage decoration on movementAnthracite bridge
Blue rotor
Satin finishing on all springs
Circular finishing on perpetual calendar wheels
26 jewels, 38-hour power reserve, 28’800 alt/h
Functions Hours, minutes, moonphase, date, day, month, leap year
Case
Polished stainless steel 3-part case
Diameter of 42mm
Anti-reflective convex sapphire crystal
See-through case back
Water-resistant up to 3 ATM /30m/100ft
Dial
Grey color dial with matt finishing, skeleton, luminescent printed indexes
White and polished hands with luminous treatment
Moonphase with luminous treatment
Bracelet Grey nylon strap with off-white stiching
Floding buckle

🔰 Limited Edition  ✅ 135 pieces  mention engraved on the movement

🔴 Price : RRP  € 11’995 / 11.995 USD 💰 

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For further Press & Public Relations inquiries, please contact Ms Caroline Feller, PR & Communication Coordinator for Frederique Constant:  cfeller@frederique-constant.com
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