This Silently Released Full-Platinum Omega Speedmaster 321 is a 6-Digit Endgame Speedy

Back in early 2019, Omega announced the comeback of the legendary Calibre 321 – or at least a faithful recreation of the movement that powered the brand’s emblematic Speedmaster from its introduction in 1957 until around 1968, when the brand switched to the more reliable Calibre 861. The first watch with this historic movement inside its case was a highly luxurious, highly expensive platinum Moonwatch with an onyx and meteorite dial – followed by the steel Speedmaster “Ed White” Moonwatch Calibre 321, possibly the ultimate Speedy for the fans. But Omega has silently released something rare, the endgame Speedmaster Moonwatch, a six-digit full platinum edition of this Speedmaster Calibre 321 first seen in 2019.

The title of the most expensive Speedy is still in the hands of the crazy complicated Speedmaster Chrono Chime, a 45mm gold watch with an aventurine dial and a superb movement co-developed with Blancpain, featuring a split-seconds chronograph and a repeater device that can chime the elapsed times recorded by the chronograph. We’re talking about a watch that’s listed at EUR 578,500… But we’re playing in a totally different league, in the small circle of haute horlogerie watches produced by the brand, next to the central tourbillon.

When it comes to “classic” Speedmaster models, up until now, the only one to come (very) close to the 6-digit barrier was the Speedmaster Calibre 321 Canopus. But the venerable space chronograph has broken the glass ceiling and has made its way to the stratosphere recently when Omega silently released a full platinum version of the Moonwatch 321, now fitted with a matching platinum bracelet in addition to the black leather strap we’ve come to know since 2019 – this version is still available.

What has changed? Not much, actually, as everything regarding the watch head is identical. This means a classic Moonwatch case – asymmetrical with lyre lugs – with a 42mm diameter and a reasonable 47.6mm length. What we’re looking at here is a “sapphire sandwich” version, with a case made from a special platinum alloy with gold inside (Pt950Au20). The bezel is black ceramic with a white enamel tachymeter scale, and other than the material, the watch is relatively close to a stainless steel Moonwatch.

No changes are to be reported either on the dial side, which retains its black onyx base and three sub-dials made of grey lunar meteorite. The hands, applied markers and the vintage Ω logo are made from 18k polished white gold. The real novelty for this reference 311.90.42.30.99.002 is the bracelet, which not only relies on the same Pt950Au20 platinum alloy as the case but has also been designed in a flat-link style instead of the traditional Nixon-style bracelet of steel Moonwatches.

Inside the case is the superb and historically relevant recreation of the Calibre 321. This movement is a 1-to-1 reproduction of the historic calibre, with a column-wheel and horizontal clutch architecture and the same slow 2.5Hz frequency; however, the power reserve has been upgraded to 55 hours. The movement is coated in Sedna gold PVD to mimic the look of old movements, and the finishing is more advanced than the modern Co-Axial calibre 3861 of a classic Moonwatch.

So here we are with this new edition of the Omega Speedmaster Calibre 321 in platinum with a matching platinum bracelet… With its highly luxurious case and bracelet, its dial made from hardstone with lunar meteorite inclusions, and possibly the most fascinating chronograph movement Omega currently produces, this feels like the endgame Speedmaster, the ultimate evolution of a watch that started life as an instrument for pilots… And there’s the price tag to match the status, at EUR 106,600 including taxes (or CHF 91,900 incl. taxes, USD 96,900 excl. taxes).

More details at omegawatches.com.