Omega Speedmaster Moonwatch Owner Review : Timeless, historical and recognizable

It is sometimes difficult to explain certain emotions and feelings, and that is a bit what happened with the Speed for me. I have been looking at this watch for years, since I started to really be a watch fanatic and had a certain budget to treat myself. Because that is how I am, I am not interested in things that are unattainable for me. The Speed is an icon of watchmaking, a piece to have in your collection, and therefore one that piqued my interest. However, every time I tried it on I did not find it to my taste: the shape of the lugs in the extension of the caseband which gives an oval shape rather than a round one, the sub-counters too close to the center of the dial which make it squint, the shoulders between the pushers and the crown which are unsightly seen from the back, and the twisted lugs seen from the side are all details that I did not particularly like. And on the old model, well not a fan of the bracelet in addition that I found too massive! In short, still quite a few points that I did not like… And yet, the Speed has always been part of my reflections, not regularly but at least each time I drew up my short list before any new purchase. Cycle after cycle, I reread the same articles, watched the same videos and of course put it on my wrist, but without ever taking the plunge. A few months ago, I was again in a "Speedistic" spiral. I had just acquired a Cartier Santos, so I was not at all in a purchasing process. And then finally, it was just another cycle, identical to all the others before, at the end of which I would still not be convinced anyway, as usual. But hey I was going to my favorite AD for my wife, so I had to find something to try to keep me busy! So that day, I spent the afternoon with the Speed on my wrist taking pictures. By the end of the day, my wife had concluded her deal and we were ready to go home. My AD then took his calculator, a sheet of paper and a pen and started scribbling numbers for a while. After a few minutes, he said to me: if you are interested in the Speed, I have a good offer to make you, take the time to think about it and tell me again. The bastard, he had planted his little seed, and it germinated throughout the following month. For the reasons previously mentioned, this story gnawed at my brain. After a month and a half, weakened by my cognitive battles, I finally cowardly gave in... I would die sooner or later, so it might as well be now! I chose the classic Moonwatch Professional, black dial, sapphire glass and back, reference 310.30.42.50.01.002. I have been wearing it for several months now and the flaws I found have disappeared. I have even learned to love them because in the end they are the identity of the watch. What is certain is that I appreciate the Speed more and more. It happens to me often, my favorites do not always last but some things take me time to appreciate them and even end up being indispensable to me. This watch has become a real life companion for me. It is very well finished, with its subtle polished details that bring shine but skillfully positioned which means that they are not too prone to scratches. Over time, I must admit that I have become a fan of its "oval" shape but still not too much of its twisted horns, finally seen from the side, because seen from the front they really refine the case with an incredible optical effect. But where I am captivated is when I look at it in profile with the inverted bevel of the bezel and the domed glass, I loooooooooove it! It is a chronograph so theoretically loaded, but this is absolutely not felt and does not penalize at all the readability which is really great! I just regret that the pretty Omega logo applied (on my sapphire version) is hidden by the drop of water of the chronograph hand. I also really like its slightly grainy dial and its different reliefs with the sub-dials and the railroad slightly recessed. I find that the design of the new 2021 bracelet is really great, between the jubilee and the roller, very comfortable with its short links. With its progressive refinement and its very high-quality machined buckle, I prefer it 100 times to the old version. In addition, the small adjustment of the buckle is always welcome in the summer. I just find that it has a lot of stretch but frankly it is not felt when worn. Some will say that increasing prices by 50% in 5 years is unacceptable, that this watch has been seen and reviewed, that its power reserve is well below current standards, etc. etc. There is not only falsehood in this, but everyone sees noon at their door, but I am happy every time it is on my wrist. I knew that one day I would have a Speed, it is now the case and frankly I am in heaven. It is a watch that does everything well, without ostentation and without pretension, but with accuracy and efficiency. Finally, it is the one in my collection that I took the longest to love but which will certainly end up being one of those that I wear the most.