The thought that every watch enthusiast should experience a Speedmaster ignited my quest for the “perfect Speedy.” The countless hours spent researching and obsessing over minute details such as long indices, applied logos, and symmetrical cases shortlisted my options to a “pre-professional” Speedmaster. Unfortunately, the anxiety of venturing into murky vintage waters was enough to steer my inexperienced hands away. That was until Omega decided to relaunch the legendary Omega Speedmaster Moonwatch 321. The new “Ed White” pushed all the right buttons without having to worry about questionable parts.

Coincidentally, NASA decided to relaunch its moon missions a few years after the Omega 321 Moonwatch reissue. “Hydrogen burn-off igniters initiate… 7… 6… 5… core stage engines start… 3… 2… 1… boosters ignition and lift-off of Artemis I!”

The world stood in awe as we watched Artemis I light up the night sky. The excitement of space-age wonder and imagination becomes in the present and personal when wearing the new “Ed White”. Watching the brilliant Artemis rocket soar into space, my mind flashed back 50 years, living the emotions that flowed through the hearts and minds of a generation before our time. The experience was almost like time travel: eyes glued to the TV, heart pounding, fists clenched, and the Omega Speedmaster Moonwatch 321 steadily ticking off the countdown seconds. It could easily be mistaken for a scene from First Man, except for OLED TV and live internet streaming.

The new Omega Speedmaster Moonwatch 321 brings the state of mind back to the 1960s Apollo missions and the Speedmasters fresh off the shelf in their time. “Standing by for solid booster rocket jettison… confirmation that the solid rocket boosters have separated.” At this point, tears started rimming my eyes. Politics and ideologies aside, going to the moon is one hell of a scientific, philosophical and spiritual marvel.

“This view of Earth from a human-rated spacecraft is not seen since Apollo missions 50 years ago.” The 321 Moonwatch signifies watchmaking before the 1970s quartz crisis when watches were manually assembled and regulated to the highest tolerances for human space travel. Merits to Omega for bringing back a timepiece from a bygone era – an era before automated assembly lines and economies of scale. The historically significant and beautifully architectured Cal. 321 needs no introduction.

The finishing is industrial, but one does not expect artisanal hand-finishing in a Moonwatch. The new Omega Speedmaster Moonwatch 321 is identical to a brand new Ref 105.003 back in the day with some material improvements. The sapphire crystal comes very close to Hesalite, free from the infamous “milky ring”, and only differentiated by the distortion and warmth specific to polycarbonate. The subtle eggshell fauxtina is thickly applied and much preferable to the lime variant in regular Speedmasters. The ceramic DON bezel is practical and a faithful reproduction with minor font variations in the enamel inlay. The new “Ed White” is meticulous in its attention to detail and speaks to an equally obsessive audience.

There are Speedmasters, and there is the Speedmaster. Some get it; others don’t – which is fine. Not everyone believes in the moon landings anyways.