Omega’s Dark Side of the Moon Evolves: A New Era for the Speedmaster

When Omega first launched the Dark Side of the Moon over a decade ago, it was more than just a design experiment; it was a statement: the Speedmaster could be modern, bold, and unapologetically technical while still rooted in space exploration. Fast forward to 2025, and the new Dark Side of the Moon lineup feels like the collection has grown up. We’re not just looking at color variants; we’re seeing a refined philosophy, ceramic mastery, METAS-certified movements, and a maturing of the Speedmaster’s “dark” personality.

But beyond specs, these watches provoke emotion. Some impress, some intrigue, and some mesmerize. Here’s a personal take on each of the new pieces, and what they might mean for the Speedmaster’s future.

🖤 The “All-Dark” Speedmaster: The Stealth Icon That Still Feels Too Serious

Let’s start with the one everyone talks about, the all-black “Dark-Dark” Speedmaster. It’s the purest interpretation of the “Dark Side” concept: matte ceramic case, black dial, black hands, black strap, black everything.

And yes, it looks killer in person. The stealth aesthetic is incredibly cohesive, no reflections, no gloss, just pure form and function. You can imagine this on the wrist of a test pilot or a space engineer in some Ridley Scott film.

But as much as I love it visually, I have to admit: it’s not a practical watch. In dim lighting, legibility drops off fast. You find yourself tilting your wrist toward the nearest light source just to read the subdials. It’s the horological equivalent of driving a matte-black Lamborghini, jaw-dropping to look at, slightly impractical to use.

Still, as an object, it’s perfect. It’s the one I’d pick if I wanted a statement piece to wear at night, or to admire under my desk lamp while pretending to calculate delta-V trajectories.

🔴 The “Dark-Red” Manual Wind: A Perfect Middle Ground

This is the one that surprised me. The Dark Side of the Moon “Dark-Red” edition takes the all-black design and injects it with just the right amount of personality, subtle red accents on the dial, chronograph hands, and logo. It’s not flashy, it’s alive.

The fact that it’s manual-winding (using the new Calibre 9908) immediately gives it a more tactile connection to the traditional Moonwatch lineage. You feel the same ritual, winding before wear, but in a modern, high-tech shell. The proportions are slightly leaner too, thanks to losing the rotor.

It’s also the one that feels the most Speedmaster to me. The red details give a hint of vintage racing chronograph energy without breaking the stealth tone. If the all-black version is a concept car, the Dark Red is the one you can actually drive.

Would I wear it daily? Yes, it hits that sweet spot between bold and usable.

⚪️ The “Dark-White” Automatic: Refined, Technical, and Finally Legible

The new Dark-White version might not grab you instantly in photos, but on the wrist, it’s easily the most balanced of the group. The white markers and rhodium-finished hands finally make the DSOTM properly legible, something many earlier versions struggled with.

It’s powered by the calibre 9900 automati, a Master ChÏronometer engine that’s magnet-proof, accurate, and built like a tank. This is the “everyday” DSOTM if there ever was one: all the cutting-edge ceramic case construction, but dressed in contrast and clarity.

It’s still a 44.25 mm watch, no escaping that, but with slightly improved proportions and a more innovative strap system, it feels more wearable than before. If you loved the original DSOTM but wished it worked better under daylight and office lighting, this is Omega’s answer.

🌕 The “Grey Side of the Moon”: Poetry in Ceramic

And then there’s the Grey Side of the Moon (Apollo 8). Let’s say it: this one is breathtaking.

The dial, laser-ablated to mimic the lunar surface, doesn’t just look like the Moon, it feels like it. You can see craters and ridges, subtle variations in texture, and even the transition between the near and far side of the Moon represented through the open-worked design. Turn the watch over, and the caseback shows the “far side” in equally meticulous detail.

It’s powered by the new manual-wind calibre 3869, also Master Chronometer certified, and the overall experience is pure theatre. Every glance feels like a small step closer to space. It’s one of those watches that remind you why horology can be art, not just engineering.

From a collector’s point of view, it’s also the most emotionally resonant Speedmaster in years. This is not about precision or utility; it’s about storytelling, craftsmanship, and the kind of goosebumps only a Moon-themed watch can deliver.

If I had to pick one from the collection to live with, this would be it. It captures the spirit of the Speedmaster more poetically than any steel reissue could.

🧭 What This Means for the Future of the Speedmaster

The 2025 Dark Side of the Moon lineup tells us something important about Omega’s direction.

1. The Speedmaster is now a platform, not a single model.

We have the “heritage” Moonwatch for purists, the 42 mm steel, Hesalite-crystal classic.

Then we have the experiments: the Dark Side, Grey Side, and White Side. Omega is no longer afraid to treat the Speedmaster as a playground for innovation. And that’s exciting.

2. Ceramic is the new steel.

Omega’s mastery of ceramics is evident here, from the lunar-textured cases to the integrated pushers. It’s becoming the brand’s design language. And I suspect we’ll see smaller, thinner ceramic Speedmasters in the next few years.

3. Storytelling is as valuable as precision.

The Grey Side proves it: emotional design, thematic storytelling, and heritage connection are now central to Omega’s appeal. Technical specs matter, but how the watch feels matters more.

4. The DSOTM will never replace the Moonwatch, and that’s good.

It’s not meant to. The DSOTM is the dark mirror, the shadow side, where Omega experiments and expresses. The fact that it exists alongside the traditional Speedmaster is what makes the collection so dynamic.

💬 Final Thoughts

If you’re a collector or an enthusiast, the 2025 Dark Side of the Moon collection feels like a love letter to experimentation.

• The All-Dark is beautiful, but unapologetically impractical.
• The Dark-Red balances usability with personality, the best real-world choice.
• The Dark-White is the quiet achiever, the one who could actually serve as a daily companion.
• And the Grey Side… well, that’s pure emotion in ceramic form.

As a fan of the Speedmaster line, it’s hard not to be impressed. Omega didn’t just update the DSOTM; it evolved it into something more mature, more emotional, and arguably more Omega than ever before.

The Dark Side of the Moon has never looked brighter.