- Omega has just announced its first new watches of 2026 with two new Speedmaster Professional Moonwatch references.
- Available in steel and Moonshine gold, the key updates include a new stepped lacquered dial and ceramic bezel inserts.
- Both new Speedmasters are currently available, with the steel version having a local RRP of $16,400, while the Moonshine gold reference is priced at $77,725.
It’s almost become a tradition at this point: new year, new Speedmaster references from Omega.
While we’ve seen plenty of special and limited edition Speedmasters making headlines in January over the years, in 2026, Omega has treated us to a pair of regular production references that arrive with a few key updates. Specifically, an all-new dial that’s been varnished and lacquered with a step up from the subdial, as well as ceramic bezel inserts for the first time.
Available in both stainless steel and Omega’s proprietary Moonshine Gold (an alloy of gold, silver, palladium, and copper), the shiny new reverse panda dials are constructed using two layers that have been finished with the same gleaming finish in both the black base dial and white subdials. Beyond this finish, Omega has also updated the hands and hour markers, using applied hour markers instead of printed ones and polished steel hands, which further serve to catch the light.
Likely as a result of this new dial manufacturing technique, both references feature slightly thicker cases than previous generations, now measuring 13.54mm from front to back, compared to 13.18mm in the past. Other than this minor update in the profile, the cases are otherwise almost identical and measure 42mm in diameter.
In addition to the new dials, we’ve also got ceramic bezel inserts for the first time, replacing the anodised aluminium bezel ring that has been a constant since the ’60s. While the polished ceramic bezels also add to the shiny impression both new references will bring to the wrist, it’s also a step in modernisation, with other popular chronographs such as Rolex’s Daytona and Zenith’s Chronomaster Sport already featuring ceramic inserts.
Beneath the dial is the same tried-and-true Calibre 3861 chronograph movement we’ve seen in previous Speedmaster references, boasting Omega’s free sprung balance, co-axial escapement, and attractive finishing. It’s also METAS-certified and offers a power reserve of 50 hours when fully wound.
With updates in design also comes an update in pricing, with the steel reference now costing $16,400, a solid step-up from the previous sapphire crystal-equipped reference priced at $14,175 (and even more than the Hesalite-equipped version at $12,350). The Moonshine Gold reference has also stepped up the price, arriving with a local RRP of $77,725, a slightly more modest increase against the previous green dial version that costs $75,700.
While far from radical, these latest Omega Speedmaster references are a thoughtful update to one of the most famous chronograph designs on the planet. As far as pricing, it’s far from affordable, but then again, the watch industry more broadly has only seen RRPs go in one direction in recent years: up.
