What better occasion there is than the Chinese Mid-Autumn or Moon Cake Festival yesterday and the last supermoon of 2014 today to reveal my final secret watch. The post title is a big hint already. Once again, it is a moonphase watch so in the contemporary collection of Omega it has to be a Speedmaster Moonphase watch with Caliber 1866.
Today, it is the standard, classic version with black dial, white hands and bracelet. Isn't that a surefire choice for people looking to own a Speedmaster and perhaps with a little extra complication?
This particular watch is from the current production generation. Beginning from around 2011 or 2012, a small change was discreetly introduced to the model. The moonphase disc is now rich blue and the moon and the stars are silverish. Earlier production had more subdued blue for the sky and golden colored celestial bodies. I didn't notice the change right when it happened. But after a while I began to see the inconsistency and asked around among fellow owners until what happened became clear. It also prompted to me to reacquire the model after having owned one of the first pieces when it was introduced in I think 2003.
The watch is powered by the good old Caliber 1866. I wish the photograph did the movement justice but the bracelet was blocking things a bit. Maybe I will give it a try again when I finally switch from bracelet to strap.
Now I have the movement in various personas which include my Speedmaster Professional Moonphase Aventurine...
...and the Speedmaster Replica Moonphase like this one.
Here I have all of my Speedy moonphase watches sitting comfortably next to one another in the box. Without the original 866 Speedmaster Professional Moonphase as one of the inspirational pieces some 15 years ago, this "moon" disease would not have manifested this far.
Now please point me to the nearest Mooncaholics Anonymous club. I think I can use some help right here
What are the specific differences in the appearance of the moonphase Block Blast disc between the earlier and later production models of the Omega Speedmaster Moonphase with Caliber 1866?