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Introducing: The New Omega Speedmaster Dark Side Of The Moon Apollo 8 — Featuring The...

PandaSPUR
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Meme-Dweller Meme-Dweller
The justification is that now it makes more sense in the DSotM line-up.

The 2013 version with the red accents and 9300 movement retailed at $12,000 USD at launch. 5 years later in 2018, the original Apollo 8 launched at $9,750. The 2013 version had a standard 9300 movement you could get in the rest of their lineup. The Apollo 8 had a unique and complex dial and almost every part of the movement on the Apollo 8's 1869 movement was finished differently from the standard moonwatch.

So the Apollo 8 was always the value in the line-up. Now it just fits in with the rest price-wise.

Nah, they were talking about the white speedy. Thread went off topic.
 
A320Driver
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I can understand the price increase, I just can't understand releasing the same "special edition" watch. They had an opportunity to create something similar but different enough to also target the gen1 owners. Apollo 8 was such an important mission and has enough to offer that could've been incorporated in this release (e.g. earth rise).
 
D
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A320Driver A320Driver
I can understand the price increase, I just can't understand releasing the same "special edition" watch. They had an opportunity to create something similar but different enough to also target the gen1 owners. Apollo 8 was such an important mission and has enough to offer that could've been incorporated in this release (e.g. earth rise).

They're keeping their powder dry.
Better luck next time👍
 
D
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neekon neekon
you know what I think happened. This Apollo 8 was supposed to get released late last year, with the white dial Speedy being released this year, but for whatever reason things got pushed back. If the theory that the white dial Speedy is an Artemis version, then the delay could be due to the Artemis issues. Either way, I loved the original Apollo 8 and I'll withhold my judgement on this one until I see it in person. The original Apollo 8 also was better in person than photos. The higher detail in the dial and back is a nice improvement, idk how I feel about the rocket second hand, but will see how it looks in person.

It's not just a rocket.
It's a damn good ultra miniature of a Saturn V which looks 3 dimensional to my eye and accommodated by a sunken seconds register with loads of interesting detail beneath the Saturn V.
Surely that must count for something in terms of effort and execution.
I hate to go on about the Saturn V, but it was the most powerful machine ever invented by mankind back in the day, which I think has only been surpassed in recent times.
It worked and it did the job required without issues.
It cost a bomb and the rocket development of the whole space programme with it's failures leading up to Apollo was behind it.
Without the Saturn V and the drive of the cold war it would never have happened.
The rocket epitomises the best of everything we enjoy living in the west. IMO.
 
D
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Evitzee Evitzee
Now that kind of talk will upset the white dial dreamers who are imploring Omega to take their money NOW on the expectation that the white dial will be a simple option, "black or white, take your pick, same price, sir".After this last upgrade I'd be afraid, very afraid. 😎

Amen🙁
 
D
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YY77 YY77
Isn't it? Apollo 8 was Dec '68.

OK.
So it's running a little behind schedule.

So is Artemis.
That's when we'll see the white Speedy exclusively with Saphire and the bracelet.
Maybe even a box with red stitching and even better quality interior fitout🤔
 
Evitzee
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D Duckie
It's not just a rocket.
It's a damn good ultra miniature of a Saturn V which looks 3 dimensional to my eye and accommodated by a sunken seconds register with loads of interesting detail beneath the Saturn V.
Surely that must count for something in terms of effort and execution.
I hate to go on about the Saturn V, but it was the most powerful machine ever invented by mankind back in the day, which I think has only been surpassed in recent times.
It worked and it did the job required without issues.
It cost a bomb and the rocket development of the whole space programme with it's failures leading up to Apollo was behind it.
Without the Saturn V and the drive of the cold war it would never have happened.
The rocket epitomises the best of everything we enjoy living in the west. IMO.
The Saturn V was a magnificent machine for its era, but we are 50+ years ahead now, how long can Omega continue to milk that cow?

"Surely that must count for something in terms of effort and execution." Of course the mini, well detailed rocket counts for something, in Philadelphia it's worth 50 bucks. And don't call me Shirley. (Do I win a prize for working in TWO classic movie quotes?) 😁
 
neekon
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D Duckie
It's not just a rocket.
It's a damn good ultra miniature of a Saturn V which looks 3 dimensional to my eye and accommodated by a sunken seconds register with loads of interesting detail beneath the Saturn V.
Surely that must count for something in terms of effort and execution.
I hate to go on about the Saturn V, but it was the most powerful machine ever invented by mankind back in the day, which I think has only been surpassed in recent times.
It worked and it did the job required without issues.
It cost a bomb and the rocket development of the whole space programme with it's failures leading up to Apollo was behind it.
Without the Saturn V and the drive of the cold war it would never have happened.
The rocket epitomises the best of everything we enjoy living in the west. IMO.

Apologies, i shouldve called it by its proper name, the Saturn V seconds hand. It does look 3D in the pictures, but i want to see how it looks in person before passing judgement. The Saturn V second hand could very well be the coolest aspect when i actually see it in person.

Im aware of the historical significance of the Saturn V, its an amazing marvel and feat of engineering. Im surprised they arent trying to make a modern version for the Artemis missions, seems like a logical place to start

The Apollo8 is still one of my favorite Speedys, and i plan to go check it out this weekend and see it in person.
 
W
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I think this is all part of a broader corporate strategy to move upmarket. They need to do something to justify the price increase. Their target is celebrities and other influencers, not enthusiasts per se. They are mostly trying to make wow factor instagram watches hence the tiny rocket.
 
SpeedyPhill
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Price increase... well they might have bought a completely new LASER-engraving machine 👎
 
littlmej
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Got the chance to see the watch live in the Munich boutique today. I like still it, despite the price of course.
One detail I noticed: The Saturn 5 is not centered, the bottom of the rocket has a bit of space to the frame of the subdial which maybe would annoy me over the time. Didn’t noticed it on the press pictures. Also the lugs seem quite „fat“… Finish of the moon surface is just wow.

IMG_7969.jpeg IMG_7970.jpeg
 
Omegafanman
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My first thoughts were negative. The Fratello review made me consider some of the details and technical elements more. I do think the rocket hand is a bit of a gimmick. I like the change in case size. I guess if the watch was staying in the line-up it had to move to a 3861 as that is the Speedmaster movement. If you are making changes and think you know the market for that watch why not push it and make it a relaunch. I dont think it will hit the original A8 / might even enhance it. Equally there will be an audiance for this one.... just not most of us. Hopefully better to come as RJ implies...... I should say I have a DSOTM so I am a long-time ceramic convert.
Back to the new A8. With the new more intricate detailed moon features and the S5 rocket hand how easy will a service / clean be in 20 years?
Edited:
 
Evitzee
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As an owner of an Apollo 8 since 2019 this upgrade doesn't interest me in the least and I doubt there will be many owners who would get this new one as a replacement or as a duplicate. So Omega must still be thinking they can get new buyers for the watch, even with the much higher price tag. It would be interesting to know just how many Apollo 8s they sell, I never thought it was a big seller, kind of a niche product that wasn't going to be a permanent fixture in the catalog. But evidently Omega thought it was worth the updating, especially the movement, and to continue to sell it.
Edited:
 
rebar
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littlmej littlmej
Got the chance to see the watch live in the Munich boutique today. I like still it, despite the price of course.
One detail I noticed: The Saturn 5 is not centered, the bottom of the rocket has a bit of space to the frame of the subdial which maybe would annoy me over the time. Didn’t noticed it on the press pictures. Also the lugs seem quite „fat“… Finish of the moon surface is just wow.

IMG_7969.jpeg IMG_7970.jpeg
Thanks for the pics! The moon’s surface looks awesome. I see your point about the rocket hand. I’d guess it was done that way to promote legibility.
 
pdxleaf
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littlmej littlmej
Got the chance to see the watch live in the Munich boutique today. I like still it, despite the price of course.
One detail I noticed: The Saturn 5 is not centered, the bottom of the rocket has a bit of space to the frame of the subdial which maybe would annoy me over the time. Didn’t noticed it on the press pictures. Also the lugs seem quite „fat“… Finish of the moon surface is just wow.

IMG_7969.jpeg IMG_7970.jpeg

Did the spinning rocket bother you?

Without seeing it, I think a spinning and upside down rocket would drive me nuts.
 
littlmej
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pdxleaf pdxleaf
Did the spinning rocket bother you?

Without seeing it, I think a spinning and upside down rocket would drive me nuts.

Not really, as it was consistend moving.

If it would be a flywheel that will spin with a will of its own, that would bother me.
Like the plane on this Cartier Santos, saw it in a shop, ruined the whole watch imho.

cartier-santos-dumont-skeleton-ref-whsa0032-stainless-steel-skeleton-dial-micro-rotor-papers-bj-2023-new-b.jpg
 
scapa
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Evitzee Evitzee
As an owner of an Apollo 8 since 2019 this upgrade doesn't interest me in the least and I doubt there will be many owners who would get this new one as a replacement or as a duplicate. So Omega must still be thinking they can get new buyers for the watch, even with the much higher price tag. It would be interesting to know just how many Apollo 8s they sell, I never thought it was a big seller, kind of a niche product that wasn't going to be a permanent fixture in the catalog. But evidently Omega thought it was worth the updating, especially the movement, and to continue to sell it.

Agree.

When I bought mine it had been sitting in its case for more than 3 years IIRC, and the AD management were very keen to move it on, sort of like the full set of Chronoscopes the same AD is now essentially dumping at a very steep discount. I don't know that they ever got another one in, unless perhaps by special order. And this is a very large regional AD, that moves a lot of Omega and Rolex, etc.

That was in a pre-Snoopy world, of course. Perhaps that success, the possible limited-ness, levels of finishing and cool tiny rocket will prove more of a buyer incentive this time round. Perhaps this is another technically spectacular Omega loss leader to showcase technical prowess and help justify the relatively higher pricing of its bread-and-butter models.

I'd expect spirate to be rolled out in another range, perhaps a refreshed PO, in order to buttress a significantly higher price, leaving the SMPs as the "value" option for divers. That seems to be what Oris have done with the cal 400, albeit in a very different price tier.
 
burnrbr
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Loved the original A8 - still do today. Definitely would like to see the new one to compare the differences in person. Could do without the huge price bump though. :dislike: That’s 321 territory!
 
Haz
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I am pretty sure... There will be a time, when this new version will be "highly" collectible...
But for now.. this "rocked hand" is just hilarious. Its in my eyes neither cool nor good looking. Seems like the Flick Flack Design team had some spare time to fill...
 
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