Why The Speedmaster X-33 Matters

C Clouseau

As an owner of a 1st Gen and a Marstimer I can confirm that the new X-33 got the backlight function back it already had in Gen 1 and 2, but lost it in transition to the 3rd Gen Skywalker.

That's the major and most useful improvement compared to the Skywalker, Solar Impulse and Regatta letting me pull the trigger on the additional Marstimer.

The LCD-backlight doesn't turn neccessarily off after 5 seconds. If you switch during these 5 seconds of illumination to a function you want to set, you hold the left down button pressed to change into setup mode. Now the light will turn off while the hands do their out of view-motion. Once the hands have reached their out of view-position, backlight will turn on again automatically and you will be able to set up the function.

Now, unless you don't press a button while setting up the function for 5 seconds or confirm your settings by the left down button, light will stay on during the whole set up-time of the function you want to use.

S seiko4169

I don’t know if the previous gens could do it but I love the fact the Marstimer can turn off the digital part at any time and have a beautiful clean looking dial. Then when I want the extra info a button press and it comes to life.

Really love this series and hope Omega continue to invest their time and efforts. Wish list for next version …

Solar to increase battery life or rechargeable like a smart watch. A once in a while charge giving years would be amazing.
Radio sync for accuracy when setting the time saving me the nonsense of aiming for manual sub second accuracy.
Simplified menus - two primary groups plus extra bolt ons for compass and digital on off etc could have been simplified into a more generic approach. Why toggle to group 2 (mars mode) to access alarms?

Still, amazing watch 😀