Omega is not only known for making dive watches but for creating watches that can be brought to the skies and beyond.
About Omega Pilot Watches
The pioneer of Omega pilot watches is the “Moonwatch” – the legendary timepiece designed to be used for space travel. In 1969, Buzz Aldrin wore an Omega pilot watch as man made its first step on the surface of the moon. This earned the series the ‘Moonwatch’ moniker we know of today. NASA trusted Omega pilot watches back then for their space missions and they still do with the most recent International Space Station programs.
Omega pilot watches are well-received for their precise timekeeping chronographs and tachymeter bezels. If you’re looking for a timepiece for keeping accurate timing on races, sports events, or other record-breaking activities that involve speed, Omega pilot watches under the Speedmaster collection are the best choice.
Omega Pilot Watch Collection
Here are the Omega pilot watches you can consider adding to your collection.
Moonwatch
The Moonwatch is probably the most prominent Omega pilot watch series out there. The original Moonwatch was used in the 1969 Apollo mission that ventured to the moon. The new models under this series resemble the base elements featured on the first model, namely, the tachymeter bezel and the chronograph subdials.
Models under this series include the Speedmaster Professional Chronograp, the Dark Side of the Moon, the Apollo 8, the CK 2998, the Apollo 17 Limited Edition, the Ultraman, the Meteorite, the Grey Side of the Moon, the White Side of the Moon, the Moonphase, the new Moonwatch, the Silver Snoopy, the Apollo 11 45th Anniversary Limited Edition, and the Moonwatch Chronograph.
Features:
- 39mm to 44mm case diameter
- Case comes in ceramic, platinum, Sedna gold, stainless steel, or titanium
- Strap variants include nylon, stainless steel, NATO, leather, and titanium
- Bezel made of ceramic
- Scratch-resistant sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating; some models use Hesalite crystal
- Hands and markers coated with Super-LumiNova
- Date aperture or date subdial on the models
- Specially engraved case back
- Chronograph subdials with 30-minute, 12-hour, and 60-second scales
- Caliber 9905/9904, 9301/9300, 1869, 1866, 1863, and 1861 with manual-winding or self-winding mechanisms
- Power reserve of up to 60 hours
- Water resistance of 100m
Pros:
- Exquisite sporty designs that can also work as dress watches
- Highly-precise hand movements
- Excellent readability on most models
- Superb lume brightness
- Durable and highly-functional
Cons:
- Some models have poor color contrast between the hands and the dial
- They’re a little heavy to wear
- Some models can be quite large and bulky for users
Price Range: $2,500 to $8,700
Spacemaster Z-33
The Spacemaster Z-33 is inspired by an Omega pilot watch created in 1969. It’s instantly recognizable with its futuristic look and large crown pushers that resemble some sort of complicated spaceship engine. It also has a hybrid watch face with its analog hands and digital display.
Features:
- 43mm case diameter
- Case made of grade 5 titanium
- Choose from rubber, titanium, or leather strap
- Perpetual calendar function
- Chronograph feature
- Alarm function
- Digital display with electroluminescent feature
- Floating analog hands with lume
- Programmable function for logging information on up to ten flights
- Caliber 5666 thermo-compensated quartz movement
- Scratch-resistant sapphire crystal
- Battery life of up to 24 months
- Water resistance of 30m
Pros:
- Multi-functional and very versatile
- Lightweight but has a sturdy build
- Time and digital displays are easy to read
Cons:
- Niche design is certainly not for everyone
- It’s thicker than most watches
- Almost inaudible alarm
Price Range: $5,000
Solar Impulse HB-SIA
The Solar Impulse is an Omega pilot watch inspired by the HB-SIA’s round-the-world flight using only solar power to run its engines. It has a carbon fiber dial which is the same material used on the plane’s composite covering. This Speedmaster timepiece also has a GMT hand and a tachymeter bezel.
Features:
- 44.25mm case diameter
- GMT hand with 24-hour scale on the dial
- Case made of titanium
- Tachymeter bezel with base 1,000
- Dial made of carbon fiber
- Date window
- Bracelet made of rubber or titanium
- Chronograph subdials with 60-second, 30-minute, and 12-hour scales
- Hands and markers with Super-LumiNova
- Scratch-resistant sapphire crystal
- Caliber 3603 self-winding movement
- Power reserve of up to 52 hours
- Water resistance of 100m
Pros:
- Lightweight and very comfortable to wear
- GMT hand is very visible and highly functional
- Generous lume application improves legibility
- Large subdial markers
Cons:
- Dial pattern makes the watch face look too busy
- Color of date window blends with the dial color
- It’s quite large which may not be to the taste of some users
Price Range: $5,600 to $8,300
Skywalker X-33
The Skywalker X-33 is an Omega pilot watch designed for space explorers which is why it has long battery life and a variety of functions. It’s a hybrid watch that features both analog hands and digital displays for improved versatility and distinctive design.
Features:
- 45mm case diameter
- Case made of grade 2 titanium
- Choose between a NATO strap or a titanium bracelet
- Bidirectional rotating bezel
- Digital display has an electroluminescent backlight
- A chronograph function
- A timer
- Multiple timezone tracking
- A perpetual calendar function
- Three alarm functions
- Hands and markers
- Scratch-resistant sapphire crystal
- Caliber 5619 thermo-compensated quartz movement
- Battery life of up to 24 months
- Water resistance of 30m
Pros:
- Black dial on white-tinted hands make the watch face highly readable
- Multi-functional timepiece
- Lightweight, making it a very comfortable wear
- Shock-resistant build
Cons:
- Limited variant choices
- It’s thicker than your typical watch size
- Expensive for a quartz movement
Price Range: $5,900
Speedmaster X-33 Regatta
The X-33 Regatta is a special edition timepiece made for accurately keeping time during races. It has a hybrid display with analog hands to tell the time and digital counters for tracking every millisecond that passes.
Features:
- 45mm case diameter
- Case made of grade 2 titanium
- Black dial color
- An alarm function
- A perpetual calendar function
- Chronograph function with digital display
- Bi-directional rotating bezel made of a mix of ceramic and titanium compounds
- Luminescent hands and markers
- Digital displays have a backlight feature
- Regatta timing feature for keeping track of five-minute countdowns
- Scratch-resistant sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating
- Caliber 5620 thermo-compensated quartz movement
- Battery life of up to 24 months
- Water resistance of 30m
Pros:
- It can display up to 3 different time zones, making it an excellent Omega pilot watch
- Has an intuitive button for using the chronograph function
- Lightweight and very comfortable to wear
- Loud alarm sound
- Multi-functional and very versatile
- Digital displays glow too
Cons:
- Limited production makes this a hard find
- No other designs available
- Niche look may not be that appealing to many users
Price Range: $5,900
Speedmaster Mark II
The recent Mark II is an updated version of the 1969 Omega pilot watch model. It’s now equipped with a self-winding movement and a more stable balance spring. It still features the large enclosing case that covers the tachymeter bezel. You can easily recognize a Mark II with the alternating position of the minute markers which resemble flag racing markers.
The reintroduced model retains the enclosed tachymeter scale design but improved with a ring filled with Super-LumiNova. This creates a glowing effect on the tachymeter reading on low light conditions.
Features:
- 42mm dial diameter with case maximum length of 46.2mm
- Case and bracelet made of stainless steel or a mix of steel and Sedna gold
- Flat scratch-resistant sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating
- Date aperture
- Chronograph subdials with 60-second, 30-minute, and 12-hour scales
- Crown and crown pushers
- Hands and markers coated with Super-LumiNova
- Illuminated tachymeter scale
- Extendable stainless steel bracelet
- Caliber 3330 self-winding movement
- Si14 silicon balance spring
- Power reserve of up to 52 hours
- Water resistance of 100m
Pros:
- Highly legible dial
- Large date aperture
- Illuminated tachymeter scale adds an extra glow to the watch face
- Great color contrasts between the dial, subdials, and hands
Cons:
- Limited design options
- They’re heavy because of the bracelet
- Large case can be bulky to look at
Price Range: $6,250
Speedmaster ‘57
The Speedmaster ’57 series pays tribute to its ancestor by retaining classic aesthetics and combining it with the Co-axial technology of Omega. This results in vintage-looking chronograph timepieces with a modern twist.
The models under this series include the 1957 Trilogy and the Speedmaster ’57, both of which feature chronograph subdials and a tachymeter bezel.
Features:
- 38.5mm to 41.5mm case diameter
- Case made of stainless steel, gold, or titanium
- Strap choices include leather, titanium, and stainless steel
- Date aperture
- Small seconds subdial and/or a 60-minute and 12-hour chronograph recorder
- Caliber 9301/9300 and 1861 with self-winding and manual-winding mechanisms, respectively
- Exhibition case back
- Hands and markers coated with Super-LumiNova
- Scratch-resistant sapphire crystal or Hesalite crystal
- Power reserve of up to 60 hours
- Water resistance of 100m
Pros:
- Excellent lume brightness
- Designs have very legible watch faces
- Precise hand movements
Cons:
- Some models are too flashy
- They’re very expensive Omega pilot watch models
- Steel bracelet can be uncomfortable to wear
Price Range: $8,000 to $30,000
Racing
The Speedmaster Master Chronometer and the Racing Co-axial Chronograph are the two models that belong to the Racing series. They have bold, sporty designs, a tachymeter bezel, and color combinations reminiscent of the racing scene.
Features:
- 40mm to 44.25mm case diameter
- Case made of stainless steel or Sedna gold
- Strap made of either rubber, leather, or stainless steel
- Domed scratch-resistant sapphire crystal
- Tachymeter bezel made of ceramic
- Anti-magnetic properties
- Date aperture
- Small seconds, a 30-minute, and a 12-hour chronograph subdial
- Transparent case back on the Master Chronometer models
- Hands and markers with Super-LumiNova
- Caliber 9901/9900 and 3330 self-winding movements
- Power reserve of up to 60 hours
- Water resistance of 100m
Pros:
- Color contrast between the hands and the dial make the watch face highly readable
- Sturdy and functional
- Lightweight and very comfortable to wear
- Accurate hand movements
Cons:
- Hand color on some subdials almost blends with the dial tint
- Crown can be hard to pull out
- Some models look too crowded
Price Range: $8,700
Conclusion
Omega pilot watches commemorate the brand’s success in creating iconic timepieces with highly accurate movements and multi-functional features. Starting with the new Moonwatch to the other Speedmaster reinventions, Omega was able to revitalize the legendary timepieces that made marks in history.
If you’re looking for a watch that’s reliable in providing precise time measurements up to the millisecond, the Speedmaster collection is the best choice there is.
