The Omega Speedmaster collection was originally designed for racing and other sports which is why there’s a chronograph featured in the timepieces. However, it’s more known for its contribution to space travel.
Back in the 1960s, NASA was looking for a wristwatch with chronograph that can function perfectly even when brought to outer space. Several renowned brands submitted their products for testing but only the Omega Speedmaster passed the rigorous exam. It was then certified and declared good for operational use in space explorations.
When Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin landed on the moon, they wore Speedmasters, thus inspiring the birth of the term “moon watch” to refer to the historic milestone the timepiece has achieved at the “Watches for Man on the moon”.
As expected, prices skyrocketed from their already expensive price tags. Still, you can get a moon watch from inexpensive alternatives we’ve listed below.
Similar Watches to the Omega Speedmaster Review list of Homages
Here are the most popular alternative homage watches for the Omega Speedmaster.
Gigandet Volante Chronograph
The 43mm from watch from Gigandet offers more than the original Omega Speedmaster by giving you the option to choose among several color variants. It has a Miyota quartz movement, a scratch-resistant glass window, and stainless steel casing and tachymeter. Aside from the face variants, you can also select from leather, stainless steel, and plastic straps to suit your taste.
Pros:
- Available in different colors and straps
- Water-resistant up to 100m
Cons:
- The watch feels cheap despite its close resemblance with the Speedmaster
Price: $85
Fossil Sport 54
The 43mm Speedmaster homage from Fossil features a quartz chronograph movement, a 60-second timer, a minute timer, and a 1/10-second timer. It has a lot of similarities with the Omega Speedmaster with its black dial and tachymeter bezel.
Pros:
- Great craftsmanship for its price
- Date window is very visible
- Water-resistant up to 100m
Cons:
- Band is a little loose
- Dial window can be easily scratched
Price: $90
Seiko SND367PC
This Speedmaster-inspired watch from Seiko features a black dial with silver markers, a date window, a polished tachymeter bezel, and three chronograph subdials. Its Japanese quartz movement is powered by batteries.
Pros:
- Excellent craftsmanship and attention to detail for its price
- Water-resistant up to 100m
Cons:
- Its lightweight feel may make you doubt its quality
Price: $110
Fossil Decker CH2573
The Fossil Decker is a 44mm watch powered by quartz movement. It has three chronograph subdials that include a 1/10-second stopwatch. The bezel is emblazoned with white markers and the dial features luminous hour markers and hands.
Pros:
- Different color tones add to its versatility
- Accurate stopwatch
- Water-resistant up to 100m
Cons:
- Straps are not that sturdy
- Some cases of fogging and water leakage
Price: $115
Seiko SSB097
This 42mm model from Seiko is well-loved for being one of the closest homages to the Omega Speedmaster. The design and placement of the chronograph pushers are identical to that of the Speedmaster. The most notable difference the Seiko SSB097 has from the Speedmaster is its leather band.
Pros:
- Electro-mechanical chronograph allows the hand to snap back instantly to zero when the reset button is hit
- Quality pushers, little play on the bezel, good fit, and excellent detail
- Water-resistant up to 100m
Cons:
- Reflective surface makes it hard to see the time when light hits it
- A NATO band will look better instead of a leather one
Price: $130
Seiko SBB031
The Seiko SBB031 is a 40mm analog watch with mecha-quartz movement. It is covered in Hardlex glass, has a date calendar, and luminescent hands. It features 3 chronograph subdials with 60-second, 60-minute, and 1/10th-second displays.
Pros:
- Great attention to detail gives it a high-end look
- Suitable for casual, sporty, or elegant look
- Water-resistant up to 100m
Cons:
- Misalignments with tachymeter probably from poor packaging and delivery
- Metal bracelet looks thin and cheap
Price: $150
Pulsar PT3609X1
The 44mm watch from Pulsar sports a black dial and a black tachymeter bezel with similar crown pushers as that seen on the Speedmaster. It also has three subdials featuring a 24-hour, a 60-second, and a 60-min chronograph.
Pros:
- Solid built and reliable quality
- Luminous hands work well in dark places
- Water-resistant up to 100m
Cons:
- Hard to find because production has been discontinued
Price: $150 to $180
Seiko SSC229
The Seiko SSC229 shows a different homage style from the Speedmaster by replacing the hour index markers with large Hindu-Arabic numerals. Aside from that, almost everything is inspired by the Speedmaster including the tachymeter bezel, crown pushers, and the color of the dial. It also has 3 subdials and runs on Japanese quartz movement.
Pros:
- Solar-powered so it doesn’t need battery replacement
- Quality and design exceeds its price value
- Water-resistant up to 100m
Cons:
- Date window is a little small and may be hard to read
Price: $170
Alpha Speedmaster
The Alpha Speedmaster is a mechanical chronograph with Seagull SG2903 movement that needs to be manually rewound if you don’t use the watch for more than 40 hours. Its crown pushers and the bezel tachymeter looks similar to that of the Omega Speedmaster.
Pros:
- Pretty good quality for its price
- Water-resistant up to 50m
Cons:
- Band easily breaks
Price: $180
Seiko Sportura SPC137P1
This battery-powered Speedmaster alternative is a 45mm watch that features Japanese quartz movement, a chronograph, a 24-hour indicator, and a tachymeter. Its most notable feature is the date window that’s situated on the 12 o’clock position, making it highly visible to the user.
Pros:
- Well-balanced in both aesthetics and functionality
- Quality casing and bracelet
- Water-resistant up to 100m
Cons:
- May feel too heavy for some people
Price: $200
Citizen Bryzen CA0649-14E
The Bryzen is stylish 44mm timepiece from Citizen that features Japanese quartz movement, a 1/5-second chronograph, and a 12-24-hour time subdial. It has a black dial with luminous hands enclosed in a stainless steel case and designed with an aluminum bezel. The package comes with a breathable black leather strap.
Pros:
- Impeccable quality that’s hard to beat for its price
- Suits sporty, casual, and business looks
- Time is easy to read despite the chronograph subdials
- Water-resistant up to 100m
Cons:
- Hands are only luminous for a short time in the dark
Price: $200 to $295
Casio Edifice
The Edifice EF-547D-1A1VDF model is a 44m watch that features a black dial, three subdials, a tachymeter, date display, and scratch-resistant mineral glass. Its quartz movement is powered by a battery that can last up to 2 years of regular use.
Pros:
- Luminosity lasts for hours even when the watch is briefly exposed to sunlight
- Double-lock keeps the watch secured to your wrist
- Water-resistant up to 100m
Cons:
- Fluorescent glow may not be as bright as expected in dark rooms
Price: $220
Seiko Spirit
This 41mm solar-powered Speemaster homage watch can last up to 6 months of use when fully charged. Its minimalistic design features a tachymeter bezel, a 1-hour chronograph, a date window, and an alarm function.
Pros:
- Clean design makes it easy to read time
- Efficient and reliable quality
- Water-resistant up to 100m
Cons:
- Alarm sound is not that loud
Price: $295
Stuhrling Original Octane (814.01)
The Octane 814.01 is a 40mm chronograph watch that features Swiss quartz movement. It has a 24-hour subdial, a tachymeter on the bezel, and a Krysterna crystal dial window that’s scratch resistant. The Octane 814.01 doesn’t have a date window but it has subdials that specifically tells the current date and day.
Pros:
- Sturdy built
- Water-resistant up to 100m
Cons:
- Condensation may accumulate during winter
- Center dial may be hard to turn
- Date is hard to read
Price: $330
Citizen Brycen Eco-drive
The Brycen CA4358-58E model from Citizen sports a stylish black dial with its cream-colored markers and ion-plated tachymeter bezel. It features a 1/5-second chronograph that measures up to 60 minutes and a 24-hour subdial.
Pros:
- Two-tone color is suitable for any occasion
- Water-resistant up to 100m
Cons:
- Hands may block the subdials
Price: $350
Bulova Lunar Pilot
The Bulova Lunar Pilot is a moon watch homage to the original timepiece worn during the 1971 Apollo 15 mission. It has an analog quartz movement, anti-reflective sapphire glass window, three subdials, and chronograph functionality.
Pros:
- Great performance that’s reasonable for its price tag
- Water-resistant up to 300m
Cons:
- Possible misalignments on the second hand
Price: $380
Certina DS-2 Chronograph
The Certina DS-2 looks like the original Speedmaster with the addition of a chronograph reset button along the 10 o’clock position. The 43mm timepiece features a 12-hour, 30-min, and 60-sec chronograph functions.
Pros:
- Available in different color tones
- Easy to time simultaneous events using the chronograph
- Water-resistant up to 100m
Cons:
- The clasp is a little loose and may not suitable for people with small wrists
Price: $750
The conclusion of the Moonwatch varieties
The Omega Speedmaster, or “Moonwatch”, is revered for its history, reliability, and sporty look. It is a dream for every collector to own one even for a hefty price.
If you want cheaper alternatives that give the same look and feel as that of the Speedmaster, you can’t go wrong with trying one of the homage watches we’ve listed above.
