Omega’s Speedmaster family has always been bigger than the Moonwatch, even if that’s the model that tends to dominate the conversation.
The newly refreshed Speedmaster 38mm collection puts the smaller automatic chronograph back in focus, with seven references and a cleaner, more Moonwatch-adjacent personality.
The headline piece is the steel-on-steel black dial version, a compact no-date chronograph that revives the spirit of the late-eighties Speedmaster Reduced without simply replaying it.
At a glance
- Omega has refreshed the Speedmaster 38mm automatic chronograph collection with seven references.
- The key model is a no-date steel version with a matte black dial, round sub-dials and Moonwatch-style detailing.
- The 38mm case, automatic Calibre 3332 and 100-metre water resistance position it as a smaller, more practical Speedmaster.
A smaller Speedmaster with a familiar silhouette
The Speedmaster 38mm sits in a lineage that began with the Speedmaster Reduced, the smaller automatic model introduced in 1988 for buyers who liked the look of the Professional but wanted something more compact and self-winding.
That earlier 39mm watch became a long-running alternative to the Moonwatch, appearing in classic black, bright racing-inspired editions, steel-and-gold combinations, precious metal versions and more decorative dial treatments.
The line shifted in 2010 to a 38mm format with a date and a more polished character, then changed again in 2017 with oval sub-dials, two-piece bezels and diamond-set options in several models.
This latest update pulls the collection back toward the functional Speedmaster language, particularly in the black no-date steel reference.
The no-date black dial is the one to watch
The reference 324.30.38.50.01.002 is the clearest expression of the new direction.
It has a 38mm asymmetrical case with the familiar Speedmaster profile, including twisted lyre lugs and crown guards that partially recess the crown and pushers.
A box-shaped sapphire crystal sits over the dial, while the caseback is solid steel and stamped with a Speedmaster and Seahorse medallion.
The dimensions should make it notably approachable on the wrist, with a compact 44.96mm lug-to-lug measurement.
Thickness is 14.75mm, which is substantial for a 38mm watch, but that comes with the convenience of an integrated automatic chronograph movement.
Water resistance is rated to 100 metres, giving this smaller Speedmaster a useful everyday advantage.
Moonwatch details without the full Professional formula
The black dial version is where Omega has made the strongest visual connection to the Moonwatch.
The aluminium bezel carries a white tachymeter scale with vintage-correct details including the dot over ninety and dot diagonal to seventy layout.
The matte black dial returns to round sub-dials, moving away from the oval counters used in the previous 38mm generation.
White printed markers, Super-LumiNova and white hands keep the dial crisp and legible, while the text has been reduced to the Omega name, logo and Speedmaster signature.
It isn’t a miniature Moonwatch, and it doesn’t try to be one.
The sub-dials sit closer to the edge because of the smaller case, and the dial is flat rather than stepped, but the overall effect is cleaner and more focused than the outgoing design language.
The bracelet also moves in a more vintage-leaning direction, using a modern five-link construction with short rounded links.
Most surfaces are brushed, with polished treatment reserved for the two small inner links, and the folding clasp includes a two-position comfort adjustment system offering 2.30mm of range.
Details & Specifications
| Brand | Omega |
|---|---|
| Collection | Speedmaster 38mm |
| Reference | 324.30.38.50.01.002 |
| Case size | 38mm |
| Lug-to-lug | 44.96mm |
| Thickness | 14.75mm |
| Case material | Stainless steel |
| Crystal | Box-shaped sapphire |
| Caseback | Solid steel with Speedmaster and Seahorse medallion |
| Dial | Matte black with round chronograph sub-dials |
| Bezel | Aluminium tachymeter insert with white scale |
| Movement | Omega Calibre 3332 automatic integrated chronograph |
| Chronograph mechanism | Column wheel |
| Date | No date |
| Water resistance | 100 metres |
| Bracelet | Stainless steel five-link bracelet with folding clasp and comfort adjustment |
| Collection size | Seven references |
For collectors who find the Moonwatch too large, too manual or too tied to one very specific brief, the refreshed Speedmaster 38mm offers a more wearable route into the family.
The black no-date model is the purist’s pick, but the broader seven-reference collection gives Omega room to serve buyers who want the Speedmaster shape with a lighter, more versatile character.
