Omega’s Original Space Watch Is Officially Back and Better Than Ever

It also may just be the best-looking Speedmaster ever made.

closeup of an omega watch in outer space

By Johnny Brayson

Published October 3, 2024

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Updated November 26, 2024

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Move over, White Speedy, there’s a new contender for the title of “Best Omega Speedmaster of 2024.”

Back in 2012, Omega released a new Speedmaster variation dubbed the “First Omega in Space.” Often referred to as the “FOiS” by enthusiasts, this Speedy was based on the ref. CK2998 version of the iconic chronograph that astronaut Wally Schirra wore to space during the Mercury program’s Sigma 7 mission in 1962.

This was seven years before Omega landed on the moon, and three years before NASA had qualified the Speedmaster for official manned flight missions and began issuing the watches to astronauts. The CK2998 Speedy was Schirra’s personal watch, and the decision to wear it on the mission was his alone.

vintage omega watch in a control room — The ref. CK2998 Speedmaster worn by astronaut Wally Schirra in 1962 was the first Omega watch in space.

The 2012 Speedmaster FOiS mimicked the look of Schirra’s CK2998, which had some key differences compared to the more familiar Speedmaster Moonwatch Professional that was released later in the 1960s. The FOiS had alpha hands instead of batons, straight lugs instead of twisted, a smaller 39.7mm symmetrical case instead of the Moonwatch’s 42mm asymmetrical style, and it came on a leather strap instead of a bracelet.

Omega discontinued the original FOiS reissue back in 2021, but now the brand has finally brought the style back with an entirely new version inspired by Schirra’s historic model. And it features some major improvements over its predecessor, both internally and externally.

Omega Speedmaster First Omega in Space

$7,900 at Omega

Master of Space

For the reborn Speedy FOiS, Omega has unsurprisingly updated the movement to the thoroughly modernized, top-of-the-line Calibre 3861.

Introduced in 2019, this movement is what you’ll find in the current-gen Moonwatch and is line with other modern Omega movements. What that means is you’re getting a co-axial escapement — the brand’s proprietary escapement technology that allows for longer service intervals — along with Master Chronometer certification from METAS.

This certification means the watch has undergone far more rigorous testing and meets more stringent requirements than the previous FOiS’s Calibre 1861 movement, as the Cal. 3861 boasts an accuracy rating of 0/+5 seconds per day and is resistant to magnetic forces up to 15,000 gauss. I’m sure Schirra would’ve found those specs very handy.

omega watch caseback — Behind the closed caseback of the new Omega FOiS is the highly advanced Calibre 3861 Master Co-Axial movement.

A Serious Looker

While this may sound hyperbolic, I genuinely think the new FOiS may be the best-looking Speedmaster that Omega has ever made.

The 39.7mm symmetrical case (48mm lug-to-lug), straight lugs and alpha hands are carried over from the previous version (and the original CK2998), but Omega has made a number of stylistic changes that add up to one seriously handsome watch.

First is the dial color. Rather than going with the classic black as we’ve seen before, Omega went with a CVD-coated blue-gray color inspired by some ref. CK2998 watches the brand produced in the 1960s.

closeup of an omega speedmaster watch dial — The blue-gray dial mixed with the aged lume makes for a stunning combination.

Next is the lume. The original FOiS used standard white lume, but this time around, Omega has gone with a vintage-inspired lume. I know some people take issue with “fauxtina” lume, but Omega seems to have mastered the art with the gold-orange lume shade they use. It looks great on the Seamaster NTTD, and it looks even better here paired with that blue-gray dial.

The boxed sapphire crystal is even closer in appearance to Hesalite than before, right down to the subtle Omega logo in the center. And the tachymeter also now features the “dot over 90” vintage touch that drives collectors wild.

omega speedmaster watch on a mans wrist — I mean, just look at it.

Finally, the new FOiS is available on a bracelet, which was not an option with the previous generation (you can still get it on a leather strap, too). The bracelet is a classic Omega flat-link style inspired by those seen on the earliest Speedmasters, and it’s the perfect aesthetic fit for the watch. The bracelet secures via a butterfly clasp with a built-in comfort setting.

Finally, the dial and crown both feature vintage Omega logos, while a hippocampus appears on the closed caseback alongside engravings declaring the watch as the “First Omega in Space” and displaying Schirra’s mission date of “October 3, 1962,” which was exactly 62 years ago today.

omega watch bracelet closeup with outer space in the background — For the first time, the Speedmaster FOiS is available on a bracelet.

Pricing and Availability

The new Omega Speedmaster First Omega in Space, thankfully, is not a limited edition, so here’s hoping it lasts a decade in the brand’s catalog just like the previous generation.

Not only that, but Omega has opted to price the watch quite reasonably. While the new FOiS costs more than the entry-level, closed-back, Hesalite-topped Moonwatch’s $7,000 MSRP, its $7,900 price tag actually comes in at $100 less than the Moonwatch “Sapphire Sandwich,” and $200 less than the White Speedy that launched earlier this year.

That price makes it awfully compelling for anyone in the market for a Speedy, and I think this might now be the Speedmaster to get.