Landing on the moon may have been a giant leap for man in 1969, but it’s 2022 and Swiss luxury watchmaker Omega is looking for the next big thing in interplanetary exploration. Over 50 years after Omega supplied the astronauts of Apolo 11 with the Omega Speedmaster — aptly dubbed the ‘moonwatch’ — the watchmaker has released an unexpected addition to the family.
The Omega Speedmaster X-33 Marstimer does exactly as the name suggests, tracking the times of both the third and fourth planets from the sun. Created in collaboration with the European Space Agency (ESA), the Marstimer is powered by the in-house Calibre 5622, a thermo-compensated quartz movement that handles the watch’s various digital and analogue functions.
The Speedmaster X-33 Marstimer is undeniably a tool watch first and foremost and thus resembles other watches in the X-33 series more than its famous moon-landing sibling. The X-33 series takes on a professional tone, designed for use by pilots and astronauts; in the same vein, the Speedmaster X-33 Marstimer was developed to assist scientists, providing valuable tools for those working in the field of space research.
Balancing functionality with form, elements of the former were developed under an ESA-patented license. Functions include an MTC function to track Mars’ solar date and time at the prime meridian, accounting for the fact that a day on Mars is 39 minutes longer than on Earth. There’s also a solar compass to locate true north on Earth and Mars, as well as applications available on the traditional Speedmaster Skywalker X-33, namely MET (Mission Elapsed Time), PET (Phase Elapsed Time), alarms, and perpetual calendar.
Exuding rugged style, the Marstimer has a sturdy 45mm case crafted from grade 2 titanium. Its black dial provides a contrasting backdrop for the multiple analogue and digital readings, with Mars and Earth symbols making it easier to distinguish which functions are in use. The aluminium bezel ring in red hematite reflects the distinctive dust that covers Mars, with the shade also appearing in gradient form over the seconds hand.
Flip over the watch and you’ll find the caseback is engraved with Omega’s Speedmaster wording and seahorse logo, circled by the words ‘SPEEDMASTER X-33 MARSTIMER, ESA TESTED AND QUALIFIED’.
“Anyone interested in space, or even science fiction, is obsessed with Mars. It has generated so much curiosity, so many incredible stories,” said Raynald Aeschlimann, president and CEO at Omega. “We have even created a name for its imaginary inhabitants. It’s so close yet so far. We long to walk across its surface. To be here on Earth and able to track its movements, gives the term timepiece a whole new meaning. I’m thrilled with this new addition to the famous Speedmaster family.”
Priced at $9750AUD, the Omega Speedmaster X-33 Marstimer is now available at Omega boutiques (on Earth) and via the Omega webstore.
Words by John Deckard
