Earlier this year, Omega made an announcement that had a huge impact on the Speedmaster collectors community: the famous caliber 321 would come back into production. At that time, no more information was given by the brand. On the 20th of July, meaning exactly 50 years after the 1st Moon landing, the second announcement was made: this new 321 generation will be fitted into an exclusive platinum model.

Platinum, an unusual idea for a Speedmaster? Maybe, but actually it is not the 1st time that Omega makes this choice for exclusive models. The Speedmaster 321 Platinum is the 5th platinum series in the brand history. There is no doubt that the 50th anniversary was a very special (unique?) moment to introduce it…

And this is the opportunity for us to review these 5 platinum Speedmasters series.

Did you know that before this last 321 platinum series, there were only 186 Speedmaster watches made in platinum (50+10 in 1994, 57 in 2003 and 69 in 2009)?

1994

APOLLO XI 25TH ANNIVERSARY
PLATINUM SKELETON

Two exceptional series in platinum with skeleton dials and movements (caliber 867) were added to the Apollo XI 25th Anniversary series. This one is the first series of 50 numbered watches with either leather straps or platinum bracelets.

Date of production: 1994

Reference: 3096.30 / 3097.30

Caliber: 867 Rhodium

Numbered series of 50 watches

1994

APOLLO XI 25TH ANNIVERSARY – PLATINUM SKELETON & DIAMONDS

The second series is a development of the previous model with a bezel set with 36 baguette diamonds in addition to all its other features. Five watches were delivered on leather straps and five others with platinum bracelets set with 80 baguette diamonds..

Date of production: 1994

Reference: 3098.30 / 3099.30

Caliber: 867 Rhodium

Numbered series of 10 watches

2003

PLATINUM SKELETON MOONPHASE

In 2003, OMEGA made a limited series of 57 skeleton Speedmasters in platinum with moonphases. The number made refers to 1957, the year the Speedmaster was created. As with the brand’s other skeleton models, the openwork was done entirely by the expert hands of Armin Strom. The modified caliber 1866 movement has the reference 3604A.

Date of production: 2003

Reference: 3096.30 / 3097.30

Caliber: 3604A

Numbered series of 57 watches

2009

APOLLO XI 40 TH ANNIVERSARY – PLATINUM

This is the platinum version of the 40th Anniversary watch. The 69 watches made differ from the steel version in having a gold medallion with the individual number of the watch on the dial. The luxury box of the platinum watch is much bigger than the box for the steel version.

Date of production: 2009

Reference: 311.90.42.30.01.001

Caliber: 1861 Rhodium

Numbered series of 69 watches

2019

OMEGA SPEEDMASTER 321 PLATINUM

Date of production: 2019
Reference: 311.93.42.30.99.001

Main features:
– Calibre 321 new generation
– Sapphire-crystal caseback
– Step dial formed from onyx
– Moon meteorite subdials
– 18K white gold indexes
– 18K white gold hands
– Platinum / gold case
– Platinum buckle
– Black ceramic bezel

More details on the Omega website.

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