A love at first sight (and more) Hands On 2020 Omega Speedmaster Calibre 321

Do you know the feeling of finally holding in your hands a watch you've coveted for so long? That special one that seemed unattainable all these years, that you almost lost all hope. I don't know about you, but for me, it wasn't all flowers and roses all the way, not at all. In the beginning, that is.

Once the long-awaited encounter finally happened, there came this strange anxiety bordering on fear: Will it be what I hoped for all this time, or will it turn out to be a disappointment of some kind? I'll be honest, and continue to be throughout this review, all those diverse feelings struck me once the 2020 Omega Speedmaster Calibre 321 finally found its way into my arms and onto my wrist.

It took some time to learn to cope with everything. With all that in perspective, here's a hands-on experience I've been waiting for so long.

A modern-style white rubber strap on a traditionally designed watch for a top-level summertime business meeting? Works like a charm! The 2020 Omega Speedmaster Moonwatch and an  FKM Rubber Watch Strap with Beige Stitching

Why the 2020 Speedmaster and not one of the earlier editions?

This review will feature as few technical details as possible, so I won't go into reasons why I never opted for one of the older Speedmasters. Let's say that ever since I started dreaming about a Speedmaster some ten years ago, I've been positive I wanted a Calibre 321 in a modern Speedmaster edition. Plus, I wanted a new watch. The wait took some time because the ownership of Calibre 321 has changed hands several times since the nineties, but this turned out to work in my favor.

It gave me a couple of years to save up for the new Speedmaster, reassuring myself along the way that the modern edition was worth waiting for. Yes, it took a lot of patience and a strong will, but it was all worth the effort. Finally, I was able to snatch one not too long after it hit the market.

Pairing the Omega Speedmaster Moonwatch Calibre 321 with a black strap works like a charm in any formal setting. For a couple of business meetings I attended, the FKM Rubber Watch Strap with Beige Stitching was perfectly suited to the occasion and provided excellent comfort throughout.

A bit of a shock upon arrival, and the first impressions

No worries, everything was perfectly fine. The long-awaited Speedmaster arrived by mail, and the size of the package was what caused the shock. It's huge! The box the Speedmaster arrived in has been used for all Speedmasters since 2014, and it's grand in size, content, quality, and design. It contains all you'll ever need and can do individually to make sure your Speedmaster runs flawlessly at all times. Plus, it's a designated place to keep your beloved watch when it's not in use. However, unintentionally, that missed the point in my case, and surely with other people as well; I'll explain later on.

One grand box that holds everything your Speedmaster 321 will ever need.

The first touch was something special; nothing beats the feeling of unpacking the new watch! As expected, the craftsmanship behind this Speedmaster is extraordinary: the edges, the pushers and crown, the dial details, the original bracelet, everything. The design is a true homage to the original 1965 Ed White Ref. 105.003, but with a couple of innovations, which I welcome.

Although it's a reissue of the 1965 Moonwatch Speedmaster, the 2020 edition effortlessly radiates modern vibes in a suitable setting. Paired with the Navy Blue FKM35 Sailcloth FKM Quick Release Rubber Watch Band, 19mm to 22mm, the  Omega Speedmaster 2020 Moonwatch is a modern-looking watch per se.

First, the glass and caseback are now Sapphire glass, which is a jackpot in my opinion. That allows for extended wear without worrying about damaging the glass in any setting. Secondly, the transparent caseback allows me to admire the ingenious engineering behind Calibre 321's design and to watch it operate at all times. Next, the bezel is ceramic, once again guaranteeing secure use for decades to come. Finally, the Super Lumi-Nova color is somewhere between dark white and yellow, sort of ivory-shaded, which looks great under domed Sapphire and gives it a vintage feel.

The dial of the 2020 Omega Speedmaster Moonwatch Caliber 321 mirrors the 1965 original in every detail, with extra protection provided by the Sapphire crystal glass.

Now, on the size of the watch itself: perfect! I had the opportunity to try on a couple of Speedmaster Professional watches for some time. Great experience, but I always felt they looked too big on my wrist. Everything came into its right place once the 2020 Speedmaster arrived. The very second I put it on, I knew it was a keeper. And it has never left my wrist ever since.

With a case a tad smaller than that of Omega Professional, the 2020 Calibre 321 Speedmaster fits my wrist perfectly. I love wearing it with Tan Khaki Quick Release Suede Leather Watch Strap for extra comfort and elegance.

On wearability, and where we went together

I took this lovely watch virtually everywhere I went, from casual walks to 10km fun runs, informal gatherings, business meetings, you name it. There was even one haute couture event.  And did the 2020 Speedmaster rise to the occasion? Each and every time.

Long live the quick-release straps. Thanks to them, I can adjust the style of my beloved Speedmaster in a couple of seconds and take it anywhere.

My affection for it may cloud my objective judgment, I admit, but when I take into account my personal experience wearing the watch and look closely at the photos featured here, the Speedmaster Caliber 321's unique qualities always remain in the spotlight. This watch is endlessly adaptive, sort of chameleon-like, but with a crucial difference: it never loses any of its distinct personality.

Decades of tradition and classic design, instilled in the Omega Speedmaster 2020, work surprisingly well with modern-style straps, too. Here, I paired it with two distinct straps, the L.O.S IVA Strap by HAVESTON Straps attached to the watch, and the Skylab '73 IVA Strap by HAVESTON Straps, waiting to be used on the next occasion.

The ultimate elegance of the black-and-white (more like ivory in the 2020 Speedmaster), the gentle lines of the case, and a dial that is perfectly readable in any setting are features that are never questioned or lost, no matter the occasion or strap pairing. The 2020 Speedmaster aligns marvelously with a myriad of watch straps, yet it does not let any of its fundamental traits get lost along the way.

Taking my Omega Speedmaster Moonwatch Calibre 321 for a run, a 10km one, every couple of days. Easily, when paired with a FKM39 White Deployment FKM Rubber Watch Strap. It grips my wrist firmly, preventing slippage in wet conditions and ensuring a secure, stylish running session.

There's one other aspect of Speedmaster 2020 that I need to mention: having it on my wrist from the very first moment to now, a couple of months ago, felt utterly natural, effortless, and comfortable. It's a bit heavier due to the sapphire sandwich, but that had no impact on its wearability whatsoever.  It almost never left my wrist for the past couple of months. And here we come back to the aforementioned target that was missed regarding the case it arrived in. It has never been off my wrist long enough to need to be put back in that lovely case. And I have a strong feeling it never will come to that in the future, too.

Omega Speedmaster 2020 Moonwatch's Calibre 321 in all its glory, thanks to the Sapphire crystal caseback.

Speedmaster 2020 turned out to be all I ever hoped for

Admiring from afar is a potential start to a delicate and lasting relationship, if all you dreamed of comes true. On the other hand, we have all experienced disappointment when we held the coveted watch in our hands and realized it was worlds away from what we expected. Judging by what has been happening so far, and trying to stay as objective as I can be, I can honestly say that my connection to the 2020 Speedmaster Calibre 32 delivers on every promise. It could easily become my go-to watch for any and every occasion since it feels at home in every one I wore it to. Providing, of course, that it's paired with a suitable strap for a perfect match.

Written by S.K, images by Toni