Question about Omega Speedmaster

[njlam]

I am new to the Omega brand but the Speedmaster Moonwatch Professional Co-Axial Master has caught my eye.

What does Co-Axial mean?

On the Omega website there are several models listed under this name

The one with model number 310.32.42.50.01.002 has CoAxial

and another that looks identical (311.33.42.30.01.002) does not.

How are these watches different?

Generally, are these models easy to get (available new from ADs), or does one have to go grey or preowned to pick one up?

Thanks in advance.

[watchmavan]

Google is your best friend! The two models are due to one being the more traditional Hesalite covering the dial and a closed caseback, while the other has a sapphire crystal and sapphire caseback. Some other minor variations.


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[KatGirl]

Co-axial refers to Omega’s proprietary movement. Without getting too technical, they came up with a new way to build a mechanical movement, replacing the usual lever escapement, which requires oiling, with a different type, that is more efficient and requires less frequent servicing. I only know this because I was an avid Omega collector.

Kat


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[AEC]

Originally Posted by njlam

I am new to the Omega brand but the Speedmaster Moonwatch Professional Co-Axial Master has caught my eye.

What does Co-Axial mean?
As Kat describes, Co-Axial refers to the co-axial escapement used by Omega in nearly all of its watches and representing a rare improvement (debatable) in how mechanical watch movements operate.

On the Omega website there are several models listed under this name

The one with model number 310.32.42.50.01.002 has CoAxial

and another that looks identical (311.33.42.30.01.002) does not.
The model beginning with 310 replaces the model beginning with 311, and the incorporation of a Co-Axial escapement to the movement is one of the updates made to the new model. There are other subtle differences in the new one, but you're right, the new one appears identical to the old one at a glance.

How are these watches different?
From the owner's perspective? The new one hacks when the crown is pulled to set the time, and the old one doesn't

Generally, are these models easy to get (available new from ADs) yes , or does one have to go grey or preowned to pick one up? no

Thanks in advance.

All good questions

[cszy67]

They have different movements - here is a nice article on the new movement:

The Co-Axial Caliber 3861 Movement

The overall aesthetic design of the new Omega Speedmaster Moonwatch is very similar to the previous generation and to the non-watch enthusiast, the visual differences will be negligible (if noticeable at all). However, the single most significant update to accompany this new generation of the Moonwatch is one that isn’t immediately apparent just by looking at it. This new Speedmaster is powered by Omega’s high-tech Co-Axial Caliber 3861 movement.

This is by no means the first time that the classic Moonwatch has received a movement upgrade, but it certainly represents the most significant caliber update to occur in the entire history of the Speedmaster. While it is still a manually-wound mechanical movement with a 12-hour chronograph complication, the new Caliber 3861 is based around Omega’s Co-Axial escapement and boasts ‘Master Chronometer’ certification.

The Cal. 1861 and Cal. 1863 movements that powered the previous generation were highly reliable, non-hacking calibers that featured a traditional lever regulator setup to govern the length of their flat, Nivarox-style balance springs. All of that has been changed, and the new Caliber 3861uses a free-sprung, adjustable mass balance with a silicon balance spring and a Co-Axial escapement. This allows Omega’s new Moonwatch to be entirely antimagnetic up to fields in excess of 15,000 gauss and also to achieve chronometer-rated precision of 0/+5 seconds per day.

An additional update to accompany the new Cal. 3861 is that the seconds now hack, which means that the seconds hand comes to a stop when the drown is pulled out to set the time. This has become such a standard feature on modern movements that it seems strange to think that the classic Omega Speedmaster – one of the world’s most popular and iconic chronographs – didn’t offer this feature until 2021. Additional updates include a significant increase in the number of jewels from 18 in the Cal. 1861 to 28 in the Cal. 3861, Nivachoc shock absorbers, and the chronograph break is now once again crafted from metal rather than delrin (a type of self-lubricating plastic) like on the Caliber 1861.

We first saw the new Caliber 3861 appear inside the 50th Apollo 11 Speedmaster models, so it was only a matter of time before this new generation of movements made its way to the standard Moonwatch models. All told, the Co-Axial Caliber 3861 represents a significant step forward for the Speedmaster and will be an excellent foundation for the next generation of Omega Moonwatches.