In some sense, Omega’s Speedmaster Professional Moonwatch is like no other watch. Not only is it about as iconic and compelling as any timepiece ever could be, but its base price of $7,000 on a bracelet (for the current version) is relatively reasonable and makes for a worthy aspiration.
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Swatch x Omega MoonSwatch Read More -
Bulova Lunar Pilot Read More
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Dan Henry 1962 Read More
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Bell & Ross BR V2-94 Read More
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Omega Speedmaster Reduced Read More
That's still plenty of money, though, so something comparable but more affordable might be what’s right for you. Or, maybe you’ve heard so much hype and seen so many pictures of Speedmasters on Instagram that you simply want something a little different, even though you like the looks.
The Moonwatch’s history is hard to beat, but its handsome, legible design that’s sporty and technical yet understated is also rare in other chronographs. However, there are alternatives out there offering something similar without feeling like a copycat. In their own ways, each option below offers an attraction similar to that of the Omega Speedmaster.
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The Alternatives
Swatch x Omega MoonSwatch
- Movement: Quartz chronograph
- Diameter: 42mm
- Water Resistance: 30m
Surely, the ultimate affordable alternative to the Moonwatch is the MoonSwatch collab from Swatch x Omega. It's like a plastic toy version of the actual Moonwatch but fully endorsed by Omega itself — not to mention it becoming a bonafide sensation and cultural phenomenon. It even says "Speedmaster" on the dial. And, although any version is appropriate and fun for this purpose, the "Mission to the Moon" model gets you closest to the original's look. Yeah, it's been hard to get, but the hunt is part of the fun.
Read our full review of the Swatch x Omega MoonSwatch.
Bulova Lunar Pilot
- Movement: Bulova High-performance quartz chronograph
- Diameter: 43.5mm
- Water Resistance: 50m
It’s been called the “other” Moonwatch, and it even shares quite a few visual traits with the Speedmaster. Though less well known, the Bulova Lunar Pilot is among a handful of watches that have actual space-mission cred. Bulova collaborated with NASA for decades, contributing the likes of its Accutron technology in a few ways, including in the Lunar Pilot watch. The actual model worn on the moon by astronaut Dave Scott sold at auction in 2015 for no less than $1.625 million. Equipped with a smooth-sweeping 262 kHz quartz movement, however, this commercial version is eminently affordable and probably one of the coolest watches in this price range.
Read our full review of the 43.5mm Bulova Lunar Pilot.
Dan Henry 1962
- Movement: Seiko VK63 meca-quartz chronograph
- Diameter: 39mm
- Water Resistance: 50m
Vintage watch collector Dan Henry's eponymous brand pulls inspiration from many of his favorite pieces in his vast collection, offering up a budget taste of some of the most iconic timepieces in history. His 1962 Racing Chronograph apes the black aluminum tachymeter bezel and twisted lugs from the Speedmaster, while throwing in the hands of a Universal Geneve Compax "Nina Rindt" and subdials reminiscent of a Rolex Daytona "Paul Newman" to create a gorgeous amalgam of early '60s motorsports chronographs. The Seiko meca-quartz movement helps keep costs down and combines battery-powered timekeeping accuracy with the satisfying click and smooth sweep of a mechanical chronograph.
Bell & Ross BR V2-94
- Movement: ETA 2894-2 automatic chronograph
- Diameter: 41mm
- Water Resistance: 100m
The black dial with black tachymeter bezel and typical chronograph dial layout make Bell & Ross’s BR V2-94 aesthetically comparable to the Speedmaster, and perfect for those who perhaps like the Speedy’s look but want something less common. The BR V2-94 also offers luxury-level fit and finish commensurate with a price that’s about $2k less than the (basic) Speedy itself — and on its steel bracelet, it’s all the more Moonwatch-reminiscent.
Omega Speedmaster Reduced
- Movement: ETA 2892-A2 automatic with Dubois Dépraz chronograph module
- Diameter: 39mm
- Water Resistance: 30m
For three decades, from 1988 until 2009, Omega produced a smaller, automatic version of the Speedmaster Professional known as the Speedmaster Reduced. The watch went through a few iterations, but by far the most common is the reference 3510.50, which was discontinued in 2006. This watch came with a nearly identical case and bezel to the original Speedy, a hesalite crystal just like on the Moonwatch, a very similar bracelet and an aesthetically close but slightly tweaked black dial.
The main differences were its size, coming in 3mm smaller than the Moonwatch and thus a better fit for smaller wrists, and its movement. Instead of being powered by an in-house hand-cranker, the Speedy Reduced used a modified ETA automatic movement fitted with a chronograph module from Dubois Depraz. Used examples can still readily be found for a bargain, typically priced between $2,000 and $2,500.
