Originally conceived for pilots of the US military (and covered here by Fratello), the Omega Speedmaster Pilot is now available to civilians. The origins of the watch explain the military-influenced, instrument-style dial design, which is meant to evoke the utilitarian nature of an instrument panel inside a fighter jet.

The regular production version of the watch retains the same specs as the military exclusive, but with different livery. The case has the straight lugs of the Speedmaster “Ed White” but in a larger format thanks to the automatic cal. 9900 inside.

Initial thoughts

I’m something of an outlier amongst enthusiasts since I prefer automatic to manual-wind, even within the Speedmaster collection. While a manual-wind movement is traditional for the Speedy, I appreciate the day-to-day convenience of an automatic. Additionally, Omega’s latest-generation automatic chronograph movements are all impressively high-spec.

While the Speedmaster Pilot may not achieve the same aesthetic purity as its manual-wind counterparts, it remains an excellent everyday option, especially with the military provenance.

That said, the military provenance is not exactly military-issue. The watch was designed for military pilots who presumably buy it on a personal basis for off-duty wear; it is not an actual mil-spec instrument watch. This can be seen in the dial design, which has aviation-inspired elements, rather than actual, functional indicators for pilots.

Even though this is make-believe military, the Speedmaster Pilot is still a reasonable value proposition considering the usual Omega quality, in particular the cal. 9900 that’s a METAS-certified Master Chronometer amongst other things.

Aviation-inspired

The Speedmaster Pilot has a large case typical of Omega’s watches equipped with its automatic chronograph movements. The stainless steel case is 40.85 mm in diameter and 14.7 mm in thickness, though it retains the familiar straight-lug Speedmaster case that’s paired with a retro-style “flat link” bracelet.

The bezel insert is in matte black aluminium and incorporates a historical detail with a “dot over ninety” or “DON” bezel, along with subtle orange accents that echo the dial.

The grained, matte black dial features design elements that evoke the aesthetics of an aircraft cockpit. The three o’clock sub-dial echoes the look of an airspeed display, while the nine o’clock small seconds sub-dial adopts a horizon indicator-style design.

Beneath the solid case back bearing the Speedmaster seahorse emblem engraving is the in-house, self-winding cal. 9900, which beats at 28,800 beats per hour (4 Hz) and offers 60 hours of power reserve. It’s one of Omega’s highest-spec movements and equipped with a column wheel, vertical clutch, Co-Axial escapement, and a silicon balance spring.

Key facts and price

Omega Speedmaster Pilot
Ref. 332.10.41.51.01.002

Diameter: 40.85 mm
Height: 14.7 mm
Material: Steel
Crystal: Sapphire
Water resistance: 100 m

Movement: Cal. 9900
Functions: Hours, minutes, seconds, and chronograph
Frequency: 28,800 beats per hour (4 Hz)
Winding: Automatic
Power reserve: 60 hours

Strap: Steel bracelet; additional grey NATO-style strap

Limited edition: No
Availability: Now at Omega boutiques and retailers
Price: US$9,500

For more, visit omegawatches.com