The Omega Skywalker X-33

In some respects the Speedmaster has remained fairly static over the years, as a watch enthusiast we are still able to go out and purchase a moonwatch with close to NASA specifications.

There have been modest changes over the last 60 years with enthusiasts arguing over references but you are still able to purchase a moonwatch with a hesalite crystal and 1861 hand wound movement.

The older collectible series feature the Lemania 321 and 861 movements with the 321 particularly sought out among collectors as these references were used in the Gemini and Apollo missions.

The Speedmaster has moved forward with the Skywalker X-33 whilst maintaining some of the aesthetics that people related to the original Speedmaster. For me, this timepiece is more aesthetically related to the TAG Heuer Kirium of the 1990s than it is to the Speedmaster. 

The Skywalker X-33 maintains a combination of digital and analogue housed in a titanium case. Astronauts had input with the next generation of Speedmaster targeting the aerospace and aviation industries.

The Skywalker X-33 was developed for European Space Agency specifications featuring three time zones, a chronograph, mission elapsed time, phase elapsed time, three alarms, a timer which I translate to a stopwatch and a perpetual calendar.

Regardless of whether the Skywalker X-33 was specifically developed for the European Space Agency, $7100 is pretty expensive for a quartz movement. I understand development costs are involved; still, that's a pretty hefty price tag.

Will I go out and purchase a Skywalker X-33? The answer is no, but I may try one on next time I am in an Omega boutique. That's a lot of money for a digital watch, I am old school and love mechanical timepieces.