If you want a Speedmaster beyond the familiar Moonwatch, five distinct collection families offer different starting points: the spaceflight-inspired First Omega in Space, ceramic Dark Side of the Moon, and the Speedmaster ’57, Racing, and 38. The first two can be compared in detail from OMEGA’s published specifications; for the other three, the exact reference matters, so check its product sheet before comparing size, movement, or dial.
How these five Speedmasters differ from the Moonwatch
“Non-classic” here means alternatives to the standard Moonwatch framing, not lesser or unrelated watches. First Omega in Space looks back to an early Speedmaster design and a specific spaceflight connection. Dark Side of the Moon takes the collection in a contemporary ceramic direction. Speedmaster ’57, Racing, and Speedmaster 38 are separate families in OMEGA’s collection index, but each includes reference-level choices that should be checked individually.
These are five family-level picks, not a claim that OMEGA has designated an official set of five alternatives. OMEGA’s Speedmaster index also lists the Moonwatch and Skywalker X-33; the Moonwatch remains a useful point of comparison, rather than one of the five picks here. See OMEGA’s Speedmaster collection index.
1. First Omega in Space: the heritage-led alternative
Why it stands apart
The First Omega in Space draws on the second-generation CK 2998, first released in 1959. Astronaut Walter “Wally” Schirra wore his own CK 2998 on the Sigma 7 mission on October 3, 1962. OMEGA’s current version revisits design cues including Alpha hands, a symmetrical case, and a dark tachymeter bezel. OMEGA’s 2024 First Omega in Space announcement documents the lineage and update.
#1 Best Overall
- Model 310.30.42.50.01.002
What the current model offers
OMEGA gives the updated watch a 39.70 mm symmetrical steel case and Co-Axial Master Chronometer Calibre 3861. That relatively compact case and vintage-influenced styling make this the clearest choice of the five for someone who wants a heritage-oriented Speedmaster rather than a larger, overtly modern design. The specification is for the current First Omega in Space update announced in 2024; check the particular listing for details of the configuration available in your market.
2. Dark Side of the Moon: a contemporary ceramic direction
Seven models, two sides
In October 2025, OMEGA announced seven models spanning the Dark Side and Grey Side of the Moon. The evolution uses ceramic cases and redesigned, slimmer profiles while retaining a 44.25 mm case presence. Rubber and nylon strap options are part of the announced range. Read OMEGA’s 2025 announcement for the collection details.
Rank #2
- Stainless steel case
- Black dial
- Swiss-automatic movement
- Case diameter: 40mm
- Water resistant to 330 feet
How it wears and reads differently
At 44.25 mm, the Dark Side family has a substantially larger stated diameter than the 39.70 mm First Omega in Space. Ceramic gives it a distinctly contemporary material identity, while the choice of rubber or nylon straps changes the feel and look without changing the basic large-case proposition. As always, diameter alone does not determine fit: try the exact model if possible, since case shape, thickness, and wrist proportions also matter.
First Omega in Space vs. Dark Side of the Moon
| What to compare | First Omega in Space | Dark Side / Grey Side of the Moon |
|---|---|---|
| Design direction | Vintage-inspired CK 2998 lineage, Alpha hands, symmetrical case, dark tachymeter bezel (OMEGA, 2024) | Contemporary ceramic family; redesigned slimmer profiles (OMEGA, 2025) |
| Case diameter | 39.70 mm, current update (OMEGA, 2024) | 44.25 mm case presence retained in the announced evolution (OMEGA, 2025) |
| Case material | Steel (OMEGA, 2024) | Ceramic (OMEGA, 2025) |
| Movement and winding | Co-Axial Master Chronometer Calibre 3861; winding type not stated in the cited announcement | Not stated in the cited 2025 announcement; check the product sheet for the exact reference |
| Strap choices | Not stated in the cited announcement | Rubber or nylon options across the announced range (OMEGA, 2025) |
| Best fit for | A wearer drawn to a smaller stated diameter and early-Speedmaster history | A wearer seeking ceramic, a larger stated diameter, and a modern look |
The table compares only the two families for which the cited announcements provide enough detail. It does not establish comparative dial legibility or wrist comfort, which depend on the specific configuration and the wearer.
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Rank #3
- Model 310.32.42.50.01.001
3. Speedmaster ’57: a separate family to explore
OMEGA lists Speedmaster ’57 as a distinct Speedmaster family. The name makes it a natural option for shoppers drawn to vintage-era styling, but the family label alone does not establish the movement, case size, or dial configuration of a particular watch. Check the official product sheet for the reference you are considering before treating those specifications as shared across the line.
4. Speedmaster Racing: the motorsport-oriented branch
Racing is another named Speedmaster family in OMEGA’s index and provides a motorsport-oriented route into the collection. Because the index does not provide the details needed for a reliable model-to-model specification comparison, choose a specific reference first, then verify its movement, case dimensions, and dial against OMEGA’s product information.
Rank #4
- OMEGA Speedmaster Racing Chronograph 326.30.40.50.01.001
5. Speedmaster 38: a more compact family to consider
Speedmaster 38 is listed as its own family in OMEGA’s Speedmaster index. OMEGA’s press index also reported an expansion of seven references announced on August 25, 2026; the listing summary does not provide their individual specifications. Don’t assume every Speedmaster 38 shares one movement or dial layout: check the exact reference and current product sheet before comparing it with another model.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How to choose among the five
- Choose First Omega in Space if the CK 2998 connection, vintage-inspired details, and 39.70 mm steel case are central to what you want.
- Choose Dark Side of the Moon if ceramic construction, contemporary styling, and a 44.25 mm case presence appeal to you.
- Compare exact references for ’57, Racing, and 38. Their family names are helpful discovery points, not substitutes for checking the product’s actual movement, dimensions, and dial.
- Try the watch on when fit is decisive. The stated diameter helps narrow choices, but it cannot establish how a particular case will feel on your wrist.
For ’57, Racing, and 38, OMEGA’s index establishes that the families exist but does not support filling in a single set of specifications for each. Availability and pricing also vary by market and retailer; confirm both locally rather than relying on a collection-wide assumption.
Best Value
- Rubber
- Rotating bezel, gmt
- Automatic-self-wind movement
- Case diameter: 40mm
- Water resistant to 330 feet
The classic Moonwatch keeps evolving, too
Non-classic alternatives do not mean the Moonwatch is frozen in time. OMEGA announced a black-and-white Moonwatch update in January 2026 using Calibre 3861. That is context for the range’s ongoing evolution, not a sixth pick in this guide. See OMEGA’s black-and-white Moonwatch announcement.
Quick Recap
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