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The Omega Speedmaster Dark Side of the Moon debuted in 2013, beginning a collection that would later include the Apollo 8 branch and new Dark and Grey Side models. “Ten years” describes the first decade after that debut; the available official announcements do not establish a separate 2023 anniversary edition.
What the Dark Side of the Moon was in 2013
Swatch Group’s launch announcement, dated 12 November 2013, introduced the original black ceramic Speedmaster Dark Side of the Moon. Its defining choice was material: a black zirconium oxide ceramic dial sat inside a matching 44.25 mm ceramic case, finished with brushed and polished surfaces. Applied indexes were made of 18K white gold, while two blackened subdials kept the chronograph layout legible against the dark dial. Swatch Group’s 2013 announcement
Inside was automatic Co-Axial Calibre 9300, with a Si14 silicon balance spring. The launch announcement also stated that the watch came with a four-year warranty. That is a historical launch-era detail, not a statement of OMEGA’s current warranty policy.
How the collection developed after the first decade began
Apollo 8 became a distinct branch
The Apollo 8 version is not simply another specification of the original 2013 watch. OMEGA says the first Dark Side of the Moon Apollo 8 was released in 2018 for the mission’s 50th anniversary. In its 16 January 2024 update, the brand described a hand-wound Calibre 3869, Master Chronometer certification and a laser-ablated lunar relief treatment. That version has a 44.25 mm black ceramic case, bezel and caseback. Those details belong to the specified Apollo 8 update, not to the original automatic Calibre 9300 model. OMEGA’s Apollo 8 announcement
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The 2025 evolution broadened the family
In 2025, OMEGA announced seven new models across its Dark and Grey Side collections, describing the release as an evolution twelve years after the original. That timing aligns with the directly dated 2013 launch. The announcement highlights ceramic engineering, revised case proportions and varied dial and strap treatments. It describes a 44.25 mm presence, but that should not be treated as a complete specification for every reference: confirm dimensions, materials and movement against the exact model. OMEGA’s 2025 announcement
Original Dark Side and Apollo 8: the key differences
| Detail | Original Dark Side (2013) | Apollo 8 update (2024) |
|---|---|---|
| Movement | Automatic Co-Axial Calibre 9300 with Si14 silicon balance spring (Swatch Group, 2013). | Hand-wound Calibre 3869; Master Chronometer certified (OMEGA, 2024). |
| Case | 44.25 mm black zirconium oxide ceramic (Swatch Group, 2013). | 44.25 mm black ceramic case, bezel and caseback (OMEGA, 2024). |
| Distinctive design detail | Black ceramic dial, 18K white gold applied indexes and two blackened subdials (Swatch Group, 2013). | Laser-ablated relief treatment representing the Moon (OMEGA, 2024). |
| Release context | Original collection debut, announced 12 November 2013 (Swatch Group). | Updated version; the Apollo 8 branch began in 2018 and marked the mission’s 50th anniversary (OMEGA, 2024). |
The comparison shows why a collection name alone is not enough to identify a watch’s mechanics or construction. For a particular candidate, start with its reference number and verify the movement, winding type, case and dial materials, subdial arrangement, strap and edition theme on that reference’s official product page or manual. OMEGA’s manual for Grey Side reference 311.93.44.51.99.002 lists a 60-hour power reserve for that specific watch; it is not a collection-wide figure. OMEGA user manuals
Rank #2
- Model 304.93.44.52.03.001
What “current collection” means
OMEGA’s Japanese catalog continues to list the Dark Side of the Moon collection and describes it as first appearing in 2013. This confirms catalog presence in that regional catalog, not worldwide stock, local availability or price. The 2025 announcement likewise establishes that OMEGA announced seven models across the Dark and Grey Side families, not that every model is available in every market. OMEGA Japan’s collection catalog
Quick Recap
Best Value
- Model 304.33.44.52.03.001
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
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