10 Affordable Alternatives To The Omega Speedmaster
Here’s the equation for an iconic timepiece. Horological chops, naturally, is factor one. Inextricably related to that, is style. And equal to each element, add lore and legend—to the third power. Good marketing helps with exponents. That last factor, by the way, often adds more zeroes to the watch’s price tag than its equation input.
The Omega Speedmaster went from the racetracks to the moon. It’s fully worthy of its king status. Still, with some creativity, you can find worthwhile affordable alternatives to the Speedy, ones that fulfill a shocking amount of said-equation compared to its price. Depending on who you ask, one or more of these guys might check all of the boxes.
These watches can serve as topnotch itch-scratchers, or, for you chronograph heads, can (should?) live in the very same collection as a Speedmaster.
Bulova Lunar Pilot
The Bulova Lunar Pilot’s relationship to the Speedmaster is a rare one in the watch world. It’s literally the Speedy’s historical pinch-hitter. Arguably, it’s also a direct competitor at several fractions of the price. During the 1971 Apollo 15 mission, Commander David Scott’s Omega broke, so he used his Bulova for the mission’s timing needs. Today’s Lunar Pilot, straight from the archives, is the literal “other Moonwatch.”
It’s also a better buy if you’re more practical and less flashy. Its high-performance quartz boasts a frequency eight times greater than typical quartz movements. Every other element on it is undeniably premium, including its sapphire. Plus, as a Bulova, the design has an American heritage to go with its contribution to American space exploration.
Hamilton Jazzmaster Performance Auto Chrono
If what you love about the Speedy is its beautiful applications, its automatic movement, and that coveted Swiss Made stamp, then let me introduce you to the Hamilton Jazzmaster Performance Chrono. Thanks to its gem-like baton indices, high-shine hands, and subdials, all against an exquisite onyx dial, this watch intrigues from every angle and under any light. Even the bezel flaunts a stylish slope.
This elegant Jazzmaster runs on the H-31 automatic, which like the rest of the watch’s build, has both looks and function. Check out the exhibition caseback to see the H pattern on the oscillating bridge. It’s power reserve? A full 60 hours.
Dan Henry 1962 Racing Chronograph
I wouldn’t say that the Speedy completely ditched its racing heritage, but its space legacy definitely overpowers. Dan Henry’s 1962 Racing Chronograph goes all in with the autosports history, showcasing a design inspired by the best practices of racer watches from the ‘60s and ‘70s. Performance-wise, its mecha-quartz movement combines quartz accuracy with a buttery smooth glide on the chrono hand.
The stark contrasts on the dial are reminiscent of racer flags, while the wavy composition on its subdials make the already-legible elements even more distinct. This limited edition model comes in four colorways, but all 1,962 of the Panda are officially sold. If you can find it, its stock is definitely up.
Sinn 140 St S
With the 140 St S watch, Sinn beefs up the chronograph template with German muscle and engineering. Sleek lines meet brawn, as the sweeping pillow-esque silhouette of the stainless steel case is fortified with bead-blasting and hardening, resulting in an authoritative jet black surface. This military-like design continues into the dial itself, also black, and with un-outlined subdials and red accents.
The 140 St S is an important watch in German history, having been worn by physicist Reinhard Furrer during the first space mission controlled from the German Space Operations Centre. With this kind of pedigree, it’s no wonder why this watch is so spec-forward. It’s even equipped with dehumidifying technology.
Tudor Black Bay Chronograph
Truly, Tudor’s Black Bay Chronograph showcases an unblemished blend of past tried-and-trues and modern-day polish. As such, this timepiece is both a distinguished and handsome accessory, and a fun piece of gear. The inverse panda dial is filled with impeccable details and high-end appliques—just look at the sophisticated silver outlines on the indices and on the snowflake hands. Above that, a chamfered sapphire that adds character to the watch’s face as well as its profile.
The satined-top, polished-side bracelet links simulate rivets, harkening back to when Tudor and Rolex had more design overlaps. Moreover, this COSC-certified timekeeper runs on a movement with a 70-hour power reserve and features a 45-minute register, instead of 30.
Seiko Prospex Speedtimer
Seiko is like the disciplined, straight-A student of the watch world, which is likely why this extra sporty Speedtimer is so perfectly standard in the very best way possible. It goes without saying that the dimensional indices, vivid subdials, and attractively-lumed sword hands are as legible as they are engaging. Fortunately, all of that is well protected by a curved sapphire.
And since this is Prospex, Seiko’s subline of genuinely pro-level sport watches, all of the fixings are included. The V192 movement is solar powered and features a nifty 24-hour indicator. Ever reliable, its accuracy is at plus or minus 15 seconds a month.
Lorier Gemini Chronograph
Leave it to the nostalgists at Lorier to build one of the classiest chronographs on the market. Like so many of their sport watches, the Gemini is imbued with a cleaned-up aesthetic rooted in a time when men wore ties to church and cardigans in their living rooms. The thin indices and left-and-right subdials achieve the kind of dressy minimalism that seems impossible with chronographs.
Relatedly, it runs on a manual winding movement, providing a delightful, tactile user experience. Of course, all of this style and personality isn’t at the compromise of practicality. For one thing, the luminous bezel insert is a stronger acrylic than any vintage-style bakelite.
Citizen Eco-Drive Brycen Chronograph
The Eco-Drive Brycen Chronograph by Citizen is so much more racer-focused than the Speedy, it almost looks like a repurposed ignition switch panel. Think of the alternating intruding indices as switches, and the warm-accented subdials’ stacked composition as engine start buttons. It’s an overall bold and athletic look.
On the function front, this watch is a classic workhorse. Citizen’s light-powered Eco-Drive movement expunges the need for a battery, while the rally strap offers breathability and cool factor.
Maen Skymaster 38
Based on visuals alone, the Maen Skymaster 38 has a lot in common with the Speedmaster. If you love the look of the Speedy and not the price, this guy can basically be styled exactly like one. The line-forward design, racetrack subdials, and black-on-black between the bezel and dial are almost homage-like.
The Skymaster stands on its own in a lot of ways though. The ceramic uni-directional bezel is far cleaner, allowing you to more easily appreciate its elegant glisten. The boxed crystal, whether you go for sapphire or acrylic, provides that stylish distortion, giving an extra layer of dimensionality. It’s definitely much less utilitarian than the Speedy, and defendably more versatile because of that.
Q Timex Chronograph
Inspired by European tracks like Le Mans and the mythology around the racing scene in the ‘70s, the Q Timex Chronograph is unapologetically throwback-oriented. The cream subdials are downright tropical, while the domed mineral glass gives the watch’s silhouette additional micrometers of mirror-polished height.
The retro foundation is accented with a brushed and polished case, beautifully applied indices, and that striking M-link bracelet. And with its reliable and accurate quartz movement, this watch has all of the charm and none of the hassle of owning a vintage chronograph.
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