Omega Brings Back the Spirit of the Speedmaster Reduced With a New Speedmaster 38

From 1988 until 2010, Omega produced a version of the Speedmaster known as the Speedmaster Reduced. While visually very similar to the classic Speedmaster Professional Moonwatch, the Reduced had several key differences: its steel case clocked in at a smaller 39mm diameter compared to 42mm on the Moonwatch, its chronograph movement was automatic rather than hand-wound, and it came in at a more affordable price. Those features made the Reduced an enthusiast favorite for decades — anyone preferring a smaller, cheaper, or more convenient Speedy with Moonwatch looks was able to pick one up.

In 2017, the brand introduced the Speedmaster 38 as an effective replacement for the Reduced, and although it featured a 38mm case, an automatic movement, and a lower price tag, the watch's design veered too far from classic Moonwatch looks. It featured a thin, segmented bezel, oval subdials, a date window, a different case shape and dial layout, polished center links on the bracelet, and a butterfly clasp. In short, it just did not offer the familiar Speedy vibes — and the watch never really connected with the enthusiast community because of it.

But that changes today. Omega has introduced a new generation of the Speedmaster 38, and early hands-on coverage — including a week spent with the new watch — says it rights all of the wrongs of the existing Speedy 38 and essentially brings back the Speedy Reduced in everything but name. The new Speedmaster 38 features a black varnished dial with a matte finish and three round, recessed subdials that look almost like those on the Moonwatch, only with a subtle radial pattern in their centers. The white printed minute track, text, and luminous indices are pulled straight from the Moonwatch, with the only difference being the deletion of the word “Professional” from the dial.

Compared with the 2017 Speedmaster 38, the new generation finally delivers the design language enthusiasts wanted all along: round subdials, a cleaner bezel, and the unmistakable Moonwatch silhouette in a smaller, automatic package. Compared with a full-size Moonwatch, it offers the same visual identity at 38mm with the convenience of an automatic movement — no hand-winding required — and at a lower price point that puts the Speedy look within reach of more buyers.

For anyone who ever wanted a Moonwatch but found it too large, too expensive, or too high-maintenance, the new Speedmaster 38 is the answer the community has been asking for since 2017. The Reduced may be gone, but its spirit has finally returned.