Omega refreshed the Speedmaster 38mm collection for 2026, and the headline change is small on paper but big in person: round chronograph sub-dials are back. The collection had used oval-shaped counters since 2017. Now all seven references run the classic three-circle layout that made the original 1988 Speedmaster Reduced instantly readable, paired with a new COSC-certified movement family. Here is what changed, what each reference costs, and which one is worth buying.
The short answer: Omega released seven new Speedmaster 38mm references in August 2026, split between the automatic chronograph Calibre 3330 (date) and Calibre 3332 (no-date). Both are COSC-certified, use a co-axial escapement, and run 52 hours. Prices span EUR 6,400 to EUR 12,900. The big visual change is a return to round sub-dials after nine years of the oval layout, closing the gap between the 38mm line and the 42mm Moonwatch.
The black no-date reference, 324.30.38.50.01.002, is the closest the 38mm line has come to a true Moonwatch-in-miniature.
What Changed in the 2026 Speedmaster 38mm Refresh
The Speedmaster 38mm has always lived in an odd spot. It launched in 2010 as a smaller alternative to the 42mm Professional, got updated in 2017 with oval sub-dial elements, and picked up a reputation along the way as the "women's Speedmaster." That framing never quite fit a chronograph with a proper column-wheel movement.
This refresh corrects course. Omega dropped the oval counters, brought back round sub-dials at 3, 6, and 9 o'clock, and introduced a genuine no-date reference for the first time in years. That last point matters more than it sounds. A no-date dial is a small thing to ask for and a hard thing to find below 40mm.
Round Sub-Dials Return
The round layout is not just cosmetic. It is a direct callback to the 1988 Speedmaster Reduced, the 39mm automatic that first proved a Speedmaster did not need to be 42mm to read like one. Where the 2017 oval dials looked like a deliberate departure from the Moonwatch family, the 2026 dials look like a member of it.
The Calibre 3330 and 3332 Movements
Every reference in the refresh runs on the same base architecture, built on the Longines L688 platform (a Valjoux 7753 evolution) with a column-wheel and horizontal clutch:
- Calibre 3332: automatic chronograph, no date
- Calibre 3330: automatic chronograph, date at 6 o'clock
- Co-axial escapement at 28,800 vibrations per hour
- Free-sprung balance with a silicon hairspring
- 52-hour power reserve
- COSC chronometer certified
Case dimensions are identical across the line: 38mm diameter, 14.75mm thick, 44.96mm lug-to-lug, with 100m water resistance and a box-shaped sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating.
At 14.75mm thick, the case is not thin, but the 38mm diameter and 44.96mm lug-to-lug keep it wearing smaller than the number suggests.
All 7 References and What They Cost
Omega spread the refresh across steel, two-tone, and diamond-set versions. Every price below is list, in EUR, excluding local taxes.
| Reference | Dial | Bezel | Case | Price (EUR) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 324.30.38.50.01.002 | Black varnished, no-date | White tachymeter, aluminum | Steel | 6,400 |
| 324.30.38.50.02.003 | Opaline silvery, date | Warm grey aluminum | Steel | 6,600 |
| 324.30.38.50.04.001 | Lacquered white, date | Blue ceramic, white scale | Steel | 7,000 |
| 324.20.38.50.02.001 | Silvery opaline, date | Green aluminum, gold scale | Steel/Moonshine Gold | 11,500 |
| 324.20.38.50.02.002 | Ivory, date | Mid-brown aluminum | Steel/Sedna Gold | 11,500 |
| 324.15.38.50.03.001 | Ice blue, date | 52 diamonds, 1.53 ct | Steel | 12,100 |
| 324.15.38.50.05.001 | White mother-of-pearl, date | 52 diamonds, 1.53 ct | Steel | 12,900 |
The bracelet across the steel and two-tone references is an 18mm five-link design lifted straight from the Moonwatch playbook, brushed with polished center links and a folding clasp with a two-position comfort extension.
The lacquered white dial with a blue ceramic bezel, ref. 324.30.38.50.04.001, is the sportiest of the steel references at 7,000 EUR.
The No-Date Black Steel Is the One to Own
If you only look at one reference, look at 324.30.38.50.01.002. It is the cheapest in the lineup at 6,400 EUR, it is the only steel reference without a date window breaking up the dial symmetry, and it is the closest the 38mm collection has ever come to reading like a scaled-down Professional Moonwatch. For a buyer who wants Speedmaster proportions without the 42mm footprint, this is the honest pick.
The Two-Tone and Diamond References Are a Different Buyer
The Moonshine Gold, Sedna Gold, and diamond-set references are not competing with the black steel reference. They are dress-chronograph territory, priced closer to a Rolex Datejust with a diamond bezel than to a tool-watch Speedmaster. Buy them for the metal and the stone-setting, not for a discount route into Speedmaster ownership.
How the 2026 Speedmaster 38mm Compares to the Original Speedmaster Reduced
The 1988 Speedmaster Reduced was a 39mm automatic chronograph, one millimeter larger than this new 38mm line and built on a different movement architecture entirely. It became a cult reference for exactly the reason this refresh is chasing: proper round sub-dials, honest chronograph proportions, and a price well under the full-size Moonwatch. Collectors who already know that reference will recognize the design language here immediately. If you want the full history on the Reduced, including which reference numbers actually hold value, our Speedmaster Reduced buying guide covers it in depth.
Black steel, blue steel, and Sedna gold cappuccino side by side. The round sub-dials read consistently across every colorway.
Should You Buy the New 38mm or the 42mm Moonwatch
This comes down to wrist size and intent, not which one is the "real" Speedmaster.
Buy the 38mm If
- You have a 6 to 6.75 inch wrist and the 42mm Professional wears too large
- You want a no-date chronograph without hunting vintage references
- You are buying for someone who wants Speedmaster styling without the Moonwatch's cultural weight (and price)
Buy the 42mm Moonwatch If
- You want the manual-wind Calibre 3861 and the exact reference that went to space
- Resale liquidity matters. The Professional Moonwatch is the deeper, more established secondary market
- Case size in the 40 to 42mm range wears comfortably on your wrist
For a full breakdown of every current Moonwatch reference and what pre-owned examples actually sell for, see our Speedmaster Professional Moonwatch buying guide.
Buying this refresh pre-owned down the road will eventually mean checking it against the usual counterfeiting risks that follow any popular Omega. Our dealer's checklist for authenticating a pre-owned Omega covers what to check before you buy.
FAQ
What is the difference between Calibre 3330 and Calibre 3332?
Calibre 3330 has a date window at 6 o'clock. Calibre 3332 is the no-date version. Both are COSC-certified automatic column-wheel chronographs with a 52-hour power reserve, built on the same Longines L688-derived platform.
How much does the new Omega Speedmaster 38mm cost?
List prices run from 6,400 EUR for the steel black no-date reference to 12,900 EUR for the mother-of-pearl diamond-bezel version. Local taxes are not included in Omega's published pricing.
Is the Speedmaster 38mm a women's watch?
Omega does not market it that way, and the 2026 refresh pushes hard against that reputation with a no-date steel reference built for anyone with a smaller wrist. The 38mm diameter and 44.96mm lug-to-lug wear comfortably on wrists from roughly 6 to 6.75 inches, regardless of who is wearing it.
Does the 38mm Speedmaster share parts with the Moonwatch?
No. The 42mm Professional Moonwatch runs the manual-wind Calibre 3861. The 38mm collection runs the automatic Calibre 3330/3332 family, a different movement architecture built for a different case size.
When did the 2026 Speedmaster 38mm collection release?
Omega unveiled the refreshed lineup in late August 2026, with all seven references listed as available at launch.
Browse authenticated pre-owned Omega Speedmaster watches at 5dwatches.com.