Specifications :

Mechanical automatic chronograph with date

Movement : Omega 3301 : 28.800 bph , column wheel and free sprung escapment *, COSC certified

Case : Stainless steel 316L , screw-in caseback , waterproof to 10 atm (100 meters) , double O-ring on pushers and crown

Anti magnetism : insured by a soft iron inner case

Crystal : Domed sapphire crystal with inner AR coating

Bracelet / Strap : Stainless steel 316 L bracelet or Aligator strap on deployant buckle

Presentation :

The Racing is delivered in the classic Omega red leather box box with papers in the credit card format a a complete instruction book.

The box is very well made , the red leather is very soft : it is not as nice as the wood box provided with higher end Omegas such as the Broad Arrow but is matching perfectly with the watch : note that the watch holder inside the box can be removed in order to convert the box for any other uses

The 3 "credit card type" provided with the watch are : the international warranty (2 years for this model) , the Chronometer certificate (an original can be requested at Omega : it is free of charge but you need to provide a copy of the warranty) , and the "Pictograms card" which summerize the specs of the watch

The instruction book is quiet big (364 pages) but cover all the Omega models in 10 different languages, as the Racing is a easy watch to use (mechanical chronograph) it do not require very long instructions.

First feelings :

Iif you are used to the "Omega finish" you’ll not be desapointed : in one word : excellent , but what really stands out with this model is of course the carbon fiber dial : a detail which is not VERY noticable (it depends of the light incidence) but which add to this classic model a "high tech" touch.

The case is similar to all the speedmaster line : polish and satin finish : subtile and not flash , it avoid strong light reflexion

The watch is sold either on strap with deployant bucke or bracelet , I have personally choose the bracelet which is VERY comfortable and having the excellent Omega clasp : 2 side pushers to open the clasp : the bracelet is identical to the Speedmaster professional version at the exception of the engraving "Racing’"

The tachymeter scale is identical to the speedmaster professional : it is an aluminium insert protected by the stainless steel bezel, the serial number of the watch (under one lug) and the bracelet clasp are laser engraved

The back is engraved with the famous Speedmaster seahorseand a big red "RACING" engraving

The size of the watch is kept in the Speedmaster classic size , absolutely no difference with a Speedmaster pro : the back is even interchangeable with a speedy pro.

Readability :

Daylight readability is "as good as a speedmaster pro" : I do not think I can be more elogious than that ! : the very high contrast between the white hands and the carbon fiber dial gives one of the best readability I have seen on a chronograph

subregisters with the same color as dial do not affect readability of time as often seen on other chronographs and the readability of the subdials is perfect : minute and hours hands are not very broad so they do not hide the subregisters for a long period

Night readability is not excellent , it even beat the (modern) Speedmaster professional on this point : it really glows like a torch : a luminosity never reach before in the Speedmaster line : even if the use of superluminova limit the night time reading , this one is excellent due to the larger ammount of luminous material used on dial and hands

Dial / Subdials :

The carbon fiber dial offers a particular look to this watch , depending of lighting it can appear from grey to black with the subtile "waves" of carbon , the carbon reflect a little bit more light than the black paint of the Speedmaster pro , but the sapphire crystal with anti glare coating limit the reflexion.

Indexes are white with a very small red frame , giving to this dial a "racing" identity.

Hands are white painted and have a similar design as the Speedmaster pro hands , the hour and minute hands are thin enough not to hide the informations of the subdials : a common feature again with the professional.

Test :

I have now a full confidence in the 33XX movement as a very happy owner of a Broad Arrow , so I will not come back on thoses points.

Since I have the watch for only a couple of days , I could not give you figures on long term , but here are the first results with both a timing machine and a comparaison to the atomic clock :

The timing macihne gives us an accuracy of + 4,7 seconds a day on flat position and with a minimium variation depending of position (within a second tested on 5 position)

A 24 hours test gives me a +4 second/day wearing the watch all day and leaving the watch flat during night : apparently this movement is running a little bit fast , but it is perfectly inside the COSC specifications (I remind here that the watch is certified Chronometer)

The chronograph pushers offers the great feeling of crown wheel mechanism , the smoothness of start/stop and reset pushers are unique : a REAL pleasure

Note the new function added to this watch compared to a professional : the date feature : the date window is located at 6 and do not ruin the balance of the dial , it offers a black background with a white digit making it very descrete but with a good readability

The "engine" :

The 33XX movements have been extensivly discussed on the internet , and we can say that the little "internet horlogical world" is devided by the "Pro and Con" on the 33XX … I am one of this "Pro" … not by philosophy , but because I own a Broad Arrow since more than a year WITHOUT any problems now let us go back to technical points :

The 33XX have been extensivly described in my Broad Arrow review : you can read it here , so I will come back only on some distinctive points of this movement :

28.800 bph

Column wheel mechanism

Free sprung balance system

the movement is not based on Piguet 1185 as oftenly published but is the Piguet 1285 specially built for Omega exist in 3 different versions : 3303 (highly finished) , 3313 (with co-axial) and 3301 (with a strandard finish). it is this later version which equip the "Racing" … but with the plain back you do not loose so much not to have the decorated version.

Conclusions :

So the final conclusion :

– if I would do this buy again ?

Yes I would , even if this is not the most known model of the line it is a watch to be discovered , and which is underestimated by collectors

– If I am a happy owner :

Totally , it offers for me "best of both worlds" : this watch takes the lines from its illustrous encestor the Professional with a modern "engine" and specifications

– Do I consider this watch as a good buy :

The "Racing" is a high priced watch , and seems not to have a hudge commercial success : with the same budget the "Legend" do offers a look with more "class" than this Racing version, however I do think this is a good buy because of the exceptionnal 33XX movement and its unique carbon dial

A final word :

The Omega Speedmaster Racing is a modern interpretation of the famous Omega Speedmaster professional , with a quiet similar apparence at the exception of its carbon fiber dial , it in fact offers modern features that its predecessor do not have :

– An automatic movement with crown wheel mechanism , a sapphire crystal (a version of the pro do have the sapphire crystal also) , an imroved water resistance to 100 meters , a better night readability , the date feature.

Lots of "plus" which makes this Racing a "modern specs" automatic chronograph with this fantastic and mythical design of the Speedmaster line.