Speedmaster "Speedy Tuesday Ultraman" 2018 · 311.12.42.30.01.001 · Box and Card 42mm · Black · Stainless Steel

The detail we love most about the Omega Speedmaster “Ultraman” cannot be seen in daylight. Shine an ultraviolet light across the dial, and the face of Ultraman appears within the small seconds subdial, a hidden tribute that rewards those who know where to look.

Ultraman first appeared in Japanese television in the 1960s, but his connection to the Speedmaster dates to 1971, when the science-fiction series The Return of Ultraman featured the Monster Attack Team wearing Speedmasters distinguished by their orange chronograph hands, echoing the color of the team’s uniforms.

Decades later, Omega brought that detail to life in the Speedmaster “Speedy Tuesday” Ultraman, released in 2018 in tribute to the passionate online community that helped inspire it. The name “Speedy Tuesday” originated in 2012, when a Speedmaster-focused article was published on a Tuesday and sparked a tradition among collectors that continues to this day.

The thoughtful details extend beyond the hidden dial motif. On the minute counter at three o’clock, only the first three minutes are highlighted in orange, a playful reference to Ultraman’s three-minute limit in superhero mode. It is a small touch, but one that captures the spirit of the original character while giving the watch a personality all its own.

Beneath the nostalgic design, the Ultraman remains a true Moonwatch at heart, powered by the hand-wound caliber 1861, descended from the movement family associated with the Speedmaster’s historic lunar legacy. That same lineage connects it to earlier icons such as the Speedmaster “Ed White,” named after astronaut Edward H. White II, who wore a Speedmaster during America’s first spacewalk in 1965. Together, these watches illustrate the remarkable breadth of the Speedmaster story, from the pioneering days of space exploration to the pop-culture references that have made the collection so enduring.

For collectors, the Ultraman occupies a particularly appealing niche: a historically inspired Speedmaster with distinctive orange accents, a concealed ultraviolet surprise, and a direct connection to the enthusiast community. It sits comfortably alongside the standard Speedmaster Professional Moonwatch (3577.50) and special editions such as the Silver Snoopy Award, each demonstrating how Omega continues to reinterpret one of watchmaking’s most recognizable designs without losing sight of its heritage.

Sources: Omega; Tsuburaya Productions