After nearly single-handedly breaking the watch internet (and going onto net $20.5 million in sales on the secondary market) prices for the notorious MoonSwatch have finally achieved values that are as close as we’ll ever come to normalcy.
In the event you were fortunate enough to avoid the well-documented feeding frenzy that accompanied the Moonswatch’s original release, now would be an opportune moment to revisit what started out as 2022’s most desirable several hundred dollar watch, before morphing into a poster child for the most gratuitous sort of watch culture flipping.
Below, we give a brief overview of the MoonSwatch itself; the various models that make up the eponymous collection; and, most importantly, where you’re still able to get your hands on one – at a relatively palatable price.
Omega x Swatch MoonSwatch: What Is It?
In a first for Omega and Swatch, both stablemates within the Swatch Group, the two brands launched a collaboration that blends the best of what both watchmakers have to offer. Executed in Swatch’s relatively novel ‘bioceramic’ case material, the collection is made up of no less than 11 different designs, each bearing its own distinctive colourway.
Despite fitting comfortably within the Swatch universe, with regards to pricing and design ethos, the collection managed to incorporate lots of Speedmaster references: from the case size to inside-baseball details like the ‘dot over 90’ bezel.
Merched on comfortable-looking velcro straps, each matched to the aesthetic of its respective watch, it’s widely been credited as the best ‘affordable’ release of 2022 (assuming you were fortunate and/or brave enough to snag one at launch).
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Cases
As mentioned, every MoonSwatch is made from a proprietary ‘bioceramic’ material: made from a recipe that is two parts ceramic, and one part castor oil. Lightweight and eco-friendly, each model measures 42mm in diameter and 13.25mm in thickness, with distinctive details like the “twisted” lugs reminiscent of the standard-issue Speedmaster Professional.
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Dials
Each dial is clearly inspired by the Omega Speedmaster, whilst featuring a slightly different layout that makes them distinct enough to be different. Two of the three stepped registers have been moved up the dial, sitting at 10 and 2 o’clock, unlike the historic Speedmaster (in which these appear at 3 and 9 o’clock respectively).
Featuring both Omega and Swatch logos, there are 11 different dial configurations, each offering different colours and subtle historical winks to Speedmasters of yore. For instance, the red and white iteration is inspired by the ‘Alaska Project’ Speedies circa 1969 – originally created for temperature testing at NASA.
Movement
As you might expect from Swatch, these MoonSwatches don’t feature manually wound chronograph movements; and are instead powered by a Swiss-made quartz calibre. Not only does this keep the collection affordable, but enabled the design teams to have some fun with the battery cover on the caseback, covering it with a NASA photo of various celestial entities.
“Omega’s long and distinguished history may have been cut short if it weren’t for the vision and the courage taken by Swatch. The MoonSwatch collection salutes the saviours of our industry in a witty and accessible way. The Swatches are perfect for budding Moonwatch fans, and I can’t think of a more appropriate icon for our shared project. We went to the moon, now we’re exploring the whole Milky Way. They’re great watches, in fantastic colours, and they make me smile.”
Omega CEO Raynald Aeschlimann
Strap
The strap is another great choice in the MoonSwatch collection, with each watch arriving on a velcro fabric strap, which is not only almost guaranteed to be supremely comfortable but is another thoughtful reference to the Speedmaster watches worn by NASA astronauts in space. In fact, it was less than a year ago that Omega debuted the velcro strap as an option for Speedmaster owners, famously worn by Jeff Bezos during his Blue Origin space flight. Each of these velcros is colour-coordinated: matching the 11 different designs making up the whole collection.
Verdict & Price
In light of the MoonSwatch’s formidable performance in a plethora of international markets, since it debuted in March, Swatch Group announced that its revenues in 2022 are up by 7.4 per cent. That should give some indication as to the collection’s popularity – a phenomenon that is likely to continue, considering Omega have not discounted the possibility of doing new models in the near future.
With more than a couple of historically significant design cues for watch collecting purists; and enough fun colours for those who are simply in the mood for more ‘fun’ timepieces, it’s unlikely interest in the MoonSwatch from enthusiast circles will die down any time soon.
While all models remain ‘out of stock’ on the Swatch Australia website, click the links in each gallery image below for an alternative purchasing option (via StockX).
