Swatch Mission To Mercury

The MoonSwatch collection presented by Swiss watch giant Swatch in early 2022 hit watch fans like a meteorite. One of the 11 different models – all of which are dedicated to celestial bodies - is the ref. SO33A100. Known as the "Mission to Mercury", the watch is, like its namesake, one thing above all: gray.

The design and dimensions of the MoonSwatch "Mission to Mercury" are almost identical to those of its famous predecessor, the Omega Speedmaster Professional Moonwatch. Only the subdials are positioned slightly differently due to the model's quartz caliber. The "Dot over 90" bezel (also known as the DON bezel), a favorite of many Speedmaster fans, has also found its way into the MoonSwatch collection and onto the SO33A100.

While the case of the Speedmaster Professional Moonwatch is made of stainless steel, the case of the MoonSwatch SO33A100 is made of Swatch's own bioceramic. The overall color scheme of the watch is rather subdued, with various shades of gray, just like the planet Mercury, to which the model pays tribute.

As with all models in the MoonSwatch collection, the Mission to Mercury SO33A100 has a diameter of 42 mm. The height of the case is approximately 13 mm, while the lug-to-lug measurement is 47 mm. Like the original Omega Moonwatch, the lug width is 20 mm wide. The curved lugs and asymmetrical case are also characteristic of the design.

The material used by Swatch for its MoonSwatch models is a proprietary blend of ceramic and rapeseed oil called "bioceramic." Unlike the Moonwatch, the MoonSwatch has a monobloc case, which means that the case is made from a single casting and has only a battery compartment on the back. The battery cover features an image of Mercury.

The Dial of the MoonSwatch "Mission to Mercury"

The MoonSwatch SO33A100 features a light gray "step dial." On step dials, the subdials and the minute track are slightly recessed, giving the dial a certain plasticity. This type of dial design can also be found on some early and current versions of the Omega Speedmaster.

The design of the hands also corresponds to that of the original. The MoonSwatch has white baton hands for the hours and minutes and a lance hand for stop seconds. The hour indicators are printed bar indices made of luminous material that glows in the dark. Below the subdials at two and ten o'clock are the words "MoonSwatch" and "Speedmaster."

In March 2024, the MoonSwatch "Mission to Mercury" ref. SO33A100 changed hands on Chrono24 for roughly 370 USD in mint condition. Swatch's official list price, on the other hand, is only 270 USD, which means that the watch is currently trading around 37% above its MSRP.

Is the MoonSwatch SO33A100 a limited edition model?

All 11 models in the MoonSwatch collection are unlimited editions, but as the chronographs are only available in certain Swatch boutiques and demand is high, you may still have to wait.