Swatch Moonswatch

At the end of March 2022, Swatch set the watchmaking world on fire. The Swiss watch giant had teamed up with its subsidiary Omega to reinterpret one of the most famous timepieces in history: the legendary Speedmaster Professional Moonwatch, i.e., the first watch on the Moon.

The aptly-named MoonSwatch has the exact dimensions and design of the original Omega, including "lyre" or twisted lugs, and a wider right case flank that serves to protect the crown and pushers. You'll also find a tachymeter bezel with the "Dot over 90", as well as slightly stepped subdials that the MoonSwatch adopted from the famous Moonwatch. Some MoonSwatch design elements are taken from particularly sought-after Speedmaster models, such as the "Ultraman" or "Alaska Project." Along with the Swatch and MoonSwatch logos, the dial also features the Omega logo and famous Speedmaster inscription.

That's where the similarities stop. As opposed to the Omega timepiece, the MoonSwatch's case is made of Swatch's proprietary BIOCERAMIC. This material blend is two-thirds ceramic, and one-third synthetic compound derived from castor oil. The result is a very light case that can be produced in a variety of colors, and Swatch has taken full advantage of this for these timepieces. There are a total of eleven color varieties named after planetary bodies in our Solar System: the Sun, Mercury, Venus, Earth, the Moon (of course), Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune and Pluto. Since 2023, the Moon variant has been available in a special Mission to Moonshine Gold version with an 18-karat gold stop-seconds hand. In 2024, the white Mission to the Moonphase "Snoopy" was added to the collection.

Another major difference from the original Moonwatch is the movement. Swatch uses a quartz chronograph caliber for the MoonSwatch, which is also used in the brand's other chronographs. This is most likely the ETA G10.212 or a variation thereof. Accordingly, the subdials of the MoonSwatch are located at 2, 6, and 10 o'clock. A textile strap with a Velcro fastener keeps the watches securely on the wrist.

The official list price for a MoonSwatch is 260 USD. Upon release, Swatch offered these watches exclusively in selected Swatch stores. The first batches were released in very limited quantities and sold out almost immediately. Swatch has repeatedly emphasized that the MoonSwatches are not limited editions and will be available for purchase as soon as enough of these timepieces have been manufactured. Of course, this will take some time.

However, if you can't wait to wear a MoonSwatch on your wrist, you'll find numerous models on the secondary market – albeit at a premium. As of early 2024, MoonSwatches change hands on Chrono24 for between roughly 330 and 425 USD.

Each of the eleven MoonSwatch models pays homage to one of the planetary bodies in our solar system, as evidenced by the colors of their cases and dials. The most eye-catching models are probably the Mission to the Sun and the Mission to Neptune. The former shines in a bright lemon yellow, while the Neptune model stands out for its rich blue tones.

Like pastel tones? Then be sure to take a look at the Mission to Uranus or Mission to Venus, in light blue and powder pink, respectively. The Venus model also features oval subdials with tiny ornaments in the outer rings, giving it a more playful feel than the other models in the collection.

The MoonSwatch Mission on Earth features the widest palette of colors in this collection: the case is an earthy green, the bezel and dial are navy blue, and the subdials are white. The chronograph hands round off the watch nicely, and are a brownish red.

Swatch chose a light beige for the case and dial of the MoonSwatch Mission to Saturn. The bezel and subdials are brown. The small seconds dial at 6 o'clock, however, depicts Saturn, complete with its characteristic rings.

With the Mission to Mars and Mission to Jupiter, Swatch draws on design elements from the highly sought-after "Alaska Project" and "Ultraman" Moonwatch models. The Mission to Mars case is a fiery red, just like the thermal shield on the "Alaska I" from 1969. Swatch designers also borrowed from the Alaska I for the dial on the Mission to Mars, which is white with brash red chronograph hands. These even have the same shape as those found on the Alaska I, which were reminiscent of the Gemini spacecraft that carried American astronauts into space.

The beige Mission to Jupiter is something for Speedmaster "Ultraman" fans. Its most outstanding features are the orange chronograph hands, which can also be found on the original Ultraman from the late 1960s and the 2018 Speedy Tuesday Ultraman special edition.

Looking for a MoonSwatch that's in keeping with the original Omega? Look no further than the Mission to the Moon. This model's colors, lettering and numbers, and overall look are nearly identical to the Speedmaster Professional Moonwatch. An alternative here is also the Mission to Mercury, whose gray tones give the watch a unique look that is nevertheless faithful to the classic Speedy.

The last model in this collection is the Mission to Pluto, which stands out with its light gray case and cream-colored dial. The subdials and bezel are burgundy, making this watch slightly reminiscent of the Speedmaster Apollo 11 50th Anniversary.

Special Editions of the Moonswatch With Moonshine Gold

Each month from March 2023 to December 2023, Swatch presented a special version of the MoonSwatch Mission to the Moon. The special feature of these timepieces is a stop-seconds hand made of Moonshine Gold, a red gold alloy developed by Omega. According to Swatch, the hands were produced exclusively during the full moon and decorated with motifs appropriate to each month. For example, small wild strawberries adorn the hand of the July model, while small snowflakes can be seen on the hand of the MoonSwatch December.

Unlike the other watches in the collection, the Moonshine Gold models are limited editions with a list price of 285 USD. On Chrono24, you can find unworn examples priced between 480 and 720 USD.

Moonswatch “Snoopy” With Moon Phase

In March 2024, Swatch expanded the the MoonSwatch collection with the addition of the "Mission to the Moonphase," made of white bioceramic. The bezel, dial and bracelet are also white, while the hands and inscriptions are black, creating a strong contrast with the background. The highlight of the watch is the eponymous moon phase display at 2 o'clock, which simultaneously shows the position of the Moon in the northern and southern hemispheres. It uses two small crescent moons, on which a tiny Snoopy lies dozing. Under UV light, the "Peanuts" quote "I can't sleep without a night light!" also appears.

The little cartoon beagle is a tribute to the Omega Speedmaster "Snoopy." These models are highly coveted by collectors and refer to the "Silver Snoopy Award" that NASA has presented since the near-disaster of the Apollo 13 mission. After all the on-board computers failed, the astronauts, led by Commander James A. Lovell, were able to return safely to Earth only because they were able to time the ignition of the engines with the help of an Omega Speedmaster. Snoopy has also been the mascot of the U.S. space agency since the 1960s.

Swatch lists the official retail price of the Mission to the Moonphase "Snoopy" at 310 USD. Like the regular MoonSwatch models, the Snoopy is only available in selected Swatch boutiques. You cannot buy the watch online from Swatch, so you have to go through marketplaces like Chrono24.

What's the most popular MoonSwatch?

The best-selling MoonSwatch on Chrono24 is the Mission to the Moon ref. SO33M100, followed by the Mission to Mercury (SO33A100) and Mission to Saturn (SO33T100).

What's the most expensive MoonSwatch?

As of March 2024, the most expensive MoonSwatch on Chrono24 is the Mission to Moonshine Gold "Blue Moon" SO33N101-108, which costs approximately 720 USD. The most affordable model is the Mission to Mars SO33R100, which changes hands for roughly 330 USD.

Who wears MoonSwatches?

Celebrity fans of the Omega x Swatch MoonSwatch include Ed Sheeran, Zlatan Ibrahimović, and Daniel Craig.