You may know the Moonwatch, now meet the MoonSwatch. While the latter might sound – to use an Instagram slang – like a dupe, no one’s being punked here.
Indeed, Omega, the creator of the Moonwatch has teamed up with Swatch to release an unexpected collaboration featuring its iconic chronograph whose real name is the Speedmaster. In a statement, Omega likens the partnership to “collaborations between luxury and street brands” – which is only skimming the surface of what this timepiece is all about.
Scroll on to find out why this quartz-powered collection – dropping at Swatch’s boutiques at The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands and Ion Orchard on March 26 – matters besides its very attractive $372 price tag.
Firstly, it’s important to acknowledge that both Swatch and Omega are members of the Swatch Group. In a way, you can compare the magnitude of this collaboration in the same way Kering brands Gucci and Balenciaga joined forces for the blockbuster Hacker Project last Nov.
The Omega Speedmaster was first designed in 1957 as a reliable chronograph – essentially a watch with an extra stopwatch function – that was meant to be legible and easy to use. It also made history for being the first timepiece to have a tachymetre scale on the bezel, which can measure the speed at which the wearer travels over a fixed period of time.
However, the timepiece didn’t earn the “Moonwatch” moniker until the first moon landing in 1969 thanks to the fact that it was the watch Buzz Aldrin had on his wrist. That nickname stuck and from that moment forth, the watch was worn for all manned lunar missions by Nasa. It also played a critical role during Apollo 13’s troubled mission – helping astronauts time their critical manoeuvres as they made their arduous journey back to Earth.
Through the years, the Moonwatch has undergone several facelifts, a popular collaboration with Snoopy, and gave fans a short scare in 2021 when Omega announced it was discontinuing the model – only to quickly reveal a new generation of Moonwatch models with the hand-wound Calibre 3861. (The movement was big deal for the brand because it attained Master Chronometer certification which is like a boot camp for watchmakers where you have to endure eight tests over 10 days to get bragging rights to owing superior precision and magnetic resistance.)
Swatch, on the other hand, is known for its plastic and quartz-powered timepieces that go big on fashion- and art-inflected designs. This commercially-driven approach means that the unbridled use of colours and prints – and an increasingly eco savviness – are all part of its playbook. But Swatch also has an important role in horology considering how it kept the Swiss watchmaking business afloat during the quartz crisis of the ’80s.
As Omega President and CEO Raynald Aeschlimann sees it: “Omega’s long and distinguished history may have been cut short if it wasn’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.”
At first glance, the MoonSwatch has all of the design hallmarks of the O.G. it is fashioned after. There is the asymmetrical case, the easy-to-read chronograph counters on the dial and the quirky “Dot Over 90” detail on the tachymetre scale – a feature that will give vintage Moonwatch purists a kick.
But peer closer and you might notice some differences. One of the biggest variations? The material of the case is not in the usual steel but rather a matte smooth material called BioCeramic. This patented hybrid material is a unique blend of two-thirds ceramic and one-third plastic derived from castor oil. The latter, widely used in textile, cosmetics and perfumeries, has been said to be a potential renewable bio-based raw material.
The MoonSwatch spans 11 models in various colourways with each of them being named after the planetary bodies found in our solar system. Every model comes prefixed with the label “Mission to…” and the options available include Mission to Neptune with its dark blue colourway, Mission to Neptune with its sand and black colourway, and Mission to the Sun with its bright yellow dial.
Measuring 42mm similar to the case diameter of actual Moonwatch models, each MoonSwatch ticker features a battery cover on the back decorated as the watch namesake planet, an inspirational mission statement on the case back, and a joint Omega x Swatch logos on the crown. The Velcro strap adds to the spacesuit theme of the outing.
The playful and cheeky touches that you spot on the MoonSwatch scream Swatch through and through. True to form, the brand has added personalised details that tie in nicely to the inspiration behind each model.
Take for instance Mission to Saturn – this timepiece features a chronograph counter above the 6 o’clock position that has been printed with rings to mimic the distinctive feature of our solar system’s second-largest planet. Similarly, the fiery red Mission to Mars is adorned with watch hands shaped in the silhouette of the Apollo spacecraft and used previously by Omega for its commemorative Speedmaster “Alaska Project” model from 2008.