It’s now been over two and a half years since the first MoonSwatch models were launched. Accompanied by much skepticism – sometimes malice – and lengthy queues in front of the points of sale, the MoonSwatch has definitely secured its place in the watch world. In order to maintain the success of the series, Swatch has made every effort to revise and renew the models since their debut. In this article, we’re taking a closer look at the development of the successful model series.
The MoonSwatch: How It All Began
The idea behind the collaboration between Swatch and Omega sounds pretty great: The brands wanted to make the visual role model of the MoonSwatch, the popular Omega Speedmaster Professional Moonwatch, accessible to a wider audience by making it more affordable for the masses. It was a very clever move, because Omega also attracted the attention of a younger target group with this model series, who may not yet be among the buyers of higher-priced models, but could be the watch enthusiasts of tomorrow with higher purchasing power. The foundation for the success of the MoonSwatch was laid by the first 11 models in primarily bright colors. They are (nearly) perfect fashion pieces that can be combined in a variety of ways.
All 11 initial models of the MoonSwatch at a glance (photos: Swatch).
The different variants represent the planets in our solar system, including the Sun and Moon. Although the International Astronomical Union (IAU) no longer classifies Pluto as a planet, they’ve been generous enough to give the dwarf planet its own model.
Design and Quality of the Initial Models
In terms of look, the Swatch X Omega MoonSwatch remains unusually faithful to the legendary original. Design features such as an asymmetrical case and the unmistakable tachymeter bezel cannot be overlooked; even the distinctive crown and chronograph pushers are identical to the genuine Speedmaster Moonwatch. The 42-mm diameter was also adopted from the Omega original, as was the 47.2-mm lug-to-lug length. The thickness is virtually identical to the Hesalite version of the prototype. The rather simply designed case back offers a small, but thoughtful detail: On the battery cover is a fairly accurate replica of the celestial body represented by each respective MoonSwatch model. In terms of quality – and this should be clear to every buyer from the price alone – the Swatch X Omega MoonSwatch has nothing in common with the original. While the general feel of the chronograph pushers is absolutely fine, setting the watch proves rather difficult. The luminous material does a satisfactory job. The case material is a pleasant surprise, as the Swatch-exclusive mixture of ceramic and bioplastic is more inspiring than one might think. The watch feels really good, but anyone who likes to feel a little weight on their wrist will be disappointed: The MoonSwatch weighs just 29 grams, making it extremely light, especially compared to its steel counterpart. The Velcro strap, however, is a success and exudes a lot of outer space charm.
Mission to Moonshine Gold
A year after the release of the first 11 models of the MoonSwatch, the group decided to launch a new model every month with the title “Mission to Moonshine Gold.” The base for almost all of these models was the Mission to the Moon, with the exception of the August edition. The only thing that changed was the second hand, which was to be dedicated to a different theme each month.
The difference is in the details: the Mission to Moonshine Gold (photos: Swatch).
The Mission to Neptune was used as the basis for the August edition. This is the only model in the second edition that clearly stands out and is therefore still one of the most popular models in this series today. Although the Mission to Moonshine Gold variants are not very imaginative, the fact that the Moonshine Gold second hands were produced exclusively under a full moon gives you an interesting conversation starter.
Mission to the Moonphase
Gradually, the MoonSwatch game came to rest, meaning Swatch had to come up with something new to keep the community interested. This resulted in the Mission to the Moonphase – the first MoonSwatch with a moon phase and the popular Snoopy character on the dial. Two new models have since been released: an all-white Mission to the Moonphase Full Moon and an all-black Mission to the Moonphase New Moon. The color schemes are an allusion to the different shades of the moon – full moon = light, new moon = dark.
Characteristic of these models is the subdial at 3 o’clock, which now is home to the moon phase complication. On both models, this shows a sleeping Snoopy – and also a secret message under black light. The history of Snoopy goes back to the 1960s, when NASA declared Snoopy its official mascot. The last addition to the moon phase theme was the Mission to the Super Blue Moonphase. This latter watch was available for just 19 days in August 2024. It did without Snoopy and instead came with another unique selling point: The blue watch features a pulsometer scale on its bezel instead of the usual tachymeter function.
Mission on Earth
One of the more recent additions to the series is the Mission on Earth, not to be confused with the original Mission to the Earth. This collection is dedicated to some of the Earth’s natural phenomena, i.e., lava, polar lights, and the desert. The color scheme of each individual model is not surprising. The lava model comes in red and black, the polar lights in a unique green with an aventurine-like dial, and the desert edition resembles the Mission to Jupiter.
The Mission on Earth model line (photo: Swatch)
Mission to Earthphase
On November 2, 2024, Swatch added yet another model to the MoonSwatch series: the Mission to Earthphase. Swatch chose a very interesting approach with this one. While we usually talk about the moon phase, Swatch has turned the tables and implemented the Earth phase. The focus here is on how the Earth behaves in relation to the Moon and how it passes through different phases. Just like the Moon, it completes a cycle that lasts exactly 29.5 days. This means, for example, that when we see a full moon from Earth, a “new Earth” can be seen from the Moon. However, the moon phase complication was not removed. The Earth phase can be found at 10 o’clock, complementing the classic moon phase display on the opposite side of the dial.
MoonSwatch Review: Conclusion, Criticism, and Personal Opinion
The MoonSwatch collection is a small cosmos unto itself. I can only partly understand the harsh criticism these models have received at times. The criticism mainly stems from Omega fans and Speedmaster owners, who claim that the MoonSwatch could tarnish the image of the original due to inconsistencies in design and quality. To be honest, the MoonSwatch was never meant to be a “real” Speedmaster – of course it’s not. Personally, I think it’s great that many more people can feel connected to the story of the original Moonwatch and the Moon landing, because not everyone has the necessary funds to buy a real Speedmaster Professional Moonwatch. On the other hand, the model series also shows what’s possible with color. With this lower-priced line of watches, the company has taken the opportunity to experiment more, and the result is eye-catching and fun. It’s a model range that doesn’t take itself too seriously. To accuse Swatch of acting out of sheer greed is also questionable. Every company has the intention of making money, and even if the Mission to Moonshine Gold in 2023 wasn’t the most imaginative model on the market, all the variants before and after it have been something special, whether in terms of functionality or color scheme. It remains to be seen where the MoonSwatch journey will take us. There should be no shortage of ideas. And I’m delighted to see young people strolling around the city with MoonSwatches on their wrists.
