There is no doubt that the biggest hype watch of 2022 was the collaboration between Omega and Swatch, the so-called MoonSwatch. Years later it remains one of the most successful and talked-about watch releases of the modern era, and it kicked off a whole new wave of accessible, collectible “Bioceramic” watches.
Where does it come from?
The watch is a perfect blend of two brands. It uses Bioceramic from Swatch, a material made from roughly two-thirds ceramic and one-third bio-sourced plastic, which had appeared on a few Swatch models before but was still new to most of the world in 2022.
That material is combined with one of the most famous watch designs ever made, the Omega Speedmaster, the “Moonwatch” worn by NASA astronauts on the Moon. The result is the MoonSwatch: a Speedmaster silhouette you can actually afford. There are eleven versions, each named after a body in our solar system, from Mission to the Sun through to Mission to Pluto.
The launch strategy
It is no secret that the launch itself fuelled the watch’s enormous success. A small leak appeared shortly before the official launch on 26 March 2022, creating a huge buzz. On launch day, queues formed outside Swatch stores around the world, and the frenzy only grew from there.
How to get hold of one
In the beginning it was almost impossible to buy. Stores were swarmed, it was unclear whether the watches would be limited, and speculation ran wild. Over time, supply caught up and the MoonSwatch became far easier to find, although it has remained sold exclusively through selected Swatch boutiques rather than online, which keeps a little of the thrill of the hunt alive. Swatch also kept the line fresh with special editions, including the gold-accented MoonShine Gold “New Moon” pieces and the glow-in-the-dark Mission to the Moon and Snoopy-themed releases.
The Fiat 500 Swatch tour
Later in 2022, Swatch sent out a fleet of branded Fiat 500 cars, each representing one of the eleven watches, so that people in cities without a Swatch store could still get hold of a MoonSwatch.
As someone based in Stockholm without a local Swatch store, I was delighted by this, and lucky enough to catch the car on my way home from work, buying a watch straight from the boot. A genuinely fun experience, and great to see the little Fiat 500 buzzing around the city with watch nerds chasing after it.
The watch itself
As mentioned, the MoonSwatch mixes Omega and Swatch DNA: the design comes from Omega, the materials from Swatch. It runs a quartz movement rather than the manual-wind Speedmaster calibre, which helps keep both the price and the maintenance low.
The case
The case closely follows the original Speedmaster shape, which makes it really satisfying to wear, and a brilliant way to try the look before committing to the real thing.
The dial
The dial is very similar to the Omega original but with subtle differences. The sub-dial layout sits slightly differently, which is easy to spot when the two are placed side by side.
The strap
The original MoonSwatch strap is what most people talk about. It looks cool but is not the most comfortable, taking its design from the Velcro straps used during the Moon missions.
Because of that distinctive strap, the aftermarket has boomed, with countless alternatives appearing. That is why we created a dedicated post on alternative straps for the MoonSwatch.
When was the MoonSwatch released?
The eleven versions of the MoonSwatch were released on 26 March 2022.
Is the MoonSwatch automatic or quartz?
It uses a quartz movement, unlike the manual-wind Omega Speedmaster Moonwatch it is based on, which helps keep the price and upkeep low.
Where can you buy a MoonSwatch?
It is sold only through selected Swatch boutiques, not online. Availability is much better than at launch, though stock of newer special editions can still be limited.
Henrik is our most experienced watch expert and has been in the industry for soon 10 years. He has a good ear to the ground and are following what the big brands do, but also what trends that smalled microbrands and exploring in order to follow whats next in the watch industry.