OMEGA kicked off 2022 with quite a couple of launches. After Days 2022, the Swiss luxury brand has collaborated with Swatch to produce a playful take on its iconic Speed master chronograph – called the MoonSwatch. Both Swatch and Omega have the same parent company; however, this collaboration is more about giving a luxury experience to the masses and creating innovative new products that blend the best of both worlds. This is the first design partnership between the two brands; the MoonSwatch collection is inspired by the celestial bodies, from the giant star at the center of the solar system to the dwarf planet at its periphery.
The Speedmaster is one of the most renowned and vital creations from Omega. The Speedmaster Professional was the watch that made it to NASA’s Apollo lunar landings, becoming one of the very few watches that could be used in space. Following that inspiration, the MoonSwatch included 11 models, each named after a spatial body in our solar system. The collection uses attractive colors to represent each planet; for example, the Sun uses a bright gold palette, while a bright red for Mars. The new collection features a Speedmaster that comes in rare hues like a pink and pale blue case.
For OMEGA President and CEO Mr Raynald Aeschlimann, the new collection is a source of pride. “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 saviors of our industry in a witty and accessible way. The Swatches are perfect for budding Moon watch fans, and I can’t think of a more appropriate icon for our shared project. We went to the moon, now we’re exploring the whole Milky Way. They’re great watches, in fantastic colors and they make me smile.”
The MoonSwatch watches will adorn a body made from BIOCERAMIC, a unique mix of two-thirds ceramic and one-third material derived from castor oil and bio-sourced plastic, replacing the original Speedmaster’s steel body. The asymmetrical case, the famous tachymeter scale with a dot over ninety and the distinctive Speedmaster sundials all work perfectly. The collection includes watches named after other planets Mercury, Venus, Earth, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune. One of the most distinguished pieces is the Saturn MoonSwatch which adds the planet’s famous rings to its seconds subdual.
Giving the MoonSwatch a playful twist, each MoonSwatch features its own mission statement, inspirational engravings, while the OMEGA X SWATCH logos feature on the dial and crown. The battery cover on each watch features a depiction of its planet. Every watch has a 42 mm case similar to the original Speedmaster with a spacesuit-ready VELCRO© strap that adds a final touch of astronaut chic.
The Swatches are available from the 26th of March. The price point for the MoonSwatch collection is priced way lower than the entry-level Omega Speedmaster; it will be a task to find the nearest store stocking these pieces.
