In a time when watch collaborations are taking the world by storm, the Swatch x OMEGA SpeedMaster Moonwatch has made an illustrious comeback. On the 7th of March, Swatch and OMEGA unveiled the dazzling limited-edition “Mission to Moonshine Gold”, an elegant successor to the steel gray “Mission to the Moon” featuring a lustrous gold alloy-coated second hand.
As with previous MoonSwatch releases, the newest iteration will only be available in select cities—London, Milan, Zurich, and Tokyo—and not online. Retailing at approximately $285, acquiring this coveted timepiece is no easy feat.
This year has seen a flurry of high-profile watch collaborations, such as TAG Heuer x Porsche, Timex x Adsum, and Hodinkee x Bamford x Snoopy, to name a few. Yet, none stirred as much excitement as the Omega x Swatch MoonSwatch—a groundbreaking partnership between two titans of the watchmaking industry. This extraordinary collection features 11 vibrant renditions of Swatch’s take on the NASA-approved Omega Speedmaster, each dedicated to a distinct celestial body. With a price tag of $260, a mere fraction of the cost of Omega’s iconic “Moonwatch”, these timepieces drew hordes of collectors and gray market flippers, some of whom queued for days to secure their prize. The ensuing chaos saw stores overwhelmed, law enforcement summoned, and even a desperate mugging at knifepoint for a place in line.
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Despite not being promoted as a limited-edition release, the MoonSwatch swiftly gained resale value, fetching prices upwards of $1,000 apiece. While the watch collecting community praised the MoonSwatch’s design, the limited availability and subsequent profiteering left a bitter taste for many.
However, there is hope for those who long for the sleek black “Mission to Moon” or the whimsical pink “Mission to Venus” (or perhaps the entire collection, for the truly ambitious). Swatch has expanded the availability of the collection to a broader range of boutiques and announced a series of pop-ups in cities like San Diego and Jacksonville, with surprise locations revealed via Instagram. Meanwhile, gray market prices for most models have stabilized, with unworn pieces, complete with original packaging, available for under $310 USD on platforms like StockX, eBay and Chrono24. The sole exception is the elusive blue “Mission to Neptune” edition, which continues to command prices above $1,400 USD, fueled by rumors of its discontinuation—though Swatch has dispelled such claims.
While the Swatch x OMEGA SpeedMaster Moonwatch collaboration has undoubtedly been one of the most unusual watch releases in recent years, it’s worth considering that vintage Omega Speedmasters can be found for at least $3,500 USD on Chrono24, making the inflated prices of some MoonSwatch models still interesting as an investment.
For those undeterred by the high prices and determined to secure a MoonSwatch, it’s time to embark on your celestial quest. The stars have aligned, and the opportunity is yours for the taking.
Swatch x OMEGA Bioceramic MoonSwatch “Mission to Venus”
Swatch x OMEGA Bioceramic MoonSwatch “Mission to Uranus”
Swatch x OMEGA Bioceramic MoonSwatch “Mission to Jupiter”
Swatch x OMEGA Bioceramic MoonSwatch “Mission to Saturn”
Swatch x OMEGA Bioceramic MoonSwatch “Mission to Sun”
Swatch x OMEGA Bioceramic MoonSwatch “Mission to Moon”
Swatch x OMEGA Bioceramic MoonSwatch “Mission to Mercury”
Swatch x OMEGA Bioceramic MoonSwatch “Mission to Mars”
Swatch x OMEGA Bioceramic MoonSwatch “Mission to Earth”
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