Omega MoonSwatch - What is the difference between them and the OG Moonwatch?

The maker of the Moonwatch, Omega, has teamed up with Swatch to unveil an unexpected partnership that features its recognizable Speedmaster chronograph. In a statement, Omega compares the collaboration to "collaborations between luxury and street brands," but that just scratches the surface of what this watch is all about. The Swatch Group includes both Swatch and Omega.

The Omega Speedmaster was initially created in 1957 as a trustworthy chronograph—basically, a watch with an additional stopwatch function—that was intended to be clear and simple to operate. The fact that it was the first clock with a tachymeter scale on the bezel, which can gauge a wearer's pace over a set length of time, made history as well.

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. The watch was used for all NASA human lunar missions after that, and the moniker remained. It also played a critical role during Apollo 13’s troubled mission—helping astronauts time their critical maneuvers as they made their arduous journey back to Earth.

The Moonwatch has had numerous makeovers over the years, including a well-liked collaboration with Snoopy. In 2021, Omega briefly alarmed enthusiasts by announcing that the model would be discontinued before immediately announcing a new line of Moonwatch models powered by the hand-wound Calibre 3861. (The movement was significant for the brand since it received Master Chronometer accreditation, which is comparable to a watchmakers' boot camp in which you must pass eight exams over the course of ten days in order to be able to boast about having exceptional accuracy and magnetic resistance.)

On the other hand, Swatch is renowned for its plastic and quartz-powered watches with prominent fashion and artistic design elements. Due to its commercial focus, this technique allows for the unrestrained use of colours and designs, as well as an increasing eco-awareness. However, Swatch also plays a significant role in horology because it helped the Swiss watch industry survive the quartz crisis of the 1980s.

“Omega’s long and distinguished history may have been cut short if it wasn’t for the vision and courage taken by Swatch. "The MoonSwatch collection salutes the saviors of our industry in a witty and accessible way.”

The Moonswatch has an eco-minded slant.

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 tachymeter scale – a feature that will give vintage Moonwatch purists a kick.

But if you look closer, you might see some variations. One of the biggest variations? The material of the case is not 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 textiles, cosmetics, and perfumeries, has been said to be a potential renewable bio-based raw material.

There are plenty of options to choose from.

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 has the prefix "Mission to...", and the colourways that are available include Mission to Neptune in dark blue, Mission to Neptune in the sand and black, and Mission to the Sun in bright yellow.

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's namesake planet, an inspirational mission statement on the case back, and a joint Omega x Swatch logo on the crown. The Velcro strap adds to the spacesuit theme of the outing.