From Moon Landing to Swatch Stores: The Winning Formula of the Omega Speedmaster and Moonswatch collaboration

The Omega Speedmaster, affectionately known as the "Moonwatch," holds a unique place in history. Not only did it win the race to be the first watch on the moon it also inspired a modern-day sensation with the Swatch Moonswatch. It’s a story of innovation, adventure, enduring appeal and a viral sensation.

The Original Moonwatch: Omega Speedmaster and Apollo 11

The Omega Speedmaster's journey to the moon began long before the Apollo 11 mission. Originally designed as a sports and racing chronograph in 1957, its robust design, accuracy, and clear legibility caught the attention of NASA.

In 1965, after rigorous testing, NASA officially qualified the Omega Speedmaster for all manned space missions. This led to its iconic moment in 1969 when Buzz Aldrin wore his Speedmaster on the moon during the Apollo 11 mission.

Key features of the original Omega Moonwatch:

Manual-winding chronograph movement
Stainless steel case
Black dial with high-contrast markers
Tachymeter bezel for measuring speed

Interestingly the astronauts had a special edition velcro strap on their watches in order for them to fit over their bulky spacesuits.

The historic event cemented the Speedmaster's status as the "Moonwatch," making it a symbol of human achievement and exploration.

The Modern Collaboration: Omega x Swatch Moonswatch

In 2022, Omega and Swatch surprised the watch world with the launch of the Moonswatch collection.

The MoonSwatch collaboration was born out of a desire to bring the heritage and design of the Speedmaster to a wider audience through a more affordable and accessible product. Offering lower prices and a wide selection of colourways.

It’s also fair to say that at this time the Swatch group was struggling at the time and the idea was born to leverage the luxury Omega brand (also part of the group) to help boost sales. The MoonSwatch represents a bridge between high-end watchmaking and everyday wear, sparking a global fascination with space exploration and watch design.

The collaboration was internally codenamed "Project Galileo," reflecting the quest for space exploration and discovery.

The MoonSwatch sparked considerable hype and interest, making it a popular collector's item.

The Moonswatch original collection features 11 models, each named after a celestial body, and made from Swatch's innovative Bioceramic material, a mix of ceramic and bio-sourced plastic.

Key aspects of the Omega x Swatch Moonswatch:

Design inspired by the Omega Speedmaster Moonwatch
Bioceramic case, available in various vibrant colors
Quartz chronograph movement
Accessible price point

The Moonswatch collection caused a global frenzy, with long queues and high demand.

Swatch decided that the entire collection would only be available to buy in select bricks and mortar boutiques with no online availability whatsoever. This led to queues through the night and frequent complaints of a lack of stock. My brother even travelled down to the London store to get his hands on the mission to Mars variant with the burgundy and cream colours.

At the same time, scalpers quickly posted watches on pre-owned sales platforms online and people who either could not make it to one of the boutiques or didn’t get the specific model they wanted skyrocketed the prices. At the height of MoonSwatch-mania that spring I recall seeing watches with retail values of around £200 being sold for around £1,500. Whilst the frenzy has died down from the initial crazy launch Swatch maintain public interest by bringing out new limited edition variants such as gold hands or new colours. The Mission to the Pink Moonphase is a limited edition MoonSwatch dedicated to April’s “pink moon”.And it’s not just the dials that change Swatch have recently introduced brand new official straps for the MoonSwatch to give a fresh feel on the wrist.Swatch hasn't stopped at just dial variations. They've also launched new, official straps for the MoonSwatch, allowing wearers to refresh its look and feel.

Both watches celebrate the legacy of the Omega Speedmaster. While the original remains a symbol of horological excellence and space exploration, the Moonswatch makes the iconic design accessible and fun, ensuring the Moonwatch story continues to inspire.

At Fifty20 we’ll be giving away the MoonSwatch and the Speedmaster so keep your eyes peeled for your chance to win an iconic watch for less than a price of coffee.