The Swatch-Omega partnership is set to be further enhanced

The ‘Mission to the Moon 1969’ model marks the start of a new chapter in the MoonSwatch saga – a collection successfully launched in 2022 that reimagines Omega’s famous Speedmaster in Swatch style (both brands are owned by the watchmaking giant Swatch Group). This chapter, however, will remain open only until tomorrow, 21 July, the date marking the 57th anniversary of the historic moon landing by Apollo 11, whose crew, as is well known, were equipped with Omega Speedmaster watches.

The reason is that this is a special edition, limited to 1,969 pieces (in reference to the year of the moon landing), featuring a dial, hands, crown and chronograph pushers, weighing 11 grams, in 18-carat Moonshine Gold, a special yellow gold alloy produced by Omega which, in this case, is made from the melted-down gold of old watch spare parts from that era. The choice of gold and the design of the MoonSwatch Mission to the Moon 1969 are reminiscent of a gold Speedmaster, launched in 1969 to celebrate the success of Apollo 11. The weight of 11 grams pays homage to the mission number. Further references to the past are evident in the reproduction of the Omega logo in the same design as back then, as well as in the satin-finished dial and the bevelled gold hour-markers painted black.

In addition to these, on the back, there is the battery cover (the watch is quartz) featuring a gold moon with a scratch-resistant finish, bearing the inscription ‘July 21, 1969 and a footprint commemorating the first step taken at 02:56:16 UTC (Coordinated Universal Time) by astronaut Neil Armstrong on the lunar surface. On the left-hand side of the 42 mm diameter black Bioceramic case, at the 9 o’clock position, is the watch’s exact serial number amongst the 1969 models that make up this limited edition. The bezel features a gold-coloured tachymeter scale and the strap is made of black rubber with a gold-coloured inner lining, the design of which evokes the lunar surface, and a Velcro fastening.

Because of all these features, but probably also to curb the reseller phenomenon (which was plain for all to see following the chaos outside Swatch shops on 16 May, the day of the launch of the Audemars Piguet x Swatch Royal Pop), purchasing this timepiece, which costs 600 euros, involves a specific procedure – essentially a sort of application process. To be eligible to wear it, you must visit the Swatch website and complete an ESTA form (which stands for Electronic Swatch Timepiece Application), comprising 32 questions, many of which relate to the Moon, Swatch and Omega. Answers must be submitted by tomorrow, 21 July, at 23:59 (Italian time) and will then be assessed by the Swiss brand. Once the 1,969 successful applicants have been selected and notified by email, they will have 48 hours to complete the purchase online. They can then visit one of the brand’s stores to collect their watch once it becomes available.