It was around this same time last year that OMEGA and Swatch joined forces to release what was unequivocally the most talked-about horological release of 2022 with the Speedmaster Moonswatch range — a lineup of quartz-powered, Bioceramic-cased OMEGA Speedie replicas sold for just a small fraction of an actual Speedmaster Moonwatch’s price. And while the initial release was comprised of 11 different references, the pair of Swatch Group-owned horological outfits have now opted to produce a new followup addition to the MoonSwatch collection with the OMEGA x Swatch MoonSwatch Mission To Moonshine Gold Bioceramic Watch.
Due to the existence of OMEGA’s Moonshine Gold Speedmaster, we expected the 12th addition to the MoonSwatch range to feature a case that was either crafted from genuine gold or simply finished in a metallic gold hue — as well as presumably sporting a black bezel and black sub-dials to contrast the gold. In reality, what Swatch and OMEGA have whipped up is essentially just an existing Mission to the Moon-spec MoonSwatch that’s been bestowed with a gold seconds hand.
Rather than merely being dipped in gold paint, the chronograph’s seconds hand has been painted using OMEGA Moonshine gold — a genuine gold construction that’s derived from up-cycled gold-cased Swatch Group timepieces. Furthering the moon theme is the fact that the timepiece was produced under a full moon in February of 2023. What’s more, each watch is also sold in a special presentation box and with an included certificate of authenticity. The hand being painted in gold has unsurprisingly impacted the MoonSwatch’s price, with this model boasting an MSRP of around $25 higher than its Bioceramic-cased predecessors. Swatch has also pointed out that this new reference will not replace the existing Mission To Moon MoonSwatch which will remain in production.
Priced at around 300 CHF (~ $285) the OMEGA x Swatch MoonSwatch Mission To Moonshine Gold Watch is available today only through just four locations worldwide, Paradeplatz in Zurich, Switzerland the Tokyo Stock Exchange in Tokyo, Japan; Piazza Affari in Milan, Ital; and The Royal Exchange in London, England.
