Swatch unveiled its Omega × Swatch Speedmaster MoonSwatch Misson To The Moonphase on March 26th. Did I like it enough to queue on six separate occasions to get one? I most definitely did!
Early bird fails
Swatch stores have a simple rule: one MoonSwatch Snoopy per customer per day. March 26th was my first attempt, the launch day of the "Mission To The Moonphase – Full Moon". At 9:55, just five minutes before the store opening, a Swatch employee respectfully advised us that it was pointless to stay in line as they didn’t have enough watches for everyone queueing.
Five attempts later and my lucky day was Thursday, April 11th. I came around 11 am and asked if they had a "Snoopy" in stock. The shop assistant replied, "It is the last one we have." Let me tell you, I have never spent CHF 285 on something this fast. The next thing I knew, I was happily walking out of the store swinging a red Swatch shopping bag.
Unpacking the specs
This all-white 42mm watch has a white case, white dial, and white Velcro strap. It is the second white dial release for Omega this year, following the Speedmaster Moonwatch Professional, which was launched in early March after being teased by Daniel Craig last November.
Not only is this new collaborative series fun and lighthearted, but it is also the first time the company has combined a chronograph with a moon phase. So, you have a unique take on the “Speedy” for less than 300 CHF.
Snoopy details appear on the front and back of the watch. The comic strip character sits on the crescent moon at 2 o'clock and there is a hidden quote "I can't sleep without a night light!" that can only be seen under UV light! Then, if you turn the watch over, you can see Snoopy's paw on the battery cover, which is in the exact location where Apollo 11 landed on the Moon.
The watch is made from Swatch's Bioceramic material – a blend of 2/3 ceramic and 1/3 bio-sourced material derived from castor oil – making it a robust material with a matte and silky finish.
Space beagle to the rescue
You might be wondering, why Snoopy? Well, there's a reason behind it. NASA chose Snoopy as the "watchdog" during its space missions, a symbol of reliability and safety. In 1970, Omega earned the NASA Silver Snoopy Award after contributing to the safe landing of the Apollo 13 crew. The famous comic strip character Snoopy seemed like a natural fit for this new watch, "Mission to the Moonphase."
Snoopy's style hack
I read somewhere online that you should swap the two strap pieces (so the top strap goes on the bottom and vice versa) as it makes it more comfortable to wear. It's the first thing I did when I bought it, and it makes a huge difference. The watch hugs your wrist and it fits much better like this. I am not sure why the brand doesn’t just sell it this way.
The MoonSwatch buzz
The watch sells for 285 CHF – a little over the price of the original 11-piece collection which was CHF 250 – and it is currently reselling (on Chrono24) for between CHF 450 and CHF 3,200! Pretty crazy, I know. It is definitely hard to get one in-store right now, which explains the resell price, but it is not limited. I would advise popping by a Swatch store regularly, asking if they have them in stock or waiting until the craziness cools down, rather than buying one on the secondary market.
Whether it is the MoonSwatch collection from two years ago or this year's Snoopy edition, watch lovers are ready to line up around the block to get their hands on them. I think the exclusive in-store launch created this global excitement for a watch that is not even limited. After all, there is nothing we want more than something that we can’t have!
