There are only a few certainties in life: death, taxes, and new MoonSwatches being released every five or six months. Yes, as you’ve undoubtedly heard by now, Swatch and Omega have once again taken over your Instagram feed, knocking out three new versions of the MoonSwatch. This release follows a pair of Snoopy themed MoonSwatch moonphases, and of course the Blancpain x Swatch “Scuba” Fifty Fathoms. These new MoonSwatches hew closer to the original idea of the watch, but each is just a little extra, like guacamole on a burrito, which one of them kind of looks like if you squint.
The three watches seen here make up the MoonSwatch “Mission on Earth” series, and as the name would suggest are inspired by earthbound phenomena. The “Desert” variant has a tan BioCeramic case and taupe dial, with an aesthetic inspired by, well, the desert. Slightly more adventurous is the “Lava” MoonSwatch, with a bright red case and an orange chronograph seconds hand that pays homage to the Omega “Ultraman” Speedmaster. The third watch, and the best of the three in my opinion, is the “Polar Lights,” which features a turquoise case and a dial inspired by the aesthetic of aventurine.
As many readers will surely recall, I’m not the biggest fan of the MoonSwatch. What was once a charming idea and perhaps a way to get new enthusiasts into the hobby quickly became something of a money grab. A predictable result, no doubt. But now that there’s a regular cadence to these releases, it seems possible that the collector’s infatuation with reselling them for a profit might die down somewhat. These are mass produced plastic watches, after all. They’re not exactly “rare” in a meaningful way. And whether you like the Snoopy models or Blancpain collaborations, it’s hard to deny that, along with this new trio, the releases are becoming a bit more creative and visually striking.
Other than those new aesthetic flourishes, these are very much still the same MoonSwatches we’ve all become familiar with over these past two years. That means we get a 42mm BioCeramic case for all three variants, along with a simple quartz chronograph movement. Availability is limited to selected Swatch stores, as has been the case with previous MoonSwatch releases. The retail price is $300, and they launch on Saturday, June 15. Swatch
