Latest news with #MoonSwatch
Stuff.tv
5 days ago
- Business
- Stuff.tv
Omega boss teases new Swatch collab, but who's getting the MoonSwatch treatment next?
When Swatch and Omega dropped the MoonSwatch in 2022, chaos ensued. Queues snaked around city blocks. Watches sold out instantly. People flipped them online for double, sometimes triple, the retail price. And all for a $270 / £240 plastic watch inspired by the legendary Omega Speedmaster (one of the best watches around). It was, by any metric, a phenomenon – the kind of marketing moment brands dream of. Not only did it inject a bolt of fun into the luxury watch scene, but it also pulled a younger crowd into horology who might've otherwise bought a smartwatch. Two years on, and while the MoonSwatch is still popular, the hype has died down. But a new collab is coming… At an event in Biel to celebrate Omega's 60-year partnership with NASA, CEO Raynald Aeschlimann dropped a tantalising hint. During a roundtable discussion with journalists, he was asked whether any new Swatch collaborations were on the cards. 'Even today, I saw something different. A collab. Not with Omega, by the way,' he replied, according to Esquire's About Time newsletter. Cue speculation. If it's not Omega, then who is next up for a plastic makeover? Could we be on the cusp of another MoonSwatch moment? Here are a few brands that could be lining up for a shot: Breguet If we're talking anniversaries, Breguet is top of the list. The grand old brand turns 250 in 2025 and that's not just a 'cake in the office' birthday. It's also just had a leadership shake-up. Gregory Kissling, the former head of product at Omega, is now running the show. That's a serious signal that something new is coming. The Classique Souscription was recently relaunched, and a stripped-back Swatch version would bring a slice of horological heritage to people with regular salaries. Imagine getting that gorgeous single-hand design on your wrist for under $300 / £300. Maybe even a Type XX chronograph in bright colours? Sign us up. The only hitch: Breguet is very premium. Possibly too premium. It's Swatch Group's crown jewel, and they might not want to risk diluting that prestige with a plastic twin. But hey, if they do… I'll be camping outside to buy one. Blancpain Technically possible, but unlikely. Swatch already did a collab here – the Scuba Fifty Fathoms series launched in 2023 to celebrate the dive watch's 70th anniversary. It was fun, bright, and unexpectedly educational, thanks to their ocean-themed packaging and bioceramic cases. Blancpain's 290th birthday is this year, but going in for a second collab so soon feels like a stretch. Then again, we didn't expect the first one either. Still, we'll put this in the 'probably not, but never say never' pile. Glashütte Original This could be an inspired pick. Technically, the brand was formally founded in 1990, post-reunification, but its roots in German watchmaking stretch back much further. Plus, it flies under the radar compared to its Swiss siblings, and could use a bit of spotlight. A Swatch version of the Seventies Chronograph Panorama Date? That would be glorious – retro curves, bold colours, and a large date window. Or what about a simplified PanoMaticLunar? That might be a bit too fiddly to recreate with Swatch tech, but we'd love to see them try. A SeaQ diver makes more sense practically – solid, simple, and not a million miles from the Swatch Scubaqua recently launched. But it may feel a little too close to the Blancpain collab. Still, if Swatch wants to champion a lesser-known in-house gem, Glashütte Original is an excellent shout. Hamilton Now we're talking fun. Hamilton already leans into nostalgia and pop culture more than most of its Swatch Group peers, featuring in Interstellar, Oppenheimer, and Death Stranding 2 (to name a few). Swatch could riff off that with a collection of vibrant, plastic Khaki Fields. Imagine military-style dials in ice-cream colours. It would be absolutely perfect for summer. One issue: Hamilton just released its own budget-friendly Khaki Field Quartz line last year. A Swatch tie-in might undercut that or confuse the offering. But if they can find a creative way to separate the two, this feels like an easy win. MB&F Here's where things get truly wild. MB&F, the mad scientists of modern watchmaking, turn 20 this year. And while they're not part of the Swatch Group, we do know that Maximilian Büsser isn't afraid to think outside the box. They've already proven with that they can take that fantastical DNA and make it (relatively) affordable. A Swatch x MB&F collab would be bonkers – not just another watch with cool colours, but something totally unexpected. Unlikely? Sure. But if Swatch wants to flex its creative muscles, this would be the one to watch. Vacheron Constantin And now we're truly in fantasy territory. But hey, if we're dreaming, let's do it properly. Vacheron is celebrating its 150th anniversary. It's already launched a lot of stunning celebration models, including the steel 222 (which has become a bit of a cult icon lately, especially after last year's solid gold reissue). A fun, affordable Swatch version would be a dream come true. The problem? Vacheron is under Richemont, not the Swatch Group. So unless someone's planning an industry-shaking handshake, this one's staying in my dreams. Whatever's coming next, we're all watching, waiting, and wondering. If Swatch can have another MoonSwatch moment – whether with Breguet, Hamilton, MB&F, or someone completely unexpected – it'll be great for the watch world. Let us know which brand you think is most likely! Liked this? TAG Heuer launches a trio of Monaco watches for the Monaco GP, and I'm having trouble choosing a favourite
Stuff.tv
09-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Stuff.tv
The Swatch Scubaqua dive watch is water resistant and ready for summer
Swatch has taken a break from releasing new MoonSwatch colourways to drop a new range of dive-ready watches just in time for summer. The Scubaqua collection features five bold designs, each named after a jellyfish – a fitting tribute for watches that live to get wet. I've got a soft spot for Swatch Scuba watches – one of my earliest watch memories is seeing my dad wear a Swatch Aqua-chrono Scuba. So it's great to see Swatch diving back into the Scuba line. This new collection isn't your average plastic Swatch tickers. The 44mm cases combine two forward-thinking materials: Swatch's signature Bioceramic, which makes up the solid-coloured body, and biosourced transparent elements made from castor oil. It's a combo that looks just as interesting as it sounds – bright, modern, and distinctly Swatch. There's a choice of five colours: black, white, blue, red and yellow, each with a see-through dial and matching glow-in-the-dark detailing that keeps things legible whether you're in the sea or just dancing at a beach bar. As previously mentioned, all of the models are named after jellyfish, so you've got Blue Fire (blue), Lion's Mane (red), Egg Yolk (yellow), Black Sea Nettle (black), and my personal favourite, Aurelia Aurita (white). Even the crown placement at 10 o'clock is different – it's a nod to dive-watch design, but with a quirky Swatch twist. The Scubaqua watches are rated to 10 bar (roughly 100 metres), which is plenty for snorkelling, swimming or any spontaneous plunge into the nearest pool. They're also refreshingly comfortable thanks to silky straps that match the rest of the playful design. At $150 in the US and £135 a pop in the UK, they're affordable too, especially for something that mixes this much style and function. And while you might not be descending to the ocean floor this summer, a watch that's built to handle it certainly can't hurt. The Swatch Scubaqua collection is available now online and in Swatch stores. Liked this? Best Swatch watches for bright, affordable fun
Yahoo
27-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Can't Afford an Omega Speedmaster? This Is the Ultimate Inexpensive Alternative
We love Omega's Speedmaster Professional! Full stop. It's an iconic piece better known as the 'Moon Watch' thanks to its certification by NASA and use throughout the Apollo missions to orbit and explore the lunar surface. That legacy and its timeless six-hand chronograph design lend the Speedy an air of effortless cool. But no matter how you slice, owning one is an expensive proposition, which is why watch alternatives are essential for all horology fans. The cheapest new model (on a nylon strap) will set you back $6,600 before taxes. The pre-owned market is a little easier on the wallet but even the most affordable pre-owned examples sell for thousands of dollars. So for many the Speedmaster remains a grail-worthy piece a bit out of reach. For those in search of an accessible watch dupe, the Omega X Swatch MoonSwatch offers all the space race vibes of the original, but for a modest $270. It's not often that a company dupes its own watch but Omega, which is owned by the Swatch group, has essentially cloned the Speedmaster in Swatch form. Just like the Speedy, the MoonSwatch comes in a 42mm diameter, but instead of stainless steel, the MoonSwatch is cast in Bioceramic, a mixture of zirconium oxide ceramic powder and a plastic derived from castor oil. The Swatch version also ditches Omega's hand-wound Co-Axial movement for a quartz mechanism with a battery cover featuring an image of the moon. The dial design is also slightly different from the Omega. Two sub dials are higher on the face to make room for the Speedmaster and MoonSwatch co-branding. But those registers are recessed, like the original. The MoonSwatch also features hands and a tachymeter scale identical to the Speedy. There's even the iconic 'dot over 90' detail that the Omega obsessed cherish. The hour, minute, and chronograph seconds hands as well as the hour markers are painted with Super-LumiNova for low light situations. Much like the Omega version, the MoonSwatch isn't meant for diving with only 30 meters of water resistance, but you should be able to get it wet without fear of damage. The watch comes on a black velcro strap, similar to the band the Apollo astronauts used. So whether you're going to wear it on the next rocket to the moon or just on a trip to the office, it's ready for blast off. CASE: Bioceramic MOVEMENT: Quartz DIAL: Black SIZE: 42mm STRAP: Textile
Yahoo
28-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Swatch just revealed my new favourite MoonSwatch, and it's coming this weekend
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Yes, yes. I know. It's another MoonSwatch. But this one caught my eye more than most – so much so, I think it might be my new favourite of the entire range. It's called the MoonSwatch 1965, and it goes on sale in select Swatch shops from 1st March. You know the score by now: arrive early, expect to queue, one per customer per store per day, prepare for disappointment, brace yourself for the massively inflated eBay prices. While all that is, sadly, entirely likely, Swatch has confirmed to me that this is not a limited-edition, and will be on sale for the foreseeable future. It's called the 1965 because this is a MoonSwatch that pays tribute to the origin story of the OMEGA Speedmaster, which gained NASA flight qualification that same year – a step that set the watch on a course for space, the Moon and a reputation as one of the most iconic watches of all time. It's also where the OMEGA gained its 'Moonwatch' nickname from, since it was the first timepiece worn on the Moon, strapped to the wrists of Apollo 11 astronauts Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin. Details that set this MoonSwatch apart from any other include the off-white dial, vintage Omega logo, and a bioceramic case that, while still being plastic, has a grey hue that hints at the shimmering stainless steel of the original. But what's especially interesting – and, if I'm being honest, also a bit weird – is the chronograph movement and sub dials. Take the left-hand sub-dial. Instead of counting to 60 minutes via numerals at 15, 30 and 45, the new model shows 6, 13 and 19. The right-hand dial displays 65, 20 and 45, and the central dial shows 20, 40 and 60. Why? Because the top numbers of each are 19, 65 and 60, referencing how this watch marks 60 years since the Speedmaster's 1965 certification. It's a bit tedious when you spell it all out, but the MoonSwatch collection has always ranked fun above functionality, so I'm cool with it, even if I haven't much use for a chronograph that counts to 19 hours and 65 minutes. Even Swatch admits these changes lead to 'the chronograph reading a bit different than the typical chronographs.' Another design flourish is how the 19, 65 and 60 numbers glow blue when exposed to UV light, while the hour markers, hour and minute hands, plus the tip of the chronograph seconds hand, are coated in Grade A Super-LumiNova that glows green at night. Priced at £240, the MoonSwatch 1965 is available in select Swatch stores from 1st March.
