This Is the Fanciest MoonSwatch Yet

The rest of the release is built around more Speedmaster- and NASA-related easter eggs. The gold used in each watch weighs exactly 11 grams, a reference to the Apollo 11 mission. The caseback also features an ornately drawn reference to the lunar landing with an image of the moon, the date when the astronauts first made contact with the surface, and a footprint.

Even without all the extra pizzazz, though, this is a straight-up handsome iteration of the MoonSwatch. The gold accents and matte black case are a classic color combination that has appeared on elegant timepieces for decades. Add to that all the historical nods, and you’re looking at an edition that will place very highly in my personal MoonSwatch rankings.

Since Swatch and Omega launched this partnership in 2022, both the watches and release methods have become increasingly complex. The “Cold Moon” that debuted in December was only available for purchase in Swatch stores on days when it snowed in Switzerland. Only 1,969 pieces will be produced of the new Mission To The Moon 1969, and they will be allocated exclusively to folks who fill out a 32-question survey that Swatch is calling an Electronic Swatch Timepiece Application (ESTA). The questions will mirror the ones travelers visiting the US are required to fill out. The survey is available on Swatch’s website now. It’s silly, but certainly beats camping out at your local mall.