Editor’s Note
**Editor’s Note:** Swatch marks the 55th anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing with the new Moonswatch 1969, blending retro space-age design with its signature playful affordability. A timely tribute that bridges history and horology.
Tania Villiger
Watch
17.07.2026
The new Moonswatch: Another hyped collaboration between Omega and Swatch.
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The new Moonswatch from Swatch and Omega is themed around the 1969 moon landing. The watch, containing 11 grams of gold and priced at 500 francs, can only be purchased by those who pass the test.
It was one of humanity’s greatest achievements of the 20th century: in 1969, Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin landed on the moon in Apollo 11. 57 years later, Swatch and Omega are retelling this story in the form of the new Moonswatch «Mission to the moon 1969». A super-limited edition of 1969 pieces is coming to market. With this number, they are not creating the only reference to the said event.
The gold used for this limited edition, for example, comes from old Omega spare parts from that era. It was melted down in their own foundry and processed into 18-karat, as they call it, «Omega Moonshine™» gold.
The new Moonswatch from the Swiss luxury brand Omega and the arguably most creative watch manufacturer Swatch.
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The price also refers to the year 1969: it was calculated based on the gold price of July 21, 1969, the day of the moon landing, and not on today’s price. At that time, 11 grams of 18-karat gold corresponded to a value of 11 US dollars or 48 francs. Comparing this value with today’s gold price of over 80 francs per gram, the «Moonswatch Mission to the Moon 1969» at a price of 500 francs seems like a real bargain.
But Swatch wouldn’t be Swatch if they didn’t come up with something new again. As always, the Swiss watch brand relies on storytelling. The usual camping and queuing in front of stores is now a thing of the past, perhaps also because the rush for the Royal Oak was so great that there were sometimes scuffles. This time, interested parties must fill out an Esta form. No, not an entry form for the USA, but an «Electronic Swatch Timepiece Application», yet the visa allusion is clear and is openly communicated by Swatch.
It is not the first watch that Swatch and Omega have brought to market, but one thing is certain: it will become another highly sought-after collector’s item.
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The form, like the Esta visa, also comprises 32 questions that must be answered within 2 hours and 15 minutes. Why exactly 2 hours and 15 minutes? Here too, Swatch creates a reference to the past, because that’s how long the astronauts needed for their experiments on the lunar surface. Anyone who answers all questions correctly has the chance to be among the 1969 owners of the «Mission to the moon 1969». The Electronic Swatch Timepiece Application can be filled out until July 21 at 11:59 PM.
A gold dial already quoted the golden Omega Speedmaster from 1969, which was created on the occasion of the success of the Apollo 11 mission. In the new Moonswatch, the vertically satin-finished dial, the black Bioceramic bezel with a gold-colored tachymeter, and the gold, faceted indices with black lacquer are further references to the 1969 watch. They are complemented by the contemporary Omega-Swatch logo and the characteristic typography.
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Details referencing the moon landing are not spared on the watch.
On closer inspection, you can even recognize more allusions to the moon landing. The battery cover shows a golden moon motif with a scratch-resistant coating. On it are the date of the moon landing and a footprint – a tribute to the first step in the Mare Tranquillitatis, the landing site of Apollo 11.
The strong limitation of the watch is also visible on the case. At 9 o’clock, the serial number is engraved – unsurprisingly, also in gold. Who will be able to snag a watch remains to be seen, but one thing is clear: the virtual queue is long. Swatch’s website was already temporarily down today due to technical problems.
