Omega and Swatch release gold MoonSwatch in limited edition of 1,969

Watchmakers Swatch and Omega have collaborated to celebrate the anniversary of the first moon landing on 21 July 1969 with a limited run of 1,969 watches, made of gold from 1969.

Titled Mission to the Moon 1969, the gold chronograph is the latest in Swatch and Omega's MoonSwatch series of collectible watches.

These are based on the design of the Omega Speedmaster Professional, which was the watch worn by astronauts during the Apollo 11 lunar landing and is commonly known as the Moonwatch.

Image of the Swatch x Omega MoonSwatch — The MoonSwatch is based on the iconic design of the Omega Speedmaster Moonwatch

For this special edition, Omega melted down spare parts from the era to obtain its 18-carat "Moonshine Gold", which is used on the dial, hands, crown and pushers.

The watch is being made in a limited edition of 1,969 pieces and is only available to customers who first fill out an Electronic Swatch Timepiece Application, or ESTA, which Swatch compares to the authorisation form of the same acronym required of many travellers to the US.

The form consists of 32 mainly quiz-style questions about space travel and watches, and applicants have two hours and 15 minutes to complete it – similar to the amount of time Apollo 11 astronauts Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin spent walking on the moon. Applications close at 23:59 on 21 July.

Close-up image of the gold MoonSwatch showing period-correct logos and typography and gold bevelled indexes finishes with black laquer — The watch is made of 18-carat gold from 1969

According to Swatch, the use of gold on the watch references the rare gold Speedmaster Professional that Omega created in 1969 to commemorate the success of the moon landing.

Other details that nod to this model are the gold-coloured tachymeter, the gold bevelled indexes with black lacquer, and the period-correct Omega logo and typography.

These are combined with a black Bioceramic bezel and a sporty black rubber strap with a Velcro closure.

Photo of the reverse of the gold MoonSwatch showing a gold moon battery cover on the black case and a golden brown strap lining with a pockmarked texture similar to the surface of the moon — The reverse features a gold moon battery cover and textured strap

On the reverse, there are several moon-inspired details including a gold moon battery cover complete with footprint and a textured, gold-coloured strap lining inspired by the lunar surface.

The quartz watches are individually numbered and weigh 11 grams, neatly echoing the mission number of Apollo 11.

In keeping with the Swatch ethos of affordability, the company says the watch is priced based on the price of gold on 21 July, 1969, rather than today's gold price.

Swatch and Omega, both part of the Swatch Group, have been releasing editions of their collaborative MoonSwatch since 2022.

Close-up image of the reverse of the Swatch x Omega MoonSwatch showing reverse of the gold MoonSwatch showing a gold moon battery cover on the black case inscribed with Mission to the Moon in gold letters and the date July 21, 1969 on the moon — The watch is made in a limited series of 1969

The watches have been highly sought after, especially by entry-level collectors drawn to the accessible price point. The Mission to the Moon is £520.

A previous watch to celebrate the moon landings is the DSKY Moonwatch, which replicates the computer interface aboard the Apollo spacecraft in miniature.

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