If you clicked on this article, it probably means that Swatch didn’t select you as one of the 1,969 lucky people who can buy the MoonSwatch Mission To The Moon 1969 with its Moonshine Gold dial, hands, and pushers. If it is of any comfort to you, none of us at Fratello got one either.

Because it saves us €600 on a MoonSwatch, we can either keep that in our pockets (or bank account) or spend it on another watch. Since you’ve probably already told your significant other that a new watch might be coming, let’s use that opportunity! Here are five picks that keep your spending around €600. Hopefully, you’ll be just as happy with one of these as with the new MoonSwatch Mission To The Moon 1969.

white-dial Hamilton Khaki Field Mechanical 38mm on wrist, arms crossed

Hamilton Khaki Field Mechanical

Here’s a pick from the same stable as the Swatch MoonSwatch! The Hamilton Khaki Field Mechanical is one of our go-to mechanical field watches from a big brand. Hamilton needs no introduction, of course, but the brand supplied watches to the US military since World War II. Those were different times, and since 1974, Hamilton has been a Swiss-owned company. Since 2003, its headquarters have also been in Biel, Switzerland.

MoonSwatch Mission to the Moon 1969 alternatives — white-dial Hamilton Khaki Field Mechanical 38mm on its side, crown up

The Hamilton Khaki Field Mechanical is a wonderful piece, with the 38mm version priced at just €625. Housing the hand-wound H-50 movement with an 80-hour power reserve, this one has a 9.5mm profile and a 47mm lug-to-lug. There’s also a 36mm size if you prefer something smaller and 42mm models if you want to go bigger. Hamilton has it all covered for you. There’s a variety of dials available, but I prefer this classic version in either black or white. The Khaki Field Mechanical also has a 50m water resistance rating.

MoonSwatch Mission to the Moon 1969 alternatives — Baltic HMS 002 Gold PVD flat-lay on top of its box

Baltic HMS 002

Are you looking for something dressier but vintage-inspired, à la Longines, Omega, or even Patek Philippe, with a touch of fantasy? Here’s the Baltic HMS 002. Baltic has become one of Europe’s strongest microbrands. For just €465.85, you get a nice 38mm watch with a beautiful 1940s design that wears wonderfully. At some of the bigger brands, this sum would only buy you a nice strap.

Baltic HMS 002 Gold PVD dial up close

Inside the Baltic HMS 002 is an automatic Miyota 8315 movement with a 60-hour power reserve. The 38mm Baltic HMS 002 also has a 13mm thickness, a 47mm length, and a 50m water resistance rating.

MoonSwatch Mission to the Moon 1969 alternatives — Seiko 5 Sports SSK023K1 on wrist

Seiko 5 Sports GMT SSK023

A sportier option is this Seiko 5 Sports SSK023 with a GMT hand and a 24-hour bezel. It’s likely the best affordable travel watch and will set you back just €460. Inside is Seiko’s 4R34 movement, displaying the time, date, and an extra hour hand for the globetrotter. The power reserve of this watch is 41 hours, and it offers 100m water resistance.

Seiko 5 Sports SSK023K1 dial close-up

Seiko’s SSK023 has a 39.4mm case diameter, a 14mm profile, and a 47.9mm lug-to-lug. Its crystal is made of the brand’s Hardlex (mineral) glass, and the lumed hands and indexes contain plenty of Lumibrite. This might be the best pick for everyday versatility or just a solid choice for holidays and traveling abroad.

MoonSwatch Mission to the Moon 1969 alternatives — Citizen Tsuyosa Shore NJ0231-56L flat-lay

Citizen Tsuyosa Shore

The Tsuyosa has become one of Citizen’s biggest hits, as evidenced by the traffic it consistently generates on our website and by your comments. Just recently, my colleague Jorg reported on the Tsuyosa Shore models, which start at €329. They feature integrated-bracelet styling, vibrant dials, and decent finishing, making them an easy recommendation.

Citizen Tsuyosa Shore NJ0230-59L pocket shot

As Jorg wrote, “This new series offers a more casual Tsuyosa for people who maybe weren’t sold on the initial series. I could also see myself taking both on summer holidays, with the Tsuyosa Shore as the daytime watch and the regular Tsuyosa as the watch for dinner.”

Available in steel, two-tone, and with full-gold-tone plating, these Tsuyosa Shore models have a 40mm diameter, a 12.5mm thickness, and a 45mm lug-to-lug. Inside is Citizen’s caliber 8210, a self-winding movement with a 40-hour power reserve. On top of that, the Tsuyosa Shore offers water resistance to 100 meters, making it quite versatile.

Bulova Snorkel Blue Tang front

Bulova Snorkel

I haven’t had the pleasure of seeing one of these in the flesh, but the Bulova Snorkel looks like a very fun pick below €600. These colorful hybrid-ceramic watches come fitted with rubber Tropic-style straps. All variants feature a quartz movement, which is nothing special, just effective. These watches also have a 100m water resistance rating and a 60-minute dive bezel.

MoonSwatch Mission to the Moon 1969 alternatives — Bulova Snorkel Collection header

This Bulova Snorkel features a 41 × 14.6mm case that’s very similar to the self-winding Oceanographer, which these watches are inspired by. They come in different colors, and each costs €249. These watches are actually close to the MoonSwatch concept, and I guess the people at Bulova drew on some Swatch inspiration to come up with them.

Omega × Swatch Speedmaster MoonSwatch Mission to Mars with red rope

MoonSwatch

Of course, you could also decide to spend your money on another MoonSwatch model you fancy. We just published an article on our five favorite MoonSwatch models last week, so there are four left that might interest you from that list. The good news is that most of the non-limited MoonSwatch models are widely available these days.

What would be your pick under €600? Let us know in the comments below.

  1. Home
  2. Watch Brands
  3. Baltic
  4. Bulova
  5. Hamilton
  6. Seiko
  7. Swatch
  8. Didn’t Get Picked For The MoonSwatch 1969? Here Are Five Watches You Can Buy Instead