Hands-On: The Omega × Swatch Speedmaster MoonSwatch Mission To Saturn
When joining Fratello at the beginning of this year, I knew I was entering a Speedmaster-enthusiast stronghold. Quickly after joining and trying on the 2021 Speedmaster Professional in the office, I was convinced and swapped my First Omega in Space for one. And now, only about a month later, I’m adding yet another Speedmaster to the collection. Not just any Speedmaster, though. It’s the Mission to Saturn Speedmaster MoonSwatch, launched about two weeks ago. And boy, is it a joy to wear!
But before we get into it, I’d like to suggest a soundtrack for while you’re reading this hymn to the MoonSwatch. Is anyone familiar with Gustav Holst’s orchestral suite called The Planets? Well, Holst composed a piece for each of the planets (except for Pluto, Moon, Sun, and Earth), just like Swatch and Omega did. And the part for Jupiter is actually sub-titled “The Bringer of Jollity”. Moreover, it has been described as “a fantastic relaxation in which many retain a far from sneaking delight”. I really think that’s the perfect description of what the MoonSwatch actually is in these times of war and pandemic. So, please enjoy “Jupiter, The Bringer Of Jollity” by Gustav Holst, and let’s get into it!
Choosing my favorite MoonSwatch
Of course, I had already seen the MoonSwatch Misson to Mars that RJ brought into the office the week of the launch. The excitement about it in the office was nothing short of palpable. That one MoonSwatch made our whole office smile that week. I also wore it for a few minutes. It was as light as a feather and as red as a freshly painted fire truck. That, in combination with the true-to-the-original case, made it such a seriously fun watch to put on your wrist. The booklet with all the different versions/missions quickly made its way through the office. Everyone picked their favorite, and mine was certainly the Mission to Saturn.
It might not be the most colorful of the bunch, but just like the colorful ones, it’s very different from the original Moonwatch. It has a beige case, a brown bezel, green chronograph hands, brown panda sub-dials, and Saturn printed on the running seconds indicator. This is something we’ll probably never see on the steel Speedmaster, and that’s a good thing! But on this Bioceramic version with its brown, slightly shiny, velcro strap, it works remarkably well! I also feel this version is a very original one, but still an extremely wearable piece, especially in comparison to some of the more colorful versions. But it also almost looks like a watch taken directly from a Marvel comic.
It seems to get all the attention!
It kind of makes you feel like one of those superheroes a little bit as well. Or at least it makes you feel different in a very positive way. Putting it on isn’t like putting any of my other watches on. The velcro strap and its weight, or lack thereof, put you off a bit at first. But, because of its dimensions in combination with the peculiar design, it has a lot of wrist presence. And because of that presence, a lot of people notice it. The team also found that out at Watches And Wonders last week!
It’s not very often that people have asked me what kind of watch I’m wearing. Maybe it’s because of the kind of watches I wear. But since I’ve been wearing the MoonSwatch, even people who have no interest in watches whatsoever have been asking me about the watch on my wrist. But don’t worry, it’s not an unpleasant kind of attention. Rather, it’s the very joyful and fun kind! People are happily surprised by its design and want to try it on for themselves. The MoonSwatch is very attractive and approachable to a lot of people. We already saw that during the weekend of its launch, of course.
One seriously fun watch to wear!
Because of all that hype surrounding the MoonSwatch, I actually expected it to disappoint me a bit once it sat on my wrist. But no, it’s still just as much fun and frivolous as I hoped it would be. It’s definitely a lot more fun than a few G-Shocks I bought for when I don’t want to wear one of my mechanical watches. I got the transparent CasiOak and an all-black square, but I’ve noticed I almost never give them any wrist time. They’re very capable watches, no doubt about it, but I just don’t find them that much fun to wear. In comes the MoonSwatch!
Just like on my Speedy Pro, I’ll probably never use it to time anything. The 3-bar water-resistance rating is close to nothing, and I’ve already heard the crystal will scratch quite quickly. But I’m sure that every time I look at it, the MoonSwatch will make me smile just as much as when I look at its heavier steel brother. That’s all I’m asking for of a watch I expect to wear only occasionally. Although, based on this first week, I might actually wear it a lot more than I initially thought. It’s that smile on my own and everyone’s faces around me that makes the Mission to Saturn so much fun to wear. And to me, that feeling of overall joy seems like such a great way to pay tribute to the original Speedmaster. In that sense, Omega and Swatch really hit this one out of the park.
Final thoughts on the Omega × Swatch Speedmaster MoonSwatch
I think it has something to do with the unexpectedness of this release and the fact that there’s a MoonSwatch that suits everyone’s taste. It really struck the perfect chord with the audience, myself included. The MoonSwatch passed a very welcome wave of joy through the entire watch and non-watch community. You can feel that sense of lightheartedness when you’re wearing this watch, and that’s exactly what this hobby is all about. In the end, it’s not really about what is on your wrist. Rather, it’s about the way it makes you feel. And in the case of the MoonSwatch, it’s a feeling of jollity that makes you want to wear this watch over and over again.
And if you don’t own one yet, again, don’t stress, and don’t buy a MoonSwatch on the gray market. Do, however, order yours when they eventually become available online. There’s a pretty good chance it will put a smile on your face and those of the people around you as well.
What do you feel like when wearing your MoonSwatch? Or do you have another watch that makes you feel the same way? Please share your thoughts in the comments below!
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