What a year it's been, a huge year of excitement in the world of watches, all thanks to the remarkable follow-up to the 2022 MoonSwatch phenomenon brought to you by Swatch. It's more than just a watch; it's a phenomenon that's taken the industry by storm and is here to stay. Imagine this: Swatch and Omega, two iconic brands under the Swatch Group umbrella, came together to create an incredibly affordable rendition of the classic Omega Speedmaster Moonwatch. This extraordinary timepiece, equipped with a bioceramic quartz chronograph and a comfortable velcro strap, captured the hearts of watch enthusiasts worldwide. You can hardly go anywhere these days without spotting a MoonSwatch adorning someone's wrist. Personally, I cherish mine and wear it proudly.
But 2023 has been all about the next chapter in the MoonSwatch saga: The Mission to Moonshine Gold. Each month has brought us a new delight, as these two legendary brands added a touch of shine to their already beloved watch by introducing a Moonshine Gold-coated chronograph seconds hand. We've witnessed these exquisite additions since March, with standout models like the Neptune-inspired blue edition in August. Now, as we reach the end of the year, we also come to the end of this captivating chapter.
Swatch all but confirmed this with a recent Instagram post, revealing a box filled with Moonshine MoonSwatch watches and one last empty slot. And now, on the occasion of the "Cold Moon," the final full Moon of the year, we finally get to see what's inside.
In the spirit of Christmas and the moonlit theme, this watch carries forward the classic Mission to the Moon design while featuring a Moonshine Gold chronograph hand adorned with a charming snowflake motif. As many watch aficionados know, the "Snowflake" nickname holds great significance, from the Tudor MN "Snowflake" Submariner divers in blue to the renowned and more modern Grand Seiko "Snowflake."
Although tempted to join the MoonSwatch to the "Snowflake" watch lineage, I believe the "Cold Moon" is a fitting nickname in its own right. Mark your calendars because it's set to go on sale worldwide on December 27 – for one day only – exclusively at select Swatch boutiques. In the UK, you can find it at London Oxford Street and Harvey Nichols Knightsbridge.
As with many previous releases this year, there's not much more to say about this masterpiece beyond the exquisite pattern on the hand. But, of course, this one holds a special place as the grand finale of the series. What lies ahead? Well, who knows? We may very well see a fresh batch of MoonSwatches for 2024, or is the much anticipated Seamaster collaboration coming next?
In a year that birthed this incredible initiative and saw the Swatch Group doubling down on the original MoonSwatch's success with a brand-new collaboration between Swatch and Blancpain via the "Scuba Fifty," one thing is clear – the MoonSwatch journey is far from over. With eager anticipation, we look forward to many more MoonSwatch iterations in our future, including exciting color variations and heritage-inspired editions. I can confidently say that this train isn't stopping anytime soon, be it more Moon Swatch delights or thrilling new collaborations.
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Swatch X Omega MoonSwatch - Moonshine Editions – MGB WATCHES
All images credited to the swatch group
