I genuinely thought we were done with these. The lines, the madness, the rotating cast of Bioceramic planets—it felt like the MoonSwatch thing had run its course a dozen releases ago. But Swatch, in all its chaotic energy, has decided we’re not done yet. So here we are. Again.
This latest one is called the Mission to Earthphase Moonshine Gold, and if you’re rolling your eyes already, I get it. I did too. But after digging into the details, I can’t help but admit: this release, while still totally absurd, actually has some merit. Or at least enough weirdness to make it worth talking about.
Visually, it borrows the best from a few prior MoonSwatches. You’ve got a navy blue Bioceramic case paired with a white opaline dial—reminiscent of the Super Blue Moonphase drop—and a CK2998-esque blue minute track for that classic Speedy throwback vibe.
The real “innovation” here is the complications. Two of them, in fact. There’s the returning Earthphase display at 10 o’clock—showing the Earth as seen from the moon. Completely useless, entirely delightful. And then there’s the traditional moonphase at 2 o’clock, with one cartoon moon (featuring Snoopy’s footprint) and one more realistic moon… trapped in a fishing net. That last bit’s a nod to the “Sturgeon Moon” on August 9, the only day this watch will be sold. It’s a stretch, thematically, but they committed.
Naturally, Snoopy’s back—helmet on, seated with Woodstock, gazing up at Earth from the lunar surface. Under UV light, the oceans glow blue and a speech bubble appears over Snoopy’s head: “I beat everybody.” That’s pulled from a 1969 Peanuts strip where our favorite beagle imagines his own moon landing, months ahead of Apollo 11. Weird? Sure. But kind of brilliant if you’re deep in both the Omega and Peanuts rabbit holes.
They’ve also sprinkled in some luxury seasoning: both moons are dusted with Omega’s proprietary Moonshine Gold, a detail previously reserved for the chronograph hand on earlier editions. You’ll also catch aventurine-style sparkles across the hands, subdials, and minute track—a visual lift borrowed straight from Omega’s upscale Moonphase models.
Strap-wise, this one skips the usual rough Velcro fabric for Swatch’s newer rubber-backed Velcro strap. It’s still Velcro (Swatch gonna Swatch), but looks way more comfortable and actually wearable. I’d call that progress.
Now, the kicker: $400. That makes this the most expensive MoonSwatch yet, $75 above the last Earthphase and $130 above the standard models. It’s also in the same price bracket as the automatic Blancpain x Swatch collab, which arguably delivers more technical value. But this isn’t about logic—it’s about hype, scarcity, and nostalgia weaponized with cartoon dogs and gold flecks.
And of course, it’s not technically limited—but it’s only available in select Swatch stores, in person, on August 9. One day. One moon. One more excuse to line up outside a mall before sunrise. I don’t know if I’m buying one. I don’t even know if I want one. But I’ll admit: I still want to see it in person. And for a watch this ridiculous, that’s probably enough.
Co-Founder & Senior Editor
Michael Peñate is an American writer, photographer, and podcaster based in Seattle, Washington. His work typically focuses on the passage of time and the tools we use to connect with that very journey. From aviation to music and travel, his interests span a multitude of disciplines that often intersect with the world of watches – and the obsessive culture behind collecting them.
too busy looking and weird…”i beat everybody”…super cringe