Omega x Swatch BioCeramic MoonSwatch Collection

Oh, how I adore shaky approaches to press embargoes and unexpected “leaks” from the big brands. Today the watch world was stunned when word got out that Swatch and Omega have collaborated to bring us a set of 11 new, affordably-priced “Speedmasters.” Now, considering the available color options, the proprietary BioCeramic cases, and reliable quartz movements – it’s clear that these will be a hit with everyone from budget-conscious collectors to hardcore Speedy fanatics. But here’s the kicker. Pricing on each of these is just $260, making the Omega x Swatch BioCeramic MoonSwatch models the most affordable Speedys, ever.

Each of the 11 watches in the Omega x Swatch BioCeramic MoonSwatch collection corresponds (in color and design theme) to 11 celestial bodies. Specifically, Sun, Mercury, Venus, Earth, Moon, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Pluto, Uranus, and Neptune. There are even a few Easter eggs sprinkled throughout, like the orange “Ultraman” hands on the Jupiter version or the Alaska Project-style hands on the Mission to Mars version, which I think will be the most popular. Each version undoubtedly has its own attractive design quirks that really make you feel like just pulling the trigger on all of them.

Aside from the range of color options, another star feature is the BioCeramic case material. This case material appears to be a lightweight mixture of castor oil-derived plastic and ceramic. And while I’ve never handled a BioCeramic watch, the material does seem to allow Swatch to produce watches in some seriously vibrant colors. But again, without handling one, I’m finding it difficult to tell where the ceramic element comes in. It mostly just looks, plastic. Which is fun too. Like the big-boy Speedmasters, these cases come in at 42mm in diameter with a 13.25mm case thickness.

While the dials vary in terms of color, hands, etc., they all still pull from that familiar Speedmaster layout. We get the same style for the tachymeter bezel (with dot over 90) and it even looks like the sub-dials step down into the dial, giving a nice bit of depth for watches this affordable. Water resistance is 30m on each of these and Omega includes a fun, two-piece Velcro® strap that matches the case and dial colors.

Powering the watches is the Swatch Chrono Quartz movement, which can be found in a ton of modern Swatch models across their catalog. I’m sure there’s nothing too special about it, other than the fact that it cuts the pricing down immensely. One neat little detail involves the battery compartment cover, which features a printed image of the celestial body the watch is based on.

So I can get behind this, but one thing is for sure. Watch flippers are going to turn this release into an absolute nightmare. For the time being, Swatch has not made these available online, yet. And I’m guessing that’s partly done in order to keep flippers from immediately scooping too many of these up early on. For now, the Omega x Swatch BioCeramic MoonSwatch models wont be available until March 26th, and only in select Swatch stores. Customers will be limited to two watches per store.

In the meantime, we recommend checking out Fratello’s killer hands-on video, where RJ walks you through the release while giving you a closer look at the “Mission to Mars” version.