While the world of haute horlogerie descends on Geneva for the big announcements of Watches & Wonders, Omega and Swatch seized the quiet before the storm to unveil new details about the highly-anticipated black Snoopy MoonSwatch Mission.
Two years following the historic collaboration between Omega and Swatch, the introduction of the Bioceramic MoonSwatch Mission to the Moonphase in its all-black avatar, dubbed the New Moon, heralds a new chapter in this storied partnership.
After teasing watch-lovers with a cryptic Instagram post late last month, we now know a bit more about this blacked out beast.
Arriving on April 8, 2024 with a retail price of AU$500, Omega says the black Snoopy MoonSwatch isn’t a limited release – that said, the initial response to the release suggests it might be a little bit trickier than first thought to pick one up straight away.
And if you’re wondering if the timing of the release of the New Moon and the Full Moon models with Monday’s Total Eclipse was coincidental, we can assure you it was no accident.
So what’s the big deal about this new release?
At its core, the New Moon is a marvel of material science and design ingenuity. Crafted from Swatch’s patented Bioceramic—a blend of ceramic and biosourced materials derived from castor oil—this watch encapsulates the pioneering spirit of both brands.
Featuring a moon phase on the dial, it showcases Snoopy, NASA’s beloved mascot, in repose. There’s also a little easter egg in the form of a hidden quote from a Snoopy comic strip, visible only under UV light amidst crescent moons and stars.
Historically, Omega’s association with space exploration has been illustrious, marked by its indispensable contribution to the success of missions like Apollo 13 and its recognition with the prestigious Silver Snoopy Award by NASA in 1970. This legacy is intricately woven into the design of the MoonSwatch, with elements like the moon phase disc and the iconic Speedmaster Moonwatch features—such as the asymmetrical case and the famous tachymeter-scaled bezel—paying homage to Omega’s storied past and its contributions to space exploration.
The official timekeeper of the Olympic Games, Omega has also introduced the Laboratoire de Précision, a new chronometric certification organisation – a nice for watch purists. Independently operated and certified by the Swiss Accreditation Service, this facility represents a significant leap forward in timekeeping accuracy.
Mission to the Moonphase ‘NEW MOON’ ref. SO33B700 specs
Case material: Black Bioceramic case, crown and pushers
Case diameter: 42.00 mm
Case thickness: 13.75 mm
Lug-to-lug distance: 47.30 mm
Quartz movement: Chronograph with moon phase indicator
Water resistance: 3 bar
Glass: Box-shaped, made of bio-sourced material and treated with an anti-scratch coating
Dial: Recessed subdials and hour markers in Grade A Super-LumiNova (green emission); Secret detail in UV ink (blue emission) featuring the famous quote from a Snoopy comic strip, crescent moon, and stars.
Hands: Hours, minutes, and tip of the chronograph seconds hands with Grade A Super-LumiNova
Bezel: Black tachymeter-scaled Bioceramic bezel with white markers
Strap: Black VELCRO strap, attachment loop in black Bioceramic
