Omega x Swatch Collaboration: A Plastic Gateway Drug?

As I explore the big wide world of watches, I've found myself in unexpected places — auction houses, obscure corners of the internet using Google translate to read Japanese (a hot bed for vintage watches), and, market stalls asking stall holders whether I can look at their movement. But nothing has surprised me quite as much as finding myself quietly smitten with the Omega x Swatch collaboration.

Now, if you’d told me a few years ago that I’d be excited about a watch made of bioceramic — which, let’s be honest, sounds like something you’d find in a dentist’s office or the material for a kitchen work surface — I’d have made a light scoffing sound. Or at least raised an eyebrow. Or both. From reading reviews, the watch seems quite marmite and people either love it or hate it.

A Modern Day Classic?

The thing about the MoonSwatch is that it manages to be both playful and iconic at the same time. It’s like someone took the Speedmaster — the serious, brooding older sibling who’s been to the Moon and has the stories to prove it — and realised it's ok to have a laugh sometimes without ruining their reputation. It's not a silly watch by any stretch and, for me, is similar to when BMW re-launched the Mini. It was very different but you could still see it was the same Mini that broke down in the rain on the way back from University. Fun times!

And I love that.

There’s something refreshing about a watch that doesn’t take itself too seriously. Don’t get me wrong, I adore a vintage mechanical movement as much as the next person who has spent far too long staring at tiny gears through a loupe. But sometimes it’s nice to have a watch that simply wants to have fun.

What's not to like about this watch? (image: swatchgroup.com)

A Watch for Everyone or Marketing Dream

You'll notice from my shop pages that I tend towards watches that are affordable, not elitist but still great brands and quality. It's nice to feel you are wearing something special. So, maybe its this sense of accessibility — the idea that you don’t need to remortgage your house to enjoy something beautifully made or worry walking down the street. The Omega x Swatch collaboration taps into that same spirit.

It’s a Speedmaster for the people.

It was before I started being interested in watches but, I read that in the early days of the release were a bit chaotic. Queues around the block like a new iPhone or Gregg's Vegan 'Steak' Bake. People camping overnight. Grown adults sprinting through shopping centres like they were competing in the 100m final. All for a watch that, in theory, was meant to be widely available.

This is where I slightly doubt myself. If it becomes hype then I'm not so interested as people just follow the herd rather than actually examine why they want one. I have also been slightly put off by it seemingly becoming an accessory for famous people from Spike Lee to (Omega's most favourite son) Daniel Crag where I fear it's part of a carefully crafted image to look 'down to earth'. "Hey, I'm just like you.... but with a holiday home in St. Trop"

I do think I can get over that though as it is a nice watch.

The Joy of Wearing Something That Makes You Smile

What I like most about the MoonSwatch is that it doesn’t pretend to be anything other than what it is. It’s light, colourful, slightly ridiculous (in a good way), and utterly delightful. It’s the horological equivalent of a holiday souvenir that actually means something.

And wearing one feels a bit like giving yourself permission to enjoy the hobby without the weight of history, provenance, or the fear of scratching a five-figure piece of metal. It’s a reminder that watches are meant to be worn, enjoyed, and occasionally shown to your kids who will inevitably say, “Cool… can it connect to my phone?”

My own MoonSwatch amongst the rest

A Gateway to Bigger Things? Probably.

If my Omega from 1945 was the watch that started my sentimental journey, then the MoonSwatch feels like the watch that nudges me further down the path of joyful collecting. For me, that's what I enjoy in my collection. The diversity. It’s not mechanical, it’s not vintage, and it certainly hasn’t been to the Moon — but it has something just as important.

It has personality.

And maybe that’s why I think it has a justifiable place. It reminds me that horology isn’t just about precision engineering or historical significance. Sometimes it’s about fun, sparks a conversation, and the simple pleasure of glancing at your wrist and thinking, “Yep, that was a good choice.”