At this point I shouldn’t need to explain what the MoonSwatch is. There have been enough of them over the three years they’ve existed – though I will throw up my hands and say I need to update our Complete Guide to Every MoonSwatch as there are a couple of new releases that aren’t yet included such as the Earthphase from the end of last year, and now this, the MoonSwatch 1965.
As the name suggests, this MoonSwatch is inspired by the Omega Moonwatch from 1965. Or to be more specific, the Omega Speedmaster, as it wasn’t until 1969 and the first moon landing that the model earned the moniker Moonwatch. However, it wasn’t by random chance that Neil Armstrong and co. were wearing Speedmasters. Back in 1965 NASA put out a call to watch brands to submit watches for NASA flight qualification and the Speedmaster was the only one to receive the qualification. It’s this qualification that the MoonSwatch 1965 is paying tribute to.
Ironically, while in name the MoonSwatch 1965 refers to some of the oldest Speedmasters, in terms of design it’s actually strikingly similar to one of the newest. Almost exactly a year ago Omega released the Ref. 310.30.42.50.04.001, a white, lacquer dial model that took the watch world by storm thanks to its really clean design – so much so that you all voted for it as the Best Chronograph of the Year in the 2024 Oracle Time Watch Awards.
What that means for the MoonSwatch 1965 is a white dial with slightly recessed chronograph subdials paired with black hour markers and hands that match the black tachymeter bezel. Notably the subdial at the 10 o’clock position has the numeral 19 on it and the subdial at 2 o’clock has 65, because they are actually a 19-hour counter and a 65-minute counter, together denoting the year 1965. Zooming out, the 42mm case is made from grey bioceramic, which is designed to essentially represent a matte version of the Moonwatch’s steel case.
It’s equipped with a quartz chronograph movement because that’s what allows Swatch to calibrate the chronograph timers to their unusual scales. It also helps to make the watch characteristically accessible, priced at £240. As with all MoonSwatches in the UK it’s exclusive to Swatch brick and mortar boutiques with a limitation of one per day per person. The full list of participating boutiques is available on the Swatch website. It’s kind of odd because while the MoonSwatch hype has died down dramatically compared to two-three years ago, between releases like this and the Earthphase model, they’re actually making the most interesting versions yet.
Price and Specs:
More details at Swatch.
I am personally getting a little tired of seeing the continuing references back to the Omega link to the NASA space programs of the late 1960’s. Yes, this is an historic fact, but what about the part that Bulova played in the space programs (Bulova watches were worn on the Apollo 15 space program), and also worn by the CIA test pilots during the cold war era of high altitude reconnaissance missions over the USSR, so just as momentous (if not more so) due to the fact that Bulova created a special electronic movement to provide the highest level of accuracy that was in effect, the precursor to the quartz age. – was this virtual erasure from history due to the fact that Bulova are of American origin rather than Swiss and therefore seen as the poor relation at the time (and still to some degree even today). I personally own a number of Bulova watches (but strangely no Omega’s), and can vouch for their accuracy and durability. One of my Bulova’s dates back to the late 1930’s and still exhibits great accuracy for a watch that is over 80 years old. Further proof of my allegiance to Bulova is that I am currently awaiting delivery of one of the CIA style watches (a disc volante inspired Accutron ll), – great styling along with great accuracy. Bah humbug to Omega.
So it’s calibrated for 1965 on the chrono.. who counts like that??
Is a minute not a minute then?
Porsche tag did that better atleast theirs slows completes a minute at a minute