Earlier this year, Swatch and Omega released the MoonSwatch Mission to the Moonphase, the first model in the smash-hit collaborative collection with a moonphase complication. With its all-white livery and matching strap, it’s the perfect summer chronograph—but we can only imagine there were certain horological nerds for whom the Snoopy tie-on was a bridge too far. (Rather than a more traditional depiction of the Moon, the moonphase disc on this model features a drawing of Charles Schultz’s famous beagle resting within the planetary body.)
Well, for those who would prefer a slightly more “traditional” moonphase—if a MoonSwatch fashioned from Bioceramic plastic can be counted as “traditional”—feast your eyes on the new Omega x Swatch Mission to the Super Blue Moonphase. Like the earlier watch from March, it too incorporates a moonphase display at 2 o’clock, only this time, the Snoopy illustration has been replaced with a multi-shade depiction of the Moon in UV ink against a dark blue background. Why is everything (including the case) in shades of blue, you might ask? It’s because the watch celebrates the full blue moon on August 19th, which is the first supermoon of 2024. (Duh. Don’t you know your moon phases, bro?)
As far as MoonSwatches go, we’d say this one is among the best-looking models: Its silver-opaline dial boasts contrasting blue subdials, giving it that “panda” look that collectors love. Meanwhile, the Super-LumiNova hour indices pop out against a darker blue outer track, while a white minute scale adds even more contrast. The light blue Bioceramic case—fashioned from two-thirds ceramic and one-third biosourced material from castor oil—features a fixed, dark-blue bezel.
But rather than sport a tachymeter scale like the rest of the MoonSwatch references, this one has a white pulsometer scale, which is used to calculate a patient’s pulse and features on certain vintage chronographs from the early- to mid-20th century. (This one’s graded to 30 pulsations—start the chronograph and begin counting pulse beats. When you get to 30, stop the chronograph, and the heart rate will be shown against the scale.) Flip the watch over and you have a depiction of the full blue moon on the battery cover joined by “Mission to the Moon” text. Meanwhile, a blue velcro strap mirrors those worn by NASA astronauts to secure their trusty Speedmasters during extraterrestrial missions.
Echoing Speedmasters of the past such as the Blue Side of the Moon, the new MoonSwatch Mission to the Super Blue Moonphase is sure to fly off the shelves. But beware: The brand warns that it’ll only be available from August 1st through August 19th to coincide with the dates of the full moon, and only during “blue hours” from 5 p.m. onward, and only in select Swatch boutiques. So if you’re heading to Ko Pha Ngan for one of those famous Full Moon Parties, maybe book the flight from an airport with a Swatch boutique.