How much is an Ω symbol really worth?
I am bemused by all the hype over a "bioceramic, plastic" Speedy look-alike. This Swatch (above) has many Speedy elements, but with a metal case and bracelet for less money. I know it is all about the fun, and I am no kill-joy; the new colorful Speedy's do look like lots of summer fun, but Swatch does "fun" big time with cheaper watches that can stand some summer water! If it's just about the Ω logo I find that sad in someways. But hey! each to their own... feed the beast. After all, for most of us it is about collecting, fun and feelings. So enjoy... (this expensive, plastic facsimile ;-)
Collector and enthusiast for more than 10 years. To many watches and too few wrists but each one is precious and carries memories of time, people and place.
Absolutely spot on.
We also have to remember we live in a world of social media. One day one thing is hot and goes viral and the next day is something else. For a normal person to hear that you can get a 10k watch for 260 is crazy. They don't care about the plastic, quartz etc.
The Omega logo matters. It takes years and years to establish the brand equity that Omega has attained. Its more valuable than any single watch or release in their (or Swatches) catalog. The MoonSwatch takes it one step further and pulls in connections to a specific horological significant timepiece (at least to Omega) with it being a Speedmaster. Whether these things matter to you is personal.
Are there ”nicer” watches from Swatch? That is subjective. Are their better finished watches (and perhaps better built)? Sure, I can agree with that. That said, I could probably say the same for perhaps hundreds of microbrand or fashion watches… none off which are worth lining up for (no disrespect to them of course). Watches and their perceived value are hardly ever just a calculation of all the parts they are made up of.
The MoonSwatch was a wild release, a genius marketing strategy, and a bold decision by someone at the Swatch group. Only time can tell if it was successful but it’s accomplished something that no other watch brand has been able to do as far as I know. In one moment, it brought watch enthusiasts at complete opposite ends of the collecting spectrum together. Whether it was literally lined up in front of the Swatch stores or debating on forums which color was best (or worst). Continued conversation and discourse is what was earned - and this post is proof of that.
I haven’t purchased a MoonSwatch yet but rest assured that I will enjoy it when I do.
The Omega logo matters. It takes years and years to establish the brand equity that Omega has attained. Its more valuable than any single watch or release in their (or Swatches) catalog. The MoonSwatch takes it one step further and pulls in connections to a specific horological significant timepiece (at least to Omega) with it being a Speedmaster. Whether these things matter to you is personal.
Are there ”nicer” watches from Swatch? That is subjective. Are their better finished watches (and perhaps better built)? Sure, I can agree with that. That said, I could probably say the same for perhaps hundreds of microbrand or fashion watches… none off which are worth lining up for (no disrespect to them of course). Watches and their perceived value are hardly ever just a calculation of all the parts they are made up of.
The MoonSwatch was a wild release, a genius marketing strategy, and a bold decision by someone at the Swatch group. Only time can tell if it was successful but it’s accomplished something that no other watch brand has been able to do as far as I know. In one moment, it brought watch enthusiasts at complete opposite ends of the collecting spectrum together. Whether it was literally lined up in front of the Swatch stores or debating on forums which color was best (or worst). Continued conversation and discourse is what was earned - and this post is proof of that.
I haven’t purchased a MoonSwatch yet but rest assured that I will enjoy it when I do.
I agree. It is a bold decision and do not think it will backfire. At the very least they will wrench some customers out of the Chinese homage market into the Swatch group. I have a Speedy... and I am not upset that it "hurts' the brand in any way. If anything it adds kudos to the "real thing" :-)
TBH For me it's less the Omega logo and more so the Moonwatch tie in. The watch itself is iconic. Yes, it can look like the watch above, but from what I see based on those criteria all we need is a black 3 register Chrono in steel (and not saying otherwise!).
I don't necessarily care about the moon landing history nor am I a space buff but the collecting scene behind the watch is so large. I think that is part of what makes the Moonwatch itself so interesting. There are so many watches in the line-up. The barrier for entry before was kind of high with a Speed Reduced going for $1,500USD on a good day. I think this is an option nowadays for many more collectors as the classic choice of a Submariner is no longer an option. Now the barrier is even lower with these MoonSwatches.
100% baseless comment, but I think we will see the impact of the MoonSwatches on Omega by looking at the prices of Speedmaster Reduced on the second-hand market. I don't believe the people crosss shopping a MoonSwatch and a Speedy Pro are not the same, and likewise for the Reduced. However I think that people who get a MoonSwatch and then want something closer to "the real thing" might jump to a reduced first. Vice versa being true, maybe some collectors will be satisfied with a Moonswatch over a Reduced. Once again factless, but it will be something I will look into!
around 260CHF to answer the title question, that’s RRP
no one is forcing you to buy one, and you can ignore them
Omega says "lasting quality", Swatch says "i-phone is for time this is a trinket".
Omega/ swatch says "why is my arm turning blue"
The steel Swatch doesn't come with a free tattoo. So the plastic one is probably better value.
The Omega logo matters. It takes years and years to establish the brand equity that Omega has attained. Its more valuable than any single watch or release in their (or Swatches) catalog. The MoonSwatch takes it one step further and pulls in connections to a specific horological significant timepiece (at least to Omega) with it being a Speedmaster. Whether these things matter to you is personal.
Are there ”nicer” watches from Swatch? That is subjective. Are their better finished watches (and perhaps better built)? Sure, I can agree with that. That said, I could probably say the same for perhaps hundreds of microbrand or fashion watches… none off which are worth lining up for (no disrespect to them of course). Watches and their perceived value are hardly ever just a calculation of all the parts they are made up of.
The MoonSwatch was a wild release, a genius marketing strategy, and a bold decision by someone at the Swatch group. Only time can tell if it was successful but it’s accomplished something that no other watch brand has been able to do as far as I know. In one moment, it brought watch enthusiasts at complete opposite ends of the collecting spectrum together. Whether it was literally lined up in front of the Swatch stores or debating on forums which color was best (or worst). Continued conversation and discourse is what was earned - and this post is proof of that.
I haven’t purchased a MoonSwatch yet but rest assured that I will enjoy it when I do.
Which tattoo - er, colour - are you going to get?
TBH For me it's less the Omega logo and more so the Moonwatch tie in. The watch itself is iconic. Yes, it can look like the watch above, but from what I see based on those criteria all we need is a black 3 register Chrono in steel (and not saying otherwise!).
I don't necessarily care about the moon landing history nor am I a space buff but the collecting scene behind the watch is so large. I think that is part of what makes the Moonwatch itself so interesting. There are so many watches in the line-up. The barrier for entry before was kind of high with a Speed Reduced going for $1,500USD on a good day. I think this is an option nowadays for many more collectors as the classic choice of a Submariner is no longer an option. Now the barrier is even lower with these MoonSwatches.
100% baseless comment, but I think we will see the impact of the MoonSwatches on Omega by looking at the prices of Speedmaster Reduced on the second-hand market. I don't believe the people crosss shopping a MoonSwatch and a Speedy Pro are not the same, and likewise for the Reduced. However I think that people who get a MoonSwatch and then want something closer to "the real thing" might jump to a reduced first. Vice versa being true, maybe some collectors will be satisfied with a Moonswatch over a Reduced. Once again factless, but it will be something I will look into!
This might be contrarian, but I really don’t like the Reduced because of the awkward spacing and where things are positioned on the dial. I’m sure it was their way of there having some difference visually between the original but I am in the camp of choosing to buy one of the swatches while still saving for a non-reduced Speedmaster.
This might be contrarian, but I really don’t like the Reduced because of the awkward spacing and where things are positioned on the dial. I’m sure it was their way of there having some difference visually between the original but I am in the camp of choosing to buy one of the swatches while still saving for a non-reduced Speedmaster.
I have never seen one in person so I can't judge, however I agree that the spacing (due to the movement) seems too far apart. Compare that to the MoonsSwatch where they still aren't in the same position but carry the look better. One other movement restraint due to the Swatch movement is that the sub-dials are not in the right order, but that's a minor detail that no one cares about.
And I agree. I think if these came out when I started collecting and saving for a Speedmaster, I would definitely go MoonSwatch to Pro.
For me, some of the allure of the Speedmaster is the whole moon thing. I'm sure a lot of watches could have completed the mission, but this is the one that actually did it. And some may think it's silly, but I love that it tells you so right on the back. So in a world of great watches to choose from, I picked that one because of the history. And to your point about the Swatch you posted, I don't think it's even close. There's a shape to the Speedmaster that isn't present in that watch. To me, the difference is that one looks like a Speedmaster while clearly proclaiming it's something else while the other isn't a Speedmaster in any way. Not all dive watches are Submariners. Not all pilot watches come from IWC.
As for this Swatch thing, I think they look pretty cool. But like $300 cool, not whatever people are flipping them for. What I like about them is that you can have the Speedmaster bones in colors that you'll never see from Omega. And to be clear, I don't think Omega should start producing colorful Speedmasters, I just think it's cool that something like that can exist without watering down the brand. I guess I see them as different things. The Swatch doesn't alter what the Speedmaster means to me, and I don't think it's a substitute, but if I'd been able to get one at list I would have in a second.
I actually came across this one when looking around Swatch right at the beginning of the marketing push (after the very first teaser images). I wanted to see what was already there. To me, this one has more cues from the Longines Big Eye. It seemed to me that they have been playing around with the group crossover concept for some time in an unofficial manner.
I think it is both the Omega logo and the Speedmaster tie-in in tandem. There wouldn't have been a fraction of the hype over an Omega x Swatch Swatchraterra.
I think they are fun. I think it is cool that they have a model for every major planetary body in our solar system and at the same time a variety of styles and colors. It was a well executed product. Congrats to Omega for having the stones to believe in the brand and go for it (if they even had a say).
I actually came across this one when looking around Swatch right at the beginning of the marketing push (after the very first teaser images). I wanted to see what was already there. To me, this one has more cues from the Longines Big Eye. It seemed to me that they have been playing around with the group crossover concept for some time in an unofficial manner.
I think it is both the Omega logo and the Speedmaster tie-in in tandem. There wouldn't have been a fraction of the hype over an Omega x Swatch Swatchraterra.
I think they are fun. I think it is cool that they have a model for every major planetary body in our solar system and at the same time a variety of styles and colors. It was a well executed product. Congrats to Omega for having the stones to believe in the brand and go for it (if they even had a say).
I agree... it has to be about fun and enjoyment. Whether it is Omega, Swatch, Oris, Seagull or Pagani if it makes you happy, if it makes you feel good, if it keeps you looking back at your wrist and smiling... that is what it is all about. And I LOVE the big eye :-)
For me, some of the allure of the Speedmaster is the whole moon thing. I'm sure a lot of watches could have completed the mission, but this is the one that actually did it. And some may think it's silly, but I love that it tells you so right on the back. So in a world of great watches to choose from, I picked that one because of the history. And to your point about the Swatch you posted, I don't think it's even close. There's a shape to the Speedmaster that isn't present in that watch. To me, the difference is that one looks like a Speedmaster while clearly proclaiming it's something else while the other isn't a Speedmaster in any way. Not all dive watches are Submariners. Not all pilot watches come from IWC.
As for this Swatch thing, I think they look pretty cool. But like $300 cool, not whatever people are flipping them for. What I like about them is that you can have the Speedmaster bones in colors that you'll never see from Omega. And to be clear, I don't think Omega should start producing colorful Speedmasters, I just think it's cool that something like that can exist without watering down the brand. I guess I see them as different things. The Swatch doesn't alter what the Speedmaster means to me, and I don't think it's a substitute, but if I'd been able to get one at list I would have in a second.
No, the current Speedies haven't been to the moon. But I think they are still certified by NASA for use in space. Have any of the current models been in space? I have no idea.