Intro:
This isn’t a watch that needs much of an introduction. The Moonswatch made a lot of waves when it was introduced, and has since had countless opinions and reviews have come out about it, and in this review, we’ll share what I’ve thought of the watch after wearing it for a month, and whether we’d spend our money to buy it again.
Overview:
Case material: Bioceramic (a ceramic and bio-based plastic compound)
Case size: 42mm width, 13.25mm thick, 47.3 mm lug to lug, 20mm lug width
Strap: Velcro strap
Movement: Quartz chronograph
What it’s like to Wear:
One of the most common complaints that I have seen about this watch is how it feels when you wear it. A lot of complaints come because people have found the strap uncomfortable, but when I was wearing it, although I did change the strap, that was solely for looks, and not because I found the strap uncomfortable. Overall, I think that the lightness of the Moonswatch helps it to be comfortable to wear, as I found it quite comfortable, although with its lightness, it’s a lot less noticeable, and more easy to forget it’s on than a stainless steel watch. I can see the strap potentially being uncomfortable before it’s broken in, as it does start a bit stiff, but after a bit of wear becomes more flexible. Although I’ve had most of the colors of the Moonswatch at some point, I do really like this one, and I find myself looking at my wrist more to look at this one than I have some of the others (though I am still partial to the Saturn colorway, because I think having the actual planet on the dial is kind of cool).
The Good:
As I said in the previous section, I have found this watch quite comfortable to wear, mainly because of its lightness, and I do think that it’s a great looking watch, without being ridiculously expensive (though we will dive into more of the actual value of the watch in the coming sections). The blue on this Neptune I think looks great and stands out just enough, while also going with just about everything, that it makes it a very versatile and fun watch to wear. I also think that there is definitely something to be said about the heritage of the Speedmaster, and these watches becoming available. I grew up knowing about Omega, and always saw it as a logo that I would likely never wear on my wrist, because of how much their watches are, despite loving the designs. I think that’s a feeling that a good number of young people who may be learning about watches now feel, as these little gadgets on our wrist can get very expensive very quickly, and I think that by having a ‘Speedmaster’ at a price that makes it much more accessible to a lot more people, Swatch and Omega have done exactly what they wanted to do in introducing a lot more people to watches, and giving them an iconic design from an iconic brand at a relatively affordable price.
However you may feel about the Moonswatch, I think the cultural impact that this watch has had is a big positive for me. I’ve enjoyed standing in line a couple of times, being able to talk to people about these watches, and their own journey in the watch collecting hobby. I’ve seen people in line with everything from Submariners to Apple Watches. One person I talked to let me try on his No Time to Die Seamaster while he waited for a Mission to Mars because it was his university colors, and Omega didn’t make a red watch. I think that the Moonswatch has bridged a gap between some veteran watch collectors with impressive collections and those who may just be starting their collection, such as myself when I bought my first one of these.
Now that I’m off my soapbox, another positive that I found with this is how easy it is to change the strap. While I personally enjoy the original Speedmaster inspired strap, I had been specifically waiting for the chance to get the Mission to Neptune to put a stingray leather strap on it, and it did not disappoint. With a very simple springbar system, it’s pretty easy to remove the original strap and replace it. Currently, both of my Moonswatches (you’ll see a review for the other coming out within the next month and a half) are on Omega Natos, and I am really enjoying the look and comfort of that combination, while it also helps mitigate one of the negatives I have had with this, and every other Moonswatch I’ve owned, which I’ll talk about in the next section.
The Bad:
This watch scratches if you just look at it the wrong way. Seriously, I’m pretty sure the watch just rubbing against my sleeve has scratched it a bit. To be fair with it, though, the original Moonwatches from Omega also scratch easily, so maybe this is a faithful tribute after all. Also in Swatch’s favor, they do offer free crystal polishing in-store, which I did take the chance to check out, and they did a great job, with my watch coming out with the crystal looking as good as new (even better than my Polywatch at home would do). This service is great, as long as you’re close to a swatch store, but for those of you buying these on vacation, or by other means far from a Swatch store, I would recommend stocking up on some Polywatch.
The watch can also feel flimsy at times, and the strap gets worn in fairly quickly, which can be a positive from a comfort standpoint, but a negative from a looks standpoint (depending on your preferences. I also know that there have been some quality control issues with these, which is standard with just about every watch company now, but these issues can also usually be resolved by following one of just about a million videos online on how to realign the tachymetre and sundial hands.
The Verdict:
Overall, if you like it you like it, and if you don’t, you probably shouldn’t buy one to try to get yourself to like them. Being a young and relatively new collector myself when these came out, I was really excited to jump at having one, and now that I’ve owned just about every color of the Moonswatch at some point, I do appreciate the watch for what it is- a fun take on a timeless watch. The price may be a little steep for what the watch is, but at the end of the day, so is the asking price of most watches out there. All things considered, I think it’s a pretty sweet watch, and will continue to wear it (sparingly), though I probably wouldn’t recommend one of these as someone’s daily wear watch.
