Introducing: The Omega × Swatch Speedmaster MoonSwatch 1965

Swatch is introducing the new MoonSwatch 1965. It will be available at selected Swatch stores worldwide as of March 1st, 2025. This new MoonSwatch variation is a visual reference to the white-dial Moonwatch from 2024, but it also celebrates an important milestone dating back to 1965. It features visual elements from the Speedmaster tested that year and has a few details that nod to NASA’s flight qualification.

NASA and Omega: a quick recap

As a Fratello regular, you have probably read about the tests that NASA performed on the Omega Speedmaster. But in case you forgot or don’t know yet, let’s do a quick recap. During the Gemini program (the one before Apollo), Director of Flight Crew Operations Deke Slayton wanted to have a watch that the astronauts could use during training and flights. After an internal discussion at NASA, one engineer by the name of James Ragan sent out an RfP (Request for Proposal) for a wristwatch with a chronograph function to different US-based distributors of watch brands.

Three brands’ watches underwent the 11 rigorous NASA tests

Among these were brands such as Omega, Rolex, Longines, Lucien Piccard, and others. As NASA sent its request to distributors, it seems the message often didn’t get back to the “motherships” in Switzerland, and many brands either failed to answer, didn’t answer in time, or ignored the request. But there were some answers, including Hamilton offering a pocket watch.

Only three brands offered a watch that matched the request! Omega responded with the Speedmaster reference 105.003, Longines-Wittnauer with its reference 235T, and Rolex with its chronograph reference 6238. Fun fact: the Valjoux 72 movement powered the last two, while Speedmaster contained the Lemania-based Omega caliber 321. You can read more about these watches here.

Completed on March 1st, 1965

The rigorous tests (see below) were completed on March 1st, 1965, and the Omega Speedmaster was the only watch to pass all of them. Even though Wally Schirra already wore a Speedmaster (reference CK2998) in space in 1962, the first official use was on March 23rd, 1965, on the wrists of astronauts Gus Grissom and John Young during Gemini III.

On June 1st, 1965, NASA issued the qualification test report for the Omega Speedmaster as “Government Furnished Equipment.” The report states that the Omega chronograph satisfied all requirements for flight qualification. However, March 1st of that year is often remembered as the day the Omega Speedmaster passed all tests and qualified for official use by NASA.

On June 3rd, 1965, Ed White was the first NASA astronaut to do a space walk during the Gemini IV mission. On his wrist was not one but two Omega Speedmaster 105.003 watches! You can read more about that here.

Sixty years later, we have the MoonSwatch 1965

Now, six decades later, Swatch presents its tribute, the MoonSwatch 1965, to highlight this milestone for Omega. It’s a white-dial MoonSwatch in a gray Bioceramic case with a matching Velcro strap. Aside from the color scheme, a few details make this MoonSwatch different from the others.

First, the hands correspond to the ones on the Speedmaster 105.003, specifically, the chronograph seconds hand. Then, there’s the printing on the dial and the use of the applied Omega logo. The Omega wordmark is in the same typeface as on the original 105.003 watch, and the logo has the same (vintage) shape.

Funky chronograph

I had to look twice, but only then did I notice something strange about the sub-dials. Instead of the “60” and “10” numerals, you will now see “19” and “65.” This is not just an optical gimmick to highlight “1965” (it will also light up the dark), but it also works slightly differently than on the other MoonSwatch models. These chronograph counters have been modified to total 19 hours and 65 minutes. The minute recorder will total 65 minutes first, and only then it will total the hours. What’s also interesting is that the counter at 10 (19 hours) and the counter at 2 o’clock (65 minutes) make a so-called “lap of honor” at the end of the recorded 64 minutes. This means that the hour recorder makes a rotation and shows the next hour while the minute recorder also makes a full rotation and shows the 65th minute.

The running seconds are at 6 o’clock, and here you will find the “60” at the top, which also glows under UV light. Swatch has used Grade A Super-LumiNova to make the numerals (19, 65, and 60) luminescent.

NASA engineer James Ragan testing the Speedmaster 105.003

The NASA tests performed in 1965

As promised, below are the tests the watches had to undergo:

1. High-temperature test: 70° C for 48 hours and then 93° C for 30 minutes in a partial vacuum.
2. Low-temperature test: -18° C for four hours.
3. Vacuum test: heated in a vacuum chamber and then cooled to -18° C for several cycles.
4. Humidity test: ten 24-hour cycles in >95% humidity with temperatures ranging from 25° C to 70° C.
5. Corrosion test: an atmosphere of oxygen at 70° C for 48 hours.
6. Shock-resistance test: six shocks at 40 g in six different directions.
7. Acceleration test: progressive acceleration to 7.25 g for about five minutes and then to 16 g for 30 seconds on three axes.
8. Low-pressure test: pressure of 10.6 atmospheres at 70° C for 90 minutes and then at 93° C for 30 minutes.
9. High-pressure test: air pressure of 1.6 atmospheres for 60 minutes.
10. Vibration test: random vibrations on three axes between five and 2,000 Hz with an acceleration of 8.8 g.
11. Sound test: 130 decibels at frequencies from 40 to 10,000 Hz for 30 minutes.

The prerequisite was a precision of five seconds over 24 hours, ideally within a range of ±2 seconds per day.

The new MoonSwatch will be available as of March 1st

The Omega × Swatch Speedmaster MoonSwatch 1965 will be available starting March 1st at selected Swatch stores. You know the drill by now — only one watch per customer. The price of this MoonSwatch will be the same as the others at €275.

You can find more information from Swatch online.