Black Snoopy MoonSwatch unveiled, Omega announces new chronometric certification lab
Zach BlassWhile the majority of the watch industry goes quiet in the days ahead of Watches & Wonders, Swatch and Omega, who have no association with the fair, are free to drop bombs in this wide-open week. Let’s not waste any time and just jump right into it.
New black Snoopy Swatch x Omega MoonSwatch Mission to the Moonphase New Moon set to hit stores April 8
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Well… we called it. After a teaser was shared this past weekend, it became clear a black Snoopy MoonSwatch follow-up was incoming. The teaser video had Snoopy attempting to blow out a birthday cake with two candles. The first in white went out, but the second in black refused to. As we surmised, this represented the second anniversary of the MoonSwatch, with the white candle, which went out, symbolising the release of the white Mission to the Moonphase. With the black candle not going out, it was indicative a black configuration was soon to be announced.
I am not going to go super in length here about the watch, it is all the same as the white model – just now in black. We covered the release of the initial white Snoopy MoonSwatch in detail here. The funny thing is that in our prediction post embedded above, we simply inverted the colour scheme of the white model and it is not far off at all from the actual black model. Poetically, the sale of this black Snoopy Swatch x Omega MoonSwatch Mission to Moonphase will begin on April 8 which is the day of the eclipse. So, while everyone is wearing their goggles and staring into the sun, you are free to run to your local Swatch boutique.
Omega introduces the Laboratoire de Précision
For over five decades, COSC (Contrôle Officiel Suisse Des Chronomètres) has been the go-to place for brands wanting to certify their watches as chronometers that run within the organisation’s strict standards – which, simplified, means a watch that runs within +6/-4 seconds per day among other things. Omega, however, took things further, establishing the METAS certification to hold their watches to an even higher standard. It is fitting that a brand that is known as the official timekeeper of the Olympic Games is so concerned with precision. Now, this commitment to precision is further bolstered by the announcement of the new Laboratoire de Précision – a new certification organisation certified by the SAS (Swiss Accreditation Service) for alternative and independent testing.
While set up and operated by the brand, Omega states that the Laboratoire de Précision is completely neutral and independent – a necessary element for a certification program. Omega explains: “This neutrality and integrity was a specific requirement of its accreditation as a ‘testing Laboratory according to ISO/IEC17025:2017’ by the Swiss Accreditation Service – a unique body in Switzerland authorized to deliver such an approval. For customers, this officially guarantees that the Laboratoire de Précision will pursue reliable, independent, and impartial testing of watch movements. Measuring movements according to the standard ISO 3159 ‘Timekeeping instruments — Wrist-chronometers with spring balance oscillator’, most commonly known as ‘chronometer’, is one of the testing methods that the Laboratoire de Précision is accredited for.”
Omega claims that this facility will conduct even more advanced testing, for example continuously taking measurements across the 15-day testing period rather than once each day as is currently standard. It is a lot to get into right now, so we will have to follow up after the fair with a more in-depth analysis. What is clear now at a surface level is that Omega will be able to integrate chronometer certification into their supply chain, which is important considering the very high number of watches they produce each year.
Hope you all have a wonderful weekend!
Zach
Watch meme of the week: DJ KHALED (another one)
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Technically not a meme shared this week, but one that’s exceedingly relevant again thanks to Swatch’s quick black Snoopy MoonSwatch follow-up. There is much debate at play here, but it is safe to say these Snoopy MoonSwatch releases are both exciting and fatiguing at the same time.
Wrist shot of the week: the bright side of the Moon(watch)
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As I see more and more shots of the white-lacquered steel Speedmaster, particularly wrist shots like this one from Derek, I am becoming convinced that this watch is the most handsome Speedy in the entire range. Do you agree? Or am I crazy?
Time+Tide Shop pick of the week: Doxa SUB 200T
With the same iconic shape of a Doxa diver, smaller-wristed folk now have an even better way of getting into the brand. The new Doxa SUB 200T not only brings in a new, smaller size, but also the new Sea Emerald colourway – a first for the brand. With the reliable Sellita SW200 in the back, the SUB 200T can be had on a choice of colour-matched rubber strap or steel beads-of-rice bracelet.
You can read our full coverage of the new release here, and discover the entire new SUB 200T range in the Time+Tide Shop, either online or in our Melbourne Discovery Studio. Price: A$2,550 (FKM rubber), A$2,590 (BOR bracelet).
Our favourite Time+Tide coverage of the week
The Rado Captain Cook High-Tech Ceramic Skeleton gets a green and gold Aussie update
The latest iteration of the Rado Captain Cook High-Tech Ceramic Skeleton features a somewhat Australian green and gold look. Want to learn more? Jamie has the full hands-on review for you right here.
Sotheby’s is hosting a “Rough Diamonds” watch auction soon in Geneva INSIDE A CAVE
A watch auction hosted inside of a cave? Surely not. Well, do not be so sure because this is 100% actually happening next week in Geneva. Dubbed by Sotheby’s as the “Rough Diamonds” auction, the sale will be hosted underground at La Corne à Vin wine cellar (47 bis Rue de Lausanne, Geneva) on April 11 at 6 pm, with an exhibition running from April 8 – April 10 ahead of the auction. Get the full low down here, along with three of our favourite lots.
Diving into the design details of Baltic watches down to half a millimetre with founder Etienne Malec
Andrew and Baltic founder Etienne Malec chat through all things Baltic – collection and design synergy, past milestones, things to look forward to, and, of course, our Baltic x Time+Tide Hermetique ‘Night Mode’ collaboration.