2023.11.21
OMEGA X Swatch – The Untold Story of a Legendary Collaboration and the Creation of 'Bioceramic MoonSwatch Collection'
In March 2022, an innovative collaboration was announced that shook both the watch and fashion industries. This was the 'OMEGA' and 'Swatch' 'Bioceramic MoonSwatch Collection'. The collection received a lot of attention and continues to be a hot topic.
This time, we connected with the offices in Switzerland to delve deeper into the untold story of this collaboration. This is a rare tale that won't be revealed anywhere else and it's a must-read for both OMEGA and Swatch fans.
The Most Sensational Event Since Swatch's Launch 40 Years Ago
Swatch was established in 1983 and with the release of 'GN100', its refined design quickly captured the attention of fashionistas. Moreover, a host of Swatch collectors emerged due to the immense variety of the brand.Since March 1965, all astronauts – including Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin – wore the iconic OMEGA 'Speedmaster Moonwatch' in NASA's pilot missions. People might remember how this collaboration captivated the world when it introduced 11 different models inspired by the Speedmaster. Each model represents a celestial body and is equipped with quartz movement.
The Secret Name for the Top-secret Project Was 'Galileo'
In the spring of 2021, while the world was in lockdown due to the coronavirus and mobility and leisure time were restricted, this project was launched with the idea of creating a colorful, extraordinary product that provides a positive stimulus.Instead of being based on traditional business strategies, market research, and other concepts, we threw out the rule book, and set in motion guided by our instincts, hearts, and heads, with passion and the happiness of life as the keys. A small group was established by gathering a small number of people from Swatch Group. This operation was named 'Galileo'.
Nick Hayek, CEO of the Swatch Group, immediately chose the OMEGA Speedmaster Moon watch as the collaborative counterpart for this project. Damiano Casafina, CEO of 'ETA', which is part of the group that owns OMEGA, also joined the project which proceeded in stealth, with very few people in either OMEGA or Swatch knowing what was going on. Almost no documents were distributed and many confidential meetings were held.
A few weeks later, more specialists joined Galileo, including Gregory Kissling, the Vice President of Product at OMEGA.
Nick Hayek is said to have contracted Gregory Kissling for his intimate and deep knowledge of the Speedmaster Moon watch Collection and its history. Gregory Kissling understood that he wasn't just making a product for OMEGA, nor was it just for Swatch. 'This project needed input from OMEGA,' is what Nick Hayek is reported to have said.
Gregory Kissling disappeared for three weeks and then came up with a unique idea: eleven different watches related to solar system planets or celestial bodies. These were all key elements which shaped the course of the project.
The Material Called BIOCERAMIC Invented by Swatch
One of the various pillars of this project is 'BIOCERAMIC,' invented by Swatch. It's said that without this material, this project would not have seen the light of day. BIOCERAMIC, composed of two-thirds ceramic and one-third bio-sourced material derived from castor oil, is a strong and durable material with a silky touch.This innovative material, which had already been applied in Swatch's NASA collection, presented unique manufacturing challenges for the project, such as achieving a wide array of color options. While the work was extensive and not easy, we broke out of our comfort zone and reached a new level.
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