Rubber B was the first company worldwide to develop custom rubber watch straps exclusively for Rolex timepieces, and since then, the company has added several other prominent watchmakers to its product portfolio. Rubber B also creates custom rubber watch bands for watches produced by Panerai, Rolex, and Audemars Piguet.
One of the stories that have been generating a lot of attention in the horological press lately concerns the Swatch X Omega MoonSwatch product line, which was released. There were several reasons that the collection has been paid so much attention is that, though the collection was made available to the general public.
So what was driving the enthusiasm behind this collection? In order to fully understand all of the hype behind the Swatch X Omega MoonSwatch watches, it will help to have a little history of these companies, especially Omega. We will begin by learning more about Omega watches and then further delve into the specifics of the Omega MoonSwatch watches themselves.
What Is Important to Know About Omega Watches?
Omega SA was originally founded in 1848 in La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland as La Generale Watch Co., and it would take several decades later, in 1903, for the company to rebrand as Omega Watch & Co. The company has made a number of notable achievements over the years, including producing the world’s first-minute repeating wristwatch (a collaboration with Audemars Piguet) and creating the world’s first tourbillon wristwatch caliber.
The company is also known for its somewhat aggressive and highly flashy marketing efforts as well. They have been very fond of product placement in the past, including having had their watches featured in several of the more recent James Bond films. Therefore, when the opportunity to truly make history was presented to them, the company jumped at the chance.
In the late 1960s, NASA was in need of a watch that would be capable of surviving the conditions of both spaceflight and the Moon, as they were planning the Apollo 11 mission at the time. Omega would end up producing the Omega Speedmaster Moonwatch for this project, and the watch would go on to be noted as the first timepiece to be worn by people on the moon.
It is largely because of this historical connection that the new Omega MoonSwatch watches have generated so much publicity, as they are very much connected with both the history of Omega and NASA’s prior successful space exploration endeavors.
What Do You Need to Know About the Omega MoonSwatch?
The Omega MoonSwatch contains 11 different new watches and was crafted for the express purpose of paying homage to the Apollo space program, which was active during the 1960s and 70s. While it makes complete sense that Omega would want to celebrate its involvement with this program via an updated version of their original watch, what makes this notable is the involvement of Swatch, whose watches are more often considered to be streetwear.
This collaboration came as a surprise to many, as there really wasn’t a reason to ever expect that these two companies would collaborate on something. However, this does make more sense if you are aware of the fact that Swatch Group actually owns the Omega brand. The combination of both brands’ fan bases, along with the connection to the space program, resulted in thousands of people lining up in countries around the world for the chance to purchase these watches.
A highly notable thing about the Omega MoonSwatch is that it is made from a unique material – bioceramic. Bioceramic is a compound that was originally designed for space travel. It is created by mixing two parts of zirconium dioxide ceramic with one part of bio-derived plastic, often sourced from bio-based castor oil. Bioceramic is also used within a wide variety of industrial and medical processes, especially the mending of broken bones.
Each watch in the series is named for a different planet in our solar system and has the phrase “Mission to…” etched onto the caseback. The watch’s individual coloring is also a reference to whatever planet the watch is named for as well. There are currently eleven watches in the line, with one corresponding to each of these celestial bodies:
With all of this in mind, it is not hard to see why the two companies involved decided to produce this collaboration in the first place, or why watch collectors were so enthusiastic about it once it was released to the public.
Omega X Swatch MoonSwatch Rubber B Straps
Are You in Need of a Custom Rubber Watch Band For Your Luxury Watch? Visit Rubber B Today
All of Rubber B’s watch straps are made from 100% vulcanized rubber and are crafted exclusively by experts in Switzerland. Orders are shipped out within 24 to 48 hours of receiving them, and Rubber B also offers shipping options to its international clientele as well.
If you would like to learn more about our complete list of products, shipping policies, and pricing, or have questions about our custom rubber watch straps, please visit the Rubber B website today for more information. One of our valued associates will be happy to answer your inquiry in a timely manner.
Follow Us on Instagram
