Omega has successfully auctioned off 11 MoonSwatch Moonshine Gold suitcases in a dedicated Sotheby’s online auction, raising a total of CHF 543,670 ($608,000). The auction, which took place from February 12 to 24 and was managed by Sotheby’s Geneva staff, featured each case containing 11 OMEGA x Swatch “Mission to Moonshine Gold” watches. This marked the first time these versions were offered as a set and the first time the special MoonSwatch suitcase was available for purchase.
All proceeds from the auction will be donated to Orbis International, a nonprofit organization that combats avoidable blindness and vision loss globally. Orbis has been a long-term partner of Omega, with the auction's success contributing to advancing the organization’s mission of making eye care accessible to all.
The “Mission to Moonshine Gold” models are a unique take on the original “bioceramic” MoonSwatch timepieces, featuring 42mm watches in black or blue with a second hand coated in Omega’s 18k “Moonshine Gold” alloy. Each watch showcases intricate details inspired by space and planets, such as a strawberry pattern for the Strawberry Moon in July.
Additionally, the suitcases, which are typically used as store displays in Omega and Swatch boutiques, are made from bioceramic material consisting of zirconium oxide ceramic powder and biosourced material derived from castor oil. Each suitcase represents a major international city where Omega has a boutique, containing a monocle with the Omega x Swatch logo and a coin engraved with the city’s aviation code.
Before the auction, the suitcases and watches were showcased at 11 Omega boutiques worldwide, including Zurich, Tokyo, Bangkok, and New York. Prices for the suitcases ranged from CHF 38,100 ($43,308) to CHF 60,960 ($69,300) for different city-themed editions.
Omega's President and CEO, Raynald Aeschlimann, expressed delight in the auction's success, emphasizing the brand's commitment to supporting Orbis International's vital eye care initiatives. The funds raised will aid Orbis in providing eye care services to millions of patients and training eye care professionals in underserved regions globally.
