Sotheby’s MoonSwatch Suitcases Sell for Over $600K
The auction house sold all 11 “MoonSwatch Moonshine Gold” suitcases, donating the proceeds to eye care nonprofit Orbis International.

The auction house, in partnership with Omega, hosted an online sale from Feb. 12-24 offering 11 “MoonSwatch Moonshine Gold” suitcases, each filled with all 11 Omega x Swatch “Mission to Moonshine Gold” timepieces.
The original MoonSwatch collection by Omega and Swatch, both Swatch Group-owned brands, made headlines when it was released in March 2022, drawing huge crowds and long lines.
Last year, they launched Mission to Moonshine Gold versions, debuting 11 watches with the seconds hand coated in 18-karat “Moonshine” gold, an in-house alloy of yellow gold.
The auction marked the first time all the models were offered together in one set, in a suitcase that normally is just used for show in Swatch stores.
All 11 suitcases sold for a total of 534,670 CHF ($606,885), with all proceeds going to Orbis International, a nonprofit that works to prevent avoidable blindness and vision loss around the world.
“This unique auction really captured the imagination of MoonSwatch fans around the world,” said Raynald Aeschlimann, president and CEO of Omega.
“We’re so thrilled that the proceeds can now go to Orbis. We believe whole heartedly in their eye care mission, and we’re so pleased to have raised money as well as awareness for their work.”
The suitcases up for auction were unique, with each one holding a one-of-a-kind coin engraved with the 3-letter aviation code for its displayed city, like HKG for Hong Kong.
That code for that particular city is also engraved on the side of each watch in the suitcase.
Each suitcase had a pre-sale estimate of 5,000 to 10,000 CHF ($5,675 to $11,351), but the “Beijing” suitcase was the top lot, selling for 60,960 CHF ($69,198).
The “New York” suitcase was in second place, followed by Paris and then Zurich, with Milan and Bangkok tied for the No. 5 spot.
Prior to the auction, the 11 suitcases were on display at Omega stores in 11 cities around the world: Zurich, Tokyo, Bangkok, Singapore, Hong Kong, Beijing, New York, London, Milan, Paris, and Sydney.
The Latest

The company plans to raise the prices of select watches to offset the impact of tariffs.

Between tariffs and the sky-high cost of gold, designers enter this year’s Las Vegas shows with a lot of questions and few answers.

Designed by founder Renato and his daughter Serena Cipullo, it showcases a flame motif representing unity and the power of gathering.

More shoppers are walking out without buying. Here’s how smart jewelers can bring them back—and the tool they need to do it right.

However, the tariffs remain in effect in the short term, as an appeals court has stayed the U.S. Court of International Trade’s decision.


The pop icon is one step closer to launching her “B Tiny” jewelry collection, a collection she first began posting about last fall.

Sponsored by Stuller

Gain access to the most exclusive and coveted antique pieces from trusted dealers during Las Vegas Jewelry Week.

It was featured in the miner’s latest sale, which brought in $24.8 million.

GemText AI uses artificial intelligence to generate tailored product titles, descriptions, and tags with jewelry-specific language.

The 3,300-square foot location is the jeweler's largest store in North America.

Aging and with myriad health issues, none will serve time for their roles in robbing the billionaire celebrity at gunpoint in 2016.

The WNBA team received rings imbued with meaning, from leaf motifs and its Liberty torch to the number of diamonds used.

A longtime executive at RDI Diamonds, Rickard has served on the JBT board for the past five years.

The two organizations have signed an affiliation agreement that’s expected to be finalized in the coming weeks.

Get a taste of the delicious candy-like gemstones in this Amanda’s Style File.

JSA’s Scott Guginsky provided a list of nine security measures jewelers should observe while locking up for the long weekend.

From Lau’s “Love of a Kind” series, the engagement ring was inspired by the moon and holds a different meaning depending on how it is worn.

The lab has adjusted the scale it uses for nacre grading.

Sponsored by GCAL by Sarine

David Walton will serve three years’ probation after an incident in a hotel bar led to the death of West Virginia jeweler David Ettinger.

The retailer also provided an update on how the tariffs situation in the U.S. is affecting its business.

The family-owned jeweler in Great Falls, Virginia, will be celebrating its golden jubilee with a year’s worth of events.

The nonprofit elected five judges who will decide the winners of its design competition.

This year’s edition includes articles on the favorite tools of notable designers, evaluating when to outsource production, and more.

The jeweler’s high jewelry collection features extraordinary gemstones, like a 241.06-carat emerald and the world’s fourth-largest spinel.

In a special column for the State of the Majors, Edahn Golan breaks down what the top-performing fine jewelry sellers are doing right.