AuctionsFeb 22, 2024
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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.
Each of the 11 suitcases contained 11 MoonSwatch watches, the popular timepiece that Omega and Swatch collaborated to make.
New York—Sotheby’s recent MoonSwatch auction was a white-glove sale.
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.
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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.
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