Stargazers will be fully aware that the beaver moon – also known as the frost moon – illuminated the sky last night, marking the penultimate full moon of 2023. Its particularly non-celestial name has disputable origins: some say it derives from Native Americans who set out beaver traps throughout the month, while others attribute it to the increased activity beaver's undertake to finish building dams before hibernating. Either way, as Omega and Swatch presented yesterday, it's clearly influential on the horological world, too.
This marks another drop in the Mission To The Moon Moonshine Gold series, one that started in March and has seen a monthly release in line with each full moon since. Designs are built off a Mission to the Moon model but finished with different chrono hand designs, personalised to what’s happening in the stars that month. It also comes with a special box and certificate that honours the moon its inspired by.
For the November iteration, details differentiate it from last month’s Lollipop-themed watch, including a chrono hand that pays tribute to the Speedmaster CK 2998-3 FAP from 1961. Close inspection will reveal what seems to be an etching of a log-pile towards its base and a glow-in-the-dark diamond, a subtle feature that makes a watch inspired by a moon that influences semiaquatic animals a lot more wearable.
Much like every Moonshine Gold watch that’s been released this year it’s bound to fly off the shelves (especially as it's the last release before Santa makes his way down the chimney). And as they’re sold during Mission to the Moon Moonshine Gold events on the full moon, your best bet on finding one is to keep refreshing resale sites like StockX. Expect the full moon’s influence to have you acting like an eager beaver (sorry).
Carmen Bellot is the Style Editor of Esquire, writing on all things menswear and grooming.
