SpaceX doesn't do throwaway swag, and the Raptor Bell proves it. To mark the $2 trillion IPO, the team created a completely custom engineer's bell shaped like their Raptor rocket engine. Here is how it scored across our three pillars.
Product selection - 9.2
This is as far from catalog swag as merch gets: a one-of-a-kind, machined object that doubles as a desk piece. It is useful, collectible, and unmistakably SpaceX. The only thing keeping it from a perfect score is that a bell is a niche format - beautiful, but not for everyone.
Branding - 8.1
The branding is confident and restrained. There is no loud logo slapped on the side; the product shape itself carries the brand. That subtlety is premium, though a touch more story on the packaging could have pushed it higher.
Activation - 7.3
Here is where it loses ground. The bell was a buy-only drop at $125 - no earn-it, win-it or gift mechanic, and limited media build-up beyond the IPO moment. A smarter activation could have turned a great product into a cultural moment.
The verdict - 8.53
A very strong start to the series. SpaceX nailed the hardest part, making something people genuinely want, and only left points on the table with the activation. Want merch worth reviewing? Explore custom products in your brand.