Swatch Ads from the early 80s
This is one of the first (the first?) ad for Swatch watches (for the
GR100). It appeared on 4-DEC-1983 in the New York Times Magazine:
The sales of Swatch watches in the UK
started in fall of 1983. The following six page foldout leaflet
was distributed in early 1984 in the UK as it shows some 1984
Swatches. So I assume that it was not the first (but probably the
second) sales leaflet in the UK.

outside (click on the image to enlarge)

inside (click on the image to enlarge)
The following things are interesting to
be noted:
- The watches are not listed with their common names such as GB001,
GR700, GT702, ... but with a unique six digit number such as 650071,
651471, 650771, ... These six digit number were probably
introduced by the UK distributor called Avia International Division.
Back then, Swatch was not operating as a company in all countries where
it was selling watches. Swatch used local distributors
instead. You will see those six digit numbers again on the
pictures of two early blister packagings below. Shortly
afterwards, each Swatch got a unique name and those six digit numbers
were quickly forgotten (and the same ref.codes were used all around the
world).
- at least one variant is shown on the second picture: The
GB001 in the upper has a red second hand. This is a rare
variation, also known as GB001V1 or GB102. Can you spot other
variants?
Below are two early blister packagings
for Swatch watches. These specific packagings were sold in the UK
as they carry a round sticker with that six digit number. In this
case: 654671 and 650771. So these two packagings originally
contained a GB705 (concluded from the price sticker on the back [19.95
UKP!], not in the leaflet above) and a GT702.
Below is the first Swatch leaflet (four pages) distributed in Belgium
in
fall 1984 when the sales of Swatch watches started there. The
first Swatch collection sold in Belgium consisted of twelve gent
watches:
The following ads were used by swatch in the early 80s (84/85 to be
precise;
we can recognize favourite swatches such as 12 Flags, Computech,
Yellow
Racer etc.). They are quite good! So take your time to
download them!

Thanks to Brian Pier for the pictures.
Here is another ad from the "family that ticks" campaign sent to me
by Sam@altivo and June Berliner,
two different variants:
5-OCT-2007: I just found one more picture:

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