Stay tuned to Swatch

This page does not contain any fancy pictures but I hope to provide some substantial information for collectors. If you want to see some pictures of interesting swatches then go to my virtual swatch museum. Although I am probably a bit biased, it is highly recommended , especially the section about special packagings.

FIVB 2011 special. A Chrono Plastic FIVB Swatch World Tour 2011 (SUIW413) has been released. It comes in a paper sleeve. Thanks to Jacky Beauverd for the picture.
Hossegor club event. From 3 to 5-JUN, a Swatch The Club event took place in Seignosse Hossegor (France) during The Swatch Girls Pro France Championship. About 24 club members participated at the event, and everyone received an event special: A colourful New Gent with a special loop around the strap in a very nice paper sleeve. Here is an overview picture of the different versions (a version based on Cobalt Rebel (SUON701) also exists) and here is a picture of all the stuff that the collectors received. The girl on the sleeve is Swatch Pro Team Surfer Coco Ho and this is her autograph :-) Really bad news for us collectors: Antonio is leaving Swatch The Club after five years :-(( We'll miss him! He got a nice farewell present... More great pictures from the event at Antonios facebook page. Update: Here are a few pictures from the event, taken by Pedro Mota. Here is a nice German blog entry about the event, with many nice pictures. Thanks to Pedro Mota for the information and pictures and to Jacky Beauverd for the picture.
No more Swatch collections. Don't fear, there will be more Swatch watches in the future. But the concept of "spring / summer" and "fall / winter" collections (which was used since 1983) is now a thing of the past. Instead, 10 to 20 new watches will be released at the beginning of each month. This allows Swatch to speed up the launch of new models and to react faster on trends... No more thicker Swatch catalogues :-( Smaller flyers will be used instead. A "Core Collection" (refreshed / partly exchanged every 6 months) will be used to sell popular models for a longer time. So it will be more complicated for collectors to track each and every model (the Swatch Finder has a few errors and is not totally complete).
Five new Colour Code swatches. Five new Colour Code gent watches are available now ("metalized collection" as the watches have a metallic look): 1. Flaky Brown (GC109), 2. Flaky Blue (GM171), 3. Flaky Grey (GM175), 4. Flaky Smoke (GM176), 5. Flaky Pink (GP136). Thanks to Bill Dankulich and watchpapst for the information.
Swatch at Friday Weyer fashion show. On 8-JUL, the Frida Weyer Fashion Show Spring/Summer 2012 will be presented during the Mercedes Benz Fashion Week in Berlin. Swatch is sponsoring this event and Swatch The Club Germany is giving away 2x2 VIP tickets for the show.
Swatch at Berlin Underground Catwalk. Swatch is co-sponsoring a train at the Berlin Underground Catwalk on 6-JUL. Swatch The Club Germany has 2x2 tickets for the train to give away (including aftershow party!).
Rankin artist set. The British portrait and fashion photographer John Rankin has designed eight Swatch artist watches which will be released soon. Five of these watches will be released in a special box set (GZS46, closed / back), limited and numbered (to 777), price is 216 EUR in Germany. You can find pictures and further info on Sophia Chang's Swatch blog. The design of the watches is based on the so-called Eyescapes photos by John Rankin from 2007. The five limited watches in the box set are: 1. Violetscape (GZ229S), 2. Rainbowscape (GZ230S), 3. Yellowscape (GZ231S), 4. Greyscape (GZ235S), 5. Bluescape (GZ236S) The three unlimited watches are: 6. Brownscape (GZ237), 7. Aquascape (GZ238), 8. Greenscape (GZ239). Update: On 8-JUN, a launch party with invited UK Fashion Media and bloggers took place at the London studio of Rankin. Thanks to Alain Choisy for the information and pictures.
Striped Collection. Swatch plans to release a Striped Collection. Five Colour Code Gent Swatch watches will be available with new, striped bands. The watches are: 1. Striped Callipara (GV121I), 2. Striped Dragon Fruit (GP128I), 3. Striped Rise-Up (GS138I), 4. Striped Up-Wind (GN230I, not to be confused with The Away Project de Colette (GN230F), the stripes on the strap are inversed!), 5. Striped Berry (GR154I). Thanks to Alain Choisy for the information and pictures.
Swatch production video. Swatch has published a nice video called The Art of Swatch Production. You get a great impression from the Swatch factory. I was fortunate enough to visit the Swatch factory during the Gold & Pioneer Event in Saas-Fee in 2010, unfortunately, we were not allowed to take pictures inside the factory.
FIVB staff 2011 special. As in the last years, a FIVB staff 2011 (SUJK122D) special has been released for the staff people of the different 2011 Swatch FIVB BeachVolley World Tour events. The watch is the Jelly In Jelly Hawaiian (SUJK122) from 2007, fitted with a new strap.
MTV Playground artist specials. On 1-JUN, Swatch will release two watches designed by the two winners of the Swatch MTV Playground 2010: 1. Transition (GZ248) by the polish photographer Mónika Jelinska. The watch comes packaged in a nice paper sleeve. 2. I'm Not A Child of the night (GZ249) by Ryan Grees, graphic designer from the Philippines, currently living in Germany. The watch comes packaged in a nice paper sleeve. Thanks to Marco Soares for the information and pictures.
Hiroyuki Matsuura artist set. On 1-JUN, Swatch plans to release an artist set designed by Japanese artist Hiroyuki Matsuura. It contains six New Gent watches featuring Manga/comic artwork. The watches will be available in a special box set, limited and numbered to 777 pcs. The watches will also be availably individually, unlimited, not numbered. You can find pictures and further info on Sophia Chang's Swatch blog. Update: A Mexican press release (google translation) lists all the watches in detail and also shows a great ad for the watches: 1. Transmission (SUOZ109), 2. Strawberry Switchblade (SUOZ110), 3. Crowha (SUOZ111), 4. Windy Bunny (SUOZ112), 5. Ducky Brigade (SUOZ113), 6. Use Your Ears (SUOZ114). And on his official blog, Hiroyuki Matsuura shows all the watches and the packaging in great detail. It also lists the japanese price for the box set and the normal watches (7870 / 57750 Yen). This probably means that the box set will cost around 370 to 400 EUR in Europe (Update: 400 EUR in Germany). Japan will only get 20 special boxes. Thanks to Marco Soares and Roberto Tintori for the information and pictures.
New Full Blooded watches. Ten (10!) new Full Blooded Irony Diaphane Chronos are now available, two of them feature a skull on the dial! Five watches are targeted towards men (no little stones at the hour position, colored case). And finally three new colours (burgundy, mint, navy). The watches are: 1. Full Blooded White Skull (SVCW4000AG), 2. Full Blooded Black Skull (SVCF4001AG), 3. Full Blooded Smoky Blue (SVCN4004AG), 4. Full Blooded Mint (SVCK4056AG), 5. Full Blooded Navy (SVCK4055AG), 6. Full Blooded Burgundy (SVCK4054AG), 7. Full Blooded Smoky Sand (SVCG4000AG), 8. Full Blooded Smoky Black (SVCF4000AG), 9. Full Blooded Smoky Brown (SVCC4000AG), 10. Full Blooded Smoky Grey (SVCM4007AG). Thanks to watchpapst for the information.
(S)watch in a Can. A special packaging (S)watch in a Can was released in Portugal on 21-MAY in Lisbon, Portugal. The special packaging (released in conjunction with the project Travessa da Ermida) is limited to 250 pcs and it contains two Swatch watches with new straps designed by Vivóeusébio. It is not an official Swatch special, price is 150 EUR. You can find all the details about the when, where, why on this page (in Portuguese / English Google translation). If you are interested in acquiring this special or if you need more information, you can contact Pedro Mota. Update: Here is a picture of the special packaging and here is a picture of the watches in the opened box. And here are a few pictures from the event in Lisbon. Can you spot the content of the blue egg?
"Swatch & Art" in Luxemburg. An exhibition called Swatch Art will be shown in Luxemburg from 24-MAY to 5-AUG. Many Swatch watches from artists such as Keith Haring, Sam Francis, Mimmo Paladino, ... will be shown. The watches are part of the collection of Luxemburg collector Paul Dunkel who owns one of the biggest collections (more than 6000 watches). Thanks to Squiggly for the information.
Atlanta Medalist protos. Here are two prototypes for the Atlanta Medalist watches: 1. Gold Medalist proto (GZ150TP), 2. Silver Medalist proto (GZ150UP). Thanks to Alain Choisy for the pictures.
New Swatch watches in May. A lot of new Swatch watches have been released on 1-MAY: Five new Colour Codes Gent: 1. Shiny Glaze (GM178), 2. Shiny Slate Gray (GM179), 3. Shiny Marron (GR158), 4. Shiny Moccasin (GT104), 5. Shiny Plum (GV124). Five new Irony Chronos (Black Series, "Reptile" strap): 1. Reptil Green (YCB4014AG), 2. Reptile Violet (YCB4015AG), 3. Reptile Blue (YCB4016AG), 4. Reptile Orange (YCB4017AG), 5. Reptile Light Blue (YCB4018AG). Four new Irony Nabab (part of the "Animal Collection"): 1. Coloric Scales (YNS117), 2. Salmon Grey (YNS120), 3. Salmon Gold (YNS121), 4. Salmon Violet (YNS122). Thanks to Alain Choisy and to watchpapst for the information.
Portuguese Mother's Day special. In Portugal, a nice special sleeve for the gent Origin Of Love (GZ242) has been released for mother's day. If you are interested in purchasing this special, you can contact Pedro Mota. Thanks to Marco Soares for the picture.
Colour Code Maxi Swatches. Alain Choisy has found two pictures showing Colour Code Maxi Swatch watches on display in the Philippines: photo 1 / photo 2. Very nice, too bad that Swatch has stopped selling Maxi Swatches to the general public... Anyone found these Maxi Swatches elsewhere?
Swiss Solidarity specials. In 2010, Swatch has released three special Swatch watches for Swiss Solidarity (a Swiss foundation that raises funds for humanitarian relief projects): 1. Swiss Solidarity 1 (SRJ100D, a Swatch Solar Lots Of Suns (SRJ100, 1995) with a new strap and two special loops), 2. Swiss Solidarity 2 (SRJ100E, a Swatch Solar Lots Of Suns (SRJ100, 1995) with a new strap and two special loops), 3. Swiss Solidarity 3 (SRM100D, a Swatch Solar Sign Of Times (SRM100, 1995) with a new strap and two special loops). No further information about the distribution or limitation so far. Thanks to Alain Choisy for the information and pictures.
Swatch Mini Basel special. In 2007, Swatch has released a special Swatch called Mini Basel 2007 (GM151C, a gent Antiquite (GM151, 2000) with a special new strap). The watch comes packaged in a nice paper sleeve. If I have googled it right, Mini Basel 2007 was a smaller watch and jewelry exhibition in Dubai. Thanks to Alain Choisy for the information and pictures.
Swatch watch dress. On 1-APR, the Palms Casino in Las Vegas held a party with one model wearing a dress made entirely of Swatch’s new animal-inspired Zebra watches. The dress was made of over 100 watches! More details here. Update: Swatch now has also a nice promotion together with the Palms Casino (inclusing a free Swatch watch!).
Swatch on NYC subway / Vienna tram. Full train Swatch advertising on the NYC subway (New Gent): photo1 / photo2. Update: ... and on the Vienna tram (OCT-2010): photo1 / photo2. Thanks to Gregor Petko for the update.
Paris "The Away Project" special. A new Swatch special The Away Project (GN230F) is now available at Colette in Paris during an exhibition called The Away Project (28-MAR to 9-APR). It is a Colour Code Gent Up-Wind (GN230) with a special strap. The special is limited to 200 pcs (not numbered) and it comes packaged in a blue/white-striped paper sleeve with a Colette imprint on the side of the packaging. Thanks to orb for the information.
Zebra Day. On 1-APR, Swatch celebrated Zebra Day in many international cities (London, Madrid, Zurich, Munich, Milano, Vienna, New York, Singapore, Sydney, ...) around the world. The idea was to hold a flash mob with many "zebras" during the day. You can find some impressions on zebraday.com (Milano) and facebook. Brian happened to be in New York (on the steps of the New York Public Library) and he sent me the following exclusive pictures: photo1 / photo2 / photo3.
Third version of the Mystery Vintage specials. In JUN-2010, Swatch has released the Mystery Vintage special packagings in Switzerland (at the Sneakerness event in Zurich and at the Blue Balls Festival in Luzern). It was available in a yellow box with older Scuba watches and in a pink box with older POP watches. Now, a third version of the special packaging has surfaced in the USA. The paper box is blue/turquoise and it contains three older gent watches.
Uniqa specials. The Austrian insurance company Uniqa has released two different special Chrono Plastic swatches (available as gift in exchange for 'points' for contracts etc.): 1. Uniqa Black (SUIB400O, a Mister Chrono (SUIB400) with a special strap), 2. Uniqa White (probably Round Of Hump (SUIK404) with a special strap). The watch comes packaged in a nice paper sleeve (front / back). Limitation is unknown.
Swatch Store Munich Reopening Party. The Swatch Store Munich (Marienplatz 26) will be reopened with a party (snacks, drinks, and music) on 31-MAR (8pm). You will also get a sneak preview at the Zebra Day which will take place on 1-APR in Munich as well (only German city).
More colourful Irony Big Models. Swatch plans to release five more 'colourful' Irony Big (old style) models: 1. Purple Drops (YGB4002), 2. Green Drops (YGB4003), 3. Yellow Drops (YGB4004), 4. Pink Drops (YGB4005), 5. Blue Drops (YGB4006). Thanks to Alain Choisy for the information and pictures.
Swatch comes to 666 Fifth Ave. Swatch plans to open a new store in NYC at 666 5th ave., size is about 2000 sq ft. Sounds like a huge opportunity!
Roland Garros 2011 special. It seems that in 2011, only one special Swatch watch (instead of the usual two) will be released in France for the Roland Garros French Open Tennis tournament (Paris, 17-MAY to 5-JUN): Pureness White (GZ257, Gent). This is the fifth year of Roland Garros specials. Thanks to Alain Choisy for the picture.
Markus Linnenbrink artist collection. According to this chinese blog, Swatch will release two special New Gent watches designed by the German artist Markus Linnenbrink: 1. WE’REALLGONNADIE(FORRON) (SUOZ115), 2. TIMEISNEVERTIMEENOUGH (SUOZ118). These watches are not limited. Additionally, a limited edition special Markus Linnenbrink Set (SUOZS05) containing the two watches is available in a limited edition of 777 pcs, box and watches (SUOZ116S, SUOZ117S) are numbered xxx/777. The Markus Linnenbrink collection is the third of three collections called Art, Fashion & Sport.
Terje Haakonsen sport collection. According to this Turkish blog, Swatch will release two special New Gent watches designed by the Norwegian snow boarder and Swatch Pro Team member Terje Haakonsen: 1. North Signs (SUOZ116), 2. Rune Stone (SUOZ117). These watches are not limited. Additionally, a limited edition special Terje Haakonsen Set (SUOZS04) containing the two watches is available in a limited edition of 777 pcs, box and watches (SUOZ116S, SUOZ117S) are numbered xxx/777. The Terje Haakonsen collection is the second of three collections called Art, Fashion & Sport.
Jeremy Scott fashion collection. The long rumoured Jeremy Scott x Swatch fashion collection has finally been launched. It consists of three New Gent watches: 1. Winged Swatch (SUOZ103), 2. Lightning Flash (SUOZ104), 3. Opulence (SUOZ105). These watches are not limited. Additionally, a limited edition special Jeremy Scott Set (SUOZS02) containing all three watches is available in a limited edition of 777 pcs, box and watches (SUOZ103S, SUOZ104S, SUOZ105S) are numbered xxx/777. Here is a picture of Jeremy Scott in front of the NYC Times Square Swatch store. The Jeremy Scott x Swatch artist collection is the first of three collections called Art, Fashion & Sport.
Vogue Talents Corner special. From 24 to 27-FEB, an fashion designers exhibition called The Vogue Talents Corner is on display at Palazzo Morando, in Milan, Italy. It features creations of 14 young designers. Swatch is sponsoring that exhibition and is presenting the new Lady Collection of watches and bracelets. VIPs (eg. Giorgio Armani, Donatella Versace, Dolce e Gabbana, ...) and journalists at the opening of the shows received a watch from the Lady Collection with a special Vogue.it loop around the strap. Here is a picture of all 10 Lady Collection watches with the special loop. Filippo Gatti has many more pictures and information from the event in his blog. Thanks to Roberto Tintori for the hint.
Nescafé Champs Leysin special. For the 20th anniversary of the Nescafé Champs Leysin TTR snowboard event which took place from 8 to 13-FEB in Leysin, Switzerland, a special Swatch Champs Leysin 2011 (SUKW?) has been released. It is the nice Swatch Snow Kiss (SUKW100) with a special loop around the strap and it also comes packaged in a nice paper sleeve. It is rumoured that the watch is limited to 150 pcs. Thanks to Jacky Beauverd for the information and pictures.
Chinese Year of the Rabbit special. 2011 is the year of the rabbit. On 7-JAN-2011, Swatch will release an Asia only(!) special designed by Jimmy called Rabbit Story (GZ247). Update: Here is a google translated taiwanese news article with some bunny pictures from a launch event. And here is the Taiwanese advertising for the watch. Update 2: The box with the watch also contains a nice small flyer. Thanks to Pedro Mota, Alain Choisy, and Sophia Chang for the information and pictures.
Colourful New Gent watches. Swatch websites from Poland and Turkey list five colourful New Gent models, just in time for the summer: SUON701 (dark blue), SUOO700 (orange), SUOP700 (pink), SUOL700 (turquoise), SUOG702 (lime green).
Freeride World Tour 2011 special. For the Freeride World Tour 2011, a special Swatch Freeride World Tour 2011 (SUKB400J, Chrono Plastic Mister Twin with a special strap) has been distributed to journalists and VIPs, eg. at the 2nd stop in St. Moritz, Switzerland on 30-JAN. The watch comes packaged in a papersleeve. Thanks to Jacky Beauverd for the information and pictures.
Valentine Special 2011. The Valentine special 2011 is a set of two gent watches called The Way To Love (GZS47, limited to 777 pcs, numbered [105 EUR / 91 UKP]). The two gent watches are called: 1. Blessing of Love (GZ240, blue, for him) and 2. Belief of Love (GZ241). These two watches plus a third gent called Origin of Love (GZ242) form the so-called Love Collection. The two Valentine special watches are also available individually and unlimited, without the special packaging. You can see some actual pictures of the limited packaging on Sophia Chang's blog. Thanks to Sophia Chang for the pictures and to Marco Soares and Eric Bressoud for the update and picture.
Lady Colour Code swatches. A new collection of ten Lady Colour Code Swatch watches called The Lady Collection is already on sale in Italy (and probably soon elsewhere as well). The colours are not as strong as the Gent Colour Codes and the strap (made of silicon) is quite long: You can turn the strap around your arm at least two times.... The models are: Limetta (LJ106C), Honey Melon (LO103C), Cool Breeze (LW134C), Delight Dream (LP128C), Arctic Sea (LL114C), Miss Cassis (LR122C), Green Trace (LG122C), Wide View (LM136C), Soft Sky (LS111C), Berry Sorbet (LV114C). Thanks to Stefano Moschetti for the information. Pictures: e-swatch.pl.
Bühler company special. On 15-MAR-2010 (date is imprinted on the guarantee), the Swiss company Bühler celebrated its 150th birthday. To mark this occasion, a special Swatch Bühler (GM415E) was distributed in a limited edition of 150 pcs. It is a Gent Swatch Blue Choco (GM415, 2004) with a special embossed leather strap. The plastic packaging of the watch comes with a special "Thank You" paper inlay. Thanks to Alain Choisy for the information and picture.
New product line New Irony Big. In February, Swatch will release a new product line called New Irony Big (yes, there were lots of other "Irony Big" watches before but the new product line has a differently shaped case). The five new models in the New Irony Big collection present a bold new look and a big, 43mm diameter case. The New Irony Big retains the signature Irony look and feel with an impressive, smoothly contoured stainless steel case and a bold, elegant dial equipped with a novel seconds hand. All five models feature leather straps with double loops and stainless steel buckles. The following five watches are part of the first New Irony Big collection (in addition to the already released Our present for him (YTB401S) which was part of the limited Haute Couture collection): 1. In A Classic Mode (YTS400), 2. In A Joyful Mode (YTS401), 3. In A Vibrant Mode (YTS402), 4. In A Stately Mode (YTB400), 5. In A Warm Mode (YTG400). Price is approx. 100-110 EUR. Thanks to e-swatch.pl for the hint.