Recent Swatch info (Last updated:  19-SEP-2019)

• WANTED! Perfect Timing Swatch (#332/700). I am asking for your help. The following bad incident has happened to a friend of mine without internet access: The Perfect Timing Swatch (#332/700) has been stolen on its way from the USA to Germany. Apparently, the package was opened during transport and the watch (including the plexi glass tube) was taken out of the parcel. The outer white cardboard tube was still in the parcel and can be seen here. If this watch shows up somewhere or is being offered for sale (remember that it will come without the white paper tube), I would be VERY happy if you could inform me about the seller. This watch has been STOLEN!  Back to the regular news service:
• Swatch old Chrono craze.  Recently, the prices for older Swatch chronos went up a little bit, especially the colourful ones from the early to mid 90.  But in the last two weeks, the price for the Grand Prix Chrono (SCJ101) from 1992 has reached a totally crazy all time high, up to 710 EURO have been paid!  If you look a bit more closely, it seems that this watch is sought after especially in Italy.  The root cause can be found on this Instagram photo:  The Sports Manager for Italian Soccer Club AC Fiorentina (Daniele Pradè) is wearing a Swatch Grand Prix Chrono recently.  More details in this report by Italian Watch Spotter.
• Holiday Event 2019.  The traditional Swatch The Club Holiday Event 2019 will take place in Budapest, Hungary from 28-NOV to 01-DEC.
• Alessandro Enriquez SwatchXYou.  For the Milano Fashion week, a special Alessandro Enriquez SwatchXYou is now available exclusively in the Swatch Italy online store.  The special by Italian Fashion Designer Alessandro Enriquez has been announced on Instagram and it features a very nice background design with lots of 'baci' (kisses).  Update:  A nice Alessandro Enriquez Maxi Swatch also exists.
• Swatch Vegetable Market.  The first Swatch fruit and vegetable market will be held on 21-SEP at the Swatch Drive Thru Store in Biel, Switzerland.  Several rare Swatch models no longer available in the shops will be available.
• The very early days of Swatch.  A fantastic documentation (in [Swiss]German) about the formation of SMH (later Swatch Group) and the crisis of the Swiss watch industry in the late 70s / early 80s can now be watched here (scroll down for the whole 50 minutes).  Highly recommended with eg. a lot of takes from Hayek's office in the 80s / 90s.  I can watch it in Germany so I assume that it is not region restricted...  And here is a very controversial scientific report (in English) by Isabelle Schluep Campo and Philipp Aerni ("When corporatism leads to corporate governance failure - The case of the Swiss watch industry").  Update:  The documentation is now available again at the TV channel 3sat (some Swiss German is now overdubbed :-)
• Selfridges SwatchXYou. A unique Selfridges SwatchXYou design is now available exclusively at the Selfridges Swatch Popup store in London, UK.
• Personalized loops.  In the German Swatch Online store, you can buy the new Swatch watches from the Dog Collection with an extra personalized loop (+4,50 EURO).  Great idea!
• Different packaging for Sistem Helmsman.  It seems that SISTEM51 Sistem Helmsman (YIZ400SPZ, $295 US) is now available in a different packaging:  A standard plastic box with a special paper sleeve (with a number xxx/510).  Previously, I have only seen the watch in the special GLAM packaging.
• Gold Member Contest 2019.  The Swatch Club Gold Member Contest 2019 is now open until 18-AUG.  This year, the theme is "Irony", so you have to take one to three photos with your favorite Swatch Irony watches (SKIN Irony is also fine).  Good luck and I hope that a gallery of all the entries will be online soon.  The winner(s) will be invited to the Holiday Club Event 2019.  Update:  You can check out the Contributors Galleries, some entries are really superb.   Update 2: On 06-SEP, 15 new Gold Members were notified via email (out of 127 submissions).  See you at the Xmas event! 
• L.E.P. special.  For the Fête nationale (Bastille Day, national day of France), Swatch has released a special New Gent Swatch called L.E.P. (Liberté, Égalité, Ponctualité; Freedom, Equality, Punctuality; SUOZ316, 80 EURO).  The watch is issued in a collaboration with the Louvre museum in Paris and it is packaged in a nice paper sleeve.   The design of the watch and the paper sleeve is taken from the famous painting Liberty Leading the People by Eugène Delacroix.  The watch is not limited and not numbered.  The watch was launched during an event on 08-JUL in Paris at the Swatch Carrousel du Louvre.  You can buy the watch in the French Swatch Online store (and probably worldwide soon).  Update:  On Bastille Day (14-JUL), Swatch has placed a one page ad in the newspaper Le Parisien.  Update 2:  It is rumoured that several other Louvre special watches will be launched in the next months.
• SwatchXDRL special.  A special Swatch X DRL 2019 (SUOB146C, 75 EURO) has been issued as event special for the Drone Racing League (DRL) 2019.  It is a New Gent Around The Strap (SUOB146) from 2018 with a special strap, packaged in a nice paper sleeve.
  
• Swatch Balloon(s) still alive!  The famous Swatch Balloon (featuring the 80s Gent watches Needles and Dotted Swiss)  is still alive, with the code G-BMJJ!  The balloon was seen last week at the Bristol International Balloon Fiesta.  My guess is that Damian Busby has bought and refurbished the balloon.  You even can buy pins related to the balloon, including a Swatch & Joure 30 Years G-BMJJ 1985 - 2015 Gold pin!  Update:  In SEP-2016, the balloon was present at the Warsteiner Internationale Montgolfiade, the largest balloon festival in Europe (200.000 visitors).  Update 2: Here is a postcard (Château-d’Œx (VD), Switzerland) from the mid 80s which shows a different Swatch balloon. Update 2: Here is a nice Swatch balloon poster from the mid 80s ("SWATCH happily continues his ascent to the ZÉNITH", a nice joke against the Zénith watch brand).  Update 3:  Another Swatch Balloon (code HB-BHC, featuring the 80s Gent Nine To Six and the Lady watch Neo Quad) was seen at the Ballonfiësta Barneveld in the Netherlands in AUG-2019.  This balloon was retired in DEC-1999 and it was recently reactivated by Roman Müller.   Complete your Swatch Balloon collection now!  Thanks to Marianne for the photo.
• Skin Irony 42mm.  The new Swatch Fall / Winter collection also contains four new Skin Irony models with a slightly larger diameter:  42mm instead of 38mm.  The watches are also slightly thicker:  6.7mm instead of 5.8mm.  Skins are now available with five different diameters:  Classic (plastic): 34mm;  Regular (plastic): 36.8mm;  Big (plastic): 40mm;  Irony:  38mm;  Irony 42:  42mm.
• Harajuku Pop-up store.  From 23-AUG to 15-SEP, Swatch will open a special BIG BOLD Pop-up store in Tokyo (Shibuya-ku).  50 limited BAPE Tokyo (SO27Z705S) will be sold.  Special notebooks and pens will also be distributed to guests of the store.  Update: Some photos from the actual store:  outside / inside / notebook gift.  Thanks to Wildon Aguila for the photos.
• New London Destination special.  A new Destination New Gent special Tea O’clock (SUOZ313, 66 GBP, Destination Special #61) is now available in London.  The watch is packaged in the usual Destination paper sleeve.  The design of the watch looks like a dark version of 11H30AM (SUOZ231) from 2016.
• Swatch at La Biennale / artist special.  Swatch is (still) a main partner of the 58th International Art Exhibition La Biennale di Venezia which will open its doors on 11-MAY.  It is the 5th anniversary of the collaboration.  Some new artist collaborations with Swatch will be revealed on 09-MAY.  One new artist special is designed by the 90 year old UK artist Joe Tilson:  The New Gent The Joe Tilson Venetian Watch (SUOZ312S, 135 EURO), limited to 2019 pcs, with a special imprint on the back of the strap. The watch is packaged in a nice special packaging (closed box).  The Swatch website has more information.  Also available is a new La Biennale special:  A Gent Interesting Times (GS147C).  The watch is packaged in a nice paper sleeve and also has the words "May You Live In Interesting Times..." on the back of the strap (and on the front of the paper sleeve).  This exclusive Biennale Watch can only be found at the Biennale Bookshops, the Venice Swatch Stores and at other selected stores in Italy.  Update:  It seems that invited bloggers received another special Swatch:  A New Gent Colorbrush (SUOS106) from 2017 with a special colorful Biennale strap, similar to the generally available Gent Interesting Times (GS147C).  Maybe this is the Biennale volunteers special?!?  Update 2:  The original artwork for The Joe Tilson Venetian Watch is now on display at the new official Swatch museum Planet Swatch in Biel, Switzerland.  One of the many reasons to visit the museum!   Thanks to Sascha for the hint.
• Ahol Sniffs Glue SwatchXYou artist special.  According to this instagram story photo (unique artist maxi!), a new SwatchXYou artist special by US artist Ahol Sniffs Glue will be released on 15-AUG.  Here is a sneak peek of the artwork entitled Miamisnake ("Miami Limited Edition").  Ahol Sniffs Glue X Swatch   Here is a short video showing the actual watch.  Update:  It seems that two Ahol Sniffs Glue designs will be available.  One of these two will be available for a very limited time only (until 16-AUG).  Here is a behind the scenes video. Update 2: Miami Limited Edition (canvas) is now available at the US Online Store.  In my opinion, the best SwatchXYou so far.  I cannot see the second design (Reptilian Relapse) in the store.  "Sold out" already?  Update 3:  Reptilian Relapse is not yet sold out, try this (hidden?) link.  But you have to be quick, it will be gone soon.
• SwatchXYou Festival Edition.  Two SwatchXYou specials related to music festivals are now available in the German Swatch Online Store:  1. Hamburg (MS Dockville, 16 to 18-AUG; canvas of Hamburg Festival SwatchXYou) and 2. Berlin (probably Lollapalooza, 07 to 08-SEP; canvas of Berlin Festival SwatchXYou).
• Edinburgh Destination special.  A new Destination New Gent special Auld Reekie (SUON130C, 66 GBP, Destination Special #60) is now available exclusively at the Princess street store in Edinburgh, Scotland.  It is a New Gent Striure (SUON130) with a special strap.
• Swatch in Red Bulletin.  The Red Bulletin is an international magazine that features breathtaking stories from the world of Red Bull and its playgrounds.  One of these breathtaking stories in the current magazine is a whole page dedicated to Swatch collecting (facts and numbers about Swatch)!  Thanks to Christine Tanner for the information.
  
• Gold & Pioneer Event 2019 / Special.  The traditional Gold & Pioneer Event took place in Berne, Switzerland in the  ***** Schweizerhof hotel from 31-MAY to 02-JUN.  104 Club members from 16 different countries participated at the event.  Among many other activities, we visited the new Swatch HQ in Biel, designed by Shigaru Ban from Japan.  To commemorate the event and the visit to the Swatch HQ, a New Gent special Happy Nessie (SUOZ310S) was released in a limited and numbered edition of 200 pcs.  The packaging of the special (opened box) and the details on the watch face are inspired by the wooden design of the building.  Some real wood used for the construction of the Swatch HQ is contained in the loop of the watch!  The number of the special can be found on the packaging, on the back of the watch and on the sticker.  The packaging and the second loop also has the inscription "G&P 2019".  A fantastic idea overall with a lots of thoughts that went into the design of this years G&P special (it shares some ideas with the new Shareholder special 2019 Bi-Üs).  Update:  Better late than never:  Here is a detailed report with many photos from the event.
• Singapore Destination Special. A new Destination Special (#53) has been launched in Singapore on 01-MAR:  A New Gent Singapor Tale (SUOZ296, S$125 (~82 EURO)).  The watch is limited to 2500 pcs and it has been designed by Singaporean artist Tan Zi Xi (also known as MessyMsxi).  Here is some more information about the watch.  On 11-MAR, a special launch event took place at 48 Niven Rd in Singapore.  During the launch event, a unique Singapore Tale Maxi was (partially) painted live by Tan Zi Xi!  The event participants received a special gift box with nice special Swatch cups.  Fantastic!  Update:  The second batch of  Singapor Tale has an additional paper insert with more information about the art on the watch. Thanks to Fabrizio Mazzucco and Edward Chung for the information.
• Vienna Major FIVB special.  For the FIVB Vienna Major (29-JUL to 04-AUG), a special New Gent Swatch X Major Series Vienna 2019 (SUON709D) has been released.  The watch is available in Austria and it is packaged in a nice paper sleeve.  The watch is also available in the Austria online store.
• Official Swatch Patrol.  Not wearing 2 Swatches?  Dirty Swatch band?  Scratched Swatch crystal?  Attn!  Watch out for the Official Swatch Patrol!  (from the 80s I guess)  Thanks to Fred McFarland for the photo.
• Singapore Bicentennial special.  The Singapore Bicentennial in 2019 marks the 200th anniversary of Sir Stamford Raffles’ arrival in Singapore.  To commemorate this event, a special Singapore Bicentennial Swatch is available: It is a Singapore Tale Destination special with an extra "200" loop around the strap.
• New Fall / Winter 2019/20 Collection online.  The new Swatch Fall / Winter 2019/20 collection can now be found online.  It has the following themes:  1. Bau Swatch (already available online);  2. I Love Your Folk;  3. Knightliness.  Especially interesting for Swatch collectors:  Two old favourites will be rereleased as New Gent:  1. Sir Swatch (SUOB169);  2. Nine To Six (SUOB171).
• New Swatch store in Cologne.  A new Swatch store has opened its doors in Cologne, Schildergasse 8-12 (previously located at Hohe Straße 105-107).  Great store design with graffiti artworks by local artists Goodlack Art: John Iven und Ron Voigt.  No Swatch Club opening event, no store opening special.
• Swiss Destination specials available online.  To celebrate Swiss National Day on 01-AUG, several Swiss Destination specials are available online in the Swiss Online Store for a short time only until 05-AUG.  Update:  The Swiss Destination specials are now available worldwide in the Swatch online store (for a limited time).
• Vans US Open of Surf special.    From 26-JUL to 04-AUG, the Vans US Open of Surfing presented by Swatch will take place in Huntington Beach, California.  A special New Gent event Swatch Sexy Thing (SUOW100F) will be released, similar to last year.  The artwork on the watch strap has been created by Jen Rim.   Swatch Club members from the USA are invited for a guided painting session with Swatch Proteam member, professional skateboarder and artist, Nora Vasconcellos on 28-JUL.  Update:  Sexy Thing is now available in the US online store.  It seems as if it is packaged in a nice paper sleeve.  Update 2:  Here is a nice report about the event on the official Swatch homepage.  A Sexy Thing Maxi also exists.  Thanks to Daniel Levinson for the information.
• Locarno Film Festival 2019 special.  A special New Gent Swatch Locarno72 (SUOB715H) for the 72th Locarno Film Festival 2019 (07 to 17-AUG) is now on sale in Switzerland, also in the Swiss online store.  It is a New Gent Backup Black (SUOB715) with a special strap. Update:  The special packaged in a yellow paper sleeve.
• Swatch X Vans Park Series.  A new Swatch special Swatch X Vans Park Series will be available during the Shanghai stop of the Vans Park Series skateboarding event on 18-MAY at the Old Shipyard in Shanghai.  Swatch Club China will host a Club event as well.  Update:  Here is a picture of the actual watch (SUOB708C) in the special paper sleeve.
  
• Swiss National Day SwatchXYou.  Switzerland celebrates Swiss National Day on 01-AUG, so Swatch has released a dedicated SwatchXYou Swiss National Day.  Here is a picture of the very nice background. I assume that the watch will be available for a short time only.
• Moon Landing SwatchXYou.  Swatch celebrates the 50th Anniversary of The Moon Landing on 21-JUL with a dedicated SwatchXYou Moon Landing.  Here is a picture of the very nice background.  Be quick, only 256 pcs will be made, so the watch will be available for a very short time only (until 22-JUL).
• Firenze Destination special.  For a short period of time, Swatch Italy showed the picture of a new Destination special for Firenze (Florence, Destination Special #60) in an Instagram posting (the picture has now been removed).  According to rumours, it be sold starting mid September.
• ITS Time for Coffee special.  ITS Time for Coffee started out at ITS 2018 (International Talent Support) when Swatch and Illy Coffee spontaneously collaborated on a special project:  They invited Fashion Designer Tolu Coker for a 3-month residency at the Swatch Art Peace Hotel in Shanghai to work on a special Swatch and an Illy artist coffee cup.  The result was now unveiled at ITS 2019 in Trieste, Italy:  A New Gent Swatch special ITS Time 4 Coffee and a special Illy artist coffee cup.
• Action O'Clock special.  A special New Gent Swatch Action O'Clock (SUOB715F) is now available in the Swiss online store.  It is a New Gent Backup Black (SUOB715) with a special strap and an Alaïa loop around the strap.  Swatch is a partner of Chalet Alaïa in Crans-Montana, the recently (beginning of 2019) opened first-class action sports center (indoor and outdoor),
• End Of Apprenticeship special.  In July, 171 participants finished their apprenticeship at one of the Swatch Group companies such as Blancpain, Breguet, ETA, Glashütte Original, Longines, Omega, Rado, Renata, Swatch, ...  It looks as if each participant received a very nice Make It Real Swatch special, including a New Gent Swatch Gesso (SUOW153).
• SwatchXYou JoAnouk Proteam special.  On 24-JUN, the second SwatchXYou Proteam special Side Out! has been unveiled at Swatch HQ in Biel during a press conference with Swatch Proteam members Anouk Vergé-Dépré and Joana Heidrich (Beach Volleyball) and Swatch Creative Director Carlo Giordanetti.  You can order the special in the Swatch Online Store.  Again, the background for the watch has been designed in a collaboration with the Chilean artist Gabriel Ebensperger.   The official Swatch website has more information about the second Proteam special.  At the Beach Volleyball Major Gstaad (and only there, 09 to 14-JUL), the watch will be available in a nice special packaging.  Update:  Here is an actual photo of the special packaging, only available in Gstaad.  Additionally, a second version of the watch is only available in Gstaad (with pink background and references to Gstaad and the 20th anniversary of the tournament on the background, limited to 239 pcs).  Christine Tanner sent a small report:  Swatch Switzerland had invited 20 G&P members to the Gstaad tournament on Saturday.  They could buy the limited version of the special during a signing session with Swatch Proteam members Anouk Vergé-Dépré and Joana Heidrich.  Afterwards, the club members got a "behind the scenes" tour and they could visit the media center with 70 journalists.  During the day, the G&P members watched the games from the VIP area.  Thanks to Fabien Perissinotto and to Christine Tanner for the photos.
• HR Giger Maxi auctioned.  On 10-MAY, a unique Maxiwatch by Swiss artist HR Giger has been auctioned for 32,000 CHF.   The Maxiwatch is one of six unique pieces made in 1991, based on a Swatch Maxi watch.  The Maxi watch was painted using airbrush technique, additionally, a new holograph dial was inserted.  This Maxiwatch was displayed in 1991 at Art Basel. Thanks to Christine Tanner for the hint.
  
• Rome Destination special.  A new Destination New Gent special Colosseo (SUOZ308, 80 EURO, Destination Special #57) is available in the city of Rome (Italy) since the beginning of June, also at the airport in Rome.  Update:  A second Rome Destination Gent special Vacanze Romane (GZ333, 70 EURO) has been released at the beginning of July, Destination Special #58.    Thanks to Thomas Chan for the photo and to Joachim Meyer for the update.
• Toronto Destination special.  A new Destination New Gent special 6IX6 (SUOB702CO, $110 CAD, Destination Special #59) is available in the city of Toronto (Canada) since 12-JUL.  It is a New Gent Black Rebel (SUOB702) with a special strap.  Thanks to Thomas Chan for the photos.
• One new IOC special.  has surfaced:  Irony Petite Seconde Dropping Seconds Olympia Logo (YPZ400). 

• Older swatch news. Click here to read older swatch news with more pictures and info. Check it out if you haven't!
• I am currently looking for:

• PunkXJob MAXI (MSUOZ280S) by Studio Job
• 1983 swatches mint only:  GG400, GT402, GB100 FHL, GG400 FHL, GN100 FHL, GN400 FHL
• "blister" plastic boxes for 1982/1983 swatches.
• original plastic boxes for Keith Haring (with correct price sticker) for:   Modele Avec Personnages (GZ100)
• all Fachhandellogo Swatches (on the face, not on the strap), mint or even worn out.
• Folders, brochures, documentation, advertisement material up to 1986.
• Prototypes, variants, hybrids, test models.
• and:  Kiki Picasso (poster piece) and Mimmo Paladino, ...

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