Recent Swatch info (Last updated: 20-OCT-2021)

• WANTED! Mimmo Paladino (#021/100). I am asking for your help:  The Mimmo Paladino Swatch (#021/100) has been stolen on its way from the UK to Germany.  Apparently, the package was opened during transport (with TNT Express) and the watch (incl. the metal box) was taken out of the parcel.  If this watch shows up somewhere or is being offered for sale:  Please inform me so that I can forward the info.....
• 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 Group Assembly special.  Swatch Group Assembly (previously «Groupe Habillage Haute Horlogerie (GHHH)») is the Swatch Group’s watch assembly company.  A special New Gent Swatch Group Assembly (SUON112E) is now available.  It is a Gent Clownfish Blue (SUON112) with the Swatch Group Assembly logo on the strap.
• Estonia NOC Tokyo 2020 Olympics special.  A special Estonia NOC Tokyo 2020 Olympics special has surfaced.  It is a Gent Tokyo 2020 Blue (GZ708) with the logo of the Estonia NOC embossed in the strap.  The packaging also has a sticker with the logo.
• Italy 1984 fashion workshops.  Do you want to participate at a Swatch 1984 Fashion Workshop in Rome (20-OCT), Torino (21-OCT) or Milano (22-OCT)?
• "Back To 1984" Swatch collection.  Swatch is hinting at a Back To 1984 collection to be released very soon.  On social media, Swatch is hinting at Grey Memphis, White Memphis, and Black Divers (although the "Swatch (C)" on the black clasp is not very 1984 like, this imprint was used much later...  in addition, the Swatch logo on the Black Divers (a New Gent I guess) is too small).  Update:  The Back To 1984 collection has been unveiled in Taiwan.  The collection consists for five individual Bioceramic watches:  1. New Gent Rouge & Noir (SO32B401, original from 1984: Chrono-Tech, GB403); 2. New Gent Gre Mem L (SO32M102, original from 1984: Grey Memphis, GM100);  3. New Gent Bla_Div (SO32B705, original from 1984: Black Divers, GB704); 4. Gent Yel_Race (SO31J400, original from 1984: Yellow Racer, GJ400); 5. Gent Whi_Mem M (SO31W106, original from 1984: White Memphis, LW102) and a 1984 Reloaded Special Set (SZS34, 160 EURO, 1200(??) pcs, not numbered, open box) with a New Gent Whi_Mem L (SO32W106) and a Gent Gre_Mem M (SO31M100, note the different sizes for the two watches only available in this special set!).  The five individual watches are packaged in a nice colorful 1984 paper sleeve.  Some nice 1984 merch available in Italy (for influencers only?).  Update:  In some countries, collector boxes for 3 watches are available (when a complete set is purchased), these were not easy to get in the past.
• Halloween specials.  Two special Big Bold Swatch watches are now available for Halloween:  1. Your Time Is Coming (SB01B128);  2. Run But You Can't Hide (SB01B129).  Very frightening glow-in-the-dark prints, great designs!  Thanks to Lauren Stefani for the hint.
• Las Vegas Destination special.  A new Las Vegas Destination special Only In Vegas! (Destination Special #77) will be launched on 21-OCT.  This is the third Las Vegas Destination special after What happens in Vegas... (SUOZ234) and Greetings From Las Vegas (SUOB716C), both released in 2016.
• Stolen Diaphane One #0265/2222.  Please check out this Instagram post:   Diaphane One #0265/2222 has disappeared while being transported with UPS.  If you see this number somewhere, please inform the Instagram user @watchmetwist.
• Swatch Club Event 10th Anniversary Swatch Art Peace Hotel exhibition.  After an 18 month break due to you know what, Swatch Club organized an international Club Event for the exhibition 10th Anniversary Swatch Art Peace Hotel (01 to 24-OCT-2021) at the MAXXI Museum in Rome, Italy (the Swatch Art Peace Hotel Shanghai celebrates its 10th anniversary in OCT-2021).  About 20 Club members participated at the event.  A SwatchXYou event special (consisting of three SwatchXYou watches, with special paper loop) was released, using the previously available SwatchXYou MAXXI canvas from DEC-2020.  It is limited to 31 pcs as noted on the back. Roberto Quadrini sent me a few photos and notes from the event. 
• Expo 2020 Dubai Opening Ceremony.  On 30-SEP, Expo 2020 Dubai will be opened.  You can watch the opening ceremony here.  Three Four new Swatch watches will be added to the Expo Dubai 2020 Swatch collection:  1. Big Bold Al Joud (SB03Z101, 207 GBP, limited to 500 pcs according to rumours);  2. Skin Irony Tafa'Ol (Optimism, SYXZ103G, 207 GBP, limited to 1000 pcs according to rumours);  3. Skin Irony 42 Al Tasamoh (Tolerance, SS07Z101G, 207 GBP, limited to 1500 pcs according to rumours);  4. New Gent Biosourced SwatchPAY! Al Azeema (Resolution, SO29Z102-5300, 83 GBP).  This collection will be available worldwide starting 01-OCT.  Update:  Three new Expo Dubai 2020 specials are now available in a special premium packaging.  Expo Dubai 2020 is now officially open to the general public. Thanks to Ed Chung for the photo.
• Propose your design for a SwatchXYou - now available.  Swatch is currently running a design contest where you can submit your proposal for a SwatchXYou design:  Swatch Calling: The World's Most Inclusive Art Project.  From each country participating at Expo Dubai 2020 (OCT-2021 to MAR-2022) [194 countries in total], one artwork will be selected and be available as a SwatchXYou.  Design competition ends on 08-AUG.  All chosen artists will receive a symbolic compensation of 351 CHF and seven watches made from their canvas. Update 30-SEP:  The first six (out of around 80) Swatch Calling SwatchXYou are now available:  1. Five France(s) (canvas) by Swatch Club Pioneer Member David Catel;  2. Ukraine Pop (canvas) by Dmytro Potapov;  3. Identitad (canvas) by Amelia Luissi (Uruguay);  4. Swatch Calling Switzerland (canvas);  5. Mami Con Diablicos (canvas) by Rolando De Sedas (Panama);  6. Swatch Calling Egypt (canvas).
• "Jelly Fish" reissues available by mistake.  Two Jelly Fish Swatch watches were now available again as Biosourced Swatch watches for a very short period of time (in Japan, Italian and US Swatch stores, anywhere else?):  1. Gent Jelly Fish Again (SO28K100);  2. New Gent Jelly Fish Revisited (SO29K100, already available in Japan).  Fun fact:  I cannot see a "(c) Swatch AG 1985" at the 12 o'clock position on the silver ring of the Jelly Fish...  Update:  It seems that Swatch shipped these Jelly Fish reissues by mistake to the stores.  Planned release date seems to be 22-JAN-2022.  Apparently, there was a mixup with New Gent Random Ghost Again (SO29K104).  So for now, these reissues are very rare!  This will change in a few months.  Update 2: The "(c) Swatch AG...." has now moved to the 6 o'clock position and is printed silver on silver (as it is done in the last years, invisible copyright info)... Thanks to Marcello Concialdi for the photo.
  
• Biosourced classic reissues.  Several "classic" bestsellers are now available again as Biosourced Swatch watches:  1. New Gent Random Ghost Again (SO29K104);  2. New Gent Black Lacquered Again (SO29B107).
• "Crossing Over Yellow And Black Lines" artist special.  Swatch Philippines is hinting at a New Gent Bioceramic "Crossing Over Yellow And Black Lines" / "Under Construction" artist special to be released on 23-SEP.  The watch is designed by Philippines artist Jose Santos III (#SwatchJoseSantos).  Update:  The New Gent Bioceramic special Crossing Over Yellow And Black Lines (SO32Z100, 3000 pcs, 7500 PHP, $150 US) has been unveiled by Swatch Philippines with a great video on Instagram.  The packaging represents a piece of tarmac, giving the impression of having been picked from a construction site.  The watch and packaging are not numbered.  The watch is inspired by the huge artwork Crossing over yellow and black stripes (2 panels 46 × 366 cm) from 2016. A giant maxi of Crossing Over Yellow And Black Lines by José Santos III can be seen outside of the Swatch HQ along Arnaiz Avenue, Makati City, Philippines.  The special is now available at the Philippines Swatch stores (with special working gloves as gift with purchase [are these available anywhere else?]).  It will be launched on 25-SEP in the USA and in October in Europe.  The packaging also includes additional information about the artist and the artwork.  Thanks to R.J.Valdez for the photos.
• San Francisco Destination special.  A new San Francisco New Gent Destination special Gates Of Love (SO29Z103, $95 US, Destination Special #76) has been launched on 23-SEP.  Here is a photo of the packaging.  Gates Of Love is available in the Swatch US Online store until 26-SEP.   Thanks to Ed Chung and to Roberta Kleiman for the information.
• Team USA 2020 Olympic Games special.  A special Swatch One Team One Dream (SUOZ716, $74.99 US, backside) is now available in the Team USA shop, right in time for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.  Update: A strap variant of this special was issued for the US Paralympics Team at the Tokyo 2020 Summer Paralympic Games:  One Team One Dream Paralympics (SUOZ716C, backside).  The difference is the inscription "2020 United States Paralympic Team" on the back of the strap and the US Paralympics Team on the frontside of the paper sleeve.  Thanks to Thomas Chan for the hint and to Tak Lun Lee for the photos.
• Oktoberfest SwatchXYou.  As in 2020, the traditional Oktoberfest in Munich is canceled in 2021 as well due to you know what :-(  Nevertheless, a special SwatchXYou Oktoberfest (canvas) is now available in the Swatch Germany Online store. 
• Supriya Lele Skin specials.  Supriya Lele is a British-Indian fashion designer.  She has now created five different very nice and colorful Biosourced Skin specials. Lovely!  The watches are packaged in a nice paper sleeve (matching design).  The Swatch X Supriya Lele collection is now available in the Swatch Online Store.  Update:  On 21-SEP, Supriya Lele signed her Swatch specials at the Carnaby Street Swatch store in London.  Thanks to R.J.Valdez for the photos.
• Swatch Popup Store Parco Shibuya.  From 17-SEP to 28-FEB-2022, a nice Swatch Popup store will be open at Parco Shibuya, Tokyo, Japan.  The store is supposed to look like a normal room in an apartment and it will be remodeled several times when new watches are added.
• Unique silver James Bond Swatch suitcase.  Today, I found something interesting: A silver James Bond suitcase from 2002 that you probably haven't seen before (the "normal" silver Bond suitcase is quite easily to find)! Much more rare than the expensive leather suitcase limited to 280 pcs.  This one is a unique piece with an even more unique story (sold for 10,710 GBP in 2020).  Check out all the details at the update in Wristory Auction 2001, Lot#14.
• Mexico Destination specials available online.  On 16-SEP, Mexico celebrates Mexican Independence Day. (Día de la Independencia, Grito de Dolores).  The two Mexico Destination specials are now available in the Swatch Online Store for a short period of time (until 17-SEP).
• Planet Swatch Museum Biel Swatch Club Virtual Tour.  Swatch Club has organized a virtual tour of the Planet Swatch Museum in Biel.  About 50 participants joined the zoom meeting.  You can find a few still photos from the video tour here.  After a short introduction by Carlo Giordanetti (CEO Swatch Art Peace Hotel Shanghai), Swatch archivist Philippe Marti took us around in the museum for about 45 minutes.  The highlight of the tour were the two original dial designs by Enki Bilal:  Too Many Memories (GZ217) and Into Each Other (GZ218S).  These designs were never shown to the public before.  Also interesting:  The original strap design for The Joe Tilson Venetian Watch (SUOZ312S) and a rare Our Swatch Quattro (see www.lot7.de :-).  See more photos from the tour in the photo album.  Some interesting info:  The Swatch Finder will be back (improved!) "soon" ["the team worked hard during the summer"] and Philippe's favourite Swatch is Sam Francis (same as my favourite). Thanks a lot to the team from Swatch Club for an enjoyable remote visit.
• Swatch store Treviso 10th anniversary special.  A special limited prefabricated SwatchXYou Naombraparmienaspumapalbocia (SUOK154-004) is now available at the De Wrachien online store in Italy.  The watch is limited to 550 pcs and it costs 105 EURO.  You can find more information about the watch and the artist Juls Crivellèr (in Italian) on Instagram.
  
• Big Bold Planet watchs.  The official Swatch website has a nice teaser for a "Blue Moon" related Big Bold Swatch.  The binary code on the website translates to "Hello world. -- First contact initiated. -- Stay tuned, we're coming soon".  Update:  The teaser graphic has changed slightly:  Now the dress of the astronauts shows some colors:  orange, purple, blue and green.  I guess that's an indication of the colors of the upcoming watches...  Spoiler:  Photos of the four watches have leaked on Instagram.  Update:  The four Big Bold Planet watches are now featured on the Swatch webpage.  Available online starting 07-SEP.  Each watch is available with an extra strap in a slightly different design, packaged in a nice special box.  A strap changing tool is also supplied with each Swatch.  Thanks to Laurent Stefani for the update, to Cristiano Ianna for the instagram photos and to R.J.Valdez for the photos.
• New Swatch book by Schmid / Muller.  A new Swatch book 1981 La Route De La Swatch et après... by Marlyse Schmid, Bernard Müller and Philippe J. Silaci is now available in Switzerland. Price is 39 CHF, the book has 164 pages.  Marlyse Schmid and Bernard Müller are the first designers of early Swatch watches, starting in 1981 (without these two:  No Swatch as we know it today).  You can find more information about Marlyse Schmid and Bernard Müller here (info about the Sotheby's auction in Geneva in 2015).
• Frankfotter Grie Soß SwatchXYou.  "Frankfotter Grie Soß" (Frankfurter Grüne Soße, Frankfurt Green Sauce) is a local food speciality in Frankfurt, Germany.  Not my favourite dish but many locals seem to enjoy it.  A special SwatchXYou Grüne Soße (canvas) is now available in the German Swatch Online store.
• Vienna Major Beachvolley 2021 special.  The Vienna Major Beachvolley 2021 (A1 CEV Beach Volleyball European Championships) take place from 11 to 15-AUG on Heumarkt in the centre of Vienna, Austria.  A special SwatchPAY! Vienna Major Beachvolley 2021 (SVIZ102D-5300, 95 EURO) is now available in the Swatch Austria Online store.  Update:  Swatch Proteam members Tanja Hüberli and Nina Betschart have won the Beach Volleyball European Championships in Vienna.  Swatch Switzerland celebrates the victory with a special SwatchXYou Campionesse (canvas), a slight variation of the Vienna/Gstaad SwatchXYou. Thanks to Joachim Meyer for the hint.
• Quiggly Swatch.  The Swatch Finder lists a 1984 Lady watch called Quiggly (LR104, screenshot).  I have always known this watch as "Squiggly" (see eg. Swatchissimo who is always correct :-).  Interesting name change....  Update: There is also a Scuba Swatch from 1994 with the same name:  Squiggly (SDB104, screenshot). Thanks to Ed Chung for the update.
• Fratello buying guide.  Fratello watches has a nice report: Buying Guide: The Best Swatch Watches From The 1980s.  Great report, nice photos!
• Swatch, Biles, Bach, Tokyo.  Thomas Bach (president of the International Olympic Committee) has given a special(?) Swatch watch (which one??) to the American artistic gymnast Simone Biles. (read all about the special story of her participation at the Toyko 2020 Summer Olympics).  Update:  Was it this Gent Tokyo "Limited Edition 2020" Blue (GZ708C)?  Note the special loop "Limited Edition 2020"!  The white sleeve is also different from the regular packaging of the Gent Tokyo 2020 Blue (GZ708).
• Singapore National Day SwatchXYou. A special I Love SG (canvas) is available in the Swatch Online store for the National Day of Singapore (celebrated every year on 09-AUG). Additionally, the destination special Singapore Tale (SUOZ296) is available in the Swatch Online Store until 10-AUG.  Update:  This report from Singapore features the most significant timepieces in Singapore’s history, including a few Swatch watches.  Update 2:  The special SwatchXYou canvas has been designed by @kaileethedoodler. Thanks to Ed Chung for the information.
• Swatch Ballon in Switzerland.  The well known Swatch Balloon (code HB-BHC, featuring the 80s Gent Nine To Six and the Lady watch Neo Quad) has just successfully passed the technical certifications in Switzerland and is ready for liftoff again!
• Malaysia National Day SwatchXYou.  Malaysia National Day (Hari Merdeka) is celebrated on 31-AUG.  A special SwatchXYou Swatch Celebrates Malaysia (canvas) is now available in the Swatch Malaysia Online store.  Update: A special bag with the same design is also available as a gift with purchase (Malaysia only).  Update 2:  The special SwatchXYou has been reworked so that the canvas looks better:  Malaysia 3 (canvas).  The canvas is designed by Malaysia Graffiti artist Kenji Chai.  Thanks to Hauru Koh for the information and photo.
• Istanbul Destination special.  A new Istanbul Destination New Gent special A City of a Hundred Names (SUOZ719, Destination Special #75) is available since 14-JUL in all Swatch stores in Turkey.  The watch is packaged in the new "eco-style" packaging. Price is 835,00 TL (approx. 83 EURO).  The watch was quietly announced on Twitter on 14-JUL.  Here is a promotional photo of the actual watch and here is a small promotional video. Thanks to Brandon Wong for the hint.
  
• Big Bold Chrono SwatchPAY!  A new product line Big Bold Chrono SwatchPAY! (47mm) is now available in the Swatch Online Store.  The initial collection consists of two watches (155 CHF each):  1. Orangepayspay! (SB02N100-5300);  2. Greenpayspay! (SB02B100-5300).
• Tokyo Olympics Volunteer / NOC specials.  For the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games in July/August (2021!), the Gent Kasane Blue (GZ336) is distributed to volunteers, with a special paper sleeve.  Additionally, the watch is also used as NOC special, issued with different straps for individual countries:  1. NOC Toyko 2020 Germany (GZ336CI);  2. NOC Toyko 2020 Philippines (GZ336CC, loop).  The watch is packaged in an unusual paper sleeve.  Additional ref.codes of NOC Tokyo specials are: 336CD, 336CE, 336CF, 336CJ, 336CK, 336CN, 336CO.  If you have photos / ref.codes of other NOC Tokyo specials / the volunteer special, please let me know.  Update:  During the closing ceremony of the Olympic Games, the Volunteer Swatch was clearly visible on stage :-)  Thanks to Daniel Licata and to R.J.Valdez for the photos and to Alain Choisy for the information.
• Edinburgh Fringe Festival SwatchXYou special.  The Edinburgh Festival Fringe (the world's largest arts festival) is celebrated from 06 to 30-AUG.  It was started in 1947, so this is the 74th anniversary of the festival in 2021.  A special limited pre-fabricated SwatchXYou Edinburgh Fringe Festival (SUOK137-005, 83 GBP [cheap for a SwatchXYou!]) is now available in a limited edition of 74 pcs in the Swatch Priences Street store in Edinburgh. Thanks to Neel Bhatt for the information and photo.
• Guggenheim Museum NYE Swatch Club interactive visit.  On 05-AUG, Swatch Club invited to a virtual interactive visit of the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum in New York City. 
• Locarno Filmfestival SwatchXYou.  For the Swiss Locarno Filmfestival 2021 (04 to 14-AUG), Swatch has released a special SwatchXYou Locarno (canvas) in the Swiss Online Store.  In previous year, Swatch has released special watches / special packagings.  Update:  A special "preprinted" 74th Locarno Film Festival SwatchXYou (SUOK145-002, with 'fixed' print, 100 CHF) is available in the Swatch stores in Ticino canton, Switzerland.  The print on this watch is not available in the Swiss Locarno SwatchXYou special.
  
• Chinese Valentine's special.  For the upcoming Chinese Valentine's Day (15-AUG, Qixi Festival), Swatch has released two special watches: 1. New Gent Bioceramic Cloud Sea (SO32Z105, 800 CNY);  2. Gent Bioceramic Sweetheard Bird (SO31Z102, 720 CNY).  The watches are available in separate boxes but also in a special packaging The Perfect Match (SZS33, 1490 CNY, limited(?) to 420(?) pcs in China, shop display). Here is a photo of the opened boxset.  Update:  Meanwhile, the watches are available in the Swatch Online store worldwide.  Thanks to Ed Chung for the photos.
• Swiss Destination specials available online.  On 01-AUG, Switzerland celebrates Swiss National Day.  10 different Swiss Destination specials are available in the Swatch Online Store until 02-AUG.  Additionally, one special SwatchXYou watch is available online in the Swiss Online Store:  August 1st (canvas).
• Lime Big Bold.  A very strange Lime Big Bold called C-Lime (SB03J100) has appeared in the Swatch Online Store.  Looks VERY "bio-sourced".  Available online (only!) starting 22-JUL.  Update:  Here is a photo of the actual watch.  Looks different compared to the preview... Update 2: It is rumoured that the watch was originally supposed to be a yellow watch released with the first series but they had problems with mixing the yellow colour with the plastic and getting it to "stick". They changed the shade slightly to make it work and released it as an online only limited edition of 2000.  The online release takes place in "waves" and the online store often shows how many watches are still available in a certain country (eg. 43 pieces left for the UK).  This allows some interesting calculations for the different countries in the Swatch store...  Later, the number of remaining watches was no longer visibile in the Swatch store.  Innovative marketing :-)     Thanks to Ed Chung for the photo.
• Peggy Guggenheim Collection virtual tour.  On 22-JUL, Swatch Club invited to a virtual tour of the Peggy Guggenheim Collection in Venice, Italy.  The tour lasted for about 45 minutes and it really was the next best thing instead of being there in person.  Very informative and very well done, thank you Swatch Club.  Here are a few photos from the virtual tour.
• Brussels Destination special / Belgian National Day SwatchXYou special.  On 21-JUL, Belgium celebrates Belgian National Day.  The Brussels Destination Watch (Ketje From Brussels, SUOZ712) is available in the Swatch Online Store until 22-JUL.  Additionally, one special SwatchXYou watch is available online:  Swatch Celebrates Belgium (canvas).
• Tokyo 2020 Olympics SwatchXYou specials.  Two Tokyo 2020 Olympics SwatchXYou specials are now available in the Swatch Online Store:  1. Olympics Tokyo Picto (canvas);  2. Olympics Tokyo Street (canvas).
• New Geometrics SwatchXYou specials.  Three new Geometrics SwatchXYou specials are now available in the Swatch Online Store:  1. Fireworks (canvas);  2. Gradient (canvas); 3. Thin Lines (canvas).
• New Street Art SwatchXYou specials.  Three new Street Art SwatchXYou specials are now available in the Swatch Online Store:  1. Mouth (canvas);  2. Monster Dolls (canvas); 3. Crazy Eyes (canvas).
• Swatch Canada Day specials.  Canada Day is celebrated on 01-JUL (154 years ago, four colonies joined together as the Dominion of Canada).  To celebrate Canada Day, three special Canada Destination watches are available in the Swatch Canada Online store (until 02-JUL):  1. a prefabriated SwatchXYou Swatch Celebrates Canada (SUOK145-001, $130 CAD);  2. a brand new Destination special (#74) L'Expérience Montréal (SO29Z100, $120 CAD, the first "Bioreloaded" New Gent  Destination special);  3. the well known Toronto Destination special (#59) 6IX6 (SUOB702CO, $120 CAD).  Update:  Additionally, a SwatchXYou Swatch Celebrates Canada OK (canvas) is available worldwide. It is not possible to create the exact same watch as the prefabricated SwatchXYou Swatch Celebrates Canada (SUOK145-001) above, the design is slightly different.  Update 2: The packaging of the new Destination special L'Expérience Montréal is made of recycled paper which is a first.  Thanks to Thomas Chan for the information.
• New Covent Garden Swatch store.  A new Swatch store has opened at Covent Garden in London, UK.  Update:  A special limited SwatchXYou Covent Garden (SUOK137-004, 104 GBP) is available exclusively at the new store (instore only). Update 2: The special SwatchXYou is (was?) limited to 193 pcs (instagram announcement). Update 3:  Here is a nice video from inside of the Swatch store...
• Talking Swatch.  On 13-JUL, the Dutch watchmaker Kalle Slaap from Chronoglide Vintage Watch repair hosted a Very special Swatch live stream.  Two well known Swatch experts (Swatch Club Pioneer member Hans van Buuren and "Dr. Swatch" Jeroen Kieven) from the Netherlands talked Swatch for about 85 minutes, presenting one of the earliest Swatch Gent watches (manufactured in August 1982!), the ultra rare Puff collection, Diaphane One, and many more....  Lots and lots of nice stories for Swatch Enthousiasts (and Swatch Beginners), professionally presented with several cameras, a microscope (have you ever seen the ETA logo and the glued mainspring inside a SISTEM51?) and more...
• French Destination special / Bastille Day SwatchXYou special.  On 14-JUL, France celebrates Bastille Day (Fête nationale).  One French Destination Watch (Bisous De Paris, SUOZ233) is available in the French Swatch Online Store until 15-JUL.  Additionally, two special SwatchXYou watches are available online (France only so far):  1. France Regions (canvas);  2. Monumental (canvas).  Update:  Several Club members in France received a nice gift box for Bastille Day.  Nice!
• Italia Campioni SwatchXYou.  Italia is the (well deserved) winner of the UEFA Euro 2020 soccer tournament which finished on 11-JUL.  A special SwatchXYou Italia Campioni (canvas) is now available in the Swatch Online Store (including the United Kingdom :-)
• New 5th Avenue Swatch pop-up store.  A new Swatch store has opened at 711 Fifth Avenue, New York City, USA.  Update:  Roberta sends the following update:  "I just came back from the NYC store at 711 Fifth Ave.  I asked the salesperson why there were such few watches (relatively) in the store and she said they were just a pop-up location expected to be open through December."  Thanks to Roberta for the information.
• Gstaad Beach Volleyball special.s  The Swatch FIVB Beach Volleyball Major Gstaad 2021 takes place from 06 to 11-JUL in Gstaad, Switzerland.  A special SwatchPAY! Cheer It Up (SVIZ102C-5300, 100 CHF) has been released, this is the current 'Club' watch (My Time, SVIZ102-5300) with a special strap.  The watch is available onsite in the swatch booth.  Additionally, a SwatchXYou Gstaad Vienna (canvas) is available in the Swatch Online Store.   Here is a special page on the Swatch website, incl. livestream of the tournament.  Update:  On 10-JUL, a group of about 20 Swiss Swatch Club members was invited as VIPs to the Beach Volleyball Major in Gstaad.  Thanks to Christine Tanner and to Joachim Meyer for the information and photos.
• Tappei Japanese SwatchXYou special.  As a continuation of the celebration of the Swatch Harajuku store opening, a special SwatchXYou Time Tappei (canvas) is available in the Japanese Swatch Online store.  The special is designed by the local artist Tappei.  Here is a photo of a finished Time Tappei special.
  
• USA Destination specials / Independence Day SwatchXYou special.  On 04-JUL, the United States of America celebrate Independence Day.  Five USA-themed Destination Watches are available in the Swatch Online Store until 05-JUL.  Additionally, a special SwatchXYou Swatch Celebrates USA (canvas) is available online.
• Two additional Expo 2020 Dubai specials.  Two additional Expo 2020 Dubai specials (#4 and #5) are now available in the UAE:  1. A "Bio-source" Gent Hekmah (SO28Z101, "Wisdom");  2. A New Gent Al Wasl (SUOZ329, "Connection").
• ROBO Swatch ad from the 80s.  A funny late 80s "ROBO Swatch" POP Swatch ad (from the UK [elsewhere too?]).  Rarely seen before, probably from 1988/89 (looking at the POP straps in the background)...
• Portuguese Gelado Santini special.  A Gelado Santini special is now available in Portugal.  Santini fabricates handmade ice cream.  The watch is a New Gent Sweet Valentine (SUOZ168, 2014 Valentine's special) with a special Santini loop around the strap, in a special gift packaging.  The watch costs 60 EURO and it is available in Portuguese Swatch stores and in Gelado Santini stores.  A Gelado Santini Maxi has been made as well, not sure if it is available for sale.
• Swatch in Watch Around magazine.  Here is a recent interview (in German) with Carlo Giordanetti (CEO Swatch Art Peace Hotel Shanghai) in the Swiss Watch Around magazine.  Quite interesting!
• Hopp Swiss SwatchXYou special.  Switzerland has reached the quarter-finals of the UEFA Euro 2020 soccer tournament (in contrast to Germany :-(  As this is a first for Switzerland in many years, Swatch has published a special SwatchXYou Hopp Swiss (canvas).  "Hopp Schwiiz" ("Hopp Swiss") is the traditional cheering for the Swiss soccer team.
• Swatch NASA Space collection.  Swatch takes Bioceramic into orbit with a new NASA Space Collection.  The five Swatch watches will be launched on 03-JUN (in some countries on 05-JUN).  More photos here.  The collection consists of:  1. Big Bold Bioceramic Chrono Extravehicular (SB04Z400, 19800 JPY, 155 EURO);  2. Big Bold Bioceramic Chrono Launch (SB04Z401, 19800 JPY, 160 EURO) [no date window on dial => wrong ref code?];  3. Big Bold Bioceramic Jumpsuit (SB03Z100, 15400 JPY, 125 EURO);  4. Gent Take Me to The Moon (GZ355, 10450 JPY, 80 EURO);  5. New Gent Space Race (SUOZ339, 12100 JPY, 90 EUR).   The Big Bold watches take their inspiration from the various uniforms worn by the astronauts.  Additionally, there will also be a limited special packaging (SZS32, 800 pcs, unnumbered, 950 EURO) with all five Swatch watches (plus one additional Flik Flak NASA special watch), price seems to be 8000 RMB (~1025 EURO)!  It is rumoured that distribution of the sets is as follows:  USA 200 pcs, China 80 pcs, Switzerland 60 pcs, UK 33 pcs, Hong Kong 15 pcs, Canada 12, Thailand 8, Singapore 8, Taiwan 8, Australia 6, Malaysia 5 (available online), ...  Update:  Some nice teasers by Swatch on Instagram and via email to club members and the Swatch webpage is also already prepared...  Update 2: Nice promotion with "real" astronauts in London.  Update 3: After some complaints by Swatch collectors and (probably) many(?) unsold special sets, it is now planned to hand out a certificate of authentication as proof of 1 of 800 signed by the Creative Director & Head of Global Marketing within the Switzerland Corp office.  Update 4:  Street advertisement in Switzerland.  Update 5: The first Swatch collectors have received the certificate of authenticity for the NASA special set, signed by Carlo Giordanetti (CEO Swatch Art Peace Hotel Shanghai) and Bernado Tribolet (VP Marketing Swatch).   Update 6: Meanwhile, the limited Swatch Space Collection Exclusive Set  (SZS32) is available online, it seems that it did not sell out in the Swatch stores.  Thanks to Tak Lun Lee and to Ines Brem for the photos and to Thomas Chan for the hint.
• New Harajuku Swatch store.  On 17-JUN, a new Swatch store will open in the Harajuku area in Tokyo (Japan), right in time for the Olympic Games in Tokyo.  Several DJs will play live music during the day.  To celebrate the opening, Swatch Store Harajuku will hold weekly live performances by various artists in the future as well.  Update:  Here are some preopening photos.  Update 2: A special SwatchXYou designed by Tappei is available exclusively instore at the new Harajuku Swatch store.  On 25-JUN, Tappei held a live painting session at the store, painting white Swatch maxis as a canvas.  The five Maxi watches, painted live, will be given away to five lucky winners.
  
• Debbie Burghardt-Platt Swatch stories.  Debbie Burghardt-Platt worked for Swatch from 1986 (SMH back then) to 2009.  At the time, she was director of special Swatch events for the US.  In 2021, she started to post stories and photos from the 80s, 90s and 00s to the SWATCH ENTHUSIASTIC GROUP WORLDWIDE Facebook group.  With her permission and in order to preserve them, I republish and share these stories and photos here.
• Destination watches eco packaging.  Meanwhile, the first Destination watches are available in the new "eco" packaging.  No more paper sleeve but a paper box that can be opened at the top.
• Russia National Day SwatchXYou.  For the Russia National Day (День России) on 12-JUN, two special SwatchXYou are available: 1. Swatch Celebrates Russia St. Petersburg (canvas);  2. Moscow (canvas).  The current " Swatch Celebrates Russia St. Petersburg" canvas is very similar to the Swatch Takes Me Places St. Petersburg canvas from 2020.  Additionally, the two Russia Destination special are available online until 14-JUN: 1. Evening Ring (SUOZ262, Moscow);  2. Peter 1st (SUOZ263, St. Peterburg). Thanks to Daniel for the hint.
• Portuguese National Day SwatchXYou.  For the Portuguese National Day (Dia de Camões) on 10-JUN, a special SwatchXYou Swatch Celebrates Portugal (canvas) is now available.  Additionally, the Swatch Porto (SUOZ315) Destination special is available online until 11-JUN.
• Pride month SwatchXYou.  US President Joe Biden declared June LGBTQ+ Pride Month in 2021.  Four different SwatchXYou Pride watches are now available in the Swatch Online Store:  1. Pride Heart (canvas);  2. Pride Square (canvas);  3. Pride Sticker (canvas);  4. Pride World OK (canvas).  Additionally, two Swatch Pride themed watches are available in the Swatch Online Store.  A third Big Bold Let's Parade (SO27E107) can still be found on the Swatch website but it is not for sale at the moment (manufacturing delays?).  Therefore, this watch is not shown in the overview page of Pride themed watches.  Thanks to Andrea Marco Faggioli for the hint.

• 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:

• Kiki Picasso (poster piece)
• Kiki Picasso poster (original only)
• Mimmo Paladino
• Helmut Newton Fingernails
• Prototypes, variants, hybrids, test models
• 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)
• Folders, brochures, documentation, advertisement material 1982-86.

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