Recent Swatch info (Last updated: 14-APR-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..... This watch has been STOLEN!  Back to the regular news service:
• Swatch X MoMA.  US Swatch stores are sending a teaser email promoting an upcoming Swatch X MoMA collection (launch on 04-MAR).  This report from France and Hypebeast has the details and photos:  Swatch unveils a special series of six models inspired by paintings belonging to the famous Museum of Modern Art in New York:  1. Gent Composition in Oval with Color Planes 1 (GZ350) inspired by Composition in Oval with Color Planes 1  (1914) by Piet Mondrian;  2. New Gent The Starry Night by Vincent Van Gogh (SUOZ335) inspired by The Starry Night (1889) by Vincent Van Gogh;  3. Gent Hope II by Gustav Klimt The Watch (GZ349) inspired by The Hope II (1908) by Gustav Klimt;  4. New Gent The City and Design The Wonders of Life (SUOZ334) inspired by The City and Design, The Wonders of Life on Earth, Isamu Kurita (1966) by Tadanori Yokoo (previously in 1988, he designed the legendary Rorrim 5 (GZ107) Swatch art special);  5. New Gent The Dream by Henri Rousseau The Watch (SUOZ333) inspired by The Dream (1910) by Henri Rousseau;  6. Gent New York Tadanori Yokoo The Watch (GZ351) inspired by New York (1968) by Tadanori Yokoo.  The watches can be purchased separately or together as part of a complete collector’s edition, limited to just 221 pieces, in a box (650 EURO) inspired by the Blade Stair, a prominent architectural feature of the museum.  Additionally, three artworks by artist Beatriz Milhazes will be available as SwatchXYou specials:  1. Succulent Eggplants (1996);  2. The Mirror (2000);  3. Meu Bem (2008).  Update:  The Swatch X Moma teaser can now also be found on the Swatch homepage.  Update 2: Ed Chung has posted a nice overview of the Swatch collaborations with international museums since 2018:  JUL-2018: Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam;  OCT-2018: Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum, Madrid;  OCT-2019:  Louvre, Paris;  MAR-2021:  MoMA, New York.  Update 3: In 2017 (during Baselworld), Patek Philippe released a very rare (less than 10 pcs) and surely very expensive The Dream watch with enamel dial, very similar to the current New Gent The Dream.  Read all about it here.  Update 3: Ed Chung just discovered that a very similar Swatch like The Dream (SUOZ333) has been released 27 years ago in 1994:  The Lady Seerose (LG110).  To me it looks as if this Lady Swatch has been inspired by The Dream....  It is funny that nobody noticed until now, it seems as if the Lady Seerose Swatch is one of those "totally off the radar" Swatch watches.  It is quite rare (try to find one!).  I guess that the demand for this Lady Swatch will increase soon...   Thanks to Carlos Zanotelli and to Ed Chung for the hint.
• Thailand New Year SwatchXYou Songkran special.  A special Songkran Thailand New Year SwatchXYou special (canvas) is now available in the Thailand Swatch Online Store.  Update:  In addition, the Bangkok Destination special Tuk-Tuk Sam-Lor (SUOZ284) is now available at the Swatch Online store until 15-APR.
  
• NFT Swatch auction.  WISeKey (a leading global cybersecurity, AI, Blockchain and IoT company from Switzerland) plans to launch the NFT auction of the original SWATCH created for the 1992 Rio Earth Summit (an Automatic Time To Move (SAK102)) on Earth Day, 22-APR. According to the description, the watch in the auction is the first-off-the-line watch, designed by Maurice Strong (a climate activist and sustainable development pioneer) under the theme “It’s in our Hands”.  This watch was given to his widow Hanne Strong, by the wife of the founder of Swatch Nicolas Hayek sr.  I don't really get the NFT hype (I am probably too old for this and I prefer physical objects) but maybe this is of interest to some of the readers here :-)  Thanks to Dino for the hint.
  
• SwatchXYou at Macau.  Macau's first SwatchXYou Pop-Up store has opened its doors at Macau Galaxy Fashion Place Shopping Center (until 06-MAR).  Six different local Macau artists have created special SwatchXYou canvases which are only available at the SwatchXYou Pop-Up store.  One of the designs is by Designer & Illustrator Kay Tung:  Only you in my eyes (眼中只有你).  Update:  Here is a nice online report (google translate) showing the different SwatchXYou designs and the artists who created these designs:  1. Time Creator by Kun Lam;  2. Only You in My Eyes by Kay Tung;  3. Walk through Macau by Vitorino Vong;  4. Stars Journey by Tramy Lui;   5. Smiling Star Generator by Mcz_Thomas;  6. Hourglass No. 5 by PIBG 2038.  Update 2: Starting 08-APR, the previous six Macau Calling! SwatchXYou are now available worldwide in the Swatch Online Store.  Additionaly, six new
  SwatchXYou canvases have been designed by the Macau artists (so 12 watches in total):  7. 0730am (canvas) by Kun Lam;  8. Sleep Day (canvas) by Kay Tung;  9. Energy (canvas) by Vitorino Vong;  10. Puzzle (canvas) by Tramy Lui;  11. Happy Rain (canvas) by Mcz_Thomas;  12. DNA (canvas) by PIBG 2038.  Thanks to Joachim Meyer for the hint.
  
• Swatch (Club) Art Night events.  In several countries (Germany, Switzerland), Swatch Club is organizing an Art Night event:  Swatch X MoMA Live Stream Artnight.  A great idea to get creative in these strange times.  In Germany, a digital Art Night open to the general public will take place on 12-APR (the one for the Club is earlier).  Here are some of the results of the Art Night organized by Swatch Club Germany.  Lovely!
• Swatch Big Bold Bioceramic.  "Nick, if you are talking from this ... you will not be able to come to Swatch back again".  Despite strong warnings from Swatch:  Swatch Group CEO Nick Hayek unveiled a new Swatch product line during the annual Swatch Group Media Conference 2021 (unfortunately only online again): Big Bold Bioceramic is made from ceramic and biological material (probably similar to the Bioreloaded Swatch watches).  The new product line (pastel colours) will be launched in early April during a Swatch press conference.  Nick Hayek talks about the new Swatch near the end of the press conference (at the 1:36:30 mark).  Update:  A nice "WIP" box has been sent to 200 VIPs / bloggers / influencers (such as Thierry Tek, Co-founder and Managing Director of Visionarism), it contains a Bioceramic Big Bold (very likely a unique model that will NOT be available in the shops!) and a card ("we honour your time").  WatchTime India has videos and photos of Swatch Bioceramic.  It was launched on 06-APR in an online press conference with Carlo Giordanetti and Bernado Tribolet. The new releases are available in five colours (47 mm, starting 15-APR):  1. C-Pink (SB03P100);  2. C-Gray (SB03M100);  3. C-Blue (SB03N100);  4. C-Black (SB03B100);  5. C-White (SB03W100).  The watch will cost 130 CHF.   Update 2: Here and here are more details and pictures about Swatch Next.  Update 3: A special Bioceramic page can now be found on the Swatch website, including the 20 minutes online press conference video with Carlo and Bernado.  Update 4: An exclusive presale of the Bioceramic watches will take place in the stores in Switzerland on 10-APR.  Update 5:  Additionally, Swatch has created the term Swatch Next (and #swatchnext): The new generation of Swatch materials (Bioceramics is the second addition and Bioreloaded from SEP-2020 is the first one).  Update 5:  The Swatch Harajuku store in Tokyo has a very special presentation of the new Bioceramic Swatch watches.   Thanks to @revolution.watch for the photo and to Ines Brem for the information.
  
• Ethereum co-founder wears a Swatch.  The co-founder of Ethereum crypto currency (Vitalik Buterin) has been spotted wearing a Swatch New Gent Cat Me Up (SUOW125).  Thanks to Doug Murphy for the hint.
• Eleutheria SwatchXYou special.  Hopefully no April Fools' Day joke:  Swatch has gifted a unique and limited SwatchXYou special Eleutheria to European Leaders on the anniversary of 200 years from the Greek War of Independence.  Here is a photo of Prince Charles and Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis with the special Swatch.
• Apple loses against Swatch.  Apple Loses Bid To Stop Swatch Using Jobs's 'One More Thing' Cue:  Swatch's attempt to register the phrase 'One More Thing' might have been an attempt to "annoy" Apple, Judge Iain Purvis said in his ruling, but Apple can't block it from doing so. Purvis said in his ruling that the phrase probably originated with the fictional TV detective Columbo....  Swatch and Apple are having some "conflicts" regarding the trademarks "iSwatch" and "Tick Different".
• "Annual Event" SwatchXYou.  An "Annual Event" related SwatchXYou special Easter (canvas) is now available in the Swatch Online Store. Thanks to Tak Lun Lee for the hint.
• Berner Fachhochschule special.  In 2009, the Berner Fachhochschule (Bern University of Applied Science) released a special Swatch bfh.ch (SUMK104E).  It is a Jelly in Jelly Access Schneespur (SUMK104) with a special strap and a "bfh.ch" loop around the strap.
  
• Greek Destination special / Greece SwatchXYou.  In order to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the Greek War of Independence, several Greece related Swatch specials are now available online:  1. The Greece Destination special It's All Greek To Me (GW408C, until 26-MAR, 75 EURO);  2. SwatchXYou Greece Traditional (canvas);  3. SwatchXYou Greece Liberty (canvas).  Thanks to Ines Brem for the hint.
• Less limited / numbered Swatch specials.  During the annual Swatch Group Media Conference 2021, Swatch Group CEO Nick Hayek explicitly talks about his dislike of limited and numbered (S)watch specials (except for artist specials).  This may be the reason why we see less and less numbered Swatch specials :-(  Nick Hayek talks about this (in German) at the 1:32:50 mark.
• Swatch Smart Watch.  During the annual Swatch Group Media Conference 2021, Swatch Group CEO Nick Hayek talked about the development of a "more simple, more Swatchy" version of the Tissot T-Touch Connect Solar for the Swatch brand.  Will we finally see a (real) Swatch Smart Watch?  Nick Hayek talks about this at the 1:23:20 mark.
• Ireland Destination specials available online.  To celebrate St. Patrick’s Day (17-MAR), the three Ireland Destination specials are available online until 18-MAR (at least in Germany).
• ETA Apprenticeship special.  Swiss movement manufacturer ETA develops and produces calibres for the watch industry (ETA is part of Swatch Group).  A new special Chrono Plastic ETA Apprenticeship special has surfaced, it has two special loops "Lehrstellen / www.eta.ch" (front) and  "www.eta.ch / Apprentissages" (= Apprenticeship).  It is a Chrono Plastic Urban Jungle (SUSB403) from 2014 with a special strap.
• Canada Snowboard special.  A new Canada Snowboard special New Gent CS x Swatch Watch - Downhill Sideways (SUOB719D, $115.00 CAD) is now available for sale.  It is a New Gent The Indexter (SUOB719) from 2016 with a special strap and a nice paper sleeve.  Thanks to Thomas Chan for the photos.
• Mother's Day specials 2021.  Two different Mother's Day specials are available in 2021, both in a nice special packaging with a colorful funny stencil:  1. a blue Gent Love From A To Z (GZ354) in a book like packaging (open box with stencil);  2. a pink Gent Love With All The Alphabet (GZ353) in a book like packaging (open box with stencil).  Price is 90 CHF / TWD2850.
  
• International Women's Day SwatchXYou.  For the International Women's Day (08-MAR), a special SwatchXYou (canvas) is now available in the Swatch Online Store.
  
• SwatchXYou MoMA specials.  The three SwatchXYou MoMA specials by artist Beatriz Milhazes are now available:  1. Succulent Eggplants (1996):  watch (canvas);  2. The Mirror (2000):  watch (canvas);  3. Meu Bem (2008):  watch (canvas). It seems that the SwatchXYou MoMA specials have two special loops and they are packaged in a special paper sleve.
• Swatch stories at Hodinkee.  Hodinkee is an almost 10 year old online magazine featuring in-depth reviews, critiques, and reports on watches of a particularly high quality.  It has a huge number of followers, so it is a very important part of the watch collectors community.  Now Hodinkee has published a few reports about watches from the 80s during an "80s week" and Swatch was notably missing from their first report about the "10 favorite watches from the 80s".  Surprising but don't be disappointed:  Hodinkee has now published two more stories featuring Swatch watches:  1. The Art Of Swatch and 2. G-Shock And Swatch: The Two Most '80s Watches...    Great info, great photos (but not so much new information).  But it is always great to see Swatch watches reaching a wider audience.
• Commerzbank and Swatch.  #ThrowbackThursday (Commerzbank) :-)  Thanks to Markus Muth for the hint.
• Club Swatch 2021.  In 2021, a lot of things will change with Swatch Club.  Rumours about changing the "Gold" and "Pioneer" membership level to a new structure (including "Time Master"?) and many other changes.  It is not yet clear how to earn and how to retain the new membership levels.  A new Club watch will also be released, it will be a tribute to the first Club special Golden Jelly (GZ115) from 1990.  For 2021, it is a Swatch PAY! called My Time (SVIZ102-5300), packaged in a nice golden paper sleeve as shown on this Taiwanese shopping site and on a Facebook Swatch collector group.  It will be possible to customize My Time with several different straps (golden silicone, golden flex, transparent, ...).  My Time will be available starting 15-FEB.  The big change regarding club membership in 2021 will be:  It is not necessary to buy the My Time Swatch to extend your club membership, you can buy any other Swatch watch instead.  Exact details will be revealed on 15-FEB.  Update 17-FEB:  No much info about the changes so far besides this "30+1 anniversary" Instagram post by @swatch (not @swatchclub!). Update 2:  The old Club webpage is now offline, more details about the new Club will be revealed soon ("Celebrating 30+1")...
• Swatch at Basler Fasnacht 1992.  Carlos Zanotelli sent me the following great photos of Swatch Crash-Waggis at Basler Fasnacht 1992.  Check it out!
• Nations of Australia SwatchXYou artist special.  A special artist SwatchXYou special Nations Of Australia (canvas) is now available in the Australia Swatch Online Store.  The canvas has been designed by Aboriginal artist Jodie Freeman. Jodie's artwork combines her Aboriginal heritage with her spiritual beliefs.  In the canvas, the dots inside the outline of Australia represent the different communities living in Australia; the dots around the outside represent ancestors around us who protect and unite us all. Thanks to Joachim Meyer for the hint.
  
• Record prices for Swatch Maxis.  The Maxi Eclectic Mickey (MSUOZ336) and the Maxi Spot Mickey (MGZ323) are not the only really expensive Maxis.  Recently, a Maxi Les Aventures de Tintin (MGM165) was auctioned for 3000 EURO!  Ouch.
• Gold & Pioneer 2020 special.  The traditional Gold & Pioneer event never happened in 2020 due to .... well you surely know it.  But the Gold & Pioneer special 2020 (GZS73) was given away as a prize in FEB-2021 as a limited and numbered edition (xxx/200) to winners of a Black & White design contest.  Swatch Club Gold and Pioneer members were invited to participate at this contest in NOV-2020.  The special for the 25th anniversary of the Gold & Pioneer Club membership consists of two Gent watches (one black, one white), with nicely embossed metallic dials ("G& 20" in gold in the black watch and "&P 20" in silver in the white watch).  The special is packaged in a nice silver / golden special packaging protected in a black numbered paper sleeve.  As Swatch Club and the Club membership levels will face some significant changes in 2021 (details will be published very soon), this may very well be the 25th(?) and last Gold & Pioneer special Swatch. Thanks to Hans van Buuren for the photos.
• Rare Skin IOC special.  Recently, a rare Olympic special Sweet Sarong CIO (SFZ107) has surfaced.  It is a Skin Sweet Sarong (SFK187) from 2003 with the olympic rings on the dial.  Super hard to find!  Thanks to Franck Chardiny for the photos.
  
• Disney Mickey Mouse X Keith Haring collection by Swatch.  The long rumoured Disney Mickey Mouse X Keith Haring collection by Swatch has finally been announced by Swatch.  Starting 07-JAN-2021, four special Swatch watches (including one Maxi) will be available:  1. Gent Mouse Marinière (GZ352, limited to 25000(?) pcs, 95 EURO);  2. New Gent Eclectic Mickey (SUOZ336, limited to 2000(?) pcs, 180 EURO, special packaging / closed box, based on a large drawing from 1982);  3. New Gent Mickey Blanc Sur Noir (SUOZ337, limited to 25000(?) pcs, 120 EURO, based on a drawing from 1981);  4. Maxi Eclectic Mickey (MSUOZ336, limited to 222(?) pcs, 475 EURO).  The Gent / New Gent specials are not numbered.  Here is a photo of the back of the watches.  Note that the clothing company Uniqlo currently has a similar Mickey Mouse X Keith Haring clothing collection.  Update:  Apparently, the Disney Mickey Mouse X Keith Haring collection by Swatch collection was launched on 23-DEC at the Swatch Art Peace Hotel in Shanghai.  General start of sales in China is 01-JAN-2021.  In the USA and Europe, sales are planned to start on 07-JAN.  In Japan, Swatch will open a special Pop-up Store at Shibuya PARCO on 07-JAN (until 28-JAN), note the funny error in the press release!  Update 2: Similar Mickey X Haring collections were also released by other companies (see also this Vogue report):  1. Luxury accessories: Disney Mickey Mouse X Keith Haring collection by Coach;  2.  Clothing: Disney Mickey Mouse X Keith Haring collection by Uniqlo.;  3. Socks:  Stance Haring Box Set (nice Haring artwork on the box!);  4. Art toy:  BE@RBRICK Keith Haring Mickey Mouse (further info);  5. Pet hoodie: Maxbone Mickey Mouse x Keith Haring Hoodie.  ;  6. Levi’s Disney Mickey Mouse x Keith Haring sweatshirts;  7. Diamond Supply Co. Disney Mickey Mouse x Keith Haring sweater;  8. Diamond Supply Co. Disney Mickey Mouse x Keith Haring jacket;  9. Corkcicle Disney Mickey Mouse x Keith Haring tumbler. Update 3: A lucky collector in Milan got a New Gent Eclectic Mickey.  It sold out very fast in the stores...    Update 4:  Some countries had some nice gifts with in-store purchases (of complete sets):  1. pins (Malaysia);  2. stickers (Singapore);  3. tote bag Eclectic Mickey  (USA, Switzerland);  4. tote bag Mickey Blanc Sur Noir (Switzerland);  5. tote bag Mouse Mariniere (backside, Singapore, Taiwan, France (different handle!, backside), Switzerland, Australia (3rd variant), ....);  6. cookies (for 'influencers' in the UK).  Did you get a gift with purchase?  If yes, please let me know so that I can collect the info.   Update 5: Here is a nice video from the special Pop-up Store at Shibuya PARCO in Japan. Update 6:  A special Disney Mickey Mouse X Keith Haring SwatchXYou canvas is also available, wrapped in a special sleeve with two exclusive loops.   Update 7: The right to purchase one of 203 Maxi Eclectic Mickey (MSUOZ336) was raffled in an online lottery from 15 to 18-JAN (centrally via Swatch HQ in Biel), open to anyone on the Internet.  The winners were notified on 20-JAN.  Update 8: A few non-winners of the Maxi Swatch raffle managed to find the semi-hidden purchase link for the Maxi in the Swatch online store and successfully placed an order.  These non-winner orders were canceled later.  Instead of a Maxi Swatch, Alessandro from Switzerland received a friendly letter from Swatch and a huge Toblerone chocolate (4,5 kilograms!) as a small compensation (here is Carlos picking up his huge heavy parcel from the post office!).  A few Maxi Swatches have already been sold on eBay, some fetching a price of more than 3300 EURO!  Thanks to R.J.Valdez for the hint and to Thomas Sonneville and to Paxton Wong for the photos.
• Earliest Swatch flyer?  After searching for many years:  Herbie Minnemann (from Argentina of all places!) finally posted a few photos of the first Swatch flyer (or press info?) (inside / back) from 1983, Switzerland ("holy grail" :-)  Also of interest:  The first information for UK Swatch retailers (early 1983, front / back).  Check out these photos (and many more!) in my info page about old Swatch ads from the 80s...
  
• Huge Swatch collection auction.  One of the world's largest private SWATCH watches collections is in auction at Lauritz until 14-DEC.  The collection comprises almost 2100 watches in a single lot, including great designer watches by Keith Haring (signed!) and Sam Francis as well as prototypes. Starting bid is 176,000 EUR (plus buyer's premium of 22.5% of the hammer price).  It seems that the collection does not include any of the "big five" watches (Original Jelly Fish, Kiki Picasso, Mimmo Paladino, Puff, Finger Nails), so good luck with the sale! :-)  Update FEB-2021:  The collection is still available, starting bid is now 110,000 EURO.   Update MAR-2021:  The collection is still available, starting bid is now 90,000 EURO.
• Chinese New Year SwatchXYou Taiwan special.  A special Taiwan Chinese New Year SwatchXYou special (canvas) is now available in the Taiwan Swatch Online Store.
• Valentines SwatchXYou specials.  Three different Valentines SwatchXYou specials are now available in the Swatch Online Store:  1. Cards Of Love (canvas);  2. Love Sentences (canvas);  3. Valentine Vintage (canvas).  The design for the Valentine Vintage SwatchXYou is inspired by six vintage Valentine's Day related Swatch watches:  1. Hearty Love (GZ314S);  2. Romeo + Juliet (GN162, 1996);  3. Aiming For Your Heart (GE107, 2003);  4. Sweet Valentine (SUOZ168, 2014);  5. Amour Total (GN196, 2001); 6. Pounding Heart (GK237, 1997).
• Michelin special.  A company special Michelin (YCS113D) has surfaced in the UK, apparently released in 2018.  It is an Irony Chrono Classylicious (YCS113C) from 2017 with a special strap and a Michelin loop around the strap and a nice special sleeve.  There have been Michelin company specials before, I remember a Solar watch.  Does anyone have a list?
• Taiwan Sinyi B2B special.  A brand new (DEC-2020) B2B special has surfaced in Taiwan:  A New Gent Sinyi (SUOW703D).  It is a New Gent White Character (SUOW703) from 2013 with a special strap and a loop SINYI around the strap.  Thanks to Sophia Chang for the photos.
  
• Incredible price for Dan Komar L'Orage D' Été.  Recently, a record breaking price (2996 CHF) was fetched for one of the inofficial Dan Komar ("King Of Swatch") Swatch specials:  L'Orage D' Été.  Check out more photos at my little webpage about the Luzern Auctions in the mid 90s.
  
• Australia Destination Swatch watches online.  To celebrate Australia Day (26-JAN), two Australian Destination Swatch watches are available online in the Australia Swatch Online Store until 27-JAN.  The phrase "available worldwide" suggests that the two watches might be available everywhere... yes, they are, see eg. Swatch Germany.  Thanks to Neel Bhatt for the info.
  

• 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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