Recent Swatch info (Last updated: 16-JUN-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 Drive-thru Store.  Next to the new Swatch HQ in Biel, Swatch plans to open the first Swatch Drive-thru Store in the world in the near future (corner Nicolas G. Hayek-Street / Jakob Stämpfli-Street).  In this pavilion, you can buy your Swatch watches from the current collection without leaving your car.  Source:  Swatch Annual Report 2018, p.14.  Here are a few pictures from the store, just be sure to click through all of the pictures...  Update: The Drive-thru Store is now open to the general public.  It sells the watches in a paper box usually used for Hamburgers.  Great concept!  Price for the watches is 55, 65, 70 CHF, depending on the style.  Update 2:  The Drive-thru Store has three exclusive food-related SwatchXYou designs only available at this place in Biel.
  
• SwatchXBape specials.  Swatch has posted some teaser pictures about a SwatchXBape special which will be released in the next days.  A Bathing Ape (ア・ベイジング・エイプ A Beijingu Eipu) (or BAPE) is a popular Japanese clothing and lifestyle brand.  The Swiss Building Designer and basketball player André Paca from Biel has published a photo of the SwatchXBape special (a Big Bold Swatch, closeup) on Instagram.  Looks nice and it will probably be very much sought after.  Update:  The watch comes in a nice packaging as you can see in this unboxing video.  The pre-release takes place on 01-JUN in Japan (already shown under a cloth in Tokyo), with a global release following on 15-JUN.  In fact, a whole SwatchXBape collection will be released:  Six different watches, not only one watch.  The collection has a "city" theme with watches for Paris, Tokyo, London, New York, World and Swiss.  Update 2:  The complete BAPE collection consisting of six watches has been unveiled in Japan:  1. BAPE The World (SO27Z700, 19993 pcs, not numbered);  2. BAPE London (SO27Z701S, 1993 pcs, numbered);  3. BAPE New York (SO27Z702S, 1993 pcs, numbered);  4. BAPE Paris (SO27Z703S, 1993 pcs, numbered);  5. BAPE Bern (SO27Z704S, 983 pcs, numbered);  6. BAPE Tokyo (SO27Z705S, 1993 pcs, numbered).  Price for each watch is ￥18,360 (~151 EURO) in Japan.  All BAPE watches are contained in a nice special box (closed box) with a number plaque for the five city watches.  For the hardcore collectors, a super limited BAPE x Swatch Complete Set (closed box) will be issued in a numbered and limited edition of only 83 pcs.  Price for the Complete Set is ￥124,200 (~1026 EURO) in Japan.  Good luck in locating one...  Update 3:  Several bloggers / influencers were invited for a fantastic launch event on 01-JUN, here is a great video report. Update 4: Swatch held many small launch sales events in Swatch stores all around the world on 15-JUN.  It seems that the five limited city specials were only available in a few countries (Switzerland, UK [London], France [Paris], USA, ...).  Here are a few photos from the launch in Frankfurt, Germany. 
• Rome Destination special.  A new Destination New Gent special Colosseo (SUOZ308, Destination Special #57) is available in the city of Rome (Italy) since the beginning of June.
• Salzburg Destination special.  A new Destination Gent special Mozart Melodies (GZ332, Destination Special #56, 70 EURO) is available in the city of Salzburg (Austria) since the end of May.  Thanks to Wolfgang Seiler for the information.
  
• "Planet Swatch" museum in Biel.  The new official Swatch museum called Planet Swatch has now opened its doors at the new Cité Du Temps next to the new Swatch HQ in Biel (Nicolas G. Hayek Strasse 2) on 01-JUN.  A huge floor is dedicated to the Museum, lots of exhibition space showing about 70% of all Swatch watch ever produced.  The exhibition also features prototypes, early Swatch watches from 1983, Art Specials, Special Packagings, Club watches, Switzerland, Maxi watches, ...  The exhibition also has many interactive displays.  The entrance is free in June and it is a "must visit" for every serious Swatch collector, highly recommended!  Starting in JUL (when the new Omega museum will also be opened), the entrance free for both museums will be 10 CHF (but you get an entrance voucher when buying a Swatch at the Drive Through Kiosk nearby).  More photos from the museum will follow soon in my G&P 2019 Event report.
• 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).  A detailed report with many photos from the event will follow soon.
• "Available In Colour" Club Set.  During the annual G&P Club event in Bern, a special Available In Colour Swatch Club Set (GZS72) was available to participating Gold & Pioneer Club members.  The set contains two watches, sealed on the frontside and on the backside of a pasteboard:  1. the well known Gent Not Available In Colour (GW165) and 2. a totally unreleased Gent watch Now Available In Colour with a blue tinted glass.  The set is limited to 81 pcs only, unnumbered.  So the Gent watch Now Available In Colour exists in 81 pcs only.
• Second Milano Destination special.  A new (second) Milano Destination Gent special Quadrilatero (GZ330, Destination Special #55) is available only at the Swatch Store Via Monte Napoleone in Milano, Italy since the end of May.  There is a rumour that it was "sold only for a fashion event" but I can't really believe that.  The first Milano Destination special was the New Gent Tutta Mia La Citta (SUOZ228), issued in JUL-2016.    Thanks to Bruno Mahier for the information and photos.
• Swatch Flymagic.  On 14-FEB, Swatch has unveiled a completely new product line during a press conference with Swatch Group CEO Nick Hayek, Swatch Creative Director Carlo Giordanetti, and Swatch's VP and COO Gonzalo de Cevallos at the new Swatch HQ (finally finished!) in Biel:  Swatch Flymagic.  It is a new collection of (currently) three mechanical watches featuring anti-magnetic Nivachron hairsprings.  The watch is based on the SISTEM51 movement plus 15 additional components, so it could be called a SISTEM66 :-)  It is constructed totally different by reversing the caliber:  the new balance spring, finely finished modules and skeletonized gear train all can be seen on the face of the watch – easily visible through the transparent rotor of the automatic movement. There’s another Swatch first here, too – the seconds hand runs backwards!  Three watches will be available initially on 30-APR in a limited edition of 500 pcs (per watch), $1500 US watch:  two watches in stainless steel (YHS100S and YHS101S) and one in stainless steel with a red gold PVD coating (YHG100S).  Each watch comes in a special box with a rubber strap and two calf leather straps (closed box).  The watch is numbered xxx/500 on ring in the center (front).  Hodinkee has more technical information and photos.  The back of the watch does not look typically Swatch.  The watch is also thicker compared to other Swatch watches (diameter is 45 mm).  Totally different but a really exciting construction...  Here is a great promotional video by Swatch, filmed in the new Swatch HQ in Biel.  Swiss newspaper NZZ has a nice report about the Swatch Flymagic.  Update:  Fratello Watches has a wonderful report with lots of great Swatch Flymagic photos, check it out!  Update 2: Sales of the Flymagic watches will start with a launch event on 15-MAY in Geneva (Switzerland) and on 23-MAY at several special local events (Berlin, Amsterdam, San Francisco [29-MAY], Milano [30-MAY], ...).  If you want to buy the special in Geneva, you have to pick up a reservation ticket at a local Swiss Swatch store starting 08-MAY.  Quite complicated (but it is a very special watch).  You can only buy the watch in person at one of the events.  The price for the watch is also quite different in the individual countries:  Germany 1500 EURO, Switzerland 1500 CHF (~1315 EURO), Australia $2000 AUD (~1252 EURO), Singapore SGD $2100 (~1376 EURO), Malaysia RM6200 (~1333 EURO), Hong Kong $12000 HKD (~1364 EURO), Taiwan TWD$47000 (~1353 EURO), UK £1200 UKP (~1374 EURO), USA $1500 US (+tax), and China CNY11500 (~1492 EURO).  Geneva now has a Pop-up store where the Flymagic watches are on display, Amsterdam as well.  300 Flymagic specials (out of the 1500) will be sold in Beijing, China in a special Popup store at 北 京 SKP.  25 pieces are available in Russia.  75 pieces are available in the USA.  Here is a photo of a disassembled Flymagic.  Update 3:  Here is a small report with a few pictures from the Berlin Flymagic "Sales Experience-Event".   Thanks to Alexandre Brunner for the photos.
• Shareholder special 2019.  On 23-MAY, the annual shareholder assembly of Swatch Group took place in Grenchen at the Swiss Velodrome.  Each one of the 3192 participants will receive a special New Gent Swatch Bi-Üs (SUOZ314), packaged in a nice paper sleeve.  This year, the watch was not handed out at the general assembly.  Instead, it will be shipped to the participants within the next 1-2 weeks.
• New Big Bold product line.  Swatch is teasing on Instagram and Twitter about a new product line called Big Bold.  This watch has a diameter of 47mm and a unique shape of the watch case:  "These Swatch are characterized by a flat glass, which gives a modern and elegant appearance and makes it highlight the dial, a crown at 2 o'clock and a dial printed in 3D that gives it more character and a perfect fit to the wrist."  The first collection consists of six watches which were shown first during the Sneakerness London event on 18 and 19-MAY.  Some Big Bold models were also already spotted "in the wild".  There is also a rumour about a "city themed" special edition...   Update:  Here is a "real world" video of the Big Bold Swatch.  It is definitely a different watch...   Retail price is 5500 PHP (~93 EURO).  It seems that the watches will be officially released on 24-MAY.
• SwatchXLouvre.  On 21-MAY, Swatch has opened a SwatchXYou Popup store in the Louvre in Paris.  The shop has been opened to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the famous Pyramide Du Louvre (designed by Leoh Ming Pei).  Until 17-JUN, you can create four special SwatchXLouvre SwatchXYou watches in this Popup store:  The first design is a unique tricolor motif with a mirror illustration of the Parisian monument in the center of the Napoleon courtyard.  The other three designs are famous paintings which are on display at the Louvre:  1. Les Saisons, Giuseppe Arcimboldo (1573);  2. Galerie de vues de la Rome Antique, Giovanni Paolo Panini (1757);  3. Le Sacre de Napoléon, Jacques-Louis David (1807).  The watches are printed live on the spot in the Popup store. The four special designs are also available at the Swatch France Online Store ("Louvre Limited Edition").  A spectacular collaboration!  More details on the swatchandart Instagram story preserved here.
• Tiritas special.  The Spanish healthcare company Tiritas celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2004.  A special Swatch Tiritas (GK426C) was released to commemorate the 50th anniversary ("Unidos a ti" - United To You).  The watch is a Gent Oseille (GK426) from 2001 with a special strap featuring the company logo and the main product of the company:  plaster.  Limitation and distribution is unknown.   Thanks to Pedro Coelho for the information and photos.
  
• World Bee Day SwatchXYou.  On 20-MAY, World Bee Day is celebrated.  To commemorate this special day,  Swatch sells a special SwatchXYou World Bee Day but only for three days until 23-MAY.  Here is a picture of the very nice background, with lots of cute bees...
• 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?!?     Thanks to Sascha for the hint.
  
• 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.
  
• Tel Aviv Destination special.  A New Gent Tel Aviv - Nonstop (SUOZ309, Destination Special #54) is now available, just in time for the Eurovision Song Contest (ESC) on 18-MAY.  The watch is limited to 999 pcs and it is inspired by the symbols and characteristics of Tel Aviv, such as the Azrieli Towers, Sharona, Reading, Bauhaus and more.  The watch costs NIS 349 (~86 EURO) and it is available in Swatch’s four stores in Israel, packaged in the usual paper sleeve.   Thanks to Toty Booms for the hint and to Marjan Looy for the photo.
  
• Veggie Set in Charity Auction.  You can bid on a Vegetable Set formerly owned by German Fashion designer Iris von Arnim.  All proceeds from the sale will be donated to Charity (Doctors Without Borders).  The silent auction is promoted by the important German Online Magazine Spiegel, so I hope that the watches will fetch a lot of money.
• Zurich Sneakerness specials.  At the Zurich Sneakerness event (04 and 05-MAY),  eight Swatch watches from the current collection were available with a special Sneakerness loop.  The loop was available in one size only, so the loop was very "loose" for the Gent Swatch watches.  Thanks to Alain Choisy for the picture.
  
• Swatch Rocket Air 2019 special.  One of the most important events on the Freeride Mountain Bike (FMB) World Tour,  Swatch Rocket Air celebrated its 10th anniversary this year on 3 and 4-MAY at the Eishalle Grabengut in Thun, Switzerland.  A special limited Swatch 10 Years Rocket Air (SUOB160C) with two special loops around the strap was sold at the event.  It is a New Gent Swatch Out (SUOB160) from the current collection with two special loops, packaged in a nice paper sleeve.  Christine Tanner sent me a few impressions from the event:  "Around 20 Swatch Club members were invited for a nice lunch at the Rocket Air event.  They watched the crazy jumps by the best raiders in the world.  Godziek Dawid from Poland finally won the FMB Gold event.  Lucas Huppert from Switzerland was ranked at 8th position. Sam Pilgrim from Swatch Proteam had a short signing session in the afternoon, he was classified 13th.  A nice Swatch bicycle leg band was given to the guests. A lot of Rocket Air souvenirs was also sold on a special booth. Thanks to Swatch Marché Suisse, Alain, Daniel Vanessa and Vicky for the freezing crazy event."
• Brexit Swatch.  A special SwatchXYou Brexit is now available in the Swatch UK Online store.  Here is the complete design sheet.  Very funny!
• Lindor special.  In JUN-2018, the Swiss chocolatier Lindt & Sprüngli has issued a special New Gent Lindor (SUOR705Q) for Lindt employees in Canada.  It is a New Gent Backup Red (SUOR705) from 2014 with a special strap and a special Lindor loop around the strap.
  
• Irony Chrono Automatic design studies.  Alain Choisy has found a nice webpage by the Swiss Blade industrial design studio who were involved in the design of the Irony Chrono Automatic and the Irony Retrograde watches.
• New Hackett specials.  There are rumours that several new Hackett Swatch watches will be released at the end of April, including one limited watch.  Update:  Swatch Taiwan has unveiled the limited SISTEM 51 on Instagram (screenshot) and Facebook:  Thames (SUTZ405S) is limited to 1983 pcs, numbered (5500 TWD / 155 EURO).  Release date was 25-APR.  The watch has an inscription on the back: "born in 1983 xxxx/1983", similar to the first Hackett special Muffin.  The watch is packaged in a nice blue box, also similar to the red box of the first Hackett special Muffin.  The two unlimited new Hackett Swatch watches are Irony SISTEM51 models:  1.  Jermyn. (YIZ404);  2. Classic Lines (YIZ405).  A launch event took place on 25-APR in one of the best restaurants in Madrid, Spain:  Restaurante Horcher.
• Irony Maxi.  A very special Swatch Art project by an US metal artist will be unveiled at the Swatch Club Event in Los Angeles on 19-APR. Care to guess what it is?  pic1 / pic2 / pic3.  Update:  It is an "Irony" Maxi.  Amazing!  Here is a video of the Maxi.  It weighs 17 US pounds.
  
• What's the time?  This Skin swatch has a funny production error on the dial...  I think that I remember the same watch with a missing '8' from many years ago...

• 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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