Recent Swatch info (Last updated:  12-DEC-2024)

• 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 Encyclopedia.  As an early Xmas surprise for the die-hard Swatch watch collectors, Swatch is launching Swatch Encyclopedia, a unique four-volume box set celebrating 40 years of Swatch (1983 to 2023). Each volume represents a decade, showcasing 8419 Swatch watches.  Highlights include the creation of the “second watch,” the first Swatch Art Special, and groundbreaking innovations like SISTEM51, and much more.  Price for the box set is 400 EURO(!), it should be possible to order the box set on the Swatch website soon.  Update:  Some photos / videos of the actual Swatch Encyclopedia box set can be found on my Instagram.
• Madrid Destination Artist special. On 05-DEC-2024, Swatch has launched the first watch in a new series of Destination Artist specials, designed by local artists (including the packaging!).  Therefore, the watches are no longer packaged in the 'classic' Destination packaging.  These watches are also available only in the respective city.  Destination Artist special #1 has been issued in Madrid (Spain):  Bio-sourced New Gent Chulapo (SO29Z143, 110 EURO), designed by Madrid based artist Gonzalo Hernández Sánchez de Ocaña (Gonhdo).  Here is a report (in Spanish) about the Chulapo Swatch and the designer Gonhdo.
• Malaysia government told to return seized LGBT watches.  In 2023, Malaysian Home Ministry  raided eleven Swatch Stores and confiscated Swatch watches designed with a rainbow.  As a consequence, Swatch has sued Malaysia for the seizure of Swatch watches.  In NOV-2024 (finally!), a Malaysian court has ordered the country's government to return 172 rainbow-colored watches it seized from watchmaker Swatch last year.
• Banana SwatchXYou available again. In 2019, a controversial spotty banana duct-taped to a wall (artwork Comedian by Italian artist Maurizio Cattelan) was sold for $150,000 US.  Fast forward 5 years:  Now, the art world has gone totally crazy:   On 21-NOV, the 'artwork' :-) was sold for $6,240,000 USD at Sotheby's in New York City (Reuters report).  What a ROI!  Swatch has jumped on the bandwagon:  The minimalist SwatchXYou Banana (originally released in 2019) is now available again for purchase on the Swatch website, probably for a few days only.  Get your Banana SwatchXYou now :-)  Update 04-DEC:  Banana SwatchXYou is no longer available.
• BREAK FREE artist collection.  On 12-NOV, Swatch has released four fantastic new watches as part of the BREAK FREE collection, designed by four young artists from all around the world:  1. Bio-sourced New Gent Freeze Time (SO29Z147, 110 EURO) by Grotesk (Switzerland);  2. Bio-sourced Gent B-Bot (SO28Z702, 100 EURO) by Bao Ho (Hong Kong);  3. Bio-sourced New Gent Unity Always (SO29Z148, 110 EURO) by Thandiwe Muriu (Kenya);  4. Bio-sourced Big Bold Hattie's Heart (SB05Z103, 145 EURO) by Hattie Stewart (United Kingdom).  All watches are packaged in a nice colorful paper packaging.  These four watches are the best in a very long time, congratulations Swatch!
• CHF 69,300 for the 1,000,000th MoonSwatch!  On 11-NOV, the one millionth MoonSwatch (a Mission To Neptune Moonshine Gold) was auctioned for 69300 CHF (screenshot) at Christie's in Geneva (for the benefit of the European Leukodystrophy Association).  French soccer player Zinedine Zidane (Zizou) participated at the auction.  This particular MoonSwatch is unique for several reasons:   Firstly, it is the one millionth MoonSwatch, a distinction engraved for posterity inside the watch, beneath the battery cover. Additionally, it features a seconds hand coated in Omega's proprietary Moonshine™ Gold, an alloy developed by the brand. To emphasize its importance, the watch is accompanied by a special trophy stand engraved with '1’000’000'.
• Mission To Earthphase MoonSwatch.  On 16-OCT, Swatch placed a mysterious full page ad in Süddeutsche Zeitung Germany (and others), with absolutely no direct hint at Swatch: 
  
  "And yet, it moves"  Galileo  Coined in 1633.  Possibly sold on November 2, perhaps.
  

  
  The next day, on 17-OCT, it became clear that the ad has been placed by Swatch.  Another ad in SZ Germany, Le Temps, Blick and Corriere del Ticino (all three Switzerland).  Now, the following text was added to the line above:
  

  "counterclockwise"  Swatch November 2 2024, to be exact
  
  

  Galileo was the internal project name for the MoonSwatch in 2021/22, you can find all the details about it in my MoonSwatch Experience report from May 2022.  So what can we expect from Swatch in early November?  A "counterclockwise" MoonSwatch?  Update:  Swatch has published two three teaser videos on Instagram:  19-OCT,  21-OCT and 23-OCT ("Counterclockwise Full Earth").  Some detailed speculation ("The Mystery of #1A17045") can be found here.  Update 2: On 30-OCT, Swatch unveiled the new, non-limited MoonSwatch Mission To Earthphase (SO33M700, 330 EURO).  You can find all the details on the Swatch website, the watch will be available on 02-NOV at selected Swatch stores around the world.  This MoonSwatch not only comes with a moonphase subdial at 2 o’clock, but more importantly – and for the first time in watchmaking history – an earthphase located in the colored subdial at 10 o'clock. Never before have these two complications been combined in the same watch.  Hodinkee and Fratello also report about this new MoonSwatch in deep detail with many photos. Update 3:  It seems that Swatch has hidden a little easter egg on the dial of Mission To Earthphase:  Using UV light, the little colorful picture of the earth in the earthphase subdial at 10 o'clock shows one of three different continents:  So far Africa, Americas, Asia have been found (in various sale locations around the world).  This means that three different variants of Mission To Earthphase are available for sale, collect'em all!
• Beach Pro Gstaad 2024 special.  The Beach Pro took place in Gstaad, Switzerland  from 03 to 07-JUL-2024.  A special Bio-sourced New Gent Beach Pro 2024 (SO29B113C) was distributed at the event, with the dates of the event on the back of the loop around the strap.  The packaging of the watch has a special paper loop.  The "basis" New Gent Time Is What You Make Of It (SO29B113) without a special strap has not yet been released so far in the regular Swatch stores.  At a Swatch Club event, collectors from Switzerland received the watch plus a nice Swatch bag with the event programme. Thanks to Christine Tanner for the photos.
• Break Free collection.  On Instagram, Swatch has announced a new Break Free collection which will be released on 03-OCT.  It is designed and inspired by American Pop Art artist Keith Haring and his design for the original Swatch World Breakdance Championship at The Roxy (New York City) in 1984, 40 years ago.  Maybe some Breakdance (GO001) Gent special related Swatch watches will be released too.  The Breakdance watch was designed in 1984 by Swatch designers Marlyse Schmid and Bernard Müller, heavily influenced by the Swatch World Breakdance Championship 1984 poster created by Keith Haring.  Update:  The first part of the Break Free collection has been released on 03-OCT, inspired by the 1984 Swatch World Breakdance Championship and the poster created by Keith Haring.  For now, three square What If? watches are available:  1. Break Time (SO34Z101, 115 UKP);  2. Breaks Off (SO34Z102, 115 UKP);  3. Break Loose (SO34Z103, 115 UKP).  Each watch is packaged in a paper box with a nice corresponding design and it has a nice special "Keith Haring Swatch" battery cover on the back side.  On 17-OCT, a fourth Swatch in the Break Free collection has been released, based on an original pencil drawing by Keith Haring:  A transparent Bio-sourced New Gent From The Archives (SO29Z145, 96 UKP).  It will also be available as a SwatchPAY! (SO29Z146-5300, 106 UKP).  Here is the story as told be Swatch:  "An original pencil and ink sketch was gifted to Swatch by Keith Haring and used to create the colorful Modele Avec Personnages (GZ100) from 1986.  At the time, the watch proved extremely popular with its instantly recognizable, hand-drawn figures and a bright, primary color scheme that made it ‘pure Swatch’. The original drawing was then placed in the Swatch archive, where it has been carefully preserved ever since. The work is an original, a one-of-a-kind unique piece.".  So this is as close to a real 80s Keith Haring Swatch as it can be!  Update 2:   Swatch has announced several BREAK FREE Collection events:  10-OCT: New York City;  11-OCT: Athens (Greece);  12-OCT: Berlin (Germany);  19-OCT: Paris (France), Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia), Istanbul (Turkey), Taipei (Taiwan), Mexico City (Mexico);  19 to 24-OCT: Shanghai (China);  22-OCT: Milano (Italy);  25-OCT: Bangkok (Thailand).  For details such as time and location, see Swatch website.
• Swatch Exhibition in Austria.  A Swatch Exhibition is now on display at the Museum Horn in Austria (until 15-NOV).  A number of Swatch watches from the collection of Eduard Reininger is being shown.
• Simpsons Family Maxi.  A very yellow web-exclusive The Simpsons Family Maxi (MGJ001, 495 EURO) is now available in the Swatch online store.  This watch is only available as a huge Maxi Swatch, it is not available as a regular small Gent Swatch.
• Swatch X The Simpsons Halloween specials.  According to a GQ Magazine Germany report, Swatch will release two Swatch X The Simpsons Halloween specials on 26-SEP:  1. Big Bold Aye Carumboo! (SB01Z105, Bart Simpson);  2. Bio-sourced New Gent D'oh Of The Dead (SO29Z135, Día de los Muertos on 31-OCT).
• Dope Up In Smoke Big Bold special.  After the Web exclusive Big Bold Valentine's special Bio-sourced It's A Pleasure (SB03Z104, 125 GBP), Swatch has released another controversial Big Bold special:  Up In Smoke (SB03Z103, 125 GBP), it is part of the Pufffframic Collection:  "Delivering laidback vibes".  It is not available online in many Middle East / Asian countries due to restricted drug laws...  As you can see from the ref.no. (SB03U103), the Up In Smoke watch is quite old already (it predates It's A Pleasure (SB03Z104)).  The release was pushed back several times, an earlier prototype was changed significantly (definitely an improvement).
• Paris 2024 Olympics IOC specials.  Two special IOC Swatch watches were issued for the Olympic Games Paris 2024: 1. Bluerang IOC (YIZ410, closeup) based on Irony SISTEM51 Bluerang (YIS430) from 2020;  2. Confidence 51 IOC (SY23Z401, closeup) based on Irony SISTEM51 Petite Seconde Confidence 51 (SY23S413) from 2023.  Both watches are packaged in a nice special "#Faster, Higher, Stronger - Together" paper box featuring the Olympic Rings.  Thanks to Fabrizio for the photos.
• The story of oigol ORO of Vladimir Horowitz.  oigol ORO (GZ113, 1988) by Mimmo Paladino is one of the most sought after Swatch watches.  The production run was limited to 140 watches (100 watches with arabic numbers xxx/100 (on the back) gifted to VIPs and 40 watches with roman numbers xxxx/XL used internally at Swatch for exhibitions etc.).  oigol ORO 047/100 was gifted to pianist Vladimir Horowitz (1903 - 1989).  So where is this ultra rare watch today?  Check out the great story ... And the Maestro's Swatch by Brendan Cunningham.

• 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 Oigol Oro
• 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, especially US and "Personaldienst" blister
• Folders, brochures, documentation, advertisement material 1982-86.
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Andreas Wiethoff - contact me via email