Recent Swatch info (Last updated: 22-FEB-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:
• Club Swatch 2019.  As shown on the official Swatch Club China website, the new Club Swatch for 2019 is called What Yo Face (SUOZ303, 75 EURO) and it is packaged in a nice paper sleeve.  The watch has been designed by Chinese artist and illustrator Ton Mak (creator of the Flabjacks collection).  She has previously lived and worked as a resident artist at the Swatch Art Peace Hotel. More information about the Club watch (translated from Chinese).  It is expected that a special limited version of the new Club watch will be launched at several events in March, similar to the last years.  Update:  The first Club event has been announced:  Paris (12-MAR).
  
• Swatch Rocket Air 2019.  One of the most important events on the Freeride Mountain Bike (FMB) World Tour,  Swatch Rocket Air celebrates its 10th anniversary this year on 3 and 4-MAY at the Eishalle Grabengut in Thun, Switzerland.  More information here in this report (in German).
• 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!
• New Spring / Summer 2019 Collection online.  The new Swatch collection Transformation Time (part of the Swatch Spring / Summer 2019 Swatch collection) is now available in the Swatch online shop as a pre-release.  The watches will be available in the local Swatch stores starting 10-JAN.  The new 2019 Club watch will also be available on that date.  Update:  The Good Life has more information about the new collection (in French) including a few pictures of watches which will be launched later in March (Listen To Me collection) and April (Energy Boost collection).  The report also mentions a SISTEM51 with a 3D dial and finally the launch of the Pigcasso Art Special (designed by the world’s only painting pig!) in February.  The watches were presented just before the Paris Fashion Week (15 to 20-JAN).  Update:  On 21-FEB, the next part (Listen To Me) of the Spring / Summer 2019 Swatch collection was launched online in an early pre-release.  Lots of great watches!  I am sure that Blue Sweet (SUOB159) will be a huge success... (Pinkapippa (GE267) too :-)  Another great New Gent watch is Orange Pusher (SUOW167) which has been designed by Lebanese graffiti artist Jad El Khoury.
• SwatchXYou next level.  According to this Instagram post by Swatch UK, #SwatchXYou (the personalized Swatch) will be going to the "next level" very soon.  Maybe some real customization? (= design your own Swatch)  Update:  Almost and it is truly fantastic:  You can pick a design and make your own Swatch here.  You can hover a virtual Swatch over your favourite pattern (currently six different ones are available), drop it where you like and customize your design with two different transparent watch heads (black or grey mechanics).  Your customized design is printed on the watch strap and on the back of the watch (you can also add up to 15 letters for a name etc. there).  Here is an example and here is another one.  You can do this online (3 working days + delivery) or immediately in selected Swatch stores (eg. Zurich airport [be sure to check out all pics]).  Lots of space for individualization.  Update:  Here are some photos of my SwatchXYou "next level" Swatch (HSUOK137).  It is packaged in a red paper sleeve.  The watch and the strap look fantastic and the printing is much better than expected, it really looks robust.  Be sure to check out all 10 photos in order to admire all details of this amazing technology!    Update 2:  SwatchXYou "next level" is finally available in the USA in FEB-2019.  For a limited time, a special artist canvas by NYC artist Edward Granger is available exclusively in the USA.
• GLAM Event in Milano.  On 21-FEB (during the Milano Fashion Week), Swatch held a GLAM event at the Swatch store Via Montenapoleone.  Wildon Aguila has sent me a few photos from the event.  No Swatch special, just a great party!
• Swatch Club website updated.  club.swatch.com has been updated with the design of the current Club watch What Yo Face (SUOZ303).
• Coperion special.  Coperion is an industry leader in compounding and extrusion, feeding and weighing, bulk material handling and service.  They have issued a special Irony Chrono Coperion (YCS113E).  It is an Irony Chrono Classylicious (YCS113C) from 2017 with a new strap with the Coperion logo on the loop.
• Cartoon Network special.  Cartoon Network has issued a nice special Gent Swatch Cartoon Network (GW704C).  It is an Gent Off The Grill (GW704) from 2014 with a very nice new strap with the Cartoon Network logo on the loop around the strap.
• RIP Alessandro Mendini.  Italian architect and designer Alessandro Mendini has passed away aged 87.  He also has designed many Swatch watches and other Swatch related items (including the colourful Swatch shop architecture of the mid 90s).  Here are a few pictures of the meet & greet session on 12-APR-2016 in Milano for the release of Spot The Dot (SUOZ213).
• New Swatch HQ in Biel.  About six years after the winner of the architectural competition (Shigaru Ban from Japan) for the new Swatch HQ in Biel had been announced, the spectacular wooden building has finally been opened to the public for the Swatch Flymagic press conference.  Berner Zeitung has a lot of photos and a nice report.  The official opening will be in about three months as there is some final work to do.  Originally, it was planned to open the building in 2015.
  
• SwatchXNico special.  It seems as if Swatch will launch a new ProTeam special SwatchXNico (with Freeski ProTeam member Nico Vuignier) on 09-FEB at the Swatch Store in Crans Montana.  Update:  The press section on the Swatch website has more information about the special:  The new ProTeam special SwatchXNico is the first of nine new Proteam Specials which will be released from FEB-2019 through the end of 2021.  The specials will be based on the SwatchXYou platform.  For the first special, Nico Vuignier has collaborated with the Chilean artist Gabriel Ebensperger.  Together, they created the new SwatchXYou design C'est bien Nils!  This design can be used to create your own unique Swatch special (as with other SwatchXYou designs). I love this idea!  Update:  The new SwatchXYou design C'est bien Nils! will be available online starting 11-FEB.  It has a black background.  During the launch event on 09-FEB in Crans Montana with Nico and Gabriel, a special variant of the SwatchXYou design with a white background was offered to the Event participants, only available in a special packaging during this event (239 pcs, not numbered).  Nico also signed autograph cards and a unique Maxi Swatch created by Gabriel Ebensperger was raffled among event participants.  A few goodies (socks and pins) were also given away.  A special page on the Swatch website has more details about the creation process for this watch.  Update:  Photos of the actual watches:  regular black version / limited white version (only available in Crans Montana on 09-FEB).   Thanks to Ines Brem for the info and photos and to Fabien Perissinotto for the photo.  Some photos by @swatchclub.
  
• Pigcasso artist special.  I am still not sure if this was a joke or not:  During the shareholder assembly 2018 in Grenchen, Swatch Group CEO G. N. Hayek jr. announced a special Swatch Pigcasso collection consisting of three Swatch watches.  The watches have been designed / painted by a pig (yes!).  The Pigcasso collection will be launched at the end of 2018 and each watch will include a certificate of authenticity.  More pig pictures in my shareholder assembly 2018 photo album.  As Nick Hayek talked a few minutes about the collection and as he showed several pictures, I assume that this is for real :-)  See also www.pigcasso.org.  Oink!  Update:  According to this report, the Pigcasso New Gent art special Flying Pig By Ms Pigcasso (SUOZ299S, 110 EURO) will be launched in a limited edition number of 2019 pcs starting from 05-FEB (Chinese New Year, 2019 is the year of the pig!  888 pcs of this watch will go to China).  This Instagram posting has a photo of the special packaging.  Looks great!  Update 2: Great promotional video by Swatch HK! Update 3: Here are pictures of the actual watch.  Superb!  Sold out already in many countries.  Here is a nice webpage on the official Swatch website with videos and more infos!
• Veggie triptych.  You probably know the legendary Vegetable POP specials ("The Swatchetables") from 1991 (designed by Swiss artist Alfred Hofkunst), limited to 9999 pcs, numbered.  You also probably know that the first 333 pcs were sold in a special triptych, signed and numbered by Alfred Hofkunst.  This Swatchetables triptych was sold for a lot of money (3333 CHF?) back then in art galleries.  But I guess that you haven't seen this triptych so far.  Here we go:  Swatchetables triptych in the packaging / 3 veggie watches in one big sealed packaging in the triptych / 3 veggie watches in one big sealed packaging / 3 veggie watches in one big sealed packaging backside signed / Swatchetables triptych half assembled (packaging not opened!).  The bigger leaflet shown on the pictures is not the usual DIN A4 sized veggie folder.  It is printed on much thicker paper.  I think that it is part of the triptych packaging.  The smaller leaflet shown on the pictures is from a Hofkunst Auction By Mangisch (28-SEP-1991, Rudolf Mangisch, Zürich) [backside].  During this auction, signed veggie watches, sketches for the veggie watches, ... were auctioned.  The auction leaflet also shows a signed EA veggie set, including a Verduhra EA 20/20.  Here are photos of the complete EA 20/20 set (surely sold at this Mangisch auction in 1991):  front / back / closeup back.  EA stands for "epreuve artiste" (= artist proof).  Finally a bonus photo of a signed regular veggie set.
• Swatch The Beep Pager in Germany.  In the mid 90s, Swatch was also active in the telecommunication industry (phones, pager, answering machines, even mobile phones).  It is very hard to get a complete list (with names and ref.no.) for these items as much of this information is lost over time.  Here is a photo album with some (also internal) information about Swatch The Beep Pager Fall/Winter 1995 and more (Germany).
• A CEO and his Swatch obsession.  Dino has found a great online radio interview with the Audemars Piguet CEO François-Henry Bennahmias where he talks for about 10 minutes about his Swatch obsession in the mid 90s (starts at 53:14).
• Swatch Loves Art Taiwan.  A great exhibition called Swatch Loves Art is currently on display at the Huashan Cultural and Creative center (Swatch Art Basement Store) in Taipei, Taiwan.  Swatch Club Pioneer member Sophia Chang has many nice photos from the exhibition (including an origin Kiki Picasso special).  The exhibition will be open until 08-APR.  Thanks to Leo Lee for the information.
  
• History of .beat Internet Time.   Here is a nice report (in German) about the history of .beat Internet Time and how it failed to get a wider acceptance.
• Souvenirs of Hong Kong.  A nice Swatch souvenir set consisting of a Swatch plate, Swatch spoon, and Swatch chop sticks is now available as a gift with purchase at the Swatch concept store in Hong Kong.  The special Swatch store has been designed by Elina Chatzichronoglou, she also designed the Swatch Megastore at CentralWorld in Bangkok.
  
• Pyeongchang Olympics 2018 IOC special.  Alain Choisy has published a photo of a very nice Pyeongchang Olympics 2018 IOC special:  Sistem Earth IOC (YIZ401).  The watch is a SISTEM51 Irony Sistem Earth (YIS400) with olympic rings on the dial and a special engraving on the side of the watch case: "IOC LIMITED EDITION PYEONGCHANG 2018".  Very hard to find...
  
• German Automatic specials.  An interesting automatic special has surfaced in 2013 in Germany:  SAB103C (Automatic Black Board from 1995 with a special loop around the strap).  The loop seems to be the one from the Inocente Spain special from 2002 but SAB103C was not part of the specials back then as far as I know.  Strange...  Update:  In 2019, another similar automatic special surfaced in Germany: SAM103D (Automatic Classic Cheddar from 1994 with a special loop around the strap).  Thanks to Nikolai Kuttler and to Stefan Kluge for the pictures.
• Stauffer special.  The Swiss acoustic protection company Stauffer has issed a Scuba Swatch special Stauffer (SDR101C).  Limitation and release date are unknown.
• SwatchPAY! (re)launched in Switzerland.  On 17-JAN, SwatchPAY! has been (re)launched for Switzerland in Zurich (main train station in an old VW Bus) with four new SwatchPAY! watches (85 CHF each): 1. BlackBack PAY! (SVIB105-5300);  2. Pastel PAY! (SVIP101-5300);  3. Magic PAY! (SVIW109-5300);  4. Chic PAY! (SVIW108-5300).  The SwatchPAY! ("the coolest way to PAY!") watches are packaged in a nice paper sleeve.  The watch can be used for "on the wrist" payments with banking cards of six different Swiss banks/card issuers. and boon by Wirecard.  You can find additional information about the payment functionality here and here (both in German).  And here is a somewhat critical report about the payment solution by UBS and Swatch.
• Eight Six Four Three Medtronic "Presidents Club" Swatch specials.  Recently, four three mysterious Swatch specials have surfaced in Germany (and Portugal):  They are very similar strap variants (a "P" on the loop around the strap) of the New Gent Swatch Look Through (SUOK105) from 2013.  The special Swatch is available with a black strap (SUOK105K), a transparent strap (SUOK105N), and a white strap (SUOK105?).  The watches were awarded to members of the Presidents Club (link does not work) of the medical technology company Medtronic. Update: A special Swatch with a blue strap (SUOK105I) also exists.   Update: Four Two more "Presidents Club" Swatch specials have surfaced.  The guarantee for these is dated 27-JUL-2018, so I am fairly sure that these were distributed later than the first four:  5. Color My Laquered Presidents Club (SUOS101D);  6. Blue Grey Lacquered Presidents Club (SUON102D);  7. Black Lacquered Presidents Club (SUOB101E);  8. Gilt Ghost Presidents Club (SUOK106F).   Thanks to Fabrizio for the information and to Pedro Mota for the update.
• London Orb Sale.  On 23-APR-1993, 1000 out of 49999 POP Art Specials Orb (by Vivienne Westwood) were sold in London at the London Planetarium.  Here are all the details about the launch event (quite interesting, I would have loved to watch the queues...).  The Independent had a newspaper report about the launch back then...
• Laax Open 2019 special.  After a pause of many years, Swatch is again a partner of the the Laax Open snowboarding event, taking place from 14 to 19-JAN in Laax, Switzerland.  This report mentions a special Laax Open Swatch issued for this event, exclusively available at the Swatch event booth in Laax.  It is a XX-Rated New Gent (red or black, 75 CHF) with a special Laax Open loop around the strap, packaged in a special paper sleeve.
• Chinese Year Of The Pig special.  2019 is the Year of the Pig according to the Chinese calendar.  As in the last years, Swatch will release a special Swatch: A Gent Gem Of New Year (GZ319) packaged in a nice special packaging (opened).  The watch is already on sale in several Asian countries including Hong Kong.  Update:  German Santiago has discovered a giant Gem Of New Year Maxi at Swatch Philippines HQ and R.J.Valdez has spotted another giant Gem Of New Year Maxi inside Ayala Mall in Makati.   Thanks to Thomas Chan for the photo.
• Shanghai Art Peace Hotel special 2019.  A new Shanghai Swatch Art Peace Hotel New Gent special is available since 06-JAN: Timeless Landscape (SUOZ291, 630 CNY, approx. 80 EURO).  The watch has been designed by Chinese artist Han Feng, former resident at the Art Peace Hotel in early 2017.  The watch is packaged in a nice paper sleeve.  Here is a picture of the actual watch and here is the official announcement on Instagram.  The watch is available at the Swatch Art Peace Hotel in Shanghai and online in China on TMall.  Previously, Swatch has issued five Swatch Art Peace Hotel specials:  1. Peace Hotel (GZ226S, 2010, 888 pcs);  2. Bund 19 (GZ228, 2010);  3. Peace Of Art (SUOZ160, 2013, also available as a limited version SUOZ160-1);  4. Black & White The Swatch Art Peace Hotel (SUOZ197, 2014);  5. Juls At Swatch Art Peace Hotel (SUOZ217, 2016) [not sure if this one should be considered more as an Artist Special].   Thanks to Sophia Chang for the photos and information.
• Valentine 2019 special.  According to this report, the Swatch Valentine special for 2019 is a Gent Swatch Triple Love (GZ322S).  The watch is limited and numbered to 5143 pcs.  It comes in a special Valentine’s Day box and costs 70 EURO (available starting 10-JAN).
• Swatch Aristocrazy collection in the Swatch Online Store.  The Swatch X Aristocrazy collection is now available in more countries (eg. Italy) in the Swatch Online Store.
• Vans 50th anniversary special.  For the 50th anniversary of Vans (manufacturer of skateboarding shoes and related apparel) in 2016, a special New Gent Swatch Vans 50th anniversary (SUOB116E) was given to employees only.  It was designed with the help of Jürgen Blümlein (curator of a German Skateboard Museum).   Thanks to Fred Mcfarland for the information and photo.
  
• Nord Stream special. A special Access Swatch Nord Stream (SKK124R) was released in Germany(?) by Nord Stream AG in NOV-2011 to celebrate the first transport of gas through pipline Nord Stream Line 1. No further info so far.
• Veggie sketches.  A few hand-drawn sketches for the famous Vegetable art specials (by Alfred Hofkunst) were auctioned in Zurich on 14-DEC.  The auction also included the three watches, a T-shirt, and the press map.  Rare!  Final result was 1300 CHF (plus 20,0% auction fee).
• X Factor Italy special.  Swatch is a sponsor / partner of the TV show X Factor Italia.  A dedicated website www.xfactorswatchthis.it exists, featuring the New Gent  XX-Rated Black (SUOB402) and XX-Rated Red (SUOR400).  On 09-DEC, the "Presentatori X Factor Daily" Benji & Fede played a small concert at the Swatch Store Milano Gae Aulenti.  A special XX-Rated Black / X Factor, IT (SUOB402D) was released in a limited edition of only 100 pcs, only available at the Swatch Store Milano Gae Aulenti. The watch has the Benji & Fede logo on a special loop around the strap.  Update:  During the X Factor Italia TV show, a special (probably unique) Swatch Maxi was shown on TV (in the background).    Thanks to Alain Choisy for the photo.
  
• 2018 Holiday Event / Special.  The 2018 Swatch Club Holiday Event will took place on the first weekend of December (30-NOV to 02-DEC) in the city of Athens, Greece. The 110 participants at the event received a very special New Gent SwatchXYou Lucky Mushrooms Universe (SUOZ292S), the watch is limited and numbered to 200 pcs on the sticker, on the special packaging, and on the back of the watch.  Here is a picture of the opened special packaging.  In addition to the special strap of the watch, each club member received two random straps from previous collections.  So the content of (almost) every packaging is different!  Great idea!  The packaging also contains two special loops:  "Holiday / 2018" on the front and "swatch / club" on the back.  The watch has a very nice face, superb!  Here is a detailed report with many photos about the club event.
  
• Destination Montreal special.  A new Destination special for Montreal (Canada) was launched on 07-DEC:  A New Gent L'Esprit De Montréal (SUON705N) $110 CAD).   It is a New Gent Backup Blue (SUON705) from 2014 with a special strap.  This is Destination Special #51.   Thanks to Thomas Chan and Elvin Rawlins for the information.

• 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:

• Spot Mickey MAXI (MGZ323S) by Damien Hirst
• 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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