Recent Swatch info (Last updated: 16-JAN-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:
• 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) 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.
• 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.
  
• 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).
• New Collection online.  The new Swatch collection Transformation Time (part of the 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.
• 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.
• Dutch GFP special.  Hans van Buuren has found one of the nicest B2B specials ever:  GFP is a Dutch loyalty discount programs company. In 2018 the company existed 7,777 days and for this occasion a special New Gent Swatch was distributed:  GFP 7,777 days (SUOB707D) is limited to 77 pcs and it is packaged in a super nice paper sleeve designed by Dutch artist Dadara.  The watch is a New Gent Blue Resolution (SUOB707) from 2013 with a special strap (top / bottom).  Apparently, Swatch Pioneer member Gennie Freen was involved in the production of the special...
• Destination Greece special.  A new Destination special for Greece is now available:  A Gent It's All Greek To Me (GW408C).   It is a Gent Pink Line (GW408) from 2017 with a special strap.  The special is available with seven different loops:  Athens, Crete, Rhodes, Corfu, Mykonos, Kos, and Thessaloniki.  The watch costs 70 EURO plus 2,80 EURO for the loop.  Each loop is only available in the respective town / island. This is Destination Special #50.
• Xmas special(s) 2018.  According to this website, the Xmas special 2018 is a New Gent Shinebright (SUOZ287S, 110 EURO).  It seems to limited and numbered to 5005 pcs and it is available in a nice winter themed special packaging.  Update:  The launch date for the Xmas special is 29-NOV.  Additionally, a SwatchXYou Xmas special set is available.  It is limited and numbered to 1111 pcs:  Swatch X You Seasons Set (GZS71).  Price is 18360 JPY (approx. 142 EURO).  The watch heads in the Swatch X You Seasons Set (GZS71) are identical to the watch heads in the Swatch X You Seasons special set (GZS69) from 2017.  The straps and the sleeve are different however.  Update 2:  The Xmas special Shinebright is now available in the Swatch online store.  Shortly after the online availability, the Nordic Swatch online stores (Denmark and Finland and ...) had an interesting pricing error.  This error is fixed now. Update 3: The Swatch X You Seasons Set (GZS71) is now available in the Swatch US online store.
• Second SwatchXHodinkee special.  Swatch Club has launched a teaser about a new SwatchXHodinkee special, with more information on 26-NOV.  Another SISTEM51?  The first SwatchXHodinkee special Hodinkee Vintage 84 (SUTZ402) was released in 2017 and it was a huge success.  Update: Yes, the second SwatchXHodinkee special is again a SISTEM51: the Swatch SISTEM51 Blue Edition for HODINKEE (SUTZ404) is now available for $150 US in the US Swatch online store and in the Hodinkee shop.  It is the very first SISTEM51 that doesn't have the distinctive red dots on the dial.  Additionally, a limited number of watches will be available in-store at the Swatch Times Square flagship boutique in New York City from 29-NOV.  The watch is not a numbered edition, but quantities are limited.  The production run of the first SwatchXHodinkee special was 3500 pcs.
• New Swatch Pay! watches in China.  Four new Swatch Pay! (formerly known as "Bellamy") watches are now available in China:  1. White Line Pay! (SVHW101-1200);  2.  Paradise Pay! (SVIB106-1200);  3. Golden Pay! (SVIW110-1200);  4. Blue Pay! (SVHN101-1200).   Thanks to Sophia Chang for the hint.
  
• ChinaSteel special.  A blast from the past:  In the early / mid 90s, the steel manufacturer ChinaSteel from Taiwan has issued a Swatch special ChinaSteel.  It is a Gent Skin Print (GF103) from 1993 with a special paper sleeve.  No print on the strap, no special ref.no.  But the paper sleeve is interesting as it shows the Swiss cross next to the Swatch logo.  This is very unusual (I am not sure if there is a Swiss law that doesn't allow this).
• Destination Naples special.  A new "Pizza themed" Destination special for Naples (Italy) has surfaced:  A Gent Napulè (GR162E).   It is a Gent Red Pass (GR162) from 2014 with a special Pizza strap.  This is Destination Special #49.   Thanks to Angelo Moccaldi for the photo.
  
• Swatch Club local Xmas events.  Three local Xmas events have been announced by Swatch Club:  1. Toronto, Canada (01-DEC);  2. Paris, France (04-DEC);  3. London, UK (08-DEC).
• Swatch x Hackett special.  The British menswear retailer Hackett is selling a special SISTEM51 Muffin (YIZ402S).  The Swatch x Hackett watch is limited to 1983 pcs and it is packaged in a special red box (opened box).  The watch is also numbered on the side of the watch case and it has a nice imprint "born in 1983" on the back (both Swatch and Hackett were founded in 1983!).  The watch costs 148 GBP or 200 EURO (interesting conversion rate).  A launch event for the watch will take place in London on 01-NOV.  Here is a very nice info page about the watch.  Update:  Meanwhile, the information about the Swatch x Hackett watch has been removed from the website but some orders have already been shipped out.  You can also see the info in the Google cache.  The watch has been designed in collaboration with Jeremy Hackett, and the dial features silhouette of Jeremy’s Sussex Spaniel Muffin.  Please note also this little detail for the date window :-)  Here is a nice video ad for the Swatch x Hackett watch and GQ Magazine has an interview with Jeremy Hackett and Swatch COO Gonzalo de Cevallos about the watch.  The watch is already sold out online at www.hackett.com but you still can get it through the Swatch online store.  Also sold out at the Swatch Online store!  So it looks as if this watch is a big success.  Update 2:  A rare production error has been spotted by Stefan Kluge:  A slightly turned bezel.
• SwatchXDamienHirst / Mickey Mouse 90th anniversary special.  After releasing a nice teaser "Magic Will Happen On 15-NOV", Swatch has unveiled the fantastic SwatchXDamienHirst collaboration at the Swatch Art Peace Hotel in Shanghai.  The collaboration is part of the 90th anniversary celebration of Mickey Mouse and the watches have been designed by UK artist Damien Hirst, inspired by his well known art work Mickey from 2012.  Two Swatch specials are available:  1. New Gent Mirror Spot Mickey (SUOZ290S, limited and numbered to 19999 pcs, 110 EURO), packaged in a nice paper sleeve;  2. Gent Spot Mickey (GZ323S, limited and numbered to 1999 pcs, 165 EURO), packaged in a special packaging.  It is also available as a very limited Maxi Spot Mickey (MGZ323, 265 EURO, 333 pcs).  The New Gent is now available in the shops and the more limited Gent will be sold on one day online only (18-NOV). By the way, these are not the first Mickey Swatch watches!  In 1984, very few unique Mickey hybrid Swatch watches were manufactured by Swatch employees (never officially sold).  Two of these were available as part of the legendary Blum collection:  Swatch auction in 2011 (Hong Kong).  Update:  Lots of international press coverage for the two watches, including Esquire, Forbes, Grazia Italy, ...  Update 2: It seems that the very limited Gent Spot Mickey (GZ323S) was in extremely high demand on the 18th.  It was very difficult to place a successful orders due to overloaded servers.  Update 3: A few Spot Mickey specials were also sold "offline" on the 18th, eg. in Interlaken (Switzerland) or at the Paris Megastore.   Update 4: Crazy prices for the limited Gent Spot Mickey (GZ323S), these are successful ebay auctions!  Update 5:  Here is a report by Christine Tanner about the Interlaken sale event on 18-NOV.
• 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: 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).   Thanks to Fabrizio for the information and to Pedro Mota for the update.
• ComplexCon special.  ComplexCon is an expertly curated convention and festival bringing the world of Complex to life, including pop culture, music, art, food, style, sports, innovation, activism, and education. It takes place from 03 to 04-NOV in Long Beach, CA.  A ComplexCon Swatch special packaging has been released.  The special packaging (ref.no. SUOB702-I) is limited to 400 pcs ($125 US) and it contains a black New Gent Black Rebel (SUOB702) with an extra ComplexCon strap and loops.  It comes with an unusual guarantee card.  Here is a nice report about Swatch and ComplexCon.  Update:  The ComplexCon special is now available in the online shop.
• Bolton Group special.  The Italian high quality consumer goods company Bolton Group has issued a special New Gent Bolton Group (SUON705I).  It is a New Gent Backup Blue (SUON705) from 2014 with a special strap carrying an embossed logo of the Bolton Group on the front side of the strap and an inscription "2 billion thanks!  Bolton Group" on the back side of the strap. The "2 billion" may refer to the fact that the revenue of the Bolton Group probably has passed 2 Billion EURO in the fiscal year 2017.
• Hollywood Dream & POP Diva Wristory special.  On 03-DEC-2001, 25 unique Swatch lots were auctioned during the legendary Swatch Wristory Auction in New York City.  Several celebrities were in attendance: Donald Trump, Heidi Klum, ...   Lot #17 was Hollywood Dream & POP Diva in a unique Box covered by 6,370 Swarovski crystals, the box was sold for $6000 US.  Until now, it is very rare to see some pictures of the actual watches in the different lots.  Recently, some pictures of the unique box in lot #17 and the corresponding letter of authenticity (signed by Nick Hayek sr.) surfaced. You can see all photos here.
• Destination Berlin special.  On 09-NOV, the Destination Berlin special will be launched.  It is a New Gent called Ick Bin Ein Berlina (SUOZ293, 80 EURO).  This is Destination Special #48, packaged in the usual paper sleeve.  Participants of the Berlin launch event will receive a special packaging (video) as a gift.  There are six notable events in German history that are connected to the launch date of the Destination Berlin special (09-NOV).   Thanks to Sascha for the hint.
  
• Giant Swatch Psycadelic Maxi.  As in the last years, a giant Maxi of the current collection is now on display in Makati (Philippines), this time near the Swatch Store along Arnaiz Avenue.  Swatch has chosen the New Gent Psycadelic (SUOW155). Thanks to R.J.Valdez for the photo.
• Swatch and German politics.  German politician Sawsan Chebli (a member of the Social Democratic Party [SPD], State Secretary for Federal Affairs) was recently in the "twitter news" as she was photographed wearing a Rolex watch.  Now the Swiss Ambassador in Berlin (Paul Seger) has sent her a Swatch watch as a present (but she refused to accept the present).  The Swatch watch is the very rare Swisstopo special (SUOK103E) from 2017 which was never available in the shops.
• GLAM collection.  A new Swatch GLAM collection is now available in selected countries / Swatch stores:  China, Hong Kong, Japan, Macao, Russia, Singapore, USA.  The collection consists of seven watches:  1. Gent Fabuloops (GB316PZ, $135 US); 2. Lady Cuffabulous (watch head HLM142PZ, $160 US plus two different leather bracelets at $70 US each);  3. Lady Black Cancan (LK387DPZ, $145 US) / White Cancan (LK387EPZ, $145 US) / Purple Cancan (LK387EPZ, $145 US);  4. Skin Big Glorious (SVOM106PZ, $165 US with seven different feathers at $20 US);  5. Irony Chrono Musical (YCG419PZ, $290 US plus three different leather bracelets at $30 US each);  6. SISTEM51 Sistem Helmsman (YIZ400SPZ, $295 US, limited to 510 pcs, back, this watch was rumoured since 2017 already);  7. Irony Lady Acrobelle (YSG161PZ, $255 US plus three different leather bracelets at $30 US each).  The great Swatch Glam Campaign has been produced by Plastik Studios.
• ETA 225th anniversary employee special.  For the 225th anniversary of ETA SA Manufacture Horlogère Suisse, every employee received on 31-OCT a special New Gent ETA 225th anniversary, packaged in a nice paper sleeve.  It is estimated that around 6000 watches have been distributed.  The watch is not numbered and there is no ref.code on the box or the packaging.  ETA manufactures the movements for Swatch Group, including Swatch.  Thanks to Julien for the photo.
  
• Swatch Creative Natives Festival Madrid.  A new festival of young creators & new ideas called Swatch Creative Natives will take place in shake up Madrid from 22 to 27-OCT.  The festival features art shows, concerts, workshops and much more!  It is rumoured that a few new Swatch Art Specials will be launched during the festival.  The full agenda is not yet online but you can already get some inspiration in the blog on the website.  Madrid has been chosen as the first international city for the Swatch Cities project.  Swatch Cities is a contemporary urban creation platform developed by Swatch to find support for and bring attention to young creators in different cities around the world. Update:  On the first day of the festival (22-OCT), the seven watches of the SwatchXAristocrazy, SwatchXThyssen, and Boamistura collections were launched (see "Swatch Cities Madrid specials"). Here is a picture of the opening event with Swatch's VP and COO Gonzalo de Cevallos, In addition, Swatch Creative Director Carlo Giordanetti presented a special book vinyl record (back) about the festival.  Three Seven unique artist Maxis are also on display:  pic1 / pic2 / pic3 / pic4.  A few serigraphs and custom made Swatch bags (back) were also available.  Update 2: Schön! magazine has a very nice report about the Creative Natives Festival.   Thanks to Ricardo Rocha for the additional photos.
  
• 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!

• 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:

• PyeongChang 2018 Olympics Volunteer special Gent Snolympic (GZ312)
  
• 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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