Recent Swatch info (Last updated: 14-SEP-2023)

• 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:
• Château De Versailles SwatchXYou.  To celebrate 400 years of the magnificent Château de Versailles, Swatch has added three special SwatchXYou designs that capture its elegance and opulence to the Swatch Online store:  1. Architecture Versailles (canvas);  2. Characters Versailles (canvas);  3. Gardens Versailles (canvas).  Thanks to Joachim Meyer for the information.
• Hands-On with the Blancpain X Swatch. blancpainblog.com has an excellent and very detailed report Hands-On with the Blancpain X Swatch Scuba Fifty Fathoms (with lots of photos).  The watch case of the Blancpain X Swatch has the same shape as the Blancpain Fifty Fathoms 70th Anniversary Act 1 (ref. 5010A 1130 NABA, limited edition released in JAN-2023, 210 pcs in total).  Some more info about this Blancpain watch can be found here.
• Ed Sheeran wears a Blancpain X Swatch.  Two days after the launch of Blancpain X Swatch (=on 11-SEP), musician Ed Sheeran has been spotted wearing a blue Blancpain X Swatch Scuba Fifty Fathoms Atlantic Ocean.  Carlos Zanotelli even found a short video of Ed with his blue Swatch.  I assume that Ed did not have to queue last Saturday to get his Atlantic Ocean Swatch.
• Blancpain X Swatch on 09-SEP.  Swatch is teasing us again with newspaper full page ads around the world (video).  The ad indicates a new (scuba diving?) product ??? X Swatch to be released on 09-SEP.  Any guesses about the second ??? X Swatch collaboration?  I think that scuba.dou on Instagram has already solved the puzzle....  Update:  On Sunday (03-SEP), Swatch has published satellite photos of five oceans around the world (Arctic Ocean, Pacific Ocean, Atlantic Ocean, Indian Ocean, Antarctic Ocean):  Blancpain X Swatch will be launched on 09-SEP.  5 oceans:  I assume that we can expect five different Blancpain X Swatch watches.  Since Monday (04-SEP), a special orange Blancpain X Swatch suitcase (closed) is being shown in the shop windows of Swatch stores around the world.  So far, the script of the MoonSwatch launch is being followed.  This means that we can expect detailed reports with photos of the new Blancpain X Swatch collection by Hodinkee, Fratello Watches, ... on Thursday (07-SEP).  Update 2:   On 07-SEP, the Bioceramic Scuba Fifty Fathoms Collection was unveiled, it is "non-limited".  It consists of five mechanical watches with SISTEM51 movement:   1. Arctic Ocean (SO35N100);  2. Pacific Ocean (SO35P100);  3. Atlantic Ocean (SO35A100);  4. Indian Ocean (SO35I100); 5. Antarctic Ocean (SO35S100).  Price is $400 US / 390 EURO.  The backside of the watches is very nice:  The SISTEM51 movement is visible thanks to a transparent display back featuring an illustration of one of the five magnificent, colorful nudibranchs found in each of the five oceans.  Swatch went a bit crazy regarding the production codes this time:  N=North, P=Pacific, A=Atlantic, I=Indian, S=South; not indicating the colors as usual.  Also:  Pacific Ocean, Atlantic Ocean, Indian Ocean should have ....400, not ....100 as these three watches have a date window.  Find more details about the watches on Hodinkee.  On 09-SEP, sales started around the world in selected Swatch stores (with long queues as expected but better prepared this time).  It is estimated that about 20 watches were available for each model in each store, so about 100 in total per store.  In a nice unboxing video, you can discover the nice packaging with a colorful zipper (color is matching each watch).
• Giorgio Armani wears Swatch.  During a recent visit to the Venice Film Festival, fashion designer Giorgio Armani received a Golden Lion in Murano glass from Luigi Brugnaro, the Mayor of Venice.  Giorgia Armani is wearing a Skin Irony 42 Skinnavy (SS07S102).
• Collecting Swatch watches.  A light Sunday reading:  Squeaky colorful Swatch watches with collector value (in German).  Not sure about the last bit....
• Irony Diaphane Automatic Chronometer from 2009.  In 2009, Swatch has manufactured one of the most rare Swatch specials totally unknown so far:  For the Concours International de Chronométrie 2009 (in May) in Le Locle (Switzerland), a special Irony Diaphane Automatic Chronometer Concours International de Chronométrie 2009 (face of the watch, back of the watch) was manufactured, probably only a handful of pcs.  This Swatch Chronometer did not win the contest, here is a list of all partipants.  It seems that in later years (2011, 2013, 2015, 2019), Swatch did not participate at the contest.
• Mission To Neptune Moonshine Gold August Blue Moon.  The MoonSwatch Mission To Moonshine Gold will be sold on 30-AUG in 86 cities (99 Swatch stores) worldwide as announced by Swatch on Instagram.  Swatch has created a real surprise for the Blue Moon on 30-AUG.  This time, the MoonSwatch with the golden hands is based on the highly sought after Mission To Neptune:  Mission To Neptune Gold (30-AUG-2023) (SO33N101-108, closeup, certificate, special black/golden packaging).  Good luck in buying one of these...  Hodinkee has a small report about the unexpected Moonshine twist...  Update:  The hype is still alive:  Long queues around the world...  Estimated number of watches sold:  Torino 70 pcs, Biel 100 pcs, Toronto only 25 pcs.  Many people in the queue were not able to purchase a watch in several cities ("sold out!"), here is a report from Switzerland.
• Controversial report about Nick Hayek.  Inside Paradeplatz (a Swiss online magazine with lots of "insider" reports from Zurich) publishes a very controversial report (in German; "Missed every trend") about Nick Hayek Jr. (CEO of Swatch Group), initiated by the recent acquisition of Bucherer (watch retail stores) by Rolex.  Swatch Group already has a deep vertical integration with lots of brand exclusive stores around the world.  And we all know that maximum fast growth and an inflated share price is surely not "top of mind" of Nick Hayek but a stable business with secure jobs for the employees.
• Swatch Nines Green Hill Bikepark MTB special / event.  From 18 to 19-AUG, the Swatch Nines Beyond The Hill MTB Festival took place in Schmallenberg (Sauerland), Germany, with about 40 of the best MTB and Skateboard riders in the world participating.  There is a special webpage on the Swatch website about the event as well.  A special SwatchPAY! Swatch Nines MTB 2023 (SVIB105F-5300) was given to riders, journalists and about 25 Swatch Club members who were invited to Schmallenberg from 18 to 20-AUG.  The watch is limited to 130 pcs and here is an overview of the goodies that were distributed to club members.  Here is a report with a few photos / videos from the event, it was a great weekend.
• Swatch Swiss Canton Flags available.  The Swatch Swiss Cantons from 2002 (designed for Swiss Expo 2002), also to be found on the nice special Gent D’Schwizer (GZ286, more info) from 2013 are now available for purchase as "real flags" from Switzerland (1m x 1m or up to 2m x 2m).
• Thai politician Thaksin Shinawatra wears a MoonSwatch.  Former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who recently returned to Thailand from 15 years in self-exile, has been sentenced to eight years in prison by Thailand’s Supreme Court.  He was wearing a Patek Philippe grand complication while departing from Singapore.  However, upon arriving in Bangkok, he was seen sporting a MoonSwatch Mission To Mars.  Thanks to Carlos Zanotelli for the info.
• Ernst Thomke 1988 interview.  I just found a very interesting and long report/interview with "Dr. Swatch" Ernst Thomke ("Swatch" project lead at ETA) from APR-1988.  Be sure to check it out.  It is in German, hopefully Google Translate will do the job.  If you can send me an English translation:  I would be very happy.
• Nick Hayek speaks out against intolerance.  Malaysian Home Ministry Raids 11 Swatch Stores is the disturbing headline in several online news magazines around the world.  The Malaysian government has confiscated Swatch watches designed with a rainbow (possibly from Swatch's Pride Collection).  Swatch Group CEO Nick Hayek speaks out against this act of intolerance:  Swatch's Pride Collection watches are not a political statement.  "This is nothing political. We wonder how the Enforcement and Control Division at the Ministry of Home Affairs will confiscate the many beautiful natural rainbows that show up thousand of times a year in the sky of Malaysia."  Update:  Swatch sues Malaysia for seizure of Pride watches.  The purpose of this legal case is probably not only the amount of 64,795 ringgit ($14,250.05 US) for the watches alone...  Update 2: "Swatch Pride watches banned, owning one can lead to 3 years' jail" (10-AUG).  What a shame, unacceptable...    Thanks to Carlos Zanotelli and to Janson for the information.
• French Riviera Destination special.  A new Swatch Destination special is available since 03-AUG:  New Gent Bioceramic Le Chant Des Cigales (SO29Z131, 95 EURO) is Destination special #82 and it can be bought on the French Riviera (Côte d’Azur), try one of the stores in Nizza, Nizza Airport, Cannes, Antibes.  Thanks to Bruno Mahier for the photos.
• New Swatch Amsterdam store.  A new Swatch boutique (no longer a store?) has opened its doors in Amsterdam (P.C. Hoofstraat).  Check out the report on Fratello for photos.  Thanks to Jan Molenaar for the info.
  
• Swatch What If? collection.  What if the first Swatch had been square? As an unusual (and a bit late) celebration for the 40th anniversary of Swatch, Swatch has unveiled a brand new playful product line of Square watches during the traditional Gold & Pioneer Swatch Club event in Laax (Switzerland) on 27-JUL.  The What If? collection consists of four Bioceramic Swatch watches and it is introduced with an superb "alternate reality" video.  Don't miss it!  Check out also the "story behind the collection" on the Swatch website, explaining how a prototype from 1981 (photo taken at Blum collection auction in 2011, photo album) was released almost unchanged as a real Swatch 42 years later... The sale of the new collection will start on 01-AUG (Swiss National Day), priced at 105 EURO per watch.  There are a lot of interesting details in this new product line:  edge to edge glass, a very special "playful" battery cover that refers to the original 1983 collection, Bioceramic material with a design that refers to (a different) 80s Swatch, ... The four watches (33mm x 33 mm) in the collection are:  1. What If ... Green? (SO34G700, more details);  2. What If ... Gray? (SO34M700, more details);  3. What If ... Black? (SO34B700, more details);  4. What If ... Beige? (SO34T700, more details).  Update: The attachment of the strap at the case of the square watch case is not the typical Swatch design anymore as the old Square watches had a lot of problems in that area (many broken cases, unlike the Gent Swatch watches which almost never break).  The Hodinkee report shows a What If ... Black? stamped "not for sale" on the back!
• G&P Summer Camp Gold & Pioneer Event.  The traditional Gold & Pioneer Swatch Club event took place from 27 to 28-JUL in Laax, Switzerland.  Swatch had invited(!) 124 Club members from all over the world for a G&P Summer Camp event around the rocksresort in Laax, Switzerland.  The highlight of the event was the world exclusive premiere of the new Swatch What If? collection presented by Carlo Giordanetti (CEO of the Swatch Art Peace Hotel) and Alain Villard (CEO of Swatch).  Each invited club member received a SwatchXYou special Gold & Pioneer Laax July 2023 (SUOK145-053) as a gift during the event as well as several Swatch goodies.   Here is a report with many photos from two fantastic days in Laax. 
• Mission To Moonshine Gold August BUCK Moon Swiss National Day.  The MoonSwatch Mission To Moonshine Gold (SO33M102) will be sold on 01-AUG in 85 cities (97 Swatch stores, screenshot) worldwide as announced by Swatch on Instagram.  In some countries, the sale will be on 02-AUG (eg. in most Swiss stores due to Swiss National Day).  The first August version of Mission To Moonshine Gold might refer to the Buck Moon: Full Moon in July 2023 (the second hands were produced during the July Full Moon).  But this time, Swatch has a surprise for the collectors:  The golden seconds hand shows an emblematic Swiss lantern pattern (01-AUG is Swiss National Day):  Mission To Moonshine Gold (AUG-2023) (SO33M102-108, closeup).
• Locarno Film Festival 2023 special.  A special New Gent Swatch Locarno76 (SO29Z401, 110 CHF) for the 76th Locarno Film Festival 2023 (02 to 12-AUG) is now on sale in Switzerland, also in the Swatch online store; unlike last year [Switzerland only]:  this time available online in many countries. The special is packaged in a paper box.  The great watch design is by the British artist duo Ciaren and Sarah Diante.  There is a special section about the Locarno Film Festival on the Swatch website, including some info about the Swatch Studios which make its grand debut just steps from the Piazza Grande in Locarno during the Film Festival:  You can also discover a retrospective of past Locarno Film Festival Swatch models while enjoying a taste of life in the spotlight at a photo platform built like a film set!
• US Swatch Auction.  Swatches: The Collection of Esther Montagner (Swatch Club Pioneer member) on 19-JUL is a celebration not only of one collector's zeal and dedication, but of the history and lore of the Swatch universe.  The auction with more than 900+ new and unworn Swatch watches (302 lots) will take place in Los Angeles.  Update:  The auction was a huge success (snapshot) with 99% of the 303 lots sold in 5 hours and 30 minutes (Sale total $139,645 US, 101% by value).  A lot of very high results with different artist watches (eg. Mimmo Rotella set (GZS04):  $882 US).  This was probably due to the excellent presentation of the Swatch collection on the LAMA website.
  
• Summer Flowers SwatchXYou.  A collection of six different Summer Flowers SwatchXYou watches is now available in the Swatch Online Store:  1. Tulipgradient (photo);   2. Sunflowergradient (photo);  3. Marigoldvertical (photo);  4. Daisyvertical (photo);  5. Dahliagradient (photo);  6. Clematisvertical (photo).  In contrast to most previous SwatchXYou, you can choose only the background color this time (design is probably cheaper :-)
• Tokyo Olympics 2020 IOC Irony SISTEM 51 special.  A nice Tokyo Olympics 2020 IOC special (with the olympic rings on the dial) has surfaced:  An Irony SISTEM51 Sistem Kaki IOC (YIZ408GB).  The watch is a SISTEM51 Sistem Kaki (YIS407G) with a special imprint on the back of the watch case: "Limited Edition 2020".  The guarantee is stamped 23-JUN-2021.
• Big Bold Irony.  Finally, after several delays, Swatch has released the new product line Big Bold Irony on 06-JUL.  Swatch has posted a teaser video on Instagram.  Some stills from the video:  shape of the watch / closeup 1 / closeup 2 / clasp.  The watch in the teaser video differs from photos that were previously circulating on the Internet:  The earlier rumoured Big Bold Irony watches had colorful dials (think of eg. Nomos).  Update:  A japanese press release (translation) has a lot more details: Big Bold Irony is a combination of Bioceramic with stainless steel, this has never been done before by Swatch.  The first collection consists of five watches:  Dark Irony (SB07S105), Azure Blue Daze (SB07S106), Red Juicy (SB07S110), Mint Trim (SB07S111), and Bolden Yellow (SB07S109).  The weight of each Big Bold Irony is 108 gram and the price is 190 EURO.  On 07-SEP, the second Big Bold Irony collection consisting of five additional watches will be released (it is the long rumored collection with the colorful dials).  The five watches are:  1. Aqua Shimmer (turquoise);  2. Forest Face (dark green);  3. Indigo Hour (navy blue);  4. Amber Sheen (amber);  5. Scarlet Shimmer (burgundy).  Here is a short video from a press launch event in Portugal on 05-JUL.
• Europa Star archive reports.  Europa Star is a Swiss watch magazine, reporting for more than 95 years about watches from all around the world (with an emphasis on Switzerland).  Several great reports about Swatch with lots of rare photos can be found in the archives:  1. A first look at the Swatch watch in 1982/83 (superb, dont miss it!);  2. Debunking the Quartz Crisis (late 70s / early 80s);   3. A history of watch advertising: 1980-1989.
• Chinese vintage Swatch video.  If you speak Chinese, here is an interesting video on a popular YouTube channel featuring several vintage Swatch watches (Keith Haring, Tresor Magique, ...).  Hopefully, the Swatch collecting virus will spread further around the world :-)
• Mission To Moonshine Gold July STRAWBERRY Full Moon.  The MoonSwatch Mission To Moonshine Gold (SO33M102) was sold on 03-JUL in 82 cities (96 Swatch stores, screenshot) worldwide as announced by Swatch on Instagram.  The July version of Mission To Moonshine Gold refers to the Strawberry Moon: Full Moon in June 2023 (the second hands were produced during the June Full Moon).  The golden seconds hand shows a few small red strawberries:  Mission To Moonshine Gold (JUL-2023) (SO33M102-107, closeup, special certificate).
• Italy Swatch Auction.  Another large Swatch collection of 514 lots will be auctioned in Italy on 06-JUL.
  
• Swatch Group Apprenticeship graduation 2023 special.  During a celebration event, each one of the 158 apprentices of the different Swatch Group companies received a Swatch Group Apprenticeship graduation 2023 special (with a Big Bold Swatch watch included).
  
• New York City Art Journey Club event.  Thomas Chan sent me photos and a short report from the Swatch Art Journey Club Event in New York City on 10 and 11-MAY.
• Saype @ Zurich Art Weekend.  On 09-JUN, French land artist Saype was present at the Zurich Art Weekend, in the contemporary art center Löwenbräukunst.  At 5pm, a Swatch Art Talk with Saype and Carlo Giordanetti (CEO of the Swatch Art Peace Hotel) was held (full video).  Carlos Zanotelli has send me a few photos from the event, the last blurry photo shows the famous Swiss Art Collector Uli Sigg, former Swiss ambassador to China.
• Black Rebel Again.  The classic New Gent Black Rebel (SUOB702) from 2010 has been reissued as a Bio-sourced New Gent Black Rebel Again (SO29B706, 85 EURO). Thanks to Alain Choisy for the information.
  
• Grand Prix craze reloaded.  Leonardo Bonucci of Italy national football team has been spotted wearing the new Swatch Neon To The Max inspired by the 90s Swatch Chrono Grand Prix (SCJ101, 1992).  No wonder that Neon To The Max is sold out in the Swatch Italy online store.
• Swatch x Jean-Michel Basquiat tram.  A Swatch x Jean-Michel Basquiat tram has been spotted in Basel (Switzerland).  Thanks to Carlos Zanotelli for the photo.
  
• Canada Eh Pay Destination special.  A new Swatch Destination special is available since 15-JUN:  New Gent Bioceramic Canada Eh Pay (SO29Z122-5300, $120 CAD) is Destination special #81 and it can be bought in Canada only.  It is the first Destination special with SwatchPAY! function.  So far, SwatchPAY! is not available in Canada, maybe it will be introduced soon.
• Nike SB 20 years special.  A very cool Nike SB 20 years special B2B New Gent has surfaced.  The watch was released by Nike SB (Nike Skateboarding) and it is a New Gent XX-Rated Black (SUOB402) from 2018 with a special new strap in a very cool packaging.  It was issued for the 20 Years of Nike SB exhibition in 2022, it was given to "Friends & Family" and people involved in the exhibition.   Thanks to Liam Stone for the photo.
  
• Italy State Police special.  A special Gent Polizia (GN252C) has been released in 2022 by the Italian State Police.  It is a Gent Blueway (GN252) with a special strap.  Thanks to Paolo Monfardini for the photo.
• Mission To Moonshine Gold June FLOWER Full Moon.  The MoonSwatch Mission To Moonshine Gold (SO33M102) will be sold on 03-JUN in 77(!!) cities (92 Swatch stores) worldwide as announced by Swatch on Instagram.  The full list of participating Swatch stores can be found on the Swatch website.  The local starting time is not mentioned on the website, so I assume that it will be available as soon as the store opens!?!?  Due to the high number of participating Swatch stores, it is expected that the number of watches per store is not as high as in previous months, so the watches may sell out fast!  Update:  France / Paris is not listed in the full list of participating Swatch stores but there will be a special Mission To Moonshine event at Trocadéro (Paris) on 04-JUN at 8pm.  Update 2: The June version of Mission To Moonshine Gold refers to the Flower Moon: Full Moon in May 2023 (the second hands were produced during the May Full Moon).  The golden seconds hand shows an engraved flower pattern:  Mission To Moonshine Gold (JUN-2023) (SO33M102-106, closeup, special certificate).
• Italian Destination specials available online.  From 02 to 04-JUN (celebration of Festa della Repubblica (Republic Day) on 02-JUN), eight Destination specials from Italy are available in the Swatch Italy online store:  Love In Verona, Colosseo, Acquagranda, Vacanze Romane, Quadrilatero, Tutta Mia La Citta, Selflorence, Azzurrissimo.

• 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