Stay tuned to Swatch - Archive 2017

This page does not contain any fancy pictures but I hope to provide some substantial information for collectors. If you want to see some pictures of interesting swatches then go to my virtual swatch museum. Although I am probably a bit biased, it is highly recommended , especially the section about special packagings.

news from 2017 are below:

Portuguese Xmas shopping events. Two Swatch events took place in Portugal shortly after Xmas: The first one on 27-DEC at the Norte Shopping Center in Oporto and the second one on 28-DEC at the Colombo Shopping Center in Lisbon. The first 15 customers buying a SwatchXYou could participate at a private concert after Midnight in the Shopping center. The artists were Paulo Sousa and Angie. Thanks to Pedro Mota for the information and pictures.
Swatch Brand Ambassador from China. Karry Wang (Wang Junkai) is the singer of the Chinese boy band TFBOYS. He is now a brand ambassador for Swatch (#SwatchXKarryWang). Here is a welcome video and there is also a Wang Junkai Selection in the Swatch China online store. Thanks to Sophia Chang for the information.
Shanghai Destination watches exhibition. An exhitibition of 44 Destination specials (I only have 43 in my list?!?) will be shown on 12-JAN-2018 at the Shanghai Swatch Art Peace Hotel. Thanks to Sophia Chang for the information.
Cartoon Network 25th anniversary special. For its 25th anniversary, Cartoon Network has released a special Gent Swatch 25 Years CN. The watch looks like a Gent Off The Grill (GW704) from 2014 with a special strap. Thanks to Fabien Perissinotto for the hint.
Portuguese Docinho special packaging. Do you remember the Gent Docinho (GZ309), a Portuguese charity special from 2016? A new special packaging of the watch is now available. Here is a picture of the back and here is a video showing the details of the packaging. The special packaging costs 140 EURO and it is available in two series, all packagings are numbered: The first series is numbered xx/35, the second series is numbered xxx/115. Thanks to Pedro Mota for the information and pictures.
Swatch Club Moscow Holiday event / special. The traditional Swatch Club 2017 Xmas Holiday Event took place from 07 to 10-DEC in Moscow, Russia. Finally, a Xmas event in the cold with some snow... About 130 club members from all around the world (17 countries including Switzerland, Italy, Germany, France, USA, Bora Bora(!), ...) participated at the fantastic event with lots of cultural activities and even more special parties. A detailed report about the event will follow soon. The participants at the event received many goodies (including huge Valenki Boots!) and also a special POP swatch: Zolotaja Moja Moskva (PNZ700S, "My Gold Moscow"). The watch is limited and numbered to 200 pcs. Update: Here is a detailed report about the Swatch Club Moscow Holiday event 2017 with many pictures!
#SwatchXHodinkee SISTEM51 special. Hodinkee is an almost 10 year old online magazine featuring in-depth reviews, critiques, and reports on watches of a particularly high quality. Now Swatch has collaborated with Hodinkee and a new, limited SISTEM51 Hodinkee Vintage 84 (SUTZ402) is now available (almost) exclusively through the Hodinkee shop for $150 US. This blog article describes in great detail the story of the collaboration. So Swatch continues to release watches that are "influenced" by different famous Gent watches from the 80s: Black Divers (GB704) from 1984 is clearly the inspiration for Hodinkee Vintage 84. Here is a picture of the back of the SISTEM51 watch. The watch is packaged in a plastic display box with a co-branded Hodinkee and Swatch slip cover. The watch can be preordered now, shipping date is 12-DEC. Additionally, starting 12-DEC, a limited quantity will be available in-store at the Swatch Times Square flagship boutique in New York City. This watch is not a strictly numbered edition, but quantities are limited. It is rumoured that 3500 pcs have been made (3000 for the Hodinkee online store, 500 for the Times Square store). Looks like a great collaboration with lots of attention to the details! Here is a great interview with Swatch Creative Director Carlo Giordanetti about the watch (also with lots of video snippets from the production of the watch). If you are Swatch Club member from the US, you will receive a personalized gift if you preorder through Times Square store. Update: The watch seems to be a big success: Lots of press reports (handelszeitung.ch, bilanz.ch, businessinsider.com, hypebeast.com), lots of instagram posts, ... Update 2: After two days, Hodinkee Vintage 84 seems to be sold out at the Hodinkee shop but you can still join the wait list. Apparently, they sold 3000 watches in two days! A big success... Update 3: Come to the HodinkeeXSwatch launch at the Times Square Swatch store in New York City on 12-DEC, 12.30am. The last pieces of the limited edition are sold there starting today. Also, the first Swatch collectors received their SISTEM51 Hodinkee Vintage 84 special. It comes in a special paper sleeve with a nice card. Swatch Proteam member Tia Blanco also joined the launch of SISTEM51 Hodinkee Vintage 84 special in New York. Here is a nice 360° video of her wearing the watch. Update 4: HODINKEE has published a nice photo report about the Swatch Sistem51 HODINKEE Vintage 84 Launch Event In New York City. Collectors who ordered from the Time Square Swatch store, received some nice goodies with their watches: A special black SwatchXHodinkee bag, Swatch sunglasses, a notebook, and a small gift box. Update 5: The watch is now fetching big bucks on the secondary market, a huge success. Here is a nice review in a UK magazine.
Open Access BPO special. The Philippines outsourcing company Open Access BPO has released two special Swatch watches Open Access BPO 10th Anniversary. The first one is a Gent Snowcovered (GK733J), the other is a New Gent Be Charged (SUOB401?). Both watches have a special strap and they are packaged in a nice paper sleeve. Thanks to Fabien Perissinotto for the hint.
Riri anniversary special. For the 80th anniversary of the Swiss zipper company Riri, a special Chrono Plastic Riri 80th Anniversary (SUSR400I) has been distributed in 2016.
Valentine's Day special 2018. The Valentine's Day special 2018 is a Gent called Hearty Love (GZ314S). It is limited and numbered to 7654 pcs and it is packaged in a nice numbered box with lots of hearts. The watch had already been distributed during the Swatch Takes Madrid company meeting (25 to 27-OCT) and it has been designed by fashion designer Agatha Ruiz de la Prada.
Milan #SwatchXYou holiday tram. You can spot the unique #SwatchXYou Holiday tram in Milan (Italy) until 07-JAN. On 09-DEC, Swatch collectors were invited for a special ride on the tram. Some special #SwatchXYou giveaways were distributed.
Swatch Artist specials in Miami. Swatch Club members had a chance to see nineteen Swatch artist specials in a small exhibition at Pérez Art Museum Miami Art Fair Survival Party in Miami, FL. Here is short video from the event. Eligible members received a coveted Art Fair Survival Kit. The exhibition included rare Swatch watches by Alessandro Mendini and the works of Kenny Scharf, Sam Francis, Nam June Paik, Paola Navone and Ian Davenport (so not the super rare stuff :-) There was also live art (painting / decoration of a Maxi swatch) by Brian Butler (another video).
Isidor Xmas special sale in Switzerland. On 02-DEC, the Isidor (SUOZ260S) Xmas special was sold in the stores in Switzerland. 400 pcs in total, 30 pcs in Berne. There even was a small queue at the store. A small Isidor lollipop cake was handed out to customers who purchased Isidor. Thanks to Bernd Eigler for the information and picture.
Nick Hayek interview. Here is an interesting interview with Swatch Group CEO Nick Hayek in the German Manager Magazin. Money Quote: "You want to ask when I die?"
Small Swatch exhibition in Korean Swatch store. Here is a nice small Swatch exhibition in a Korean Swatch store (several pictures!).
Isidor Xmas events in Germany. Two small Isidor (SUOZ260S) Xmas events are taking place in Germany: Swatch Store Hannover (07-DEC at 4pm) and Swatch Store Heidelberg (09-DEC at 3pm). A free gift (a paper Isidor) is waiting for store visitors on that day.
Santa Swatch voting / special. "Swatch Santa has a surprise for you." Starting 02-OCT, you can vote for your favourite Santa Swatch on the official Swatch website! This has never been done before with a Swatch watch! Update: According to the newsletter, we are voting for the strap only, perhaps only for the lower part (the nice teaser design already shows the upper part). Update 2: The voting is live now (until 15-OCT)! As expected, you can only vote for the lower strap: 1. Santajocks; 2. Santattoo; 3. Santascot (my favourite [beer!]); 4. Santascoot. According to the Terms & Conditions: 10 winners will receive the Santa Watch which received the most votes during the voting period. The most voted watch will be produced and sold online only. Update 3: Santajocks is the winner (with 32% of the votes). Santajocks will be produced in 1500 pcs worldwide and sold online only starting 30-NOV. Update 4: Here is a picture of the actual Santajocks (SUOZ403) watch. The watch is packaged in a paper sleeve and it costs 75 EURO. It is not numbered (neither on the watch nor on the packaging). Get yours on 30-NOV starting 2pm CET, online only! Update 5: Santajocks is was now available in the Swatch Online store. After 3 days, the watch is SOLD OUT!
Swatch Xmas Tree @ GUM Moscow. Here is a nice Swatch Xmas Tree at the big department store GUM in Moscow (until 25-JAN).
Ian Davenport Maxi? This newspaper report has a nice story about Ian Davenport and his hugely successful artist Swatch watch Wide Acres Of Time. I wonder what happened to the three white Maxi Swatch watches shown on a picture in the article...
#SwatchXme bus advertisement. A huge #SwatchXMe advertisement can now be seen on a bus (several?) in London.
Mystery Vintage specials 2017. As in the last years, Swatch is selling Mystery Vintage Boxes containing three Swatch watches (eg.a Gent, a Jelly In Jelly, and a Scuba Libre) for a very competitive price ($70 US / 65 EURO) during the cyber shopping week. This year, the boxes are available almost worldwide. In Europe (eg. UK, Germany, Switzerland), there are three boxes: 1. Mystery Vintage Box Orange 2017 (SZS010, back of the box); 2. Mystery Vintage Box Blue 2017 (SZS011); 3. Mystery Vintage Box Red 2017 (SZS012). In Asia (eg. Japan), there are six boxes: 1. Mystery Vintage Box Blue 2017 (SZS005); 2. Mystery Vintage Box Red I 2017 (SZS009); 3. Mystery Vintage Box Blue 2017 (SZS004); 4. Mystery Vintage Box Orange II 2017 (SZS002); 5. Mystery Vintage Box Orange III 2017 (SZS003); 6. Mystery Vintage Box Blue 2017 (SZS006). The USA has eight different sets: 1. Mystery Vintage Box Blue 2017 (SZS005); 2. Mystery Vintage Box Blue 2017 (SZS004); 3. Mystery Vintage Box Orange III 2017 (SZS003); 4. Mystery Vintage Box Red 2017 (SZS014); 5. Mystery Vintage Box Orange I 2017 (SZS001); 6. Mystery Vintage Box Blue 2017 (SZS006); 7. Mystery Vintage Box Orange II 2017 (SZS002); 8. Mystery Vintage Box Red I 2017 (SZS009).
Swatch no longer sponsors Beach Volleyball. Recently, Swatch has stopped the sponsoring of a few sport events, eg. there is no mentioning of Swatch anymore on the website of the Freeride World Tour. Additionally, Swatch no longer sponsors the Beach Volleyball Major Series. According to this press release: "The [ Hamburg World Tour Finals 2017 ] event marked the final tournament with title sponsors Swatch." Swatch has been a looong time sponsor of different Beach Volleyball events so this is sad news. But you can watch The Drone Racing League instead...
Keith Haring Swatch posters in Hamburg. Recently, the exhibition Keith Haring. Posters presented 100 posters by Keith Haring at the Museum für Kunst und Gewerbe Hamburg (MKG). The exhibition also included two well known Swatch posters: 1. Swatch World Breakdance Championship 1985; 2. the more rare "introducing 3 new watches" poster also from 1986.
#SwatchXMe lucky wheel in Paris. You can now turn the #SwatchXMe lucky wheel on the streets in Paris.
Swatch in the movies. Yasmin Galea found a Swatch watch in the recent Stranger Things 2 TV series. A Yellow Racer Gent from 1984?
Xintiandi Swatch store. A Swatch store in a new design has opened in Xintiandi (shopping, eating and entertainment district of Shanghai). It looks as cool as some Apple stores. Here are a few more pictures.
Christmas Collection. The Swatch homepage now features a special page about the Swatch Christmas collection 2017. The collection includes the season special Isidor (SUOZ260S), a funny X-mas Game, the Santa watch Santajocks (available online only starting 30-NOV), and more...
List of Destination specials. Here is a (hopefully complete) list of the 43 Destination specials so far. Please send me additions / corrections.
Ai Weiwei in Lausanne. Chinese artist Ai Weiwei is currently featured in an exhibition in Lausanne, Switzerland (until 28-JAN-2018). On some of the photos in the exhibition, you can clearly see that he is wearing different Swatch watches. Thanks to Yannick Durand for the hint.
Swatch X You Seasons special set. A Swatch X You Seasons special set (GZS69) will be sold in Switzerland probably worldwide in selected stores (eg. 210 pcs for Switzerland, only 20 for Germany), starting 09-NOV, retail price is 140 CHF or 16200 JPY (approx. 123 EURO). The box can only be bought if you are a club member (so maybe this is a special that can be considered as second club special). The box contains two new Gent Swatch X You watches (a red (HGR176) and a white (HGW195)), three straps (red, green and white), and six loops. All parts of the box are also available for purchase individually. The box is limited to 3000 pcs (unnumbered) and it is also available in the online store. Update: You get a nice gift with purchase in the Swiss Swatch stores (a peeler in either red or green). Thanks to Alain Choisy for the information and to Yannick Durand and to Fabien Perissinotto for the pictures.
Xmas special(s) 2017. During a Swatch event in Paris, an Xmas related New Gent Swatch was shown. Is it the Xmas special for 2017? Update: It seems that Swatch will release three Xmas related specials in 2017: The Swatch Santa special, the New Gent Swatch, and a Swatch X You Xmas related watch... Update 2: The name of the Xmas special is Isidor (SUOZ260S) and it is limited to 8888 pcs, price is 63.50 GBP. The watch is packaged in a special box shaped in the form of a carrot. Here is a nice poster promoting Isidor.
Swatch X You for Brussels Fashion Days. Dino found a photo of nice customized (special "BFD2017" loop!) Swatch X You watches for the Brussels Fashion Days 2017. Update: Swatch designer and fashion designer Agatha Ruiz de la Prada also tried Swatch X You at the Brussels Fashion Days 2017.
Chinese Year Of The Dog special. 2018 is the Year of the Dog according to the Chinese calendar. As in the last years, Swatch will release a special Swatch: A New Gent Swatch Woof (SUOZ266) packaged in a nice special packaging.
Swatch Club at Biennale 2017. On 28-OCT, about 40 international members of Swatch Club participated at a day with Swatch Club and Carlo Giordanetti in Venice at La Biennale Arte 2017. Here are more pictures from the day (Instagram story by Swatch Club). Update: Here are the "official" pictures by Swatch Club. Thanks a lot to Christine Tanner for the report and pictures.
Swatch at Biennale 2017. As in the last years, Swatch is again the main partner of the 57th international art exhibition Biennale Arte 2017 in Venice, Italy (13-MAY to 26-NOV). Swatch will present four artists who had an artist residency at the Swatch Art Peace Hotel and some more spectacular artworks. Update: Swatch Faces 2017 at La Biennale will feature the following four artists: Rodan Kane Hart from South Africa, Jinhua Yuan from China, Virginie Litzler from France and Cedric Van Parys from Belgium. Update 2: The official press conference with Swatch was on 11-MAY, the official Swatch webpage has all the details about the huge Swatch presence at La Biennale. As a celebration of Biennale Arte 2017's VIVA ARTE VIVA theme, Swatch created a special Gent Viva Arte (GN718E). It is now available in many Italian Swatch stores. Update 3: As in the last years, volunteers working at the Biennale Arte 2017 received a special New Gent Swatch. Biennale Arte 2017 Volunteer (SUON709C). The watch is a New Gent Bellablu (SUON709) with a special strap and packaged in a nice paper sleeve. The watch is not available for sale. Thanks to Christine Tanner for the pictures.
Fin D'Apprentissage special. Here is a very nice Fin D'Apprentissage / Lehrabschluss special from Swatch Group Switzerland in 2016 (finish of apprenticeship). Here is a picture of the back of the unique(?) special.
Swatch collection on Swedish TV. Meanwhile, Swatch collections can be found in TV collectible / junk shows (such as Antiques Roadshow). Here is an example from Swedish Television.
Valentine 2018 special / "Swatch takes Madrid" version. During a Swatch company meeting (KMM2017) in Madrid (#swatchtakesmadrid, 25 to 27-OCT), the valentine special for 2018 (a Gent Swatch in a special box limited to 7654 pcs, numbered; designed by Agatha Ruiz de la Prada?) was distributed in a special "Madrid" version. Here is a picture of the complete #swatchtakesmadrid package handed out to event participants and here is a closeup of the watch face. This watch from Madrid is surely special as it has two special loops: One with the Spanish flag and one with "Madrid" inscription. Thanks to Dino for the picture.
Wheel Animal original design. The original design by Not Vital from 1987(!) of the 700 year Switzerland Swatch watch Wheel Animal (GZ120) from 1991 is currently on display at the Bündner Kunstmuseum in Chur, Switzerland. Thanks to Christine Tanner for the picture.
Mystery Vintage sets for 2017. Nine different Mystery Vintage sets of three Swatch watches will be available soon in the USA. Usually, the price for these sets is really low (less than $100 US for three watches). This time, the sets will contain a mixture of watch types (eg. older Chrono Plastic + Gent + Lady or Scuba Libre + Puzzle Motion + Square etc.).
Hudson's Bay Netherlands special. The Canadian department store chain Hudson's Bay recently opened new stores in the Netherlands, eg. Maastricht, Breda and Amsterdam. They have now released a New Gent special Hudson's Bay, limited to 500 pcs (the numbering is on a little piece of paper inside the box, so not officially numbered by Swatch). The watch is a White Rebel New Gent with a special strap and it is packaged in a custom paper sleeve. The watch costs 70 EURO and it is also available online (shipping to the Netherlands only I guess). Thanks to Anja Beckers Rings for the picture.
Cebu lechon Philippines special. Here is a report about a special Cebu lechon Swatch loop that is exclusively available on the Philippines. Cebu Lechon is a very popular dish (with pigs) on the Philippines.
Swatch & Art in Paris. New Swatch promotion: Until 20-OCT, you can discover limited edition artist watches at the Swatch store 17 Rue Des Francs-bourgeois in Paris. On sale are limited edition watches from the famous tattoo artist Tin-Tin Tattoo (from Paris), fashion designer Jeremy Scott and singers Jain and Mika, plus so much more! No Kiki Picasso or Mimmo Paladino available, though.
Swatch dummies at Victoria & Albert Museum. Six Swatch dummies (Jelly Fish Gent and Lady, Techno Sphere, ...) from the mid 80s are on (permanent?) display at the Victoria & Albert Museum in London. A small sign explains some details about these dummies. Thanks to Max Cheslow for the pictures.
China Destination specials. Four new Destination specials for China are available already / will be released soon: 1. Macau: #LOVEMACAU (SUOZ267, available, on the right); 2. Chengdu: Land Of Plenty (SUOZ270, available since 30-AUG); 3. Shanghai: A Night In Shanghai (SUOZ271, will be released soon); 4. Beijing: Beijing Opera (SUOZ272, available since 30-AUG). Thanks to Fabien Perissinotto and to Edward Chung for the information and picture and to Sophia Chang for the picture.
Destination Amsterdam special. The launch party for the Destination Amsterdam special took place on 27-SEP in Amsterdam. The Destination Amsterdam special is called Tulpen Uit XXX (SUOZ714), it is packaged in the well known paper sleeve. Price is 80 EURO. As usual, the watch is available in the Swatch stores in Amsterdam only. Update: Some impressions from the launch party can be found at swatch.stawi.de and on the Swatch NL Facebook page.
Tokyo Destination specials. On 30-SEP, Swatch will celebrate the 10th anniversary of the famous "Swatch Boutique Ginza" in Tokyo. The store has been renovated for this anniversary. Two Tokyo Destination Gent specials will be released on the anniversary: 1. Edo Night (GZ315, packaged in the well known Destination paper sleeve); 2. Nandeyanen (GB247V, a Colour Code Gent Black Suit (GB247) with a nice new special strap). Each watch costs 8640 JPY (approx. 65 EURO). As a special promotion for the reopening, the first 300 pcs of Edo Night will be sold with two special loops "Ginza" and "NGHC". In addition, a special Swatch tote bag is available for the first 300 customers who purchase a Swatch watch at the renovated store. On 30-SEP, popular illustrator Chocomoo (Mr. Chocomoo) will welcome customers and enhance Swatch watches and bags with a nice drawing. Update: Here is a short video from the inside of the new Swatch store. Update 2: Mr. Chocomo painted a large wall design in the store and a special Maxi Swatch (not for sale, closeup). Later during the night, Swatch had organized a Edo Night Club Party (video). Thanks to Fabri for the hint and to Sophia Chang for the pictures.
Pyeongchang 2018 Olympic specials. The first two Swatch watches for the Pyeongchang 2018 Olympic Winter Games have appeared on instagram: 1. Petits Batons 2018 (SUOZ277); 2. Star Games (GZ317). Both watches are not limited and they will be available worldwide at the usual price (70 / 50 EURO in Europe). Thanks to Fabri and Nicolò for the hint.
Original design for Kostabi Swatch. Here is the original painting (very large, oil) by Mark Kostabi for the strap of the Gent artist Swatch Twelve Apostles (GB156) from 1994. Spectacular!
Keith Haring Knokke 1987 Swatch Maxi. Keith Haring stayed at the sea in Knokke, Belgium, during the summer of 1987. He created a lot of artworks during the summer, including painting a huge container which was sold for 1 Mio. EURO recently (after vanishing for almost 20 years). He also created a special decoration of a Swatch Maxi Vasily, a unique piece! If you have approx. $19,000 US, you can also buy a unique handpainted skateboard on ebay.
Nicolas G. Hayek Center opening press special. You probably know the Nicolas G. Hayek Center opening special (SUMK103D) from 2007 (limited to 300 pcs). A very rare press packaging of this special also exists. The watch is packaged in a unique plastic box in the design of the Nicolas G. Hayek Center. The plastic box is packaged (with a CD-ROM and some printed information) in a special paper box. with the imprint "Nicolas G. Hayek Center / Swatch Group". This press packaging was found in Switzerland and the text of the printed information is in English.
Massimo Giacon Maxi painting in Treviso. On 23-SEP, Swatch designer Massimo Giacon painted some Maxi Swatches at the Swatch Store in Treviso. In the 90s, he designed seven Swatch watches (Gulp!!!, Crash!!!, ...).
SISTEM51 test watches? An ebay seller offers a special version of the first four SISTEM51 watches: He claims that these are test watches. The difference to the regular watches is a frosted backside of the case. I am very sceptical about this as it looks very homemade. But the watch has a special SUTS401Z sticker on the paper sleeve of the plastic box (regular ref.no. is SUTS401). The 'Z' might denote some kind of speciality. Update: These are official Swatch watches (the frosted backside has officially been manufactured by Swatch). My assumption is as follows: The very first SISTEM51 watches (maybe the first batch only) occasionally had problems with small cracks in the turning disc on the back. Due to the frosted backside, the cracks are no longer visible if they exist :-)
MoMA specials. Two special MoMA Swatch watches (two Gent with special MoMA loops around the strap) are now available in the online design store of the MoMA (Museum of Modern Art) in New York City. The watches are packaged in a special paper sleeve with the picture of the watch: Black watch and sleeve / white watch and sleeve. I don't know if these two Swatch specials are related to the upcoming Items: Is Fashion Modern? exhibition in October, see here for more details.
Bürgenstock Swatch store. The 5 star luxury hotel & resort Bürgenstock recently opened its doors to the public sensationally situated above Lake Lucerne. The resort also includes a large Swatch store with a special room dedicated to SISTEM51 and an exihibition with artworks by Mika, former residents of the Swatch Art Peace Hotel, Peter Fonda and more... The exhibition also includes the countdown clock to the Expo 2015 in Milano and eight super large Kidrobot dunnys. Christine Tanner sent me a few great pictures from the Swatch store, thanks a lot!
AIM Global specials. In 2015, the MLM company Alliance In Motion Global, Inc. from the Philippines released two special Swatch watches. A AIM Global Maxi also seems to exist. No further info so far. Thanks to Fabri for the hint.
Stacy Peralta and Swatch. Former professional skateboarder and surfer Stacy Peralta is portrayed in the magazine Off Camera, issue 010. On the cover of the magazine, he wears a Swatch Iroty Black Sceptre (YNS400). Thanks to Lauren Stefani for the information.
Swatch X You Taiwan specials. On 16-SEP, a Swatch X You VIP event took place at the Port23 restaurant in Taipei, Taiwan. Swatch X You will be available starting 21-SEP in Taiwan. During the VIP event, collectors were able to get a special blue or pink box as a gift with purchase upon purchase of three Swatch X You New Gent or Gent. The boxes are limited to approx. 300 pcs (not numbered). Here is a picture of the opened box (empty box). Sophia Chang has many more pictures from the VIP event. Thanks to Sophia Chang for the information and pictures.
Swatch Up Your Night Vienna. Swatch Up Your Night - Austria's biggest Poolparty 2017 takes place on 23-SEP at the Aqua Nova Wiener Neustadt. Update: Here are a few tickets :-)
Closure of Munich Marienplatz Swatch store. The Munich Marienplatz Swatch store (Germany) will close its doors on 16-SEP. Only the Munich-Riem store will remain in Munich for now as Swatch is looking for another location in the heart of the city (won't be easy I guess). This is the closure of a rather prominent Swatch store, it is listed in the Swatch Club Benefits list as a store for "VIP Treatment in selected Swatch Stores". It is also one of the stores featured in the passport from the Shanghai Art Peace Hotel special Peace Of Art (SUOZ160-1), so you only have 10 days left to get your stamp in the passport!
MIT Media Laboratory special. This tweet by John Maeda (former Professor at the MIT Media Lab) shows a MIT Media Lab Swatch special (a Gent Original Transparent (GK209) with a special strap) which has been released in 1999. It has the number "15" on the lower part of the strap. Charlyene Johnson who informed me about this Swatch thinks that other numbers on the lower part of the strap also exist (so it would be the number of the Swatch special). I think that this is unlikely. This Swatch special may be related to the development of Internet Time (MIT page about Internet Time). Does anyone have more information about this watch? Ref.code? Limitation? Thanks to Charlyene Johnson for the hint.
Swatch Women’s Pro Trestles 2017 special. From 06 to 17-SEP, the seventh stop on the 2017 Women's Championship Tour is held at “Trestles” near San Clemente, CA. A special event Swatch have been released, it is limited to 1000 pcs: Endless Ride (SUON112D). The watch is packaged in a nice paper sleeve. Thanks to Fabien Perissinotto for the information.
Locarno Film Festival 2017 special. A special New Gent Swatch for the 70th Locarno Film Festival 2017 (02 to 12-AUG) is now available in the Swiss Online Store: Locarno70 (SUOZ274S) is limited and numbered to 700 pcs and it costs 100 CHF. The watch is packaged in a nice paper sleeve. Update: The number can only be found on the back of the watch but not on the paper sleeve (which has a sticker "Limited & Numbered"). I assume that the numbering was a last minute decision as I had seen a ref.code SUOZ274 for this watch as well which would indicate an unnumbered Swatch. Very unusual... Thanks to Fabien Perissinotto for the information.
Swatch Beachvolleyball Hamburg special. For the Swatch Beach Volleyball FIVB World Tour Finals 2017 in Hamburg, Germany (22 to 27-AUG), no special Swatch was issued. However, you could buy any Swatch from the current collection at the Swatch truck and receive two special loops with the German flag and the inscription "Swatch Beach Volleyball FIVB World Tour Finals Hamburg '17", preferably a New Gent or a SISTEM51. Example: New Gent Mono Black (SUOB720). A lot of Swatch goodies were also distributed at the event. Here are some photos taken on 23-AUG.
Cancun / Playa del Carmen Destination specials. Two new Destination specials are now available in Mexico according to this report: Horale (SUOZ268) is available in Cancún, Mexico. And in this video by Swatch, you can see a similar watch K'iin Playa (SUOZ268C, it has a different loop compared to Horale). Thanks to Torsten Rube for the hint.
Beach Volleyball World Championship 2017 special. From 28-JUL to 06-AUG, the FIVB Beach Volleyball World Championship 2017 takes place in Vienna, Austria. A limited event special Smashazzura (SUOS704C) is now available in the Austrian Swatch online store and in the Swatch stores in Austria. More information can be found here. Update: If you are in Vienna at the FIVB Beach Volleyball World Championship 2017, you can get an additional special loop with your watch. Thanks to Gregor for the picture.
Giant Kumquat Maxi. A giant Kumquat Maxi is now on display at the Ayala Mall in Makati (Philippines). The New Gent Kumquat (SUOK127) is part of the Fall collection Countryside. Thanks to R.J.Valdez for the information and picture.
Swiss National Day celebration at the Times Square store in NYC. The New York City Times Square store will have a month-long celebration of Swiss National Day starting 01-AUG. The whole store will be transformed into "Everything Swiss" for August.
New (??) Swatch & Art collection hits Hong Kong. "New Swatch & Art collection hits Hong Kong" is the title of a report in the South China Morning Post lifestyle magazine. Art Swatch watches by Jeremy Scott and Hiroyuki Matsuura are (were?) now available in the Swatch online store in Hong Kong. So the title of the report is almost correct except for the fact that the collection is not "new". These watches are about six years old. But it is great to see them available again...
Crane overturns at Swatch. A large All Terrain crane overturned yesterday at the new Swatch headquarters being built in Biel, Switzerland. Bieler Tagblatt has more information and pictures.
Stop watch prototype. Here is a Stop watch (used and working and it does not seem to be glued) that looks like a prototype as it has no dial. It looks like a Jess'Rush (SSB100) from the first year of Stop watch production but without a dial. Also, the backside of the prototype(?) Stop watch does not have a production code, so it really may be a prototype (normally, Stop watches do have production codes). Does anyone have more information?
Swatch Pay. Swatch Bellamy (the Swatch "pay-by-the-wrist" smart watch with a contactless payment feature) has been relaunched as Swatch Pay on a press conference with Swatch Group CEO Nick Hayek at the landmark Swatch Art Peace Hotel in Shanghai on 18-JUL. From 27-JUL onward, Swatch Pay will be available at designated Swatch stores in 28 Chinese cities. It is now much easier to activate the payment function of the watch: After purchase of Swatch Pay, only an in-store app download and scan is required to instantly activate the watch. The tokenization process takes just a few minutes, and customers can start paying with the watch. The easier setup is now explained in this instore display. Update: Here is a report in a big Swiss newspaper. Update 2: It seems that Swatch Bellamy (Swatch Pay) is no longer available in Switzerland.
Swatch Club UK Swissness Evening. On 04-AUG, Swatch Club UK will host a Swissness Evening in London: "Let's join together in true Swiss style over delicacies such as Fondue and Rösti."
Federico Talks (S)Watches. Federico has a YouTube channel where he talks about watches: These Watches Are Worth HOW Much ? - Swatch Collection is an episode where he talks about a great Swatch collection owned by Massimo. It is great to hear Federico (and his friend TGV) about the collectability and the art of Swatch watches. I'll gladly buy the GG400 and the GT701 for "$300 to $600 US each" :-) On the other hand, the value of the Keith Haring watches is a bit exaggerated at "between four and seven thousand dollars a piece" :-) The best part is where he talks about "Pablo Picasso" (Kiki :-)
Swatch Summer Splash 2017 special. As in the last years, Swatch has sponsored Europe´s biggest graduation festival Summer Splash in Sicily. Thousands of students had fun with the Spice It Up Swatch on their wrist. The participants of the Summer Splash 2017 event received a Spice It Up watch with an extra "Summer Splash" loop around the strap.
Countryside collection launch in NYC. From 14 to 16-JUL, you can visit the Times Square Swatch store in New York city for a preview of the upcoming Fall collection Countryside. You can view the collection while lounging in the secret garden. Follow the hash tag #SwatchTSQ in order to be informed about similar future events.
Swatch variant in Jain video. French singer Jain (designer of the New Gent special Zanaka) has released a great new music video called Dynabeat. Her Swatch special is featured in the video and at the 0:50 mark, a variant of Zanaka is unveiled :-)
Fall / Winter collection 2017/18. An exclusive prerelease of the Swatch Fall / Winter collection 2017/18 is now available in the Swatch online store. I like the new models in the Swissness collection (especially the SISTEM51 Sistem Schwiiz (SUTB404), a very special backside!) and the retro inspired New Gent Greybolino (SUOM109). Update: Dino has found a french webpage showing more watches from the upcoming Swatch Fall / Winter collection 2017/18, including a Xmas themed watch (the Xmas special?), and a very colourful Skin. (we've seen this kind of strap before :-) Also available: New Scuba watches and a New Gent watch which reminds us of the famous GB103 from 1983 (Swatch now has one or two watches in each collection which are related to famous models from the 80s). More Touch watches are also available soon (two regular Touch on the left and in the middle, a Touch Zero Two on the right). Additionally, three new Plastic Chrono watches are available now in an exclusive presale in the Swatch online store. Update 2: A virtual press map for the Fall 2017 collection is now online on the Swatch website. So it seems that Swatch plans to release four collections per year in the future. The Fall 2017 collection consists of three subcollections: 1. Countryside; 2. Time To Swatch; 3. Swissness.
Swatch at Gstaad Major 2017. The Gstaad Major (a 5 star event of the FIVB Beach Volleyball World Tour) took place from 03 to 09-JUL. No special Swatch was released but it was possible to buy new models of the upcoming Swissness collection with two special loops (Team Switzerland and FIVB). Some nice Swatch goodies were handed out: a very nice handmade Panama hat, the well-known Swatch bag and a baseball cap, and more... Thanks to Christine Tanner for the information and pictures.
Swatch Beat Boat in Austria. Swatch is sponsoring the Swatch Beach Boat which is leaving from / to Vienna (Millenium Tower) from 03 to 06-AUG. This is a side event of the FIVB Beach Volleyball World Championship 2017 in Vienna, Austria. Here is the press release and here is an impression of the fun that awaits you.
Melbourne Destination special. A new Destination special is available: Laneways (SUOW133C) is a tribute to Melbourne, Australia. It is a New Gent Wall Paint (SUOW133) with two extra loops around the strap. The watch is exclusively available in all Swatch stores in Melbourne and it costs 110 AUD (~74 EURO). Here is a picture of the actual watch. Thanks to Hernan Terrones for the picture.
Theresa May wears a Swatch watch. According to a UK newspaper, UK Prime Minister Theresa May and her husband Philip were seen wearing matching Swatch watches (Chrono Plastic) at the church on 02-JUL. Theresa May wore a Chrono Plastic Purple Power (SUSV400) from 2014 and her husband Philip wore a Chrono Plastic Rio All Around (SUSN100).
SportAccord World Combat Games special. The SportAccord World Combat Games 2013 took place in St. Petersburg, Russia (18 to 26-OCT-2013). The World Combat Games showcase Olympic and non-Olympic martial arts and combat sports, among them Aikido, Boxing, Judo, Ju-Jitsu, Karate, Kendo, Kickboxing, Muaythai, Sambo, Sumo, Taekwondo, Wrestling, and Wushu. A special Swatch SportAccord World Combat Games 2013 (SUDB109D) was released to commemorate the event. It is an X-Large Dragons Angel (SUDB109) with two special loops around the strap. Thanks to Alain Choisy for the picture.
Second Printemps special. After selling the special 150 Ans Printemps (GZ291C) in 2015, the french department store Printemps has released a second Printemps special (GP149C). It is a Gent Nuit Rose (GP149) from 2016 with a special Printemps loop around the strap. Price is 65 EURO and it is packaged in a nice paper sleeve. Here is a larger picture of the complete special.
Club watch 2017/18. The new Club watch 2017/18 with the theme Celebration Time was pre-launched on 17-MAR in Milano, Italy. Selected Gold & Pioneers members (about 25) and Italian Club members (about 70) were invited. The new Club watch is a New Gent called Spice It Up (SUOZ261). As in the last years, a limited variant of the club watch called Dress To Impress (SUOZ713S, 888 pcs, 115 EURO) is released for the launch events. The regular club watch is packaged in a paper sleeve and the limited one in a nice thick paper roll. Further pre-launch parties will take place in Germany: Frankfurt (21-MAR), Nürnberg (22-MAR), Hannover (23-MAR). Other countries: 25-MAR: Montreal, Tokyo, Basel ("come when you want between 9.30 and 13.00"), Taiwan (xinming store); 27-MAR: Eindhoven; 28-MAR: Paris. A detailed report with many pictures from the Milano launch event will follow in the next days. Update: You will receive the welcome pack (parts of it are pictured here on the lower right) only if you renew your club membership with a code from the new club watch. If you use a code from any other watch (Jain, ... [more to follow]), you will not receive the usual welcome package. Update 2: Here is a photo album from the Frankfurt pre-launch. Update 3: Here is a detailed report about the launch of the new club watch in Milano. Update 4: The welcome package with the membership card also contains a nice gift in the case that you are a Gold or Pioneer member: A powerbank (a "classic" rectangular one for men and a round one for the ladies). Thanks to Thomas Chan, Fabien Perissinotto, Sophia Chang, and Monique van Grieken for the information and to Christine Tanner for the picture.
Ian Davenport artist special. During the press conference at Biennale Arte 2017 in Venice, Italy, Swatch Creative Director Carlo Giordanetti announced a New Gent artist special Wide Acres Of Time (SUOZ269S) designed by UK artist Ian Davenport: The watch is limited and numbered to 1966 pcs (his year of birth) and it costs 130 EURO. It is now available in Venice only and it will be available in selected Swatch stores and in the Swatch Online store starting 12-JUN. The watch comes in a beautiful special packaging, where the inspiration behind the watch is unveiled in a written excerpt from Ian Davenport's brother's poem "Wide Acres of Time". Here is a nice report about the watch and the artist and here is more information on the official Swatch webpage. Update: Here is another nice German report promoting the special ("This Swatch watch is an investment! Today 150 EURO, tomorrow a value of 1.500 EURO"). It also has the info that the watch will be sold at the following Swatch stores in Germany: Hamburg, Frankfurt, Berlin, Munich, and Cologne. Update: On 20-JUN, a Swatch "Wide Acres Of Time" artist signing with Ian Davenport was held in Zurich, Switzerland at the Jemoli restaurant Sopra. Here are some photos and a small video from the artist signing event. There are no other signing events planned with Ian Davenport.
Gold & Pioneer event / special 2017. The traditional G&P event 2017 took place from 19 to 21-MAY in Geneva, Switzerland. A black SISTEM51 special 3 x 17 (SUTZ401S, retail 200 CHF?!?) was distributed to the 90 Gold & Pioneer members who participated at the event (including eight new gold members [Marianne, Gennie, Steve, Massimo, Fred, Fabrizio, Adrian and Andrea]). The watch is limited and numbered to 200 pcs. Here is a close up of the nice watch face (the moon phases on the watch are glow in the dark!) and here is a large picture of the back with the embossed number xxx/200. Production code is 6V12 (= 25-MAR-2017). Here is a detailed report about the Gold & Pioneer event 2017.
Swatch X You. This website from Romania (in English) has information about a new Swatch collection called Swatch X You: "Build your own Swatch with Swatch X You". Apparently, it is possible to mix and match watch heads, straps, loops, and pins. "Swatch X You! The perfect gift for this summer." Update: The Swatch X You collection is now available in the Online store: New Gent (85 CHF) and Gent (65 CHF). For each of the two product lines, five different watch heads, five different top straps, five different bottom straps and five loops and pins are available, a total of 28,000 possible combinations! (collect them all!) Another press release from Mexico is available with bigger pictures: pic1 / pic2 / pic3 / pic4. The watches will be in the Swatch stores next week. The special hash tag #swatchXme is also imprinted on the watch face. The special presentation tablets in the stores are very nice: Gent / New Gent. Update 2: At the Swatch Times Square store in NYC, a nice "wheel of fortune" is on display where you can try out the different combinations... Thanks to Christine Tanner and to Christine Servian for the pictures.
Swatch X The Drone Racing League. Recently, Swatch has stopped the sponsoring of a few sport events, eg. there is no mentioning of Swatch anymore on the website of the Freeride World Tour. But Swatch just announced a new partnership with The Drone Racing League to support a new world of sports with a mix between the physical and digital world! Great news, check out this amazing video!
Sneak preview at Fall / Winter collection 2017/18. Dino has found an Instagram post with a sneak preview of the Fall / Winter collection 2017/18. More "Swiss" themed watches, very nice!
Second Bellamy Collection in China. Next week, Swatch will release the second collection of Bellamy Swatch watches in China. The Bellamy watches can be used for contactless payment in China. They are issued together with UnionPay (bigger than Visa and MasterCard combined in China; the world's 2nd largest company after Visa in terms of transactions). Each watch retails for CNY580 (about 75 EURO). Thanks to Sophia Chang for the information and pictures.
Swatch Tour De Suisse 2017. Two Swatch collectors went on a Swatch Tour De Suisse 2017!
Team USA Rio Paralympics edition. The Rio 2016 Team USA Chrono Stars & Stripes (SUSZ101) was also released for the Rio 2016 Paralypics: It has a special loop depicting the Paralympics logo.
"Swatch snake is growing". The japanese architect Shigeru Ban is the designer of the new headquarters for Swatch in Biel (he also designed the Nicolas G. Hayek Center in Tokyo). It is now planned that the new headquarters for Omega and Swatch and the Swatch Museum will be finished in 2018. Here is a recent video from the construction site.
#YOURMOVE event. A special #YOURMOVE event (Netherlands only?) will take place on 30-MAY. Update: Here is more information about the #YOURMOVE event in Amsterdam (19:00 - 21:00 CET). Update 2: Here is a nice report by swatch.stawi.de. Thanks to Hans van Buuren for the update.
Polywatch set. A nice set of Polywatch polishing paste and a small towel in a Swatch embossed box is now available in selected Swatch stores as a gift with purchase of the new Club watch Spice It Up (SUOZ261).
Swatch on display in Wisconsin. If you happen to live in or near Viroqua, WI, you can now see a Swatch collection on display in the Marie Weltzin Display Case at the McIntosh Memorial Library. This picture on Facebook doesn't look too interesting, tough :-)
Shareholder special 2017. On 23-MAY, the annual shareholder assembly of Swatch Group took place in Grenchen at the Swiss Velodrome. Each one of the 3465 participants received a special white Gent M-Brace (GZ313) as a present. The watch is packaged in a nice paper sleeve. As the theme of the year is "Embrace The Fantasy And Imagination Of Your Childhood", the watch is completely white and can be customized with the permanent marker that was included in the goodie bag. My watch has been autographed / customized by Ted Scapa :-) Here is a newspaper report ("3465 shareholders pick up their white Swatch") about the assembly including a few more nice pictures.
150th anniversary of Canada special. To celebrate the 150th anniversary of Canada, a special Swatch Backup Red Canada 150th Anniversary (SUOR705K) is now available in Canada (eg. in the Swatch Online store for $90 CAD). The watch is a Backup Red (SUOR705) with a special strap and a "Canada 150" loop around the strap. It is packaged in a nice red paper sleeve. Thanks to Max Cheslow and to Thomas Chan for the pictures.
Omega extends its partnership with the IOC. Omega extends its global partnership with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) through to 2032 (in this year, Omega will celebrate its 100th anniversary as official time keeper of the Olympics). Swatch was an official time keeper of the Olympics in Atlanta (1996), Sydney (2000), and Athens (2004). Here and here are two funny photos of Nick Hayek (CEO of Swatch Group) and IOC President Thomas Bach from the press conference.
Montana 75-Years special. The Swiss ski service equiment company Montana has celebrated its 75 anniversary in 2014. A special New Gent Swatch Montana 75-Years (SUOK105C) has been released to commemorate the anniversary. The watch has a special white strap with the company logo on the lower part. No information about limitation and distribution. Update: Fabrizio has found a second version (silver strap instead of white) of the Montana 75-Years special, with the same(!!) ref. code SUOK105C: Montana 75-Years silver. Very unusual!
Swatch Rocket Air 2017. Slopestyle takes flight "back to the 80s": On 28 and 29-APR, the ice rink of Thun, Switzerland, will be transformed into a bike paradise for the 8th annual Swatch Rocket Air event. Update: A special loop was given out in Thun with purchase of a Swatch watch. The drivers and staff received a New Gent Ligne De Fuite (SUOW708) with the special loop. See also this great video at 0:06 by Swatch ProTeam member Sam Pilgim. Here are some spectacular pictures from the Rocket Air 2017 event. 30 guests of Swatch Club participated at the event which included a signing session with Sam Pilgrim. A few gifts were given to Swatch Club members. Thanks to Christine Tanner for the pictures.
Elmar Mock nominated for inventor prize. Elmar Mock is one of the co-inventors (some call him: the "father") of the Swatch watch. He has now been nominated for the European Inventor Award 2017. For example, check out his European Patent EP0098239 from 1982! Very familiar sketches :-) Thanks to Christine Tanner for the hint.
Brianda Fitz James Stuart artist POP special. The upcoming Action Heroes Swatch collection contains a POP artist special designed by Spanish fashion designer, Illustrator, and DJ Brianda Fitz James Stuart: Melusine (PNN102). The watch is not limited and not numbered and it is packaged in a nice paper sleeve. The watch was launched on 20-APR in Madrid (Palacio de Liria) with Brianda Fitz James Stuart, Swatch COO Gonzalo De Cevallos and Swatch Creative Director Carlo Giordanetti. Update: Here is a nice promotional video for #SwatchXBrianda. And here is a nice interview (in Spanish) with Brianda Fitz James Stuart.
Stau special. A new Swatch Destination special Stau (SUOZ250S) will be available on 13-APR in Switzerland. The watch is limited to 1691 pcs and it is numbered on the back. "Stau" is (Swiss-)German for "traffic jam". The watch is almost identical to the recent Gotthard Destination special Tunneling (SUOZ257). It comes in a different paper sleeve (numbered) and the dial now features a "16,91" instead of a "57". 16,91 km is the length of the old Gotthard tunnel for cars (lots of traffic jams, especially during the holiday season). 57 km is the length of the recently opened Gotthard Base tunnel for the trains (no traffic jams of course). Here is a list of shops that sells the Stau special. Update: Stau was launched with Christa Rigozzi (Ex Miss Switzerland) at the Gotthard motorway restaurant. Apparently, some Stau watches were given away for free :-) Thanks to Jean-Bernard Mani for the information and picture and to Ines Brem for the picture.
Mystery Vintage is back. Mystery Vintage is back in the USA Swatch online store: Three very nice Swatch watches for only $70 US! And the watches are packaged in a nice paper sleeve.
Apple vs. Swatch. "Apple wets its pants over Swatch ad tagline" is a fantastic headline for a newspaper report. Apple is now claiming at a Swiss court that the Swatch "Tick Different" trademark (see eg. the corresponding Bellamy payment Swatch Tick Different (SVIW102-5000)) violates the old phrase "Think Different" which was used by Apple in a series of famous ads in 1997 and 1998. Additionally, Swatch has looked at the famous "One more thing..." slogan recently by trademarking the phrase "Swatch One More Thing". The trademark is "still pending".
New Swatch The Eyes collection. Some new models have been added to the Swatch The Eyes collection. Some models now have an additional line above the glasses, eg. The Eyes Of Fred.

Basel Jewelry Fair specials. Each year in April, the Baselworld Watch and Jewellery Show takes place in Basel, Switzerland. Since many years, Swatch releases one or two special watches for the Baselworld. Usually, it is an older watch with a special loop around the strap. Alain Choisy has sent me some of the following pictures:

Year	ref.no.	based on	remark
1999	SFN100C	Skin Monoblue (SFN100, 1997)
1999	GG121C	Gent Cappuchino (GG121,1993)	It is a Baselworld watch, even if it says "SWATCH G. Café" on the loop!
2000	GK301C	Gent Swatch (GK301, 1999)
2001	GK279C	Gent Unchain Me (GK279, 1998)
2001	GK315C	Gent Sternfinsternis (GK315, 2000)
2002	SUBR100D	Square Typical Square (SUBR100, 2000)
2002	GR143C	Gent Swiss Mad (GR143, 2001)
2003	GB198C	Gent Wrong Margin (GB198, 2000)
2003	GM139C	Gent Conform (GM139, 1996)
2004	GN908C	Gent Krake (GN908, 1999)
2005	GB185C	Gent Tiempo De Reir (GB185, 1998)
2006	GK227C	Gent Define (GK227, 1996)
2006	GK228C	Gent Consider (GK228, 1996)
2007	GN128D	Gent Algarve (GN128, 1993)
2007	GR128E	Gent Mr. Watson (GR128, 1995)
2008	SUYR100D	Skin Chrono Red Illusion (SUYR100, 2001)
2009	SUDK102D	X-Large Squeezed Pumpkins (SUDK102, 2002)
2010	SUDK101I	X-Large Citrus Spritz (SUDK101, 2002)
2011	GG193D	Gent Eyesight (GG193, 2001)
2012	SKK124T	Access Clearance Two (SKK124, 2003)
2013	GG207C	Gent Forest Path (GG207, 2010)
2013	GO106D	Gent Desert Day (GO106, 2010)
2013	GM169F	Gent Fog Cloud (GM169, 2010)
2013	GN231D	Gent Frozen Breeze (GN231, 2010)
2014	GJ131C	Gent Yellow Zeb (GJ131, 2011)
2014	GG210C	Gent Green Zeb (GG210, 2011)
2015	SUJS100C	Jelly In Jelly Pfauenauge (SUJS100, 2007)
2016	GR143E	Gent Swiss Mad (GR143, 2001)	first used in 2002 for Baselworld, now for the second time!
2017	SUDK104O	X-Large Vida Loca (SUDK104, 2002)
2018	SUOR702D	New Gent Burgundy Rebel (SUOR702, 2010)

Swiss Football League special. At the end of 2016, the Swiss Football League (sfl.ch) has distributed a special Swatch Swiss Football League (YWS409D) during a contest. It is an Irony Big Doppiogiro (YWS409) with a different strap and a "SFL.CH" imprint on the loop. The watch is packaged in a nice paper sleeve. Limitation is unknown.
Swatch Collector in current Lookbook. Swatch collector Max Cheslow is featured in the current Swatch lookbook (=> stories => Max Cheslow). It is great to see his story of his 200 Swatch watches and the Club event trips (Xmas in Rotterdam etc.). ProTeam member Anne-Flore Marxer is also featured in the lookbook.
London Skin bus. The new Skin watches are now on display on some of the famous London buses. The buses are no longer red of course :-) Thanks to Steven for the photo.
Paola Navone artist special. During the Milano Design Week 2017 (Fuorisalone, 04 to 09-APR-2017), Swatch has released a fantastic new New Gent special by Italian artist Paola Navone: Thammada (SUOZ264S, only 888 pcs, 130 EURO / $140 US). The watch is launched in connection with an exhibition by Paola Navone: An Imaginary City. The watch is on display and for sale during the Milano Design Week at Studio Otto. The watch comes in a very nice packaging which matches the design of the watch. A Maxi version of the watch also exists. The garden of Studio Otto is decorated in Thammada style. Here is a report about the special watch. The special Swatch is now available in the Swatch Online store, get it while it lasts! Here are some pictures from the launch of the watch at Studio Otto with Swatch Creative Director Carlo Giordanetti and artist Paola Navone. Update: On 05-APR, Swatch held a signing session with Paola Navone at the Swatch store in Milano (Via Montenapoleone). Thanks to Torsten Rube for the photos.
New Skin and Bellamy product lines. According to the Key Figures 2016 of the Swatch Group, Swatch will launch the unique new very slim Skin collection, as well as the second generation of the Swatch Bellamy as a contactless payment device. The Skin collection launch will probably be in 1-2 months at the end of March. Update: The new Skin will be available in two sizes: ~35mm and ~40mm diameter. The new Skin watch will be a bit thicker than the current Skins. It will have the same strap as the current Skins. Update 2: A teaser page for the new Skin is now online on the Swatch homepage. Hashtag is #YOURMOVE. The new models will be available online on 16-MAR and in stores on 23-MAR. Update 3: The new Skin collection was launched on 16-MAR at 180 The Strand in London. The Skin collection consists of eleven models in two different sizes: 37 mm (Skin Regular) and 40 mm (Skin Big). An overview of the collection can be found on http://www.skin.swatch. Here is a detailed report about the London #YOURMOVE Skin launch event. Here is another short report about the launch.
Early Swatch archive. Here is an interesting newspaper report (in German) about German Vogt (87) from Grenchen who has invested 100,000 hours in a Swatch history archive, starting in 1981. The archive includes eg. all Neue Züricher Zeitung newspaper reports about Swatch between 1981 and 1985, patent filings, documentation of talks with early Swatch engineers, ... So it is surely an important documentation about the earliest days of Swatch.
Swatch Club members. According to the Swatch Group Annual Report 2016, Swatch Club grew to over 210,000 members in 175 countries in 2016.
Time To Smile special. A special Swatch Time To Smile (GN718C) has surfaced in the German and other international (Canada) Swatch stores (very few pieces). Apparently, the watch was distributed "randomly" among the Swatch stores. The watch was probably issued in order to protect the "Access" trademark (against Michael Korks; similar to the eSwatch and iSwatch models in the last years). The loop has an imprint "time to smile" on the front and "Swatch Access" on the back. The embossed "Swatch" on the back of the case is also very unusual. Update: The watch is available as Sir Blue Access (GN718C) in the Swatch Canada online store. I am curious if the "Access" loop has an imprint "Time To Smile" on the back. Yes, the watch from Canada is identical. Thanks to Dino Dillewitz for the pictures.
Jain special. According to this tweet from the French singer Jain, we might see a surprise (Swatch collaboration with her)... Update: The New Gent special watch Zanaka (SUOZ265S, 90 EURO, closeup) will be launched (follow "#swatchxjain" on instagram) on 09-MAR in Paris during a showcase with Jain. It is limited to 10150 pcs, numbered and the watch comes with a free club membership. The watch is packaged in a nice paper box (opened box). Here is a video from the showcase with Jain ("Makeba"). Update 2: Do not renew your club membership with the Zanaka code right now. It is valid for the club year 2017/18 which starts on 01-APR. So you will have to wait with the renewal until the next month. A new video (shot at the Swatch Lab in Zurich) shows how the Creative Director of Swatch (Carlo Giordanetti) and Jain worked together to create this exclusive Swatch. Here is a Swiss newspaper report (Le Matin) about the watch. Check out http://media.swatch.com/jain/, very nice! Update 3: If you renew your club membership with a code from the Jain special (after 01-APR), you will get the plastic membership card (and all the online benefits of course) but not the welcome pack (parts of it are pictured here on the lower right). Update 4: France only: You now get a free download of Jain's Zanaka album if you purchase the Zanaka Swatch watch. Update 5: Here is a short interview with Jain about her Swatch special. Update 6: After renewing your club membership with a Zanaka code, you receive a nice Zanaka postcard and a welcome letter as renewal gift. Thanks to Fabien Perissinotto for the hint, to Nicolò for the infomation, and to Shidan de Vries for the photos.
Ed Banger appearances. Ed Banger will appear during a Swatch instore & signing session in the Lincoln Road Swatch Store on 25-MAR. during the Miami Music Week. You can subscribe here. Additionally, Ed Banger will appear on 29-MAR in Milano at the Rocket Club.
Upcoming Swatch projects. At the launch of the new Skin collection in London, Swatch Creative Director Carlo Giordanetti announced several new upcoming Swatch projects / specials: Up next is a "colorful collaboration" with a British artist that will premiere at the Venice Biennale in May. In addition, there will be an installation for the Salone del Mobile in Milan with designer Paola Navone.
Nick Hayek is optimistic. According to this long interview (english translation) with L'Agefi, CEO Nick Hayek is optimistic that the watch market for the Swatch Group has improved in the first quarter of 2017.
NZZ Bellamy Swatch. A new Bellamy Swatch for the swiss(-german) market is now available: Hintergrund (SVIB104-5000). It is launched in connection with the 15th anniversary (note the XV on the dial!) of the sunday newspaper NZZ am Sonntag (Neue Züricher Zeitung am Sonntag) and the watch will include a 6 months e-paper subscription for the newspaper. The watch is packaged in a paper sleeve and it is limited to 1500 pcs (1000 in the Swatch stores and 500 via NZZ journal). It is available in the Swiss Online store. Thanks to Fabien Perissinotto for the picture and information.
Russian Destination specials. Two Russian Destination specials for Moscow and St. Petersburg have been released: 1. Evening Ring (SUOZ262); 2. Peter 1st (SUOZ263).
Thanks to Fabien Perissinotto for the information.
MLP special. In 2004, the German financial services corporation MLP has given a special Gent MLP (GK295C) to the employees in the higher level management. It is a Gent Glorious Runner (GK295) with the MLP logo on the strap. The watch is packaged in a blue gift sleeve and it comes with a printed "thank you" note.
Gold Member Contest 2017. The Gold Member Contest 2017 is online. The Gold Member status has a lot of benefits (including a free Gold & Pioneer Event!). Be quick, be creative and think outside the box! The contest finishes already on 22-FEB! Update: The contest is closed now. Here is the gallery of the approx. 110 submissions. Winners (six?) have been notified on 09-MAR.
Swatch as technology innovator. Facing the decline in watch sales, Swatch / Swatchgroup is investing heavily in a special new technology for car batteries, based on Vanadium ("Hayek reinvents himself - Hayek 2.0"). Additionally: "Swatch launches world’s smallest Bluetooth chip".
Discount on Swatch sunglasses. The Swatch sunglasses are available at a lower price (50 EURO / 50 CHF) during the month of March.
SISTEM51 FIVB special. The first stop of the Swatch Beach Volleyball Major Series 2017 took place from 07 to 12-FEB in Fort Lauderdale, USA. During the tournament, a special Swatch Beach Volleyball Major Series 2017 USA version of the SISTEM51 Swatch Sistem Gentleman (SUTF400) was sold ($150 US). It has two extra loops around the strap: One with the USA flag and one with the Swatch Beach Volleyball Major Series 2017 logo. You can spot the watch in the Swatch Major Series in Fort Lauderdale video by Swatch & Sports (0:25). Thanks to Jörg van Dyk for the hint.
Mystery Vintage available in Hong Kong. The well known Mystery Vintage special packagings with three older Swatch watches are now also available in Hong Kong. Price is 560 HKD (~$72 US). Update: Dan tells me that the three watches on the right are no longer part of the promotion - three older Pop Swatches are now being offered. Thanks to Sophia Chang for the information.
Black Magic variations. Here is a Black Magic (GB101) variant that I haven't seen before: The variant has the small logo (in the middle of the picture, prod-code 5075-P, country code 755 (=USA)) but it is positioned lower compared to the well known GB101RE from 1984/85 (on the right). And there is the GB101 "Glitter" variant of course (scroll down).
125 years of ABB special. The Swedish-Swiss company ABB celebrates its 125th birthday in 2016. The company operates mainly in robotics and the power and automation technology areas. To celebrate the 125th anniversary, a very special Gent Swatch 125 years ABB (GZ308-1) has been released and distributed to the employees of ABB. It is a unique Gent Swatch, not an older model with a special strap! Swatch has rarely done this before for a company. The back of the strap has a special imprint. The watch is packaged in a nice paper sleeve. Update: The 125 years ABB Gent special is available in a second, more elaborate special packaging (GZ308). Additional pictures: closeup / closed box front / closed box back. I assume that this packaging is more rare. This packaging also comes with a nice embossed paper ("Let's write the future. Together.") Thanks to Fabien Perissinotto for the hint.
Spring / Summer collection 2017. The Swatch Spring / Summer 2017 collection will feature the themes A Traveler's Dream and Time to Swatch. Here is a photo gallery. Some watches in the A Traveler's Dream collection: 1. Anchor Baby (GN247); 2. Miss Mariniere (LK346G); 3. Orangio (SUOB723); 4. Hamarace (GO702). Some watches in the Time to Swatch collection: 1. Red Me Up (SUOR707); 2. Bellablu (SUON709); 3. Costazzura (SUOS704); 4. Sea-Pool (GM185). Update: Starting 05-JAN, 60 new Swatch watches from the "I <symbol> my Swatch" collection are available in the Swatch online store as an exclusive pre-release. Helikit (SUOM107) includes a paper helicopter model set. Go To Gate (SUOW141) comes in a special tear-off sleeve. Yokorace (SUOB724) is a very similar New Gent version of the famous Gent Nicholson (GB705) from 1985. Apparently, Swatch plans to release one or two "tribute" models in the upcoming collections as well. Hamarace (GO702) is supposedly a tribute to Yamaha Racer (GJ700) but I don't really see the connection. Update: Here is the press section about the new collection on the official Swatch webpage. The following additional "subcollections" will be released in the next months, check it out if you want to see the additional watches of the Spring / Summer collection 2017: 1. Mosaici And More (03-MAR); 2. Action Heroes (27-APR); 3. Spicy Islands (27-APR). Thanks to Sophia Chang for the photos.
Unreleased Marco prototype. Marco is the designer of the quite successful Gent Alien Baby (GG175) from 1998. On his website, he tells an interesting story (scroll down!) about a never realized Swatch Dog Eat Dog that he created before Alien Baby. Apparently, "Swatch Corporate out in Switzerland felt that the Dog’s gnashing teeth were a bit too intimidating" so the watch based on Marco's iconic design Dog Eat Dog was not produced. Marco has also published a great video from the launch day of Alien Baby at the (long gone) Swatch store on 57th street in New York City. A must see! The launch took place on 20-AUG-1998 and the well known silver special packaging of Alien Baby (limited to 500 pcs) was sold on that day. Thanks to Alain Choisy for the hint.
Destination Suisse tour. Swiss Swatch Club member Frédéric Genton made a one-day Tour de Suisse travelling from Lausanne to Zermatt. He was able to collect all seven new Swiss Destination Watches.
Chinese New Year special. 2017 is the Chinese Year of the Rooster. As in the last 12 years (now the circle is completed!), Swatch will release a special watch for the Chinese New Year: Rocking Rooster (SUOZ226). The watch is packaged in a nice tube. Update: A giant Rocking Rooster Maxi in the Ayala Mall in Makati (Philippines) also exists. Thanks to R.J.Valdez for the update.
Artists To Swatch exhibition. Pioneer member Roy Porello is currently showing about 1000 Swatch watches of his collection in an exhibition called Artists To Swatch. The exhibition is on display (until the end of the year) at the North Reading Room at the Athenaeum Music & Arts Library in La Jolla, CA. Here is a photo of Roy next to his 1000-Swatch curtain. Update: Pioneer member Esther Montagner made the trip to La Jolla and took photos at the exhibition.
Swisstopo special. A special New Gent Swisstopo (SUOK103E) has been given away during a contest of the Swiss Federal Office of Topography: Swisstopo. Here is a picture of the actual watch. It is packaged in a nice paper sleeve (front and back of the sleeve). The watch has been produced and distributed by Presence Switzerland (not by Swisstopo)! Thanks to Fabien Perissinotto for the information and to Alain Choisy for the photos.
Second Club special. As in the last years, a second club special has been launched on 21-SEP in Paris. The watch is called Piolin's Time (SUOZ240S, 125 EURO) and it is limited and numbered to 2626 pcs. It is designed by the Argentinian artists Leo Chiachio & Daniel Giannone. Further launch events take place in New York (21-SEP, invitation only one day before the event?!?), Frankfurt (22-SEP), Zurich (22-SEP at the Swatch Group Lab), Geneva (date not yet known), Tilburg (NL, 24-SEP), London (30-SEP), and Bologna (01-OCT). At each of the launch events, an ultra limited edition of the watch (SUOZ240S-1) was available (139 pcs total, 265 EURO): Paris 60 pcs, New York City 2 pcs, all other cities 3 pcs. Here is the content of the ultra limited edition box (the postcards are not included). Both editions are almost identical: The ultra limited edition has an extra little carpet. It is a reproduction (made in Italy) of an original artwork ("Promesas", 1.13m x 1.17m) by Chiaco & Gianonne. Each watch is numbered on the back, and the boxes are numbered on the side. The face of the watch is beautiful and the hands are two little dachhunds (the favourite animal of Chiaco & Gianonne). Every Piolin's Time comes with a free code for a club membership. You can either give it to a friend or you can use it for yourself and receive and extra surprise gift from the Club. Here is a detailed report about the Paris launch event and here a a few pictures from the Frankfurt launch. Update: Here is the photo album by Chiaco & Gianonne themselves from the launch event and here is the report by swatch.stawi.de. Update 2: Here is the surprise gift from the club that you get when you add the code of the second club watch to your existing membership. You can use it as a small bag. Update 3: On 20-DEC, Piolin's Time was presented in the hometown (Buenos Aires) of the Argentinian artists. Piolin (Chiachio & Giannone’s dachshund) was giving out free doggy kisses. Thanks to Fabien Perissinotto, Brian Pier, and to Alain Choisy for the information and to Christine Servian and Sophia Chang for pictures.
Mordillo Valentine's special. According to this news report, the Valentine's Swatch special 2017 is a super cute Gent Swatch called Planet Love (GZ307S) that has been designed by the well known Argentinian cartoonist Guillermo Mordillo simply known as Mordillo. He is one of the most widely published cartoonists of the 1970s. The Valentine's special is a limited and numbered edition of 14,999 pcs, packaged in a nice special packaging.
Country specials. After about 28 Destination City specials, Swatch has now launched two country specials for Ireland: 1. Not A Bother (GP147C); 2. Happy Out (SUOW119C).
Chemours special. The Chemours Company is an American chemical company ("performance chemicals" business) that was founded in July 2015 as a spin-off from DuPont. A special New Gent Swatch Chemours (SUOO701D) was distributed to celebrate the spin-off. It is a New Gent Orangy Pink Rebel (SUOO701) with two special loops around the strap. No further information about the limitation or distribution.
A tale about the early days of Swatch. There are many different (and sometimes conflicting) stories about the early days of Swatch and the sequence of events that lead to the creation of SMH / Swatchgroup by Nick Hayek. Here is the interesting version by Peter Gross (former General Director of Swiss Bank Corporation [nowadays UBS]). Update: About two weeks later, the same newspaper publishes a guest contribution which tells a different story and which emphasizes the role of Ernst Thomke (director of ETA Grenchen from 1978 to 1985 and heavily involved in the successful marketing of Swatch in the early days).
WTC store Maxi. At the opening of the Swatch WTC store in New York City, a Maxi Swatch commissioned for the store was unveiled. The maxi is going to be displayed at the store for a year and then it will be returned to the Artist (Shantell Martin). The maxi is insured for $25,000 US in case it gets damage or stolen. Some closeup pictures: face / lower strap / upper strap. Here is more information about the project and the artist. Thanks to German Santiago for the information and photos.
Swatch USA sleeves. Swatch USA issued special sleeves for Black Friday (available via stores) and Cyber Monday (for online orders). The Happy Holidays sleeve may be more widely available (probably worldwide with online orders). Thanks to Brian Pier for the information and photo.