news from 2020 are below:

• True Icons Never Age special sets.  Until 31-DEC, Swatch celebrates the 20th anniversary of the legendary Gent Once Again (GB743) with three iconic sets and a free black/white strap with purchase.  Six different sets are available:  1. Gent Once Again + Black (GB743-EB);  2. New Gent Twice Again + Black (SUOB705-EB);  3. Lady Something New + Black (LB153-EB);  4. Gent Once Again + White (GB743-EW);  5. New Gent Twice Again + White (SUOB705-EW);  6. Lady Something New + White (LB153-EW).  Will this be delivered in a special packaging?  Update:  Not really.  Packaged in a generic Swatch Online Store Xmas box.
  
• 1983 collection flyers.  Promotional flyers from 1983 are very very rare.  Here is one flyer from Switzerland showing the 1983/84 collection (backside of flyer), likely distributed in fall 1983.  Impossible to find...  Even more rare:  A 1983 flyer from Switzerland showing the Fachhandellogo collection.  Thanks to Dan for the photos.
• Xmas special 2020.  According to this news report, the Swatch Xmas special 2020 is a New Gent HohoOUCH (SUOZ717, 120 CHF / 115 EURO).  The limited watch is packaged in a nice special packaging.  "This limited edition is simple, sleek and looks great with a festive sweater too."  It will be available on 03-DEC online and in the shops.  It the ref.code SUOZ717 is correct (and the photo of the special packaging is also an indication), it would be the first unnumbered Xmas special since 1990 (Hollywood Dream).  Update:  A recent Swatch Twitter posting shows the Xmas special 2020 as well...  Update 2: Here is a photo of the actual watch in the packaging. Update 3: The Swatch website shows a variant of the Xmas special without date!  Update 4: R.J.Valdez has spotted a giant HohoOUCH Maxi at the Swatch Building in Makati City, Philippines.  Update 5: Special Swatch Club HohoOUCH Xmas cookies also exist....
• Swatch Club Xmas gifts.  In some countries, the local Swatch Club sent out nice Xmas gifts to the club members of this country:  Switzerland (cookies incl. nice quiz game [for Premium members] or workshop cookie creations [for G&P members] or gift stickers), UK (zoom gin tasting on 19-DEC!), Hong Kong (cocktail set), France (virtual Xmas dinner), Singapore (scented candle).  The Swatch Store Hamburg sent out some nice gift stickers...  Let me know if you received a Xmas gift from your local Swatch Club... Thanks to Bernd Eigler and Joachim Meyer for the photos.
• F*** 2020 SwatchXYou special.  A special F*** 2020 SwatchXYou special (canvas) is now available in the Swatch Online Store.  This will be a bestseller I guess...
• Love OK SwatchXYou special.  A special Love OK SwatchXYou special (canvas) is now available in the Swatch Online Store, maybe a bit early for Valentine's Day...
• Expo 2020 Dubai special.  The international World Exposition Expo 2020 Dubai should have taken place from 20-OCT-2020 to 03-APR-2021 in Dubai (United Arab Emirates).  Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the Expo 2020 has been pushed back to 01-OCT-2021 to  31-MAR-2022.  As announced on 16-OCT-2019, Swatch is the Official Timing Provider of Expo 2020 to ensure The World’s Greatest Show runs like clockwork.  The press release also announces Swatch collections inspired by Expo 2020’s subthemes:  Opportunity, Mobility and Sustainability, including Swatch SISTEM51 watches, which are battery free and powered by the wearer’s movement.  On 05-DEC-2020, there are still 300 days left until Expo 2020 opens in Dubai.  On this day, the first Expo 2020 related Swatch special is available in Dubai:  A New Gent Ibtikar (SUOZ328).  The watch is packaged in a special yellow/orange paper sleeve and it costs 320 AED (approx. 74 EURO).  Update:  Here is a nice local website about the watch on swatch.com.
• Eppendorf special.  A special New Gent Eppendorf (SUON713C) has been released to celebrate the 75th anniversary (in 2020) of the German life science company that develops and sells instruments, consumables, and services for liquid-, sample-, and cell handling in laboratories worldwide. The watch is packaged in a nice paper sleeve.  It is a New Gent Wave Path (SUON713) from 2019 with a special strap.  Each employee of Eppendorf (close to 4000 worldwide) received this special Swatch as a gift.  Update:  The watch was handed out in a special tube with a letter, employee magazine, stickers and a special pipette pen.
• Swatch Takes Me Places December SwatchXYou special.  A special Swatch Takes Me Places December SwatchXYou special (canvas) is now available in the Swatch Online Store.  The canvas features well known places in London, Paris, Hawaii, and New York.  Thanks to Joachim Meyer for the information.
• Chinese Year Of The Ox special.  2021 is the Year of the Ox according to the Chinese calendar.  As in the last years, Swatch will release a special Swatch: This time, it is a Big Bold  Ox Rocks 2021 (SO27Z109, 125 EURO) packaged in a nice special packaging (open box).  Note the writing ”EXIST TOGETHER IN HARMONY” on the bezel and on the packaging.  Thanks to Joachim Meyer for the hint.
  
• German Winter Season SwatchXYou special.  A special Winter Season December SwatchXYou special (canvas) is now available in the German Swatch Online Store.
• Italy Xmas SwatchXYou specials.  Three Xmas related SwatchXYou specials are now available in the Italy Swatch Online Store:  1. Natale Donne ("Christmas Women", canvas);  2. Natale Uomini ("Christmas Men", canvas);  3. Pandoro Panettone (traditional italian cake, canvas).
  
• MAXXI Museo SwatchXYou special. On 09-DEC, the Swatch Art Peace Hotel in Shanghai has announced a special partnership for the next 12 months with the MAXXI (National museum for 21st century arts in Rome, Italy).  The MAXXI opened in 2010 with an iconic architecture by Zaha Hadid and is one of the most important and visited museums of contemporary art in Italy.  To celebrate the partnership, a special SwatchXYou MAXXI (canvas) is now available in the Italy Swatch Online Store. 
• Dutch Sinterklaas SwatchXYou special.  A special SwatchXYou Sinterklaas (canvas) is now available in the Dutch Swatch Online Store.  Sinterklaas is a legendary figure based on Saint Nicholas, patron saint of children and he is one of the sources of the popular Christmas icon of Santa Claus.  The feast of Sinterklaas celebrates the name day of Saint Nicholas on 06-DEC, celebrating with the giving of gifts on the evening before or on the morning of 06-DEC.
• SwatchPAY! now available in Portugal.  SwatchPAY! is now available in Portugal, so one more country where you can pay with a Swatch on your wrist.  Thanks to Ricardo Rocha for the information.
  
• Boreal specials.  Swatch releases two new Big Bold specials:  1. Light Boreal (SO27Z106);  2. Dark Boreal (SO27Z107).  Limited but not numbered, similar to last years Sparklebold (SO27Z102).  Price is 165 EURO.
• Canada Skateboard special.  A special New Gent Canada Skateboard Swatch Collab (SUOB720J) is now available for sale in Canada.  The strap includes silhouettes of three Canadian Skateboard athletes:  Maddy Balt, Andy Anderson, and TJ Rogers.  The watch costs C$115.00 (approx. 74 EURO).  It is rumoured that 600 pcs have been manufactured.
  
• Fifth Hodinkee Swatch special.  On 30-NOV (at 4:50 PM CET), the fifth Hodinkee Swatch special was unveiled on Instagram.  The SISTEM51 Hodinkee Generation 1990 (SUTZ408, $170 US) is now available on Hodinkee and in the Swatch Online store.  The design of the watch is based on the California dial, previously used in the Gent Stirling Rush (GX407) from 1990.  The watch packaged in a special paper sleeve.  It is not numbered as usual but quantities are limited.  As of APR-2021, the watch is still available at hodinkee.com but long sold out at the Swatch Online store.
  
• Sydney and Melbourne Destination specials.  Two new Destination specials (for Sydney and Melbourne, Destination Specials #72 and 73) have surfaced on Instagram.  The two watches are:  Sydeshow (SUOW137C) and Melbnificient (SUOB720I).   Thanks to Fabrizio Mazzucco for the hint and to Ines Brem for the photos.
• Pokémon SwatchXYou specials.  According to this press information from China (google translation), four different Pokémon SwatchXYou specials have been released at the end of November, available exclusively for sale in China only until 06-DEC: 1. Pokémon COMIC;  2. Pokémon PARTY;  3. Pokémon SWEET WHITE;  4. Pokémon SWEET PINK.  In addition, this Swatch X You Pokémon customized series is equipped with special watch packaging in the shape of a poke ball (closed box). Happy Pokémon SwatchXYou hunting!  Gotta Catch 'Em All!   Thanks to Sophia Chang for the photo.
• Squiggly closing down.  Squiggly, one of the most famous online shops for Swatch collectors and the "Official Swatch Vintage Dealer", is closing down after more than 30 years in the Swatch business.  Feels like the end of an era...
• Black Friday 2020 specials.   It seems that Swatch will release something special for Black Friday (27-NOV)...  Only available for one day?  SwatchXYou?  Special sleeve [as seen on Instagram...]?  Update:  12 different pre-fabricated SwatchXYou watches will be available, only instore (3 different canvases with 4 watches each), and only on one day:  27-NOV.  Price is 120 EURO, ref.code is SUOK136-001 to SUOK136-012.  The watches are packaged in a special paper sleeve.  The canvases are:  1. White writing on black (rare);  2. Black writing on white (more rare);  3. White graphics and writing on black (ultra rare). Update 2:   Here are some of the specials in a Taiwanese Swatch store.  In each Swatch store, only one watch per design is available:  Up to 12 different ones, some stores get less (4 or 8 only).  Once a watch is sold, a special "sold out" sticker is applied...  All the Black Friday specials have the words "One of a few..." on the back.  It is rumoured that in total 768 pre-fabricated SwatchXYou Black Friday watches are available, with the four watches from canvas 3 being the rarest...
• Swatch X Dorothy M. Yoon artist specials.  A new Swatch New Gent artist special by Korean artist Dorothy M. Yoon is now available in the Swatch Online store:  Time's Magic (SUOZ330, 85 EURO).  The watch is not limited and it is packaged in a nice paper sleeve.  A second limited and numbered artist special dedicated to the 10th anniversary of the Swatch Art Peace Hotel in Shanghai is called Power Of Magic (SUOZ331S).  This special is now available in Swatch stores in Japan.  The watch is limited to 1976 pcs and it is packaged in a very nice colourful box, it costs 14300 JPY (approx. 115 EURO).  Between AUG-2017 and FEB-2018, Korean visual artist Dorothy M Yoon (@dorothymyoon) started her project This Moment is Magic during her residency at the Swatch Art Peace Hotel in Shanghai, China.  This Moment is Magic was also shown as part of a @Swatch collaboration during the Venice Biennale in 2019.  The official launch of the two Swatch watches took place on 05-NOV (2pm) in Korea (Seoul I guess).  Here is an extensive interview with Dorothy M. Yoon about her project with Swatch and the difficult times for her before her time at the Swatch Art Peace Hotel.  Update: Here is a nice video from South Korea with an interview with Dorothy M. Yoon.  The video also shows four different, probably unique This Moment is Magic Maxi watches in a Swatch store.
  
• Swatch wins against Lewis Hamilton.  Nobody can beat Formula One world champion Lewis Hamilton on the racetrack but Swatch [Group] (Hamilton brand) has just won a three-year legal battle with Lewis Hamilton who acted against Swiss watchmaker Swatch after it registered the name “Hamilton International” as a trademark.  Hamilton has been an iconic name in precision watchmaking since its founding in Lancaster, Pennsylvania in 1892.
• Big Bold Chrono special.  On 19-NOV, Swatch will release a limited (not numbered) edition Big Bold Chrono special Checkpoint Gold (SB02Z400, $195 US).  You can find more information in this french report.  Here is a picture of the actual watch in the open box packaging (closed box).  It is rumoured that 3020 pcs have been manufactured.  The sticker is labeled "Bio-source", so the watch is also part of the "bioreloaded" collection I guess.  The Swiss price sticker (200 CHF) does not show "Bio-source".  Strange...   Thanks to Ines Brem for the photo.
• Australia Santa SwatchXYou special.  A SwatchXYou special Santacrash (canvas) is now available in the Australia Swatch Online Store.  In Australia, you can easily spend Xmas on the beach...
• Swatch phone holder.  This phone holder is one of the first Swatch items to feature the new promotional claim / hashtag #TIMEISWHATYOUMAKEOFIT (last used in the mid 90s).  The phone holder is currently available as a gift with purchase of a Big Bold Swatch in Taiwan.   Thanks to Sophia Chang for the photo.
  
• BER Delayed special.  In order to add "yet another joke" about the non-opening of the Berlin airport in the last nine(!) years(!!), Swatch Germany issues a special New Gent Delayed (SUOW141C) on 31-OCT, the opening day of the new BER airport.  The special is available at the new Swatch store at the airport (in 2011 Swatch store design!).  It costs 79,83 EUR during the first nine days after the opening (from 31-OCT to 09-NOV) and 87,73 EURO afterwards (one percent reduction for each year of the delay).  The watch is a New Gent Go To Gate (SUOW141) from 2017 with a special strap.  It is rumoured that the limitation is 300 pcs (not numbered).  Update:  A Zeitkapsel special packaging ("time capsule") containing the Delayed special has surfaced, it is a special packaging for the press.  Besides the Delayed special, the box contains a newspaper reprint and a CD from 2011.
  
• Swatch - The Last Great Innovation in Horology?  A Collected Man is a platform for those who love and seek rare mechanical timepieces.  Last September, they published a nice extended cover story entitled Swatch - The Last Great Innovation in Horology?  The story explains quite well the fun and the challenges of collecting Swatch watches.  Great photos, many details but also numerous inaccuracies:  "12 of the first models Swatch launched in 1983" show the wrong watches; 99 (or 100 but surely not only 27) Mimmo Paladino watches were given to VIPs; "Some of the very first chronographs Swatch released in 1990" show watches from the second collection etc.  A great read!
• No more Swatch Finder?  www.swatch.com has been remodeled / relaunched on 11-NOV.  It seems that the Swatch Finder is gone :-(((  This is really sad news for the Swatch collectors community.  Hopefully, it will be brought back soon (and hopefully improved).  You can still use it in Finnish but probably not for long...
• M.I.Q - The Secret Mission.  As part of the James Bond Swatch X 007 promotional activities, you currently can play a nice online game M.I.Q - The Secret Mission on the Swatch website. "Complete all missions to unlock the final code and win the ultimate 007 experience for two!"
• Swatch X Boa Mistura SwatchXYou artist specials.  Boa Mistura is a multidisciplinary collective of artists from Madrid, Spain.  On 06-NOV, Swatch and Boa Mistura have released four SwatchXYou artist specials, with Boa Mistura reflecting Swatch’s statement "Time Is What You Make Of It".  The four SwatchXYou watches are:  1. Time Is Movement (canvas);  2. Movement Is Change (canvas);  3. Change Is Growth (canvas);  4. Growth Is Wisdom (canvas).  Previously in 2018, Swatch and Boa Mistura joined forces to create the New Gent special Layers Of Time (SUOZ294, 1800 pcs).
• Rotterdam Destination special.  A new Rotterdam Destination special (#71) called Bridge Between Art And Water (SUON705T) is available in the Rotterdam Swatch store since 03-NOV.  The watch is packaged in the well known Destination paper sleeve and it costs 90 EURO.  If you buy it after 23-NOV, you'll get a nice gift with purchase.  Thanks to Toty Booms for the photos.
• US election specials.  Just in time for the long awaited election in the USA on 03-NOV, Swatch US is now selling two special SwatchXYou watches (non customizable, $125 US each) using the theme Red Or Blue?:  1. Red Choice (SUOK137D);  Blue Choice (SUOK137C).  I'd choose blue.
  
• Swatch Group Germany Xmas gift.  In 2013, Swatch Group Germany has distributed a special Xmas gift to the employees of the company:  It is the 2012 Club watch Open It (SUOZ157) with a special sleeve explaining the advantages of Swatch Club on the back of the sleeve.
• Halloween specials in Zürich.  The Swatch store in Zürich celebrates Halloween from 27 to 31-OCT with a special "haunted house" shop decoration.  On 31-OCT (starting at 11am), the store will sell five older Swatch Halloween specials which have been unavailable since several years.
• Swatch in the movies.  One of the main characters in the new Apple+ movie On The Rocks (recommended!) wears a Lady Swatch watch (probably Attraverso (LW166) from 2018).  Later in the movie, she swaps her Swatch against a more expensive watch....
• Halloween SwatchXYou specials.  Until 02-NOV, three different SwatchXYou Halloween specials are available:  1. Diadelosmuertos (canvas);  2. Halloween2 (canvas); 3. Halloween Tage ("halloween days", canvas).  The design for this SwatchXYou is inspired by six vintage Halloween related Swatch Gent watches:  1. Witch Party (GP900, 2002);  2. Halloween (GZS30, 1998); 3. Chauve-Souris (GB190, 1999);  4. Geisterstund (GB192, 1999);  5. Skulling Time (GB220, 2004);  6. Batsknight (GK331, 2000).
• Thinnest Swatch ever?  Swatch Finder is "always surprising".
• Contempo-Russia SwatchXYou specials.  Ellen Sheidlin is a Russian model and artist.  A special SwatchXYou Sheidlin1 (canvas) is now available in the Swatch Online Store Russia.  She has produced a very nice teaser video on Instagram.  Four other SwatchXYou specials are available in the Contempo-Russia SwatchXYou section of the Swatch Online Store Russia.  Update:  Since 19-OCT, the Contempo-Russia SwatchXYou watches are also available in the international Swatch Online Stores.
• Swatch on Google Street View.  Who can spot some Swatch displays on Google Street View?  (Swatch stores are too easy :-)  Here is a photo from Venice (Swatch banner at Rialto Bridge), taken in AUG-2013.  You should also check out my report from the Swatch Faces Event Venice (SEP-2013).
• POP pre-production prototype.  Here is a very early POP pre-production prototype.  The difference to the regular 1986 POP Jet-Black (PWBB101) is an additional seconds hand which cannot be found on any regular black POP with the bigger POP logo and no „(c) Swatch AG“ on the dial.  The back of the POP prototype is much more interesting:  The back of the watch is not embossed and only has a handwritten "29" on the back and engraved in the battery cover. "Piezo: 16 x 0,14 Membr: 0,15" written on the white sticker.  The battery case is in a totally different position on the back and the size of the battery is also different!  Here is a comparison photo to an early regular POP dummy of the front and of the back.  Update:  After removing the battery cover:  The inside looks even more interesting, "Marinium" written inside.  The usual POP Renata batteries (329) are too small, Gent (390) batteries are too large.  According to Hans van Buuren:  "movement looks like an ESA 947.111 (ESA Marinium quartz movement) as used eg. inside the CWC G10, launched in 1980 for the British Military."  It is very similar but not exactly the same:  compare the positions of the "10" and the "Marinium"
• SwatchPAY! in Italy.  SwatchPAY! is now available in Italy.  The collection of SwatchPAY! watches also now includes a new Big Bold PAY! Easytippay! (SO27M104-5300)
• Swatchissimo differences.  Swatchissimo is simply the best coffee table book about Swatch watches.  Go and get one for your collection, you won't regret it.  It has many valuable details about the (early) history of Swatch watches and almost 400 pages with great photos of Swatch watches.  Recently, I discovered some subtle differences between the first (December 1991) and the second printing (marked "March 1992" on the last page).
• Big Bold Chrono.  A new product line Big Bold Chrono (47mm) is now available in the Swatch Online Store.  The initial collection consists of four watches:  1. Checkpoint Black (SB02B400);  2. Checkpoint Blue (SB02B401);  3. Checkpoint Red (SB02B402);  4. Checkpoint Yellow (SB02B403).  The Big Bold Chrono costs $1,160.00 HKD (~126 EURO).
  
• 2nd version of James Bond Q special.  Swatch plans to release a second version of the James Bond Q special very soon on 01-OCT (why is the first version not in the Swatch Finder?!?):  The Skin Irony ²Q (SS07Z102) has blue hands and coil (instead of red). Otherwise, watch and packaging are almost identical to the first version from early 2020.  Note the interesting photoshop issues of the printed watch inside the updated packaging...  It is rumoured that 20,000 pcs of the new blue version have been manufactured (first red version was 7,007 pcs according to rumours).  In Europe, the price of the watch has been increased by 7,5%:  215 EURO instead of 200 EURO.  Update:  Nice special Swatch website.  What can we expect here?   Thanks to Thomas Chan for the photos.
  
• Swatch Group cyber attack.  It seems that Swatch Group was (is?) the victim of a cyber attack last weekend.  This may be the reason why some new models are not yet available in the Swatch Online store (we are waiting for the Colette Mon Amour special, you can also get it online at highsnobiety.com).
• Carlo Giordanetti interview.  Carlo Giordanetti was Creative Director of Swatch from October 2012 until recently when he took over the CEO role of the Swatch Art Peace Hotel in Shanghai, China.  Here is an interview with him (in Italian), first published in July and now made available again by Swatch Italy on Twitter (part 1 / part 2).
  
• Myeongdong Destination special.  A Destination New Gent special Myeongdong Nights (SUOB720F, Destination Special #69) is available since Summer 2019. Myeongdong is Seoul's shopping mecca (South Korea) with a mixture of street stalls and retail outlets selling everything from high fashion to Korean cosmetics.  The Myeongdong Swatch store has an Instagram account since APR-2020.  The watch is a a New Gent Mono Black (SUOB720) with three special loops around the strap.  This watch is somewhat of a mystery:  It does not have the usual paper sleeve.  However, Swatch seems to consider this as a Destination watch because a) it can be found among the watches (scroll down) for World Tourism Day and b) it is available for sale at Zurich airport among many other Destination watches (at least in JAN-2020).
• Colette Mon Amour special.  As detailed in this news report from Japan, Swatch has collaborated with the lifestyle website Highsnobiety to launch a special New Gent CMA 2:13 (SUOZ327) on 26-SEP at the 2G_TOKYO store (pic1 / pic2).  "CMA" stands for "Colette Mon Amour".  The legendary boutique Colette in Paris (founded by Colette Roussaux) was a pioneer in the concept store era.  It was open to the public from 1997 to 2017 at 213 Rue Saint-Honoré.  Colette’s special watch is reminiscent of the positive spirit of Colette Roussaux, the Eiffel Tower and the city of love.  The documentary “Colette Mon Amour” will be released exclusively at White Cine Quint on 26-SEP.  The watch (packaged in a nice blue paper sleeve) will be available online and in stores in Japan and France starting 28-SEP, it is limited to 1000 pcs.  It costs 12,100 JPY (incl. tax, approx. 97 EURO).  Colette had released a special Gent The Away Project (GN230F) in 2011, limited to 200 pcs.  The designer of this watch is Nayan Graf Quartier, a Berlin based Swiss designer.  Update:  The watch was also available at highsnobiety.com for 85 EURO plus 5 EURO for postage (250 pcs, in addition to the 1000 pcs for Swatch) and for 75 EURO in the Swatch Online shop (also sold out). 
• World Tourism Day Destination specials.  Swatch celebrates the World Tourism Day (27-SEP) with special access to exclusive Destination watches. Until 29-SEP, many (so far only locally available) Destination specials are available in the Swatch Online Store. In Germany, 15 out of 69 destination specials are available online now.  This varies slightly in other markets.
• Expensive Swatch concert poster.  A (simple) vintage Swatch Watch NYC Fresh Festival concert poster from 1984 was recently sold for $2,016 US.  Now what is the value of my vintage Swatch Watch NYC Fresh Festival Staff Limited Access sticker?
  
• Paola Navone exhibition.  Italian Swatch artist Paola Navone has opened a nice Thammada exhibition at Superstudio Piu in Milano, Italy.  The New Gent special Thammada (SUOZ264S, only 888 pcs) was released in 2017.  It also exists as a Maxi Swatch (several Maxis are shown in the exhibition).
• New "bioreloaded" Vintage styles.  Swatch plans to relaunch ("bio-revolutionize") some 1983 related vintage inspired Swatch watches next week, probably on 10-SEP as new products are always launched on a Thursday!  Update:  A teaser email Born In 1983, Made In 2020 has been mailed out.  The new collection will be "Bioreloaded" (is that a new English word?) by using two newly introduced bio-sourced materials extracted from the seeds of the castor plant.  A first "bioreloaded" Swatch was issued in early 2020: The Don't Be Too Late reissue DB2L (SO28B102).  Back then, there was almost no communication about the usage of recycled plastic.  Update 2: The first two "bioreloaded" Gent watches have been unveiled in a second teaser email. Update 3:  Here is an overview photo of the first Bioreloaded collection.  It consists of six Gent size (34mm) watches (ref.no. SO28xxxx) and five New Gent size (41mm) watches (ref.no. SO29xxxx).  My favourites are the reissues of the famous "mirror" 1983 Gent watches:  1. GN101 reissue Silver Wakiki (SO28N100);  2. GR102 reissue Goldenshijian (SO28R102).  The four new "1983 inspired" Gent watches feature a new font for the numbers on the dial which has been created for the signage of the new Swatch Headquarters in Biel.  Additionally, a new version of the biodegradable packaging has been created: Made of paperfoam, the material consists of an innovative mix based on potato and tapioca starch. As a result, the packaging produced with the injection molding process is fully biodegradable and can be recycled with paper waste or even composted right at home. The New Gent Timefortime (SO29B100) (yet another Don't Be Too Late inspired watch [“call to action”]) has an interesting hint about a third, "tell me more" SISTEM51 Don't Be Too Late variation which will be released in October. Thanks to Hans for the hint.
  
• Taiwan Local SwatchXYou.  A special "local" SwatchXYou Vastar Graffiti (canvas) is now available in the Taiwan Swatch Online Store.  The design has been created by Taiwanese graffiti artist Fu Hsing-han (???) who is in his early 30s and tags under the name Vastar. Thanks to Sophia Chang for the hint.
• Nick Hayek interview on Swiss TV.  A great report about Swatch was recently broadcasted on Swiss TV (in German), including a long interview with Swatch Group CEO Nick Hayek!
• Japanese artist SwatchXYou specials.  Japan Calling:  Swatch releases ten twelve SwatchXYou specials, created by six Japanese multidisciplinary artists:  1. Spring (canvas) by the creator team Towmei-Line (website);  2. Monster of JAPAN (canvas) by the creator team Towmei-Line (website);  3. Fantastic Nature (canvas) by Yoshi47 (website);  4. Mosaic Delight (canvas) by Yoshi47 (website);  5. Queen (canvas) by Kosuke Kawamura;  6. Mirage (canvas) by Kosuke Kawamura;  7. Music (canvas) by Jun Inoue (website);  8. Black&White (canvas) by Jun Inoue (website);  9. Inner World (canvas) by Ouma (website);  10. Katakana (canvas) by Ouma (website);  11. Chocomoo2 (canvas) by Chocomoo (website);  12. Nature Talk (canvas) by Chocomoo (website).
• New Taipei Swatch store.  Many Swatch stores have been closed this year due to various circumstances (Covid-19, Hong Kong trouble, ...).  A new Swatch store ("modern playground") will (re)open on 31-AUG in Taipei (Taiwan) at the Taipei 101 shopping mall.  Sophia Chang has posted a few photos of the remodeled Swatch store.  Update:  More photos and a nice "making of" video.
• Swatch On The Rocks.  The trailer of the upcoming Apple TV+ movie On The Rocks by Sophia Coppola (starring Bill Murray, Rashida Jones, and Marlon Wayans) shows a Lady Swatch Attraverso (LW166) from 2018.
• Swissness SwatchXYou special.  A special SwatchXYou Swiss Proud (canvas) is now available in the Swatch Online Store.  Update:  A second SwatchXYou Cantons (canvas) is now available in the Swatch Online Store.  Update 2: Apparently, the Swissness SwatchXYou design changes every week:  A third SwatchXYou Swiss Cows (canvas) is now available in the Swatch Online Store.  Thanks to David Rippmann for the information.
• Cat SwatchXYou special.  On 08-AUG, we celebrate International Cat Day.  A special SwatchXYou Neko (canvas) iswas available in the Swatch Online Store. Update:  A second SwatchXYou Cats In The City (canvas) is now available in the Swatch Online Store. Update 2: Apparently, the Cats SwatchXYou design changes every week:  A third SwatchXYou Art Cat (canvas) is now available in the Swatch Online Store.
• Destination specials available online.  Most (not all, 53 (if I counted correctly) out of 69) Destination specials are now available "for a short time" in the Swiss Swatch Online Store (not in Germany, I haven't checked other online stores). Update:  The watch available in the Online Store are shipped without the special Destination paper sleeve.  Instead, they are delivered in the standard red box currently used in the Online Store.  Thanks to Ines Brem for the hint and to Alain Choisy for the update.
  
• Chinese Valentine's special.  For the upcoming Chinese Valentine's Day on lunar calendar 07-JUL, this year 25-AUG (Qixi Festival), Swatch has released a special Gent Swatch, limited(?) to 412(?) pcs in China:  Bunny X Bunny (GE714C).  While the frontside of the watch is very cute, the backside of the strap is a bit naughty (remember Bunnysutra? Hopefully BunnyXBunny will be a similar success :-)  The watch is a Gent Ultrarose (GE714) from 2019 with a special strap.  Update:  Bunny X Bunny is now available in many countries (worldwide?) in the Swatch Online Store.  Thanks to Sophia Chang, Tak Lun Lee and to Ed Chung for the information and photos.
• Boston ‘Storybook’ launch.  Long time Swatch collector Ann Keeling recently published a few photos in the SWATCH ENTHUSIASTIC GROUP WORLDWIDE Facebook group.  As digital photos from early Swatch events are rare, I collected Ann's photos in a small mini-report about the Boston ‘Once Upon a Time Storybook’ launch event (02+03-OCT-1993).
• Baidu special.  Baidu is highly frequented chinese search engine.  Customers of Baidu have received a special Gent Swatch Baidu (no special ref.code) in a very nice packaging.  It is a Gent White Bishop (GW164) from 2013 with a special strap. Thanks to Tak Lun Lee for the information and photos.
• Second SwatchxBape collection.  On 06-AUG (or is it on 01-AUG?), Swatch (and Bape) will release the second #SwatchxBape Big Bold collection.  It is rumoured that four watches will be launched...  Update:  It is rumoured that three Tokyo related SwatchXBape watches will be launched.  You can see the first watch on the Swatch Instagram profile.  If you search a bit more, you can find a photo of all three Tokyo SwatchXBape watches...   .... or now very easy directly on the Swatch homepage...  It looks as if these watches were originally intended to accompany the Tokyo Olympics (Gold, Silver, Bronze).  Update 2:  The three SwatchXBape Big Bold watches are:  1. Tokyo Black Multi Camo (SO27Z708);  2. Tokyo Grey Multi Camo (SO27Z709);  3. Tokyo White Multi Camo (SO27Z710).  They have a multi-colored print on their straps representing all the different cultures and people connected by their uniqueness.  Price is 150 CHF or 17,000 JPY(+tax) per watch.  Limitation is 7,500 pcs each, not numbered.  For the die-hard fans, a surprise highly limited box set Swatch x BAPE Tokyo Pack (SO27ZS02) with subtly modified designs will be launched (containing the three watches).  Price is 85,000 JPY(+tax) [700 EURO, $750USD(+tax), 6000 HKD], limited and numbered to 183 pcs.  Note that the 3 watches in the box set are slightly different to the regular individual watches:  The imprint on the ring is colourful, not black or white.  And the 3 watches in the box are individually numbered xxx/183 on the back.  It is rumoured that the following number of box sets have been distributed to Swatch stores:  2 Austria, 2 Belgium, 3 Canada, 8 China, 7 Germany, 3 Hong Kong, 3 Malaysia, 2 Netherlands, 2 Singapore, 15 Switzerland, 6 Taiwan, 6 UK, 10 USA, ....  If you have information about other countries, please let me know...  Update 2:  The individual watches are now available at the Swatch Online store.
  
• SwatchXYou Pop-up space Moscow.  A new SwatchXYou Pop-up space has been opened at the famous GUM department store in Moscow (until 14-SEP).  A special printing machine has been installed where custom-made SwatchXYou watches can be printed "while you wait".  The special SwatchXYou Gum Dolls (canvas) is also available in the Swatch Online Store Russia.  Six additional designs (Gum Artists) are available (also online), these are the same designs that were available at the Isetan Shinjuku Pop-up Store in Tokyo, Japan in DEC-2019.  Thanks to Joachim Meyer for the information.
• Miao SwatchXYou special.  A special SwatchXYou Miao (canvas) is now available in the Belgium Swatch Online Store (and several others).
• Swatch X Tatham & O'Sullivan artist specials.  British artist duo Joanne Tatham & Tom O’Sullivan have been exploring the facets of contemporary art for the past 25 years.  A collaboration Swatch X Tatham & O'Sullivan is now available in the Swatch UK Online store.  It consists of four Swatch watches:  1. A numbered limited edition New Gent Does The It tick (SUOZ324S, 2020 pcs, 77 UKP) in a nice special packaging; 2. New Gent Indirect Exchange (SUOZ323, paper sleeve, 66 UKP);  3. Gent Necessary Focus (GZ341, paper sleeve, 58 UKP);  4. Gent Serious Action (GZ342, paper sleeve, 58 UKP).  Finally, some nice new fresh artist specials!  The Modern Institute has published some more information about the specials on Instagram, including some background information about the characters on the watches.  Some signed Swatch X Tatham & O'Sullivan watches were sold in a Swatch store in London.
• Swiss National Holiday SwatchXYou special.  For the Swiss National Holiday on 01-AUG, a special SwatchXYou Hallo Swiss (canvas) is now available in the Swiss Swatch Online Store (until 07-AUG).
• Summer Holidays SwatchXYou specials.  Two special Summer Holidays SwatchXYou specials are now available in the Swatch Online Store:  1. Summer At Home (canvas);  2. Summer Hot Fresh (canvas).
• 30 new Gold members.  Swatch Club has selected 30 new Gold members.  Existing Gold & Pioneer members could suggest new Gold members and 30 (out of 43 suggested) Gold members were selected.
• Fourth Hodinkee Swatch special.  On 14-JUL, the fourth Hodinkee Swatch special SWATCH SISTEM51 HODINKEE SUMMER EDITION (SUTZ407) has been released, retail price is $170 US.  Here is a photo of the back of the watch.  The watch has the balance spring Nivachron made out of a new non-magnetic compensating alloy, used first in the Flymagic Swatch.  You can find all the technical details at Hodinkee.  The watch is not a numbered edition, but quantities are limited.  It will probably be sold out quickly as the last three watches.  It will also be available ("smaller numbers") at the NYC Times Square store but also online at swatch.com and in Swiss Swatch stores.  Availability in Switzerland is a first!  A similar FLIK FLAK HODINKEE SUMMER EDITION ($40 US only) is also avialable.  Update:  After one week, the fourth Hodinkee Swatch special is still available (both at hodinkee.com and in the Swatch Online store).  This means that either production is higher than before (there is a rumour about 5600 pcs) or the demand is lower.  Update 2:  After two weeks, the Hodinkee Swatch is sold out at hodinkee.com.  And it looks as if the packaging sold through the Swatch Online store is (sometimes!) substantially different (no white/blue paper sleeve):  opened red box / closed red box.
• Swatch at the Love Parade 1995.  Swatch sponsored a truck at the Love Parade on 08-JUN-1995 (the Swatch store in Berlin?).  The motto was "Peace on Earth", 280,000 attendees.  From the TV documentation Loveparade – Als die Liebe tanzen lernte.  I am not 100% sure about the year (1995), maybe it was 1996....  Can anyone confirm this?
• Vintage SwatchXYou.  A new special Vintage SwatchXYou (canvas) is now available.  The design is inspired by seven famous Swatch watches from the late 80s (from left to right): 1. Harajuku Gent (GB124, 1989); 2. Fox-Trot POP (PWBR102, 1989); 3. Mackintosh Gent (GB116, 1987);  4. Tonga Gent (GL100, 1986);  5. Osiris Gent (GM102, 1986);  6. Sandy Mountains Gent (GG105, 1990);  7. Shibuya Gent (GG104, 1989).  Update:  A second Vintage 2 SwatchXYou (canvas) is available since early March.  This time, the design is inspired by seven famous Swatch watches from the late 80s / 90s (from left to right): 1. Hot Racer Lady (LK115, 1988); 2. Kasimir Lady (LW114, 1987);  3. Ibiskus Gent (GL101, 1991);  4. Hot Stuff  POP (PMB103, 1995);  5. Devotion Gent (GN900, 1996);  6. Good Morning Gent (GN156,1996);  7. St. Catherine Point Gent (GB121, 1988).    Update 2:  A third Vintage 3 SwatchXYou (canvas) is available since 01-MAY.  The design is inspired by seven famous Swatch watches from the late 80s (from left to right): 1. Speedlimit Lady (LW117, 1987);  2. Waipitu Gent (GB113, 1987);  3. Marmorata Gent (GB119, 1987);  4. Ruffled Feathers Gent (GF100, 1986);  5. Notebook Lady (LR108, 1988);  6. Passion Flower Gent (GN703, 1990);  7. Paint By Numbers Lady (LW122, 1988).  Update 3:  A fourth Summer Vintage SwatchXYou (canvas) is available since early July.  The design is inspired by seven famous (more or less) summer related Swatch watches (from left to right):  1. Blue Horizon Lady (LF100, 1987);  2. Pago Pago Gent (GL400, 1987);  3. Fifth Shift Gent (GJ110, 1994);  4. 12 Flags Gent (GS101, 1984);  5. Mind The Shark Scuba (SDK902, 1995);  6. Red Cloud Lady (LK134, 1992);  7. Bermudas Gent (GK133, 1991). Thanks to David Rippmann, Joachim Meyer, and Marcello Concialdi for the information.
• Bastille Day SwatchXYou special.  For the Bastille Day (French National Holiday) on 14-JUL, a special White Red Blue SwatchXYou (canvas) is now available in the Swatch Online Store.
• Limited Swiss Students Alumni Association (Thailand) anniversary special.  A recent Instagram posting shows a limited edition (720 pcs only) Thailand only special New Gent Swatch Meow And Mice (SUOZ326).  Here is closeup photo of the face of the watch, it was designed in 2020!  It is packaged in a nice special packaging.  It was made for the 72th anniversary of Swiss Students Alumni Association - Thailand.  Price is 5720 THB (about 164(!) EURO). Thanks to Franck Chardiny, Ed Chung, and to Thomas Chan for the information.
• Swatch on UK TV.  A Nautilus Maxi was recently featured on the UK TV show Bargain Hunt.
• Second Napoli Destination special.  After a long (also Covid-19 related) break, Swatch has released the first Destination special in 2020 (Destination Special #69):  The New Gent Azzurrissimo (SUOZ325, 85 EURO) is the second Naples (Italy) Destination, packaged in the usual Destination special paper sleeve.  The watch is definitely inspired by the Gent Sole Mio (GM124) from 1994.  The first Naples Destination special is the Gent Napulè (GR162E) from 2018.  Thanks to Angelo Moccaldi for the photos and to Ed Chung for the hint.
• Big Bold Spectrum collection.  Swatch has launched three very nice Big Bold watches (Big Bold Spectrum collection):  1. Blue Taste (SO27B111);  2. Fire Taste (SO27B112);  3. Pink Taste (SO27B113).  This new collection is promoted as follows:  "The new BIG BOLD series with uniquely Swatch Solar Spectrum treatment, applied to the body of the watch and highlighted by contrasting bright fluo colored elements, carries you to a new dimension – nothing is as you see it at first glance!".  My favourite model is Blue Taste.
• Important Swatch collection auction.  A remarkable and extremely rare collection of 1.241 Swatch: single pieces, specials and limited editions and production models will be auctioned on 24-JUN in Rome, Italy by finarte.  The collection contains all important specials such as Kiki Picasso, Mimmo Paladino, Andrew Logan Jelly Fish, 6 Puff watches etc.  Starting bid is 70,000 EURO (plus fees).  You can browse a nice catalogue here.  Update:  The collection sold for 80,000 EURO (plus fees, ~100,000 EURO total).  BTW, the Puff watches have an interesting inscription on the back side...
• Closure of Swatch stores.  Please don't read this if you want to stay happy today:  Pyrrhic Victory.  It shows many closed shops in Downtown San Francisco, including a closed Swatch store.  Additionally, the Central Swatch Flagship shop in Hong Kong was permanently closed on 18-JUN (after being in business for less than two years).  It was a very nice store with a unique store design :-(   Thanks to Tak Lun Lee for the information.
  
• Fête De La Musique SwatchXYou special.  The Fête De La Musique on 21-JUN is celebrated only virtually this year, unfortunately.  A special Fête De La Musique SwatchXYou (canvas) is now available in the Swatch Online Store.
• Hodinkee is now a Swatch retailer.  "Hodinkee is the foremost destination for all things in the world of horology, making watches and information about them accessible to all."  So far, three limited Hodinkee Swatch editions were released (in 2017, 2018, 2019), each one was a huge success and these watches sold out immedately.  Today, Hodinkee launched the following news:  The Hodinkee Shop Is Now An Authorized Swatch Retailer: A curated selection of Swatch watches are now available:  Five from the SISTEM51 line and four quartz-powered watches.  This will surely help selling Swatch watches in the USA (and elsewhere).
• Big Bold Jelly Neon collection.  Very soon (some say:  "on 06-JUN" but I believe:  on 04-JUN), Swatch will launch a new Big Bold Jelly Neon collection.  The colorful collection will consist of four new Big Bold watches:  1. Big Bold Jelly Neon Orange;  2. Big Bold Jelly Neon Yellow;  3. Big Bold Jelly Neon Green;  4. Big Bold Jelly Neon Blue.  Update:  In Taiwan, you get a nice gift with purchase:  A Big Bold Jelly Neon Soap (in matching colour).   Thanks to Sophia Chang for the photo.
  
• June New Releases.  Since this year, new Swatch Essentials are released every month.  The releases for June contain many nice watches, especially the two Gent watches:  1. Always There (GB328) ["On Time, No Time" :-]; 2. Don't Stop Me! (GR183) [I have no idea why this one isn't a New Gent].
• #OPENSUMMER special.  Swatch is now selling a very nice New Gent #OPENSUMMER (SUOK148), promoting the "open conversation about diversity, inclusiveness, openness and love" using the slogan Open Since 1983.  The watch is packaged in a nice paper sleeve.  A very relevant topic these days, highly appreciated!  Sold out in the US already!  According to the Swatch US website, it is a "limited-time SwatchXYou design".  Hmm.
• Art Week Jan Bajtlik SwatchXYou.  During the first week of each month, Swatch will collaborate with different artists and present unique SwatchXYou canvases which will be available for one week only.  For June, Swatch presents two designs by Polish illustrator Jan Bajtlik:  1. Typo (canvas);  2. Blue (canvas).  The special SwatchXYou are available for one week only!
• Father's Day SwatchXYou special.  On 21-MAY, Father's Day was celebrated in Germany.  A special Father's Day SwatchXYou (canvas) is now available in the German Swatch Online Store (I did not check the other countries).
• Un jour, un objet: la Swatch.  Un peu d'histoire du Swatch dans Le Monde. 
  
• "Vintage" Shareholder special 2020.  On 14-MAY, the annual shareholder assembly of Swatch Group was held in a virtual setup.  Nevertheless, each shareholder who registered in time received a special Gent Swatch as a gift (as every year).  In the Annual Report 2019, Nayla Hayek (Chair of the Swatch Group Board of Directors, sister of Nick Hayek) had promised a "Vintage Swatch".  And yes, Swatch truly delivered:  The Shareholder Special 2020 Nine To Three (SO28Z100) is an updated version of the famous Gent GB103 from 1983, the first Swatch with a "graphic design".  Note the green Swatch logo!  Here is a closeup of the watch face and here is a picture of the back of the watch. The special graphic design can also be found on the nice packaging (made from paper / pasteboard).  From the ref.code SO28Z100, we can deduce that this is a Gent manufactured from recycled plastic (see also the "Bio-source" note on the sticker).   Thanks to Christine Tanner for the photos.
  
• A Glimpse into the Swatch Archive.  For the first time ever, Swatch allowed a glimpse into the Swatch Archive at the new Swatch HQ (Biel) in an interactive Instagram Story (promoting Big Bold Jelly) published on 09-MAY-2020.  The short film features the official Swatch Archivist and other #TeamSwatch members. For each Swatch watch ever released, the archive has one individual box with several identical watches.  Can you identify the three Swatch watches on the table of the Swatch Archivist? (it is not really difficult, isn't it? :-)
• Art Week Yellena James SwatchXYou.  During the first week of each month, Swatch will collaborate with different artists and present unique SwatchXYou canvases which will be available for one week only.  For May, Swatch presents a canvas by US artist Yellena James:  Swatch X Yellena James.  Yellena James is an artist and illustrator currently living in Portland, Oregon. In her work she explores the intricate and delicate forms of an imaginary ecosystem.
• New May Swatch releases.  After a one month break, Swatch is now selling new Swatch watches in the Swatch Online Store Germany.  Two new Big Bold Jelly are now on sale:  1. Blackinjelly (SO27E101);  2. Whiteinjelly (SO27E106).  And several Gent and Lady watches with a funny Spring theme:  "The perfect garden does not exist."
  
• Bonello's Special Edition.  Most of you probably know about the Bonello's Swatch guide.  It was available in eight different editions (as far as I know) from 1991 to 2000 (1995/1996 and 1998/1999 are "two years in one book"), in German and English.  It was the most famuous Swatch reference and price guide in the 1990s, during the height of the Swatch craze.  Recently, a Bonello's Special Edition book (green hardcover) surfaced.  It is numbered xx/70 on the first page and it comes with a nice accompanying letter which shows that this book was distributed as a gift to friends of the editors (Axel Hennel and Malte Strauß).
• Closure of Swatch Stores.  Many Swatch stores all over the world are closed (since mid March, until further notice) due to the Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak:  Germany, Italy, UK, USA, ...  As written in the heartwarming message by Swatch Club:  "Stay safe!  It’s time to stop, stay home and take care of yourself and your loved ones."  This article explains quite well why these drastic measures are required NOW.  Take your time and sort your Swatch watches now (at home!).  Small sign of hope:  The Swatch stores in China have been reopened recently.  Update:  Since 22-APR, a few Swatch stores in Germany are open again...
• #SwatchTakesMePlaces.  During a time when most of the Swatch stores in the world are closed and all the Swatch Club adventures are on hold, Swatch Club is now going to the virtual world on Instagram during a 30-day trip to one of 18 different locations:  #SwatchTakesMePlaces:  Athens, Bangkok, Shanghai, Paris, Vienna, Munich, Zurich, Amsterdam, Miami, New York, Hawaii, Rome, Istanbul, Venice, Madrid, Barcelona, Florence, Tokyo.  And you can even go to Mars! (one way trip?)  Update:  Meanwhile, the list of destinations has been extended to 30 cities!  For each destination, a special SwatchXYou is now available (until 11-MAY):  Mars, New York, Rome, Hawaii, Athens, London, Berlin, Brussels, Madrid, Istanbul, Zurich, Shanghai, Paris, Venice, St. Petersburg, Las Vegas, Macao, Florence, Barcelona, Amsterdam, Bangkok, Hong Kong, Lisbon, Miami, Lucerne, Tokyo, Taipei, Vienna, Munich, Milan.  Except for the Autism Faces SwatchXYou, no other SwatchXYou is currently available, so all other designs are deleted (for now).  Update 2: #SwatchTakesMePlaces has been taken to the next level:  Starting 16-APR, the five most engaging virtual travelers will win a real trip to their favorite destination!  (when? :-/)  Good luck!  You can also win a Swatch Club Gold Membership! Update 3:  The five winners were announced on 01-MAY: #5 @fac29;  #4 @curvyselfiequeen;  #3 @denisphickey;  #2 @lwt_livingwithtaste;  #1 @kibele95.
• Club Swatch 2020.  The Club Swatch 2020 has been released on 06-FEB.  It is a New Gent celebrating 30 years of Swatch Club:  30 And Ticking (SUOZ322, 75 EURO).  The watch is packaged in a nice special packaging.  The inside of the packaging shows the names of former club watches.  You can buy the watch in the Swatch Online Store.  In 1-2 months, a special limited version of the watch will be available at local club events.  The black and red Grafitti design can also be seen at the Planet Swatch Museum in Biel.  Update:  club.swatch.com has also been redesigned and it now shows the 30th anniversary design.   Update 2:  The welcome package for 2020 contains five very nice patches (besides the membership certificate and the plastic membership card).  Gold & Pioneer members get an extra gift:  an illuminated notebook!
• Limited Club special 2020.  The limited Club special for 2020 is a New Gent Hello 30! (SUOZ321S).  It was launched on 04-MAR in Paris, France.  It is numbered xxxx/1990.  It is a very nice variation of the regular club watch with a colorful "30" on the dial, packaged in a nice packaging which is also numbered. 1990 pcs is considerably more compared to the last years (819 pcs etc.), the number 1990 is the founding year of the club.  A funny mistake has happened:  The watch itself is numbered xxxx/1999 on the back!  As in the last years, there are several variants with country specific loops around the strap:  France (SUOZ321JS, black loop w/ white writing, 54 pcs sold on 04-MAR); Switzerland (SUOZ321IS, 115 CHF, red loop w/ white writing, sold in some Swiss Swatch stores in March and later (end of May) online); Taiwan (SUOZ321CS, red loop w/ black writing, 57 pcs); Germany (SUOZ321KS, black loop w/ red writing, 37 pcs, 100 EURO); UK (SUOZ321NS, 37 pcs, 89 GBP); USA (SUOZ321ES, white loop w/ red writing, 107 pcs, $115 US).  Update:  The club members in Taiwan who bought the limited version of the Club watch (Hello 30!) received a very nice gift with purchase:  A nice display to show the Hello 30! watch.  Additionally, a special Hello 30! bag is also available.  Thanks to Joachim Meyer and David Catel for the infos and to Carlos Zanotelli and Sophia Chang for some photos.
• World Autism Awareness Day SwatchXYou specials.  The thirteenth annual World Autism Awareness Day is on 02-APR-2020. Two special SwatchXYou watch are available in the Swatch Online Store:  1.  Autism Faces (canvas); 2. Autism Puzzle (canvas).  Update:  The canvases have been designed by autist and artist by passion, Johji Oates. 
• Dante Alighieri SwatchXYou special.  On 25-MAR, Italy celebrated Dantedì (special day for the Italian poet Dante Alighieri).  A special Dantedì SwatchXYou (canvas) is now available in the Italy Swatch Online Store.
  
• WANTED! Full Turn Night (#87/200).  Another stolen watch:  The Irony Diaphane Full Turn Night (SVAZ104S, #87/200, 8800 EURO!) has been reported stolen (without box or papers) last week! Check stefan1165's post on Instagram and contact him if this watch shows up somewhere.
  
• Mymuesli special.  Mymuesli is a German online shop to allow customers to create their own muesli (cereal) mix.  Recently, a very nice Gent special Mymuesli (GS147D) has been released.  It is a Gent Cartolina (GS147), produced for the Rio Olympic Games in 2016 with a nice special strap.  It is rumoured that the watch is limited to 580 pcs.
• China Limited SwatchXYou specials.  Two China Limited SwatchXYou specials are / were available at the Yu Garden Concept Store in Shanghai, China (????????):  1. China Limited 1 (canvas);  2. China Limited 2 (canvas).  These two SwatchXYou canvases are not available online, some of these were only available for the Swatch staff.  The Yu Garden Concept Store in Shanghai was opened last year (26-NOV-2019) with Alexandra Lutz (Swatch China Brand Manager) and the artist Xun Mengyu (???)    Thanks to Tak Lun Lee for the photos and to Sophia Chang for the information.
  
• St. Patrick's Day SwatchXYou.  St. Patrick's Day (irish Lá Fhéile Pádraig) will be celebrated on 17-MAR.   A special St. Patrick's SwatchXYou (canvas) is now available in the Swatch Online Store.
• International Women's Day SwatchXYou.  08-MAR is International Women's Day.  A special Woman Day SwatchXYou (canvas) is now available in the Swatch Online Store.
• Mother's Day special 2020.  The Mother's Day special 2020 is a Gent #IAMWONDERMOM (GZ338), packaged in a nice special packaging with a free pair of colorful Swatch socks.  The special is already available at the Swatch Online Store in the UK (70 UKP) and in Russia.
• James Bond Swatch x 007 specials.  According to several news reports, Swatch will release seven (007!) new James Bond Swatch watches soon.  The first six Swatch watches will be released on 20-FEB as Swatch x 007 capsule collection.  They are related to the posters, title sequences, and iconography of six classic James Bond Films, one for each actor who has played James Bond so far:  1.  Sean Connory: Dr. No 1962 (New Gent SUOZ302, features the coloured dots from the iconic title sequence, 5025 pcs, unnumbered);  2. George Lazenby: On Her Majesty's Secret Service 1969 (New Gent SUOZ715, uses elements from the film's poster design, 3025 pcs, unnumbered);  3. Roger Moore: Moonraker 1979 (New Gent SUOZ305, takes the wearer into space with a shuttle, 5025 pcs, unnumbered);  4. Timothy Dalton: Licence To Kill 1989 (Gent GZ328, tropical theme and snakeskin design echoes the film's warmer climates, 9025 pcs, unnumbered);  5. Pierce Brosnan: The World Is Not Enough 1999 (New Gent SUOZ304, iconography from the film's poster and graphics are used on the face, 3025 pcs, unnumbered);  6. Daniel Craig: Casino Royale 2006 (Gent GZ340, card designs are used from the graphical title sequence, 5025 pcs, unnumbered).  The watches will be sold in a very nice special packaging, imitating a VHS video cassette.  Here is a photo of an actual watch in the packaging.  They cost 85 EURO (Gent) and 90 EURO (New Gent).  The 7th new James Bond watch (a Skin Irony 42, simply called Q, ref. SS07Z100, 200 EURO) will be released on 05-MAR in limited numbers(!) to coincide with the new James Bond movie No Time To Die:  In the film, Q will be seen wearing a Swatch specially designed in collaboration with Suttirat Anne Larlarb (costume designer on No Time to Die).  These new James Bond Swatch watches were rumoured since quite some time now but they have been delayed as the new movie has been pushed back several times:  The original press photos of the packaging show "The 2019 James Bond Collection" on the side print of the 'VHS cassette'.  On the actual watches being sold, this has been updated to "The 2020 James Bond Collection".   Previously, Swatch has released two James Bond collections:  In 2002 20 Swatch watches, celebrating the 40th anniversary of James Bond in the cinema; and in 2008 the 007 Villains Collection featuring 22 special themed models representing the villains from each film in the official series.  Hodinkee has a very nice report about the third Swatch James Bond collection, Fratello Magazine as well.  Update:  The 007 x Swatch collection will be available on 17-FEB (7am [which time zone?!?]) at the official 007 Online Store, before the global launch on 20-FEB.  On 25-FEB, Swatch will present a James Bond Movie Marathon in Brooklyn, NY, to US club members.  Three movies will be shown:  Dr. No, The World is Not Enough, Casino Royale.  And the Club members will "get a first hand look at the NEW James Bond Tribute Collection".  On 28-FEB, there will be a Bond collection launch event in Switzerland at the Swatch HQ in Biel.  Update 2:  The first three watches from the 007 x Swatch collection are now available online at the official 007 store.  Update 3:  The James Bond Movie Marathon will take place in February and March in France (Paris, 04-MAR), USA (New York, 25-FEB), Russia (Moscow), Germany (Frankfurt, 04-MAR), Spain (Madrid), Turkey (Istanbul), Switzerland (Biel at the Swatch HQ, 28-FEB).  A special webpage 007.swatch.com is now online.  You can already preorder the six Bond watches at the Swatch Online Store in the UK and in the USA.  Update 4: Another countdown has started on 007.swatch.com, hinting at another event (release of the limited edition 7th Bond special?) at 05-MAR, 10am UK time. Update 5: During an event at the Swatch Store Milano (Montenapoleone) on 22-FEB, six Swatch James Bond magnets were distributed. Update 6:  As hinted on several Instagram posts, the 7th new James Bond watch will be launched on 05-MAR.  It is a Skin Irony 42, simply called Q (SS07Z100), packaged in a nice notebook-like special packaging.  Price is 200 EURO.  The watch is limited to 7007 pcs, not numbered. There are also rumours about two other special packagings containing the Q Bond special.  A "Q" is printed at the 6 o'clock position of the dial.  However, a recent Instagram post by Swatch shows a version of this Swatch without the "Q" at the 6 o'clock position of the dial.  This means that at least some dummy prototype variants of this watch exist!  Update 7:  A production error of the Q special packaging has surfaced (just compare the two photos).   Thanks to R.J.Valdez for the photos and to Brian Pier and Thomas Chan for the information.
• Nissan Sports Adventure Access special.  Some years ago (when? probably after 2009), the Japanese car maker Nissan has issued a special Access Chrono Plastic Nissan Sports Adventure (SUKR100E), with a special large loop "Nissan Sports Adventure" around the strap.  It is a Chrono Plastic Reddish Black (SUKR100) with a special loop around the strap.
• International Women's Day SwatchXYou.  08-MAR is International Women's Day.  A special Woman Day SwatchXYou (canvas) is now available in the Swatch Online Store.
• SISTEM51 Petite Seconde.  A new product line SISTEM51 Petite Seconde has been launched recently.  Two watches are available:  1. Petite Seconde Blue (SY23S403);  2. Petite Seconde Black (SY23S400).  Price is 195 EURO.
• Swatch X 007 Night Frankfurt.  On 04-MAR, Swatch Club Germany invited James Bond and Swatch fans and collectors to Frankfurt for a Swatch X 007 Night.    Here is a small report with many photos from a wonderful evening.
• Art Week Melanie Mues SwatchXYou.  During the first week of each month, Swatch will collaborate with different artists and present unique SwatchXYou canvases which will be available for one week only.  For March, Swatch presents two designs by German artist Melanie Mues:  1. The Count (canvas);  2. Love Time (canvas).  The special SwatchXYou are available for one week only!
• Swatch Logo SwatchXYou.  A special Swatch SwatchXYou is now available in the Swatch Online Store.  The canvas shows the famous Swatch Logo is many different sizes.  A Swatch collectors dream and a must-have!  Note the different words on the canvas: swatch, swiss, switch, smith, swim, stitch, watches, ... ('spoonerism')...  Thanks to Joachim Meyer for the hint.
  
• Karneval / Carnival SwatchXYou.  A special Die 5te Jahreszeit SwatchXYou (canvas) is now available in the German Swatch Online Store (until 24-FEB).  "Die 5te Jahreszeit" (= the 5th season) stands for the Karneval (= carnival) period. This is for Germany only as the design shows German only Karneval  exclamations such as "Helau" and "Alaaf".  The watch is also available at selected Swatch stores in and around Cologne and Dusseldorf (very important Karneval areas in Germany). Update: Another special Venice (Carnival Masks, canvas) SwatchXYou is now available in the Swatch Online Store.  Update 2: Another special Basel (canvas) SwatchXYou is now available in the Swiss Swatch Online Store. The Basler Fasnacht (Basel Carnival) always takes place one week later than in Germany....  Thanks to Christine Tanner for the hint.
  
• Swatchy the Penguin.  Follow the adventures of an epic penguin with attitude on Instagram:  Swatchy the Penguin!
• 1992 Swatch / Bowie phonecard.  In 1992, a special Swatch / David Bowie phonecard was released in a limited edition of 1000 pcs by the organizers of the famous Düsseldorf Swatch collector fairs.  The phonecard (6 German Mark [~3 EURO]) is packaged in a nice folder (the design for both is inspired by the Gent Eclipses (GB128) from 1989), numbered xxxx/1000 on the inside.   On the back of the phonecard and the folder, the German fans send best wishes to David Bowie for his 46th anniversary.
• Alabama SwatchXYou.  A special Alabama SwatchXYou (canvas) is now available in the Swatch Online Store.  Here is some background info about this very special Swatch...
• AMAG SISTEM51 Irony special.  The Swiss Volkswagen importer AMAG celebrates its 75th anniversary on 03-JAN-2020.  A special SISTEM51 Irony Amag (YIZ406) has been produced in a limited edition of 7500 pcs.  The watch was given to employees (active and former) of AMAG (never sold).  It has the inscription "1945 - AMAG - 2020" on the back and it is packaged in a nice paper sleeve.  The watch is a completely new model with a custom dial, a little bit inspired by Sistem Fly (YIS404).  According to the documentation, the SISTEM51 Irony Amag is the first Swatch with the new balance spring Nivachron made out of a new non-magnetic compensating alloy.  This is not correct as it was used first in the Flymagic Swatch (available in APR-2019).  Also later in NOV-2019 in the third Hodinkee Swatch special SISTEM51 HODINKEE Generation 1986 (SUTZ406).
• Power Of Love SwatchXYou.  Two special Power Of Love SwatchXYou are now available in the Swatch Online Store:  1. Emoheart (canvas);  2. Dancing Heart (canvas).
• Remembering Nicolas G. Hayek.  On 19-FEB, the co-founder, CEO and Chairman of Swatch Group, Nicolas G. Hayek, would have celebrated his 92th birthday.  For his 70th anniversary in 1998, he received a unique Swatch Gent with three photos of him on the dial:  One aged 70 days, one aged 70 months and one aged 70 years. Thanks to Thomas Chan for the hint.
• SwatchXYou improved.  Finally, two long overdue improvements for the creation of your customized SwatchXYou have been activated:  You can now rotate the canvas (360°!) and you can zoom into the canvas.  Hence you can now create a SwatchXYou such as this one :-) Thanks to Joachim Meyer for the hint.
• Tokyo 2020 Olympic specials.  Three new Tokyo 2020 Olympic specials are now available in Japan:  1. Gent Tokyo 2020 Blue (GZ708);  2. Big Bold BB AI Blue (SO27Z100);  3. Big Bold Kurenai Red (SO27Z101).  These three watches will be available worldwide in March.  Here is a press release about the watches.  Thanks to Mano Akihito for the photo.
• Art Week Olaf Hajek SwatchXYou.  During the first week of each month, Swatch will collaborate with different artists and present unique SwatchXYou canvases which will be available for one week only.  For February, Swatch presents one canvas by German artist Olaf Hajek:  1. Flowerhead.  Previously in 2014, Olaf Hajek has designed two very successful Swatch watches.  The special SwatchXYou is available until 10-FEB.
• Laax Open 2020 special.  The Laax Open snowboarding event takes place from 13 to 18-JAN in Laax, Switzerland.   A special New Gent Laax Open 2020 (SUOB714C, 90 CHF) has been issued, it is packaged in a nice paper sleeve.  It is New Gent Gaet (SUOB714) from 2014 with a special strap.  Here is a photo of an actual watch.  The winners of the Laax Open received a nicely packaged Big Bold Swatch.
• Dry January SwatchXYou.  A special Dry January SwatchXYou (canvas) is now available in the Swatch Online Store.
• Fake Big Bold.  Swatch Big Bold is still a very young product line but you can already find fake Big Bold watches on Instagram.
• Don't Be Too Late reissued / new Gent product line.  Another famous Swatch from the 80s has been reissued:  DB2L (SO28B102) is a Gent(!) Swatch (34 mm), with a GREEN Swatch logo on the watch face, packaged in an eco-friendly red pasteboard packaging.  Note the lower green part on the seconds hand and the different hour and minute hands compared to the original Don't Be Too Late (GA100) from 1984.  From the production code SO28B102, we can deduce that there is a technical difference to the Gent Swatch watches we all know and love (a new product line!), otherwise, the ref. code would be GBxxx.  Hopefully that technical difference will be unveiled soon.  Here is a picture of the actual watch in the packaging.  Update:  According to information from a Swatch Store:  The new Gent product line is manufactured (partially?) from recycled plastic, the plastic for the glass is also different, so the usual Polywatch should not be used to polish your DB2L!  Update 2: Here is a photo that illustrates the differences between the original Don't Be Too Late (GA100) from 1984 and the DB2L (SO28B102) from 2020. DB2L has a production code "IX46b", I assume that the added "b" behind the regular production code indicates the new Gent 2 product line with recycled plastic.
• Valentine 2020 special.  According to this report, the Swatch Valentine special for 2020 is a Gent Swatch You've Got Love (GZ707S).  It comes in a red packaging in the style of an envelope.  The watch is limited and numbered to 5020 pcs.
• Argentinia only Glitter collection.  A special limited Glitter collection is available exclusively in Argentinia.  The Glitter collection consists of five Swatch watches:  Three New Gent, one Gent, and one Lady Swatch:  1. New Gent Glittersky (SUOS400);  2. New Gent Glitterpassion (SUOR401);  3. New Gent Glitternight (SUOB403);  4. Gent Glitterespoir (GE269);  5. Gent Glitterceleste (LK392).  The Glitter collection is available since at least MAR-2019, issued probably for the opening of the Swatch Argentinia Online Store.  Other markets have different Glitter Swatch watches available (also exclusively online), eg. Germany.
• Big Bold Pay! watches.  Three different Big Bold Pay! watches are now available in those markets where Swatch Pay! is available, eg. Switzerland, Austria, Germany:  1. BBMist Pay! (SO27W101-5300);  2. BBSky Pay! (SO27N106-5300);  3. BBNyte Pay! (SO27B106-5300).  Each watch costs 100 EURO (compared to 90 EURO for the regular Big Bold watches [or 95 EURO for the fantastic Big Bold Jellyfish]).
• Swatch Essentials.  Every month, Swatch will now unveil new essential styles and the people that make it all happen every month:  Swatch Essentials.  #TeamSwatch  For January 2020, 16 different Swatch watches have been released.
  
• SwatchXYou Taiwan Pop-up store.  Until 16-FEB, a SwatchXYou Pop-up store is open at the Taipei 101 Shopping Mall in Taiwan.  Two special Swatch SwatchXYou designs are available (also in the Swatch Taiwan Online Store):  1. Taiwan Animals A (canvas);  2. Taiwan Animals B (canvas).
  
• Virgin MiamiCentral Pop-up store.  A new Swatch Pop-up store is now open at Virgin MiamiCentral.  Until 02-FEB, you can buy Swatch watches, including the Miami Vibes Destination special.
  
• Zodiac / Chinese Horoscope SwatchXYou.  A special Zodiac SwatchXYou is now available in the Swatch Online Store.  So you can now check your horoscope on your wrist!  Additionally, a Chinese Horoscope SwatchXYou is available in the Swatch Online Store. 
• 2020 Emojis SwatchXYou.  A special Emojis SwatchXYou is now available in the Swatch Online Store.  It also features a "2020" on the canvas, so it has also a "Happy New Year 2020" theme :-)
• 007 special.  An interesting 007 New Gent special (surely James Bond related) has surfaced.  It is a New Gent Black Rebel (SUOB702) with a special 007 loop around the strap and a black paper sleeve with a grey, well known "007" logo.
• Art Week Lorenzo Petrantoni SwatchXYou.  During the first week of each month, Swatch will collaborate with different artists and present unique SwatchXYou canvases which will be available for one week only.  For January, Swatch presents two different canvases by Italian artist Lorenzo Petrantoni:  1. Fleur (canvas);  2. Circule (canvas).  Previously in 2012, Lorenzo Petrantoni has designed five Swatch watches.
• Big Bold Jellyfish.  As a late Xmas gift, the superb new Big Bold Jellyfish (SO27E100) is now available in the Swatch Online Store for 95 EURO.  Here is a closeup photo of the watch face.
• Ski Season SwatchXYou.  A special Ski Season SwatchXYou is now available in the Swatch Online Store.
• Chinese New Year SwatchXYou.  A special Chinese New Year Rat World SwatchXYou is now available in the Swatch Online Store.
• Unknown SwatchXYou.  Do you know this SwatchXYou with lots of gearwheels on the strap?  I do not remember this one.  Was it available to the general public at some point in time?  ETA related (it is from Switzerland)?  Please email if you have more information.