news from 2021 are below:

• Mika wearing a Swatch Snoopy Xmas special.   (Swatch related) pop star Mika is wearing a Snoopy Xmas special Chomp! in his Instagram Xmas post.  Here is a comparison, looks identical to me.  Update: Earlier in October, Mika shared an Instagram post wearing a MoMA New Gent The Dream by Henri Rousseau (SUOZ333).   Thanks to ??? for the hint.
• Snow Rodeo World Cup SwatchXYou special.  The Snow Rodeo FIS Slopestyle and Freeski Halfpipe World Cup presented by Swatch takes place at Winsport in Calgary, Canada from 27-DEC-2021 to 02-JAN-2022.  Exclusive to the New Year’s event, Canadian freeskier Max Moffatt has designed a special SwatchXYou Snow Rodeo Final (canvas, $160 CAD), available only in Canada.  As announced in this email, prefabricated SwatchXYou are available in the Swatch stores in Canada (eg. SUOK145-011).  Here is a closeup of the watch face and the back has an imprint SNOW RODEO 2021.  Update:  1. a huge Swatch Big Bold Bioceramic Whice can be spotted outdoors on a snowboard ramp at the Winsport  skiing area.  2. According to Alain Choisy, it is not possible to generate the prefabricated SwatchXYou interactively (impossible zoom level).  Thanks to Thomas Chan for the photos.
• Sinterklaas SwatchXYou special.  A special SwatchXYou Sinterklaas (canvas) is available in the Netherlands Swatch Online Store.  Sinterklaas or Sint-Nicolaas is a legendary figure based on Saint Nicholas, patron saint of children.
• Sting wearing a Mimmo.  In this #tbt instagram post (screenshot) by his wife Trudie Styler (going back to 1989), musician Sting is spotted wearing his super rare Mimmo Paladino Oigol Oro (GZ113, 1988) Swatch special.  Here is an enlarged version of the photo.  I think that Sting was given Mimmo #026/100.
• Big Bold Snowboard watch.  A new Swatch Big Bold Bioceramic Whice (SB03N103) is now promoted on the Swatch website by the Swatch Proteam member, 13-time X Games champion and Olympic medalist Max Parrot (Snowboarding). 
• More Expo 2020 artist specials.  Five additional SwatchXYou specials by local artists are now available in the EXPO 2020 Dubai section on the Swatch website:  1. Allam (canvas);  2. Albanna (canvas);  3. Ebtisam (canvas);  4. Mezaina (canvas);  5. Suwaidi (canvas).  Does anyone have more information about these watches or the artists who designed the canvas?
• Swatch monogram design competition.  Swatch and PROSPECT 100 are inviting young designers to respond the brief, 'What if... Swatch were to have a monogram'.  You can participate at this global design competition until 10-DEC.  The design competition winner gets $10000 US prize money and can work on an official collaboration with Swatch.  Read all the details here.  "Design a Swatch monogram (motif/pattern) that could not only be applied on watches, but present as well on digital platforms, shopping bags, retail environments, uniforms, etc. Please do not feel like you should create a monogram just intended for watches. Please do not create a watch."  Update: The winner of the design contest has been announced on 19-DEC:  Christopher Sardo.  Here is his Swatch monogram design, great choice, I love it!
• Burgenland special.  Burgenland is the easternmost and least populous state of Austria.  A special New Gent Burgenland (SUOJ100C, limited to 300 pcs) has been issued by the Burgenland Tourismus GmbH.  Is this the first B2B special in the new style ecological packaging?
• Canada Snowboard Team Big Bold special.  A new Big Bold special Canada Snowboard Team (SB03B100C, $180 CAD) is now available in the Swatch Canada online store.  Does it have a special packaging?  The watch is a Big Bold C-Black (SB03B100) with a special strap.  Previously in early 2021, a first special New Gent CS x Swatch Watch - Downhill Sideways (SUOB719D, $115.00 CAD) had been released by the Canada Snowboard Team.  Here is a photo of the box of the new Big Bold special.  Thanks to Thomas Chan for the hint and the photo.
  
• Snoopy Xmas special.  As announced here, a 7th watch will be added to the Swatch X Peanuts collection soon:  A cute red New Gent Biosourced Snoopy Xmas special Chomp! (SO29Z109, 140 EURO) will be available in early December, with a special Xmas red dog food bowl.  Unfortunately, the Xmas special is not numbered.  Update:  An unexpected early Xmas surprise was unveiled on 12-DEC (surprisingly, this info was not leaked earlier):  The Chomp! special contains a small NFC chip!  If you approach the watch with your NFC enabled smartphone, a hidden website with many Peanuts comic strips is unveiled... What a nice early Xmas gift and a totally unexpected bonus with your Snoopy Swatch!  The NFC antenna ring in the watch is visible (not easily).  Update 2:  The Swatch website has a detailed FAQ about Swatch X Peanuts - NFC.  The Peanuts comics will be available online until the end of 2023.  Thanks to Sascha for the photo.
  
• Swatch X Peanuts collection.  Swatch is hinting at an upcoming Swatch X Peanuts collection, to be released on 04-NOV.  Update / Spoiler:  Eric Bressoud saw this advertisement in a store in Sion (Switzerland). And you can find all the details of the collection (incl. photos) here in this press release.  Update 2:  The Swatch X Peanuts collection is now available for sale.  It consists of six colourful and cute Bio-sourced Swatch watches (not limited):  1. Gent Grande Bracchetto (SO28Z107, paper sleeve, "Snoopy");  2. New Gent Pow Wow (SO29Z101, paper sleeve, "Charlie Brown"); 3. New Gent Smak! (SO29Z108, paper sleeve, "Peanuts Comic Strip");  4. Gent Klunk! (SO28Z106, paper sleeve, "Lucy") ;   5. New Gent Hee Hee Hee (SO29Z106, paper sleeve, "Snoopy and Woodstock");  6. New Gent First Base (SO29Z107, paper sleeve, "Peanuts Gang").  If you buy all six watches in your local Swatch store, you might be able to get a super nice gift with purchase (not too many pieces per country!):  A wooden frame that can hold all six Swatch X Peanuts watches.  In Asia, a cute Swatch X Peanuts shopping bag and gift packaging (XMas theme?!?) is available.  A limited Maxi Hee Hee Hee (MSO29Z106, 380 EURO, 444 pcs(?)) was sold online only on 09-NOV.  It sold out instantly worldwide (still available in Poland and Russia after several hours).  The Maxi is packaged in a special blue Peanuts design Maxi box, wonderful!  For a short time, the Swatch website had an error, listing 41mm Gent (not New Gent!) Swatch watches.  Esquire magazine talks about a seventh Peanuts Swatch watch, packaged in a "red Snoopy dog bowl" (Christmas related?).  Update 3: Starting 18-NOV, several cute Peanuts SwatchXYou (canvas 1, canvas 2, canvas 3) will be available as presented here and here.  The SwatchXYou packaging also has some "Peanuts" attributes:  An enclosed small Peanuts card and a Peanuts print around the box. Update 4: In addition to the three "custom, individual design" Peanuts SwatchXYou, six "prefabricated" Peanuts SwatchXYou are available (scroll down!).  These prefabricated Peanuts SwatchXYou are sold with a special sleeve and postcard!  The "Drive Through" Swatch store at the Swatch HQ in Biel now has a huge inflatable Snoopy on its roof! and the Pbillboards eanuts Gang is in Swatch HQ too! You can print your custom made SwatchXYou also instore (eg. Japan).  Update 5:  It seems that the marketing budget for SwatchXPeanuts is a bit bigger than usual:  1. A nice SwatchXPeanuts display at the Oxford Circus tube station in London.  2. SwatchXPeanuts ads on several NYC subway trains running across one side of the entire subway car.  3. A huge SwatchXPeanuts ad on the on Times Square, NYC.  Update 6: There is a rumor that Swatch has gifted a Peanuts Maxi to the Swatch employees for Xmas:  300 pcs? 400? (in addition to the 444 pcs that were sold).  Switzerland only as far as I know.   Thanks to Alexandre Brunner, Tak Lun Lee, and Roberta Kleiman for the photos and to Thomas Töpler for the update.
• Beijing 2022 Olympic specials.  The first three Beijing 2022 Olympic specials are now available (in some markets delayed until JAN-2022):  1. New Gent Biosourced Red Rivers And Mountains (SO29Z105);  2. New Gent Biosourced Chinese Winter Scenery (SO29Z700);  3. Gent Biosourced Charm Of Calligraphy (SO28Z105).  These watches are packaged in a nice paper sleeve and they are not numbered.  The Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics take place from 04 to 20-FEB-2022.
• Expo 2020 Dubai December SwatchXYou country specials.  As you may know, Swatch has held a design competition (some months ago) for each country participating at Expo 2020 Dubai.  Now the third round of SwatchXYou designs has been released for December:  1. Genesis (canvas) by Sebastián González Paul (Chile);  2. Ogorod (canvas) by Andrew Levinsky (Russia);  3. Sacred Tattoo (canvas) by Paramita Chatkoon (Thailand);  4. Simplest Thing (canvas) by Iwona Castiello d’Antonio (Poland);  5. Mesopotamia (canvas) by Noorhan (Iraq);  6. Japanese Scenery (canvas) by Ouma (Japan);  7. A Circle And A Square And A Heart Of The City (canvas) by Jann Lipka (Sweden);  8. Ogossagou (canvas) by Daouda Traore (Mali);  9. Rivers And Valleys (canvas) by Tarik Arnautovic (Bosnia-Herzegovina);  10. Gamésou -Il Est Temps (canvas) by Tesprit (Togo).
• Chinese New Year 2022 special.  2022 is the Year of the Tiger in China.  A Bioceramic Big Bold Tiger Power (SB03Z102) is now available in the Swatch online store.  The watch is packaged in a nice special Tiger packaging (open box).  Thanks to Joachim Meyer for the information.
• UAE 50th anniversary SwatchXYou specials.  2021 is commemorated as The Year of the 50th in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) as the nation was founded in 1971.  Three different SwatchXYou are now available in the UAE Swatch Online store:  1. 50 Jubilee (canvas);  2. Jubilee 2 (canvas);  3. Urbanite (canvas).  Thanks to Joachim Meyer for the information.
• Sixth Hodinkee Swatch special.  On 29-NOV, the sixth Hodinkee Swatch special has been released:  It is a limited edition SISTEM51 again: SISTEM51 Hodinkee Stoplight Neon Remix (SO30Z402, $175 US).  The design of the watch is based on the Gent Stoplight (GY402/03) from 1990.  You can buy the SISTEM51 watch at Hodinkee.
• SwatchXYou Black Friday Retail collection.  The pre Xmas shopping event Black Friday is 'celebrated' on 26-NOV.  Swatch Germany sent out an email with details about a SwatchXYou Black Friday Retail collection (will be available in selected Swatch Stores in Germany).  By mistake, this email was also sent to collectors in Italy and USA.  12 different SwatchXYou watches (3 different canvases with 4 watches each) will be available in a special "Black Friday" packaging:  1. Shopping Mall will be available in eight different Swatch stores in Germany;  2. Der Knaller! ("the blast") in six stores;  3. Schöner Kleben! ("glue more beautifully") will be the most rare as it will be available only in Frankfurt and Hamburg.  These watches are 'extremely limited' and they will be available only on one day only:  Black Friday (26-NOV).  Update: Here is a photo of the actual Shopping Mall and Der Knaller! watches.  The watches are packaged in a special black "26.11.2021" paper sleeve.  Here is a photo of two specials from 2020 and 2021 with the packaging.
• Zurich Flagship store.  The Swatch Zurich Flagship store is now completely "dressed up" in SwatchXPeanuts design.  Check out this great in-store video on Instagram.
• Black Friday / Singles’ Day SwatchXYou.  A Singles' Day SwatchXYou (canvas) is now available in several markets in Asia.  Update:  This SwatchXYou canvas is now also available in Europe for Black Friday 'celebrations'.  Thanks to Joachim Meyer for the hint.
• Olympic Museum special.  A nice new special Starting Block (SO29Z111) is now available at the Olympic Museum in Lausanne (Switzerland).  Here is a closeup of the nice watch face with the olympic rings.  Thanks to Fabien Zwahlen for the information and photo.
• Expo 2020 Dubai November SwatchXYou country specials.  As you may know, Swatch has held a design competition (some months ago) for each country participating at Expo 2020 Dubai.  Now the second round of SwatchXYou designs has been released for November:  1. Flat, Sweet And Famous (canvas) by Tadej (Netherlands);  2. A Mix of Contentment, the Gentleman, Cliché, the Queen In Her Prime (canvas) by Obilala Nwankwo (Nigeria);  3. Colours of Venezuela (canvas) by Carlos Almenar (Venezuela);  4. Milagritos (canvas) by Ilse Valverde (Mexico);  5. The Be-Loved Land of Senses (canvas) by Pamela Daza (Colombia);  6. Mongolian G.O.A.T. (canvas) by Jantsankhorol Erdenebayar (Mongolia);  7. Little Big Austria (canvas) by Dominik Schubert (Austria);  8. Lebanon, The Good Old Days (canvas) by Hisham Zeineddine (Lebanon);  9. A Blend Made in Italy (canvas) by Luca Vacchini (Italy);  10. A Dream of Obayyah (canvas) by Ali Al Hawaj (Bahrain);  11. I Still Believe In Miracles (canvas) by Jamie M. Lee (USA);  12. Bar (canvas) by Claudia Bläsi (Germany).
• Austria Destination specials available online.  On 26-OCT, Austria celebrates Austria National Day. The three Austria Destination specials are now available in the Swatch Online Store for a short period of time (until 27-OCT).
• Back To 1984 exhibition Frankfurt.  Swatch Club Germany has organized a small exhibition of original Swatch watches from 1984 at the Swatch store in Frankfurt, Germany (until 03-NOV).  A club event with about 30 participants was held on 23-OCT.  Here are a few photos from the event (including a few additional photos from Düsseldorf where a similar exhibition is on display).
• Bürgenstock Swatch store closed.  The nice Bürgenstock Swatch store near Luzern, Switzerland is closed (permanently) :-(  The store had a great Swatch exhibition with unique items in the first floor.
• Additional Expo 2020 Dubai SwatchXYou designs.  Several new SwatchXYou designs related to Expo 2020 Dubai are now available:  1. Africa Union (canvas);  2. European Union (canvas);  3. Union Nations (canvas);  4. Africa (canvas);  5. Americas (canvas);  6. Europe (canvas);  7. Oceania (canvas);  8. Asia (canvas).
• Halloween SwatchXYou.  A Halloween SwatchXYou (canvas) is now available in the Swatch Online store. 
• Las Vegas Destination special.  A new Las Vegas Destination special Only In Vegas! (SO29Z110, $95 US, Destination Special #77) has been launched at the Las Vegas Swatch store on 21-OCT.  Some nice gifts with purchase were available.  This is the third Las Vegas Destination special after What happens in Vegas... (SUOZ234) and Greetings From Las Vegas (SUOB716C), both released in 2016.
• Swatch Group Assembly special.  Swatch Group Assembly (previously «Groupe Habillage Haute Horlogerie (GHHH)») is the Swatch Group’s watch assembly company.  A special New Gent Swatch Group Assembly (SUON112E) is now available.  It is a Gent Clownfish Blue (SUON112) with the Swatch Group Assembly logo on the strap.
• Estonia NOC Tokyo 2020 Olympics special.  A special Estonia NOC Tokyo 2020 Olympics special has surfaced.  It is a Gent Tokyo 2020 Blue (GZ708) with the logo of the Estonia NOC embossed in the strap.  The packaging also has a sticker with the logo.
• Italy 1984 fashion workshops.  Do you want to participate at a Swatch 1984 Fashion Workshop in Rome (20-OCT), Torino (21-OCT) or Milano (22-OCT)?
• "Back To 1984" Swatch collection.  Swatch is hinting at a Back To 1984 collection to be released very soon.  On social media, Swatch is hinting at Grey Memphis, White Memphis, and Black Divers (although the "Swatch (C)" on the black clasp is not very 1984 like, this imprint was used much later...  in addition, the Swatch logo on the Black Divers (a New Gent I guess) is too small).  Update:  The Back To 1984 collection has been unveiled in Taiwan.  The collection consists for five individual Bioceramic watches:  1. New Gent Rouge & Noir (SO32B401, original from 1984: Chrono-Tech, GB403); 2. New Gent Gre Mem L (SO32M102, original from 1984: Grey Memphis, GM100);  3. New Gent Bla_Div (SO32B705, original from 1984: Black Divers, GB704); 4. Gent Yel_Race (SO31J400, original from 1984: Yellow Racer, GJ400); 5. Gent Whi_Mem M (SO31W106, original from 1984: White Memphis, LW102) and a 1984 Reloaded Special Set (SZS34, 160 EURO, 1200(??) pcs, not numbered, open box) with a New Gent Whi_Mem L (SO32W106) and a Gent Gre_Mem M (SO31M100, note the different sizes for the two watches only available in this special set!).  The five individual watches are packaged in a nice colorful 1984 paper sleeve.  Some nice 1984 merch available in Italy (for influencers only?).  Update:  In some countries, collector boxes for 3 watches are available (when a complete set is purchased), these were not easy to get in the past.
• Halloween specials.  Two special Big Bold Swatch watches are now available for Halloween:  1. Your Time Is Coming (SB01B128);  2. Run But You Can't Hide (SB01B129).  Very frightening glow-in-the-dark prints, great designs!  Thanks to Lauren Stefani for the hint.
• Stolen Diaphane One #0265/2222.  Please check out this Instagram post:   Diaphane One #0265/2222 has disappeared while being transported with UPS.  If you see this number somewhere, please inform the Instagram user @watchmetwist.
• Swatch Club Event 10th Anniversary Swatch Art Peace Hotel exhibition.  After an 18 month break due to you know what, Swatch Club organized an international Club Event for the exhibition 10th Anniversary Swatch Art Peace Hotel (01 to 24-OCT-2021) at the MAXXI Museum in Rome, Italy (the Swatch Art Peace Hotel Shanghai celebrates its 10th anniversary in OCT-2021).  About 20 Club members participated at the event.  A SwatchXYou event special (consisting of three SwatchXYou watches, with special paper loop) was released, using the previously available SwatchXYou MAXXI canvas from DEC-2020.  It is limited to 31 pcs as noted on the back. Roberto Quadrini sent me a few photos and notes from the event. 
• Expo 2020 Dubai Opening Ceremony.  On 30-SEP, Expo 2020 Dubai will be opened.  You can watch the opening ceremony here.  Three Four new Swatch watches will be added to the Expo Dubai 2020 Swatch collection:  1. Big Bold Al Joud (SB03Z101, 207 GBP, limited to 500 pcs according to rumours);  2. Skin Irony Tafa'Ol (Optimism, SYXZ103G, 207 GBP, limited to 1000 pcs according to rumours);  3. Skin Irony 42 Al Tasamoh (Tolerance, SS07Z101G, 207 GBP, limited to 1500 pcs according to rumours);  4. New Gent Biosourced SwatchPAY! Al Azeema (Resolution, SO29Z102-5300, 83 GBP).  This collection will be available worldwide starting 01-OCT.  Update:  Three new Expo Dubai 2020 specials are now available in a special premium packaging.  Expo Dubai 2020 is now officially open to the general public. Thanks to Ed Chung for the photo.
• Propose your design for a SwatchXYou - now available.  Swatch is currently running a design contest where you can submit your proposal for a SwatchXYou design:  Swatch Calling: The World's Most Inclusive Art Project.  From each country participating at Expo Dubai 2020 (OCT-2021 to MAR-2022) [194 countries in total], one artwork will be selected and be available as a SwatchXYou.  Design competition ends on 08-AUG.  All chosen artists will receive a symbolic compensation of 351 CHF and seven watches made from their canvas. Update 30-SEP:  The first six (out of around 80) Swatch Calling SwatchXYou are now available:  1. Five France(s) (canvas) by Swatch Club Pioneer Member David Catel;  2. Ukraine Pop (canvas) by Dmytro Potapov;  3. Identitad (canvas) by Amelia Luissi (Uruguay);  4. 26 Shades Of Switzerland (canvas) by Karl Gausmann (Switzerland);  5. Mami Con Diablicos (canvas) by Rolando De Sedas (Panama);  6.  Pharaoh Funk (canvas) by Maya Tadros.
• "Jelly Fish" reissues available by mistake.  Two Jelly Fish Swatch watches were now available again as Biosourced Swatch watches for a very short period of time (in Japan, Italian and US Swatch stores, anywhere else?):  1. Gent Jelly Fish Again (SO28K100);  2. New Gent Jelly Fish Revisited (SO29K100, already available in Japan).  Fun fact:  I cannot see a "(c) Swatch AG 1985" at the 12 o'clock position on the silver ring of the Jelly Fish...  Update:  It seems that Swatch shipped these Jelly Fish reissues by mistake to the stores.  Planned release date seems to be 22-JAN-2022.  Apparently, there was a mixup with New Gent Random Ghost Again (SO29K104).  So for now, these reissues are very rare!  This will change in a few months.  Update 2: The "(c) Swatch AG...." has now moved to the 6 o'clock position and is printed silver on silver (as it is done in the last years, invisible copyright info)... Thanks to Marcello Concialdi for the photo.
  
• Biosourced classic reissues.  Several "classic" bestsellers are now available again as Biosourced Swatch watches:  1. New Gent Random Ghost Again (SO29K104);  2. New Gent Black Lacquered Again (SO29B107).
• "Crossing Over Yellow And Black Lines" artist special.  Swatch Philippines is hinting at a New Gent Bioceramic "Crossing Over Yellow And Black Lines" / "Under Construction" artist special to be released on 23-SEP.  The watch is designed by Philippines artist Jose Santos III (#SwatchJoseSantos).  Update:  The New Gent Bioceramic special Crossing Over Yellow And Black Lines (SO32Z100, 3000 pcs, 7500 PHP, $150 US) has been unveiled by Swatch Philippines with a great video on Instagram.  The packaging represents a piece of tarmac, giving the impression of having been picked from a construction site.  The watch and packaging are not numbered.  The watch is inspired by the huge artwork Crossing over yellow and black stripes (2 panels 46 × 366 cm) from 2016. A giant maxi of Crossing Over Yellow And Black Lines by José Santos III can be seen outside of the Swatch HQ along Arnaiz Avenue, Makati City, Philippines.  The special is now available at the Philippines Swatch stores (with special working gloves as gift with purchase [are these available anywhere else?]).  It will be launched on 25-SEP in the USA and in October in Europe.  The packaging also includes additional information about the artist and the artwork.  Thanks to R.J.Valdez for the photos.
• San Francisco Destination special.  A new San Francisco New Gent Destination special Gates Of Love (SO29Z103, $95 US, Destination Special #76) has been launched on 23-SEP.  Here is a photo of the packaging.  Gates Of Love is available in the Swatch US Online store until 26-SEP.   Thanks to Ed Chung and to Roberta Kleiman for the information.
• Team USA 2020 Olympic Games special.  A special Swatch One Team One Dream (SUOZ716, $74.99 US, backside) is now available in the Team USA shop, right in time for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.  Update: A strap variant of this special was issued for the US Paralympics Team at the Tokyo 2020 Summer Paralympic Games:  One Team One Dream Paralympics (SUOZ716C, backside).  The difference is the inscription "2020 United States Paralympic Team" on the back of the strap and the US Paralympics Team on the frontside of the paper sleeve.  Thanks to Thomas Chan for the hint and to Tak Lun Lee for the photos.
• Oktoberfest SwatchXYou.  As in 2020, the traditional Oktoberfest in Munich is canceled in 2021 as well due to you know what :-(  Nevertheless, a special SwatchXYou Oktoberfest (canvas) is now available in the Swatch Germany Online store. 
• Supriya Lele Skin specials.  Supriya Lele is a British-Indian fashion designer.  She has now created five different very nice and colorful Biosourced Skin specials. Lovely!  The watches are packaged in a nice paper sleeve (matching design).  The Swatch X Supriya Lele collection is now available in the Swatch Online Store.  Update:  On 21-SEP, Supriya Lele signed her Swatch specials at the Carnaby Street Swatch store in London.  Thanks to R.J.Valdez for the photos.
• Swatch Popup Store Parco Shibuya.  From 17-SEP to 28-FEB-2022, a nice Swatch Popup store will be open at Parco Shibuya, Tokyo, Japan.  The store is supposed to look like a normal room in an apartment and it will be remodeled several times when new watches are added.
• Unique silver James Bond Swatch suitcase.  Today, I found something interesting: A silver James Bond suitcase from 2002 that you probably haven't seen before (the "normal" silver Bond suitcase is quite easily to find)! Much more rare than the expensive leather suitcase limited to 280 pcs.  This one is a unique piece with an even more unique story (sold for 10,710 GBP in 2020).  Check out all the details at the update in Wristory Auction 2001, Lot#14.
• Mexico Destination specials available online.  On 16-SEP, Mexico celebrates Mexican Independence Day. (Día de la Independencia, Grito de Dolores).  The two Mexico Destination specials are now available in the Swatch Online Store for a short period of time (until 17-SEP).
• Planet Swatch Museum Biel Swatch Club Virtual Tour.  Swatch Club has organized a virtual tour of the Planet Swatch Museum in Biel.  About 50 participants joined the zoom meeting.  You can find a few still photos from the video tour here.  After a short introduction by Carlo Giordanetti (CEO Swatch Art Peace Hotel Shanghai), Swatch archivist Philippe Marti took us around in the museum for about 45 minutes.  The highlight of the tour were the two original dial designs by Enki Bilal:  Too Many Memories (GZ217) and Into Each Other (GZ218S).  These designs were never shown to the public before.  Also interesting:  The original strap design for The Joe Tilson Venetian Watch (SUOZ312S) and a rare Our Swatch Quattro (see www.lot7.de :-).  See more photos from the tour in the photo album.  Some interesting info:  The Swatch Finder will be back (improved!) "soon" ["the team worked hard during the summer"] and Philippe's favourite Swatch is Sam Francis (same as my favourite). Thanks a lot to the team from Swatch Club for an enjoyable remote visit.
• Swatch store Treviso 10th anniversary special.  A special limited prefabricated SwatchXYou Naombraparmienaspumapalbocia (SUOK154-004) is now available at the De Wrachien online store in Italy.  The watch is limited to 550 pcs and it costs 105 EURO.  You can find more information about the watch and the artist Juls Crivelle?r (in Italian) on Instagram.
  
• Big Bold Planet watchs.  The official Swatch website has a nice teaser for a "Blue Moon" related Big Bold Swatch.  The binary code on the website translates to "Hello world. -- First contact initiated. -- Stay tuned, we're coming soon".  Update:  The teaser graphic has changed slightly:  Now the dress of the astronauts shows some colors:  orange, purple, blue and green.  I guess that's an indication of the colors of the upcoming watches...  Spoiler:  Photos of the four watches have leaked on Instagram.  Update:  The four Big Bold Planet watches are now featured on the Swatch webpage.  Available online starting 07-SEP.  Each watch is available with an extra strap in a slightly different design, packaged in a nice special box.  A strap changing tool is also supplied with each Swatch.  Thanks to Laurent Stefani for the update, to Cristiano Ianna for the instagram photos and to R.J.Valdez for the photos.
• New Swatch book by Schmid / Muller.  A new Swatch book 1981 La Route De La Swatch et après... by Marlyse Schmid, Bernard Müller and Philippe J. Silaci is now available in Switzerland. Price is 39 CHF, the book has 164 pages.  Marlyse Schmid and Bernard Müller are the first designers of early Swatch watches, starting in 1981 (without these two:  No Swatch as we know it today).  You can find more information about Marlyse Schmid and Bernard Müller here (info about the Sotheby's auction in Geneva in 2015).
• Frankfotter Grie Soß SwatchXYou.  "Frankfotter Grie Soß" (Frankfurter Grüne Soße, Frankfurt Green Sauce) is a local food speciality in Frankfurt, Germany.  Not my favourite dish but many locals seem to enjoy it.  A special SwatchXYou Grüne Soße (canvas) is now available in the German Swatch Online store.
• Vienna Major Beachvolley 2021 special.  The Vienna Major Beachvolley 2021 (A1 CEV Beach Volleyball European Championships) take place from 11 to 15-AUG on Heumarkt in the centre of Vienna, Austria.  A special SwatchPAY! Vienna Major Beachvolley 2021 (SVIZ102D-5300, 95 EURO) is now available in the Swatch Austria Online store.  Update:  Swatch Proteam members Tanja Hüberli and Nina Betschart have won the Beach Volleyball European Championships in Vienna.  Swatch Switzerland celebrates the victory with a special SwatchXYou Campionesse (canvas), a slight variation of the Vienna/Gstaad SwatchXYou. Thanks to Joachim Meyer for the hint.
• Quiggly Swatch.  The Swatch Finder lists a 1984 Lady watch called Quiggly (LR104, screenshot).  I have always known this watch as "Squiggly" (see eg. Swatchissimo who is always correct :-).  Interesting name change....  Update: There is also a Scuba Swatch from 1994 with the same name:  Squiggly (SDB104, screenshot). Thanks to Ed Chung for the update.
• Fratello buying guide.  Fratello watches has a nice report: Buying Guide: The Best Swatch Watches From The 1980s.  Great report, nice photos!
• Swatch, Biles, Bach, Tokyo.  Thomas Bach (president of the International Olympic Committee) has given a special(?) Swatch watch (which one??) to the American artistic gymnast Simone Biles. (read all about the special story of her participation at the Toyko 2020 Summer Olympics).  Update:  Was it this Gent Tokyo "Limited Edition 2020" Blue (GZ708C)?  Note the special loop "Limited Edition 2020"!  The white sleeve is also different from the regular packaging of the Gent Tokyo 2020 Blue (GZ708).
• Singapore National Day SwatchXYou. A special I Love SG (canvas) is available in the Swatch Online store for the National Day of Singapore (celebrated every year on 09-AUG). Additionally, the destination special Singapore Tale (SUOZ296) is available in the Swatch Online Store until 10-AUG.  Update:  This report from Singapore features the most significant timepieces in Singapore’s history, including a few Swatch watches.  Update 2:  The special SwatchXYou canvas has been designed by @kaileethedoodler. Thanks to Ed Chung for the information.
• Swatch Ballon in Switzerland.  The well known Swatch Balloon (code HB-BHC, featuring the 80s Gent Nine To Six and the Lady watch Neo Quad) has just successfully passed the technical certifications in Switzerland and is ready for liftoff again!
• Malaysia National Day SwatchXYou.  Malaysia National Day (Hari Merdeka) is celebrated on 31-AUG.  A special SwatchXYou Swatch Celebrates Malaysia (canvas) is now available in the Swatch Malaysia Online store.  Update: A special bag with the same design is also available as a gift with purchase (Malaysia only).  Update 2:  The special SwatchXYou has been reworked so that the canvas looks better:  Malaysia 3 (canvas).  The canvas is designed by Malaysia Graffiti artist Kenji Chai.  Thanks to Hauru Koh for the information and photo.
• Istanbul Destination special.  A new Istanbul Destination New Gent special A City of a Hundred Names (SUOZ719, Destination Special #75) is available since 14-JUL in all Swatch stores in Turkey.  The watch is packaged in the new "eco-style" packaging. Price is 835,00 TL (approx. 83 EURO).  The watch was quietly announced on Twitter on 14-JUL.  Here is a promotional photo of the actual watch and here is a small promotional video. Thanks to Brandon Wong for the hint.
  
• Big Bold Chrono SwatchPAY!  A new product line Big Bold Chrono SwatchPAY! (47mm) is now available in the Swatch Online Store.  The initial collection consists of two watches (155 CHF each):  1. Orangepayspay! (SB02N100-5300);  2. Greenpayspay! (SB02B100-5300).
• Tokyo Olympics Volunteer / NOC specials.  For the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games in July/August (2021!), the Gent Kasane Blue (GZ336) is distributed to volunteers, with a special paper sleeve.  Additionally, the watch is also used as NOC special, issued with different straps for individual countries:  1. NOC Toyko 2020 Germany (GZ336CI);  2. NOC Toyko 2020 Philippines (GZ336CC, loop);  3. NOC Toyko 2020 Kosovo (GZ336CE);  4. NOC Tokyo 2020 Liechtenstein (GZ336CT, loop);  5. NOC Toyko 2020 Russia (GZ336CX).  The watch is packaged in an unusual paper sleeve.  Additional ref.codes of NOC Tokyo specials are: GZ336CD, GZ336CF, GZ336CJ, GZ336CK, GZ336CN, GZ336CO.  If you have photos / ref.codes of other NOC Tokyo specials / the volunteer special, please let me know.  Update:  During the closing ceremony of the Olympic Games, the Volunteer Swatch was clearly visible on stage :-)  Thanks to Daniel Licata and to R.J.Valdez for the photos and to Alain Choisy for the information.
• Edinburgh Fringe Festival SwatchXYou special.  The Edinburgh Festival Fringe (the world's largest arts festival) is celebrated from 06 to 30-AUG.  It was started in 1947, so this is the 74th anniversary of the festival in 2021.  A special limited pre-fabricated SwatchXYou Edinburgh Fringe Festival (SUOK137-005, 83 GBP [cheap for a SwatchXYou!]) is now available in a limited edition of 74 pcs in the Swatch Priences Street store in Edinburgh. Thanks to Neel Bhatt for the information and photo.
• Guggenheim Museum NYE Swatch Club interactive visit.  On 05-AUG, Swatch Club invited to a virtual interactive visit of the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum in New York City. 
• Locarno Filmfestival SwatchXYou.  For the Swiss Locarno Filmfestival 2021 (04 to 14-AUG), Swatch has released a special SwatchXYou Locarno (canvas) in the Swiss Online Store.  In previous year, Swatch has released special watches / special packagings.  Update:  A special "preprinted" 74th Locarno Film Festival SwatchXYou (SUOK145-002, with 'fixed' print, 100 CHF) is available in the Swatch stores in Ticino canton, Switzerland.  The print on this watch is not available in the Swiss Locarno SwatchXYou special.
  
• Chinese Valentine's special.  For the upcoming Chinese Valentine's Day (15-AUG, Qixi Festival), Swatch has released two special watches: 1. New Gent Bioceramic Cloud Sea (SO32Z105, 800 CNY);  2. Gent Bioceramic Sweetheard Bird (SO31Z102, 720 CNY).  The watches are available in separate boxes but also in a special packaging The Perfect Match (SZS33, 1490 CNY, limited(?) to 420(?) pcs in China, shop display). Here is a photo of the opened boxset.  Update:  Meanwhile, the watches are available in the Swatch Online store worldwide.  Thanks to Ed Chung for the photos.
• Swiss Destination specials available online.  On 01-AUG, Switzerland celebrates Swiss National Day.  10 different Swiss Destination specials are available in the Swatch Online Store until 02-AUG.  Additionally, one special SwatchXYou watch is available online in the Swiss Online Store:  August 1st (canvas).
• Lime Big Bold.  A very strange Lime Big Bold called C-Lime (SB03J100) has appeared in the Swatch Online Store.  Looks VERY "bio-sourced".  Available online (only!) starting 22-JUL.  Update:  Here is a photo of the actual watch.  Looks different compared to the preview... Update 2: It is rumoured that the watch was originally supposed to be a yellow watch released with the first series but they had problems with mixing the yellow colour with the plastic and getting it to "stick". They changed the shade slightly to make it work and released it as an online only limited edition of 2000.  The online release takes place in "waves" and the online store often shows how many watches are still available in a certain country (eg. 43 pieces left for the UK).  This allows some interesting calculations for the different countries in the Swatch store...  Later, the number of remaining watches was no longer visibile in the Swatch store.  Innovative marketing :-)     Thanks to Ed Chung for the photo.
• Peggy Guggenheim Collection virtual tour.  On 22-JUL, Swatch Club invited to a virtual tour of the Peggy Guggenheim Collection in Venice, Italy.  The tour lasted for about 45 minutes and it really was the next best thing instead of being there in person.  Very informative and very well done, thank you Swatch Club.  Here are a few photos from the virtual tour.
• Brussels Destination special / Belgian National Day SwatchXYou special.  On 21-JUL, Belgium celebrates Belgian National Day.  The Brussels Destination Watch (Ketje From Brussels, SUOZ712) is available in the Swatch Online Store until 22-JUL.  Additionally, one special SwatchXYou watch is available online:  Swatch Celebrates Belgium (canvas).
• Tokyo 2020 Olympics SwatchXYou specials.  Two Tokyo 2020 Olympics SwatchXYou specials are now available in the Swatch Online Store:  1. Olympics Tokyo Picto (canvas);  2. Olympics Tokyo Street (canvas).
• New Geometrics SwatchXYou specials.  Three new Geometrics SwatchXYou specials are now available in the Swatch Online Store:  1. Fireworks (canvas);  2. Gradient (canvas); 3. Thin Lines (canvas).
• New Street Art SwatchXYou specials.  Three new Street Art SwatchXYou specials are now available in the Swatch Online Store:  1. Mouth (canvas);  2. Monster Dolls (canvas); 3. Crazy Eyes (canvas).
• Swatch Canada Day specials.  Canada Day is celebrated on 01-JUL (154 years ago, four colonies joined together as the Dominion of Canada).  To celebrate Canada Day, three special Canada Destination watches are available in the Swatch Canada Online store (until 02-JUL):  1. a prefabriated SwatchXYou Swatch Celebrates Canada (SUOK145-001, $130 CAD);  2. a brand new Destination special (#74) L'Expérience Montréal (SO29Z100, $120 CAD, the first "Bioreloaded" New Gent  Destination special);  3. the well known Toronto Destination special (#59) 6IX6 (SUOB702CO, $120 CAD).  Update:  Additionally, a SwatchXYou Swatch Celebrates Canada OK (canvas) is available worldwide. It is not possible to create the exact same watch as the prefabricated SwatchXYou Swatch Celebrates Canada (SUOK145-001) above, the design is slightly different.  Update 2: The packaging of the new Destination special L'Expérience Montréal is made of recycled paper which is a first.  Thanks to Thomas Chan for the information.
• New Covent Garden Swatch store.  A new Swatch store has opened at Covent Garden in London, UK.  Update:  A special limited SwatchXYou Covent Garden (SUOK137-004, 104 GBP) is available exclusively at the new store (instore only). Update 2: The special SwatchXYou is (was?) limited to 193 pcs (instagram announcement). Update 3:  Here is a nice video from inside of the Swatch store...
• Talking Swatch.  On 13-JUL, the Dutch watchmaker Kalle Slaap from Chronoglide Vintage Watch repair hosted a Very special Swatch live stream.  Two well known Swatch experts (Swatch Club Pioneer member Hans van Buuren and "Dr. Swatch" Jeroen Kieven) from the Netherlands talked Swatch for about 85 minutes, presenting one of the earliest Swatch Gent watches (manufactured in August 1982!), the ultra rare Puff collection, Diaphane One, and many more....  Lots and lots of nice stories for Swatch Enthousiasts (and Swatch Beginners), professionally presented with several cameras, a microscope (have you ever seen the ETA logo and the glued mainspring inside a SISTEM51?) and more...
• French Destination special / Bastille Day SwatchXYou special.  On 14-JUL, France celebrates Bastille Day (Fête nationale).  One French Destination Watch (Bisous De Paris, SUOZ233) is available in the French Swatch Online Store until 15-JUL.  Additionally, two special SwatchXYou watches are available online (France only so far):  1. France Regions (canvas);  2. Monumental (canvas).  Update:  Several Club members in France received a nice gift box for Bastille Day.  Nice!
• Italia Campioni SwatchXYou.  Italia is the (well deserved) winner of the UEFA Euro 2020 soccer tournament which finished on 11-JUL.  A special SwatchXYou Italia Campioni (canvas) is now available in the Swatch Online Store (including the United Kingdom :-)
• New 5th Avenue Swatch pop-up store.  A new Swatch store has opened at 711 Fifth Avenue, New York City, USA.  Update:  Roberta sends the following update:  "I just came back from the NYC store at 711 Fifth Ave.  I asked the salesperson why there were such few watches (relatively) in the store and she said they were just a pop-up location expected to be open through December."  Thanks to Roberta for the information.
• Gstaad Beach Volleyball special.s  The Swatch FIVB Beach Volleyball Major Gstaad 2021 takes place from 06 to 11-JUL in Gstaad, Switzerland.  A special SwatchPAY! Cheer It Up (SVIZ102C-5300, 100 CHF) has been released, this is the current 'Club' watch (My Time, SVIZ102-5300) with a special strap.  The watch is available onsite in the swatch booth.  Additionally, a SwatchXYou Gstaad Vienna (canvas) is available in the Swatch Online Store.   Here is a special page on the Swatch website, incl. livestream of the tournament.  Update:  On 10-JUL, a group of about 20 Swiss Swatch Club members was invited as VIPs to the Beach Volleyball Major in Gstaad.  Thanks to Christine Tanner and to Joachim Meyer for the information and photos.
• Tappei Japanese SwatchXYou special.  As a continuation of the celebration of the Swatch Harajuku store opening, a special SwatchXYou Time Tappei (canvas) is available in the Japanese Swatch Online store.  The special is designed by the local artist Tappei.  Here is a photo of a finished Time Tappei special.
  
• USA Destination specials / Independence Day SwatchXYou special.  On 04-JUL, the United States of America celebrate Independence Day.  Five USA-themed Destination Watches are available in the Swatch Online Store until 05-JUL.  Additionally, a special SwatchXYou Swatch Celebrates USA (canvas) is available online.
• Two additional Expo 2020 Dubai specials.  Two additional Expo 2020 Dubai specials (#4 and #5) are now available in the UAE:  1. A "Bio-source" Gent Hekmah (SO28Z101, "Wisdom");  2. A New Gent Al Wasl (SUOZ329, "Connection").
• ROBO Swatch ad from the 80s.  A funny late 80s "ROBO Swatch" POP Swatch ad (from the UK [elsewhere too?]).  Rarely seen before, probably from 1988/89 (looking at the POP straps in the background)...
• Portuguese Gelado Santini special.  A Gelado Santini special is now available in Portugal.  Santini fabricates handmade ice cream.  The watch is a New Gent Sweet Valentine (SUOZ168, 2014 Valentine's special) with a special Santini loop around the strap, in a special gift packaging.  The watch costs 60 EURO and it is available in Portuguese Swatch stores and in Gelado Santini stores.  A Gelado Santini Maxi has been made as well, not sure if it is available for sale.
• Swatch in Watch Around magazine.  Here is a recent interview (in German) with Carlo Giordanetti (CEO Swatch Art Peace Hotel Shanghai) in the Swiss Watch Around magazine.  Quite interesting!
• Hopp Swiss SwatchXYou special.  Switzerland has reached the quarter-finals of the UEFA Euro 2020 soccer tournament (in contrast to Germany :-(  As this is a first for Switzerland in many years, Swatch has published a special SwatchXYou Hopp Swiss (canvas).  "Hopp Schwiiz" ("Hopp Swiss") is the traditional cheering for the Swiss soccer team.
• Swatch NASA Space collection.  Swatch takes Bioceramic into orbit with a new NASA Space Collection.  The five Swatch watches will be launched on 03-JUN (in some countries on 05-JUN).  More photos here.  The collection consists of:  1. Big Bold Bioceramic Chrono Extravehicular (SB04Z400, 19800 JPY, 155 EURO);  2. Big Bold Bioceramic Chrono Launch (SB04Z401, 19800 JPY, 160 EURO) [no date window on dial => wrong ref code?];  3. Big Bold Bioceramic Jumpsuit (SB03Z100, 15400 JPY, 125 EURO);  4. Gent Take Me to The Moon (GZ355, 10450 JPY, 80 EURO);  5. New Gent Space Race (SUOZ339, 12100 JPY, 90 EUR).   The Big Bold watches take their inspiration from the various uniforms worn by the astronauts.  Additionally, there will also be a limited special packaging (SZS32, 800 pcs, unnumbered, 950 EURO) with all five Swatch watches (plus one additional Flik Flak NASA special watch), price seems to be 8000 RMB (~1025 EURO)!  It is rumoured that distribution of the sets is as follows:  USA 200 pcs, China 80 pcs, Switzerland 60 pcs, UK 33 pcs, Hong Kong 15 pcs, Canada 12, Thailand 8, Singapore 8, Taiwan 8, Australia 6, Malaysia 5 (available online), ...  Update:  Some nice teasers by Swatch on Instagram and via email to club members and the Swatch webpage is also already prepared...  Update 2: Nice promotion with "real" astronauts in London.  Update 3: After some complaints by Swatch collectors and (probably) many(?) unsold special sets, it is now planned to hand out a certificate of authentication as proof of 1 of 800 signed by the Creative Director & Head of Global Marketing within the Switzerland Corp office.  Update 4:  Street advertisement in Switzerland.  Update 5: The first Swatch collectors have received the certificate of authenticity for the NASA special set, signed by Carlo Giordanetti (CEO Swatch Art Peace Hotel Shanghai) and Bernado Tribolet (VP Marketing Swatch).   Update 6: Meanwhile, the limited Swatch Space Collection Exclusive Set  (SZS32) is available online, it seems that it did not sell out in the Swatch stores.  Thanks to Tak Lun Lee and to Ines Brem for the photos and to Thomas Chan for the hint.
• New Harajuku Swatch store.  On 17-JUN, a new Swatch store will open in the Harajuku area in Tokyo (Japan), right in time for the Olympic Games in Tokyo.  Several DJs will play live music during the day.  To celebrate the opening, Swatch Store Harajuku will hold weekly live performances by various artists in the future as well.  Update:  Here are some preopening photos.  Update 2: A special SwatchXYou designed by Tappei is available exclusively instore at the new Harajuku Swatch store.  On 25-JUN, Tappei held a live painting session at the store, painting white Swatch maxis as a canvas.  The five Maxi watches, painted live, will be given away to five lucky winners.
  
• Debbie Burghardt-Platt Swatch stories.  Debbie Burghardt-Platt worked for Swatch from 1986 (SMH back then) to 2009.  At the time, she was director of special Swatch events for the US.  In 2021, she started to post stories and photos from the 80s, 90s and 00s to the SWATCH ENTHUSIASTIC GROUP WORLDWIDE Facebook group.  With her permission and in order to preserve them, I republish and share these stories and photos here.
• Destination watches eco packaging.  Meanwhile, the first Destination watches are available in the new "eco" packaging.  No more paper sleeve but a paper box that can be opened at the top.
• Russia National Day SwatchXYou.  For the Russia National Day (???? ??????) on 12-JUN, two special SwatchXYou are available: 1. Swatch Celebrates Russia St. Petersburg (canvas);  2. Moscow (canvas).  The current " Swatch Celebrates Russia St. Petersburg" canvas is very similar to the Swatch Takes Me Places St. Petersburg canvas from 2020.  Additionally, the two Russia Destination special are available online until 14-JUN: 1. Evening Ring (SUOZ262, Moscow);  2. Peter 1st (SUOZ263, St. Peterburg). Thanks to Daniel for the hint.
• Portuguese National Day SwatchXYou.  For the Portuguese National Day (Dia de Camões) on 10-JUN, a special SwatchXYou Swatch Celebrates Portugal (canvas) is now available.  Additionally, the Swatch Porto (SUOZ315) Destination special is available online until 11-JUN.
• Pride month SwatchXYou.  US President Joe Biden declared June LGBTQ+ Pride Month in 2021.  Four different SwatchXYou Pride watches are now available in the Swatch Online Store:  1. Pride Heart (canvas);  2. Pride Square (canvas);  3. Pride Sticker (canvas);  4. Pride World OK (canvas).  Additionally, two Swatch Pride themed watches are available in the Swatch Online Store.  A third Big Bold Let's Parade (SO27E107) can still be found on the Swatch website but it is not for sale at the moment (manufacturing delays?).  Therefore, this watch is not shown in the overview page of Pride themed watches.  Thanks to Andrea Marco Faggioli for the hint.
• Promotional variations.  Please have a look at this promotional video by Swatch.  It can also be found on Facebook.  Doug Murphy observed several significant differences of the watches in the video compared to the actual watches on sale.  Most notably the wrong font for the "w" in the Swatch logo, sigh!
• Italy Destination specials.  In order to celebrate Festa della Repubblica (Republic Day) in Italy (02-JUN), seven Italy Destination specials are now available online at Swatch (until 03-JUN).
• Swatch on Storage Wars.  Is this how our Swatch collections will end up?  I think that I spotted a Grand Prix Chrono in the collection so it really might have been a good deal...  ("is that a Jelly Fish?" [holding up a Chandelier Xmas special :-] :-) Thanks to Roberto for the hint.
  
• Nespresso special.  Nespresso has released a nice company special, a New Gent Nespresso.  It was given to members of the construction team of the third Nespresso factory at Romont (Switzerland).  The watch is a New Gent Black Ghost (SUOK107) from 2013 with a special strap.
• Most expensive Swatch watches.  vintageradar.com has a nice report about the Most Expensive Swatch Watches of All Time.  Some of their choices in the top 10 list are a bit awkward but check it out yourself!
• Shareholder special 2021.  On 11-MAY, the annual shareholder assembly of Swatch Group was held in a virtual setup.  Nevertheless, each shareholder who registered in time will receive a special New Gent Bioreloaded Swatch Time To Spring (SO29K102) as a gift (as every year). "We were confined but not immobile : the ticking heart of Swatch continues to generate new projects and evolve." Thanks to Alexandre Brunner for the photo.
  
• Expo 2020 Dubai Gent.  Swatch is the official timekeeper of Expo 2020 Dubai (01-OCT-2021 to 31-MAR-2022).  In an Instagram video by Swatch (150 days to go until the opening of  Expo 2020 Dubai), Nicolò found a not yet released(?) Gent special(?) that is probably part of the the Expo 2020 Dubai Swatch collection.  Since DEC-2020, a first Expo 2020 related Swatch special is available in Dubai:  A New Gent Ibtikar (SUOZ328). Update:  It seems that not only one Expo 2020 Gent has been released in Dubai.  A photo of two Expo 2020 Dubai Gent specials has surfaced.  One of them has the ref.no. SO28Z103(?), so I guess that both are Bio-reloaded Gent watches.  The two Gent watches are also shown on the Expo 2020 Dubai page on the Swatch website:  1. Asalah ("Authenticity");   2. Al-Hob ("Love").  For now, these three Expo 2020 Dubai specials are available exclusively in the UAE, launching worldwide on 01-OCT, with the opening of Expo 2020.
  
• Hainan Expo SwatchXYou specials.  Swatch is main partner of the Swiss pavilion at the Hainan Expo in China (07 to 10-MAY-2021).  Six special SwatchXYou designs have been created by three artists from Switzerland and three artists from China:  1. Eugen Fleckenstein (Switzerland): canvas;  2. Guillaume Pilet (Switzerland, check link in bio!): canvas;  3. Jordi Mg (Switzerland): canvas;  4. Kalman Pool (China, check link in bio!): Luminous Opera (canvas);  5. Yanqi Liang (China): Sweet Friends (canvas);  6. YuLong LLI (China): canvas.
• Swatch X BAPE London special.  A new Swatch BAPE London special will be released soon:  Swatch X BAPE Conduit Street (SO27Z706) will be available at a new BAPE boutique at 24-25 Conduit Street (Mayfair).  The watch is limited but not numbered and it is packaged in the well known Swatch BAPE box (open box).  Here is a photo of the backside of the watch, showing the "London" print on the loop around the strap.  Update:  Originally announced in DEC-2020, the Swatch BAPE London special will finally be on sale on 08-MAY at the new BAPE store in London.  Some nice gifts (bag, stickers) available with in-store purchase at the BAPE shop.
• Second collection Big Bold Bioceramic.  A nice new collection of four Swatch Big Bold Bioceramic watches is now available in the Swatch Online store.  Strong colours!
• Mother's Day SwatchXYou specials.  Germany celebrates Mother's Day next Sunday (09-MAY) [I am not sure about other countries].  Three different Mother's Day SwatchXYou specials are now available at the Swatch Online Store:  1. Mother Vintage (canvas);  2. Mother Tattoo (canvas);  3. Mother Flower (canvas).
• Highsnobiety Keith Haring report.  Highsnobiety has a nice Swatch related report about Keith Haring art watches.
• NFT Swatch auctions.  WISeKey (a leading global cybersecurity, AI, Blockchain and IoT company from Switzerland) plans to launch the NFT auction of the original SWATCH created for the 1992 Rio Earth Summit (an Automatic Time To Move (SAK102)) on Earth Day, 22-APR. According to the description, the watch in the auction is the first-off-the-line watch, designed by Maurice Strong (a climate activist and sustainable development pioneer) under the theme “It’s in our Hands”.  This watch was given to his widow Hanne Strong, by the wife of the founder of Swatch Nicolas Hayek sr.  I don't really get the NFT hype (I am probably too old for this and I prefer physical objects) but maybe this is of interest to some of the readers here :-)   Update:  Meanwhile, the opeasea.io sale of a NFT for a very yellowed Automatic Time To Move is at $5.535,12 (Reserve price not met).  Sales end 05-JUN.  If you still scratch your head about NFT or the high price for a digital certificate for a used Swatch, please be sure to read this ("...planet-destroying receipts...it's a scam...bullshit...").  Inspired by the success(?) of this first NFT Swatch auction, a similar NFT auction for an Access To Space Swatch will take place soon.  Thanks to Dino for the hint.
• Record price for a Kiki replica.  A Kiki Picasso replica has sold for the record(?) breaking price of $1775 US.  Ouch!  (this replica is quite rare, though)
• Closure of Swatch store in Tokyo.  It seems that the Swatch store at the Nicolas G. Hayek Center in the Ginza district in Tokyo, Japan, is permanently closed :-(  It was a unique store in a unique building...
• Buying, Selling, & Collecting Swatch watches.  Hodinkee, the preeminent resource for modern and vintage wristwatch enthusiasts, has a nice report Buying, Selling, & Collecting - The Story Of My Life In Three Swatches.  It is always good to see Swatch collecting promoted to a broader watch enthusiasts audience.
• Netherlands Kings Day SwatchXYou.  On 27-APR, the Netherlands will be celebrating King's Day (Koningsdag) 2021 at home.  A SwatchXYou special King's Day (canvas) is now available in the Swatch Online Store (worldwide) until 28-APR.  Additionally, two Dutch Destination specials are available in the Swatch Online Store:  1. Tulpen Uit XXX (SUOZ714) - Amsterdam;  2. Bridge Between Art And Water (SUON705T) - Rotterdam.
• South Africa Freedom Day SwatchXYou.  Freedom Day is a public holiday in South Africa celebrated on 27-APR (celebrating the first democratic elections held on 27-APR-1994.  A SwatchXYou special South Africa (canvas) is now available in the Swatch Online Store (worldwide) until 28-APR.
• Lehrabschluss specials.  The Swatch Group Annual Report 2020 contains a nice photo of all Lehrabschluss / Fin D'Apprentissage / End of Apprenticeship specials.  Since 2015, the displays incorporate a Swatch watch.  Very hard to find...
• World Penguin Day.  Celebrate World Penguin Day today (25-APR)!
• Swatch X MoMA.  US Swatch stores are sending a teaser email promoting an upcoming Swatch X MoMA collection (launch on 04-MAR).  This report from France and Hypebeast has the details and photos:  Swatch unveils a special series of six models inspired by paintings belonging to the famous Museum of Modern Art in New York:  1. Gent Composition in Oval with Color Planes 1 (GZ350) inspired by Composition in Oval with Color Planes 1  (1914) by Piet Mondrian;  2. New Gent The Starry Night by Vincent Van Gogh (SUOZ335) inspired by The Starry Night (1889) by Vincent Van Gogh;  3. Gent Hope II by Gustav Klimt The Watch (GZ349) inspired by The Hope II (1908) by Gustav Klimt;  4. New Gent The City and Design The Wonders of Life (SUOZ334) inspired by The City and Design, The Wonders of Life on Earth, Isamu Kurita (1966) by Tadanori Yokoo (previously in 1988, he designed the legendary Rorrim 5 (GZ107) Swatch art special);  5. New Gent The Dream by Henri Rousseau The Watch (SUOZ333) inspired by The Dream (1910) by Henri Rousseau;  6. Gent New York Tadanori Yokoo The Watch (GZ351) inspired by New York (1968) by Tadanori Yokoo.  The watches can be purchased separately or together as part of a complete collector’s edition, limited to just 221 pieces, in a box (650 EURO) inspired by the Blade Stair, a prominent architectural feature of the museum.  Additionally, three artworks by artist Beatriz Milhazes will be available as SwatchXYou specials:  1. Succulent Eggplants (1996);  2. The Mirror (2000);  3. Meu Bem (2008).  Update:  The Swatch X Moma teaser can now also be found on the Swatch homepage.  Update 2: Ed Chung has posted a nice overview of the Swatch collaborations with international museums since 2018:  JUL-2018: Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam;  OCT-2018: Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum, Madrid;  OCT-2019:  Louvre, Paris;  MAR-2021:  MoMA, New York.  Update 3: In 2017 (during Baselworld), Patek Philippe released a very rare (less than 10 pcs) and surely very expensive The Dream watch with enamel dial, very similar to the current New Gent The Dream.  Read all about it here.  Update 3: Ed Chung just discovered that a very similar Swatch like The Dream (SUOZ333) has been released 27 years ago in 1994:  The Lady Seerose (LG110).  To me it looks as if this Lady Swatch has been inspired by The Dream....  It is funny that nobody noticed until now, it seems as if the Lady Seerose Swatch is one of those "totally off the radar" Swatch watches.  It is quite rare (try to find one!).  I guess that the demand for this Lady Swatch will increase soon...   Thanks to Carlos Zanotelli and to Ed Chung for the hint.
• Thailand New Year SwatchXYou Songkran special.  A special Songkran Thailand New Year SwatchXYou special (canvas) is now available in the Thailand Swatch Online Store.  Update:  In addition, the Bangkok Destination special Tuk-Tuk Sam-Lor (SUOZ284) is now available at the Swatch Online store until 15-APR.
  
• SwatchXYou at Macau.  Macau's first SwatchXYou Pop-Up store has opened its doors at Macau Galaxy Fashion Place Shopping Center (until 06-MAR).  Six different local Macau artists have created special SwatchXYou canvases which are only available at the SwatchXYou Pop-Up store.  One of the designs is by Designer & Illustrator Kay Tung:  Only you in my eyes (?????).  Update:  Here is a nice online report (google translate) showing the different SwatchXYou designs and the artists who created these designs:  1. Time Creator by Kun Lam;  2. Only You in My Eyes by Kay Tung;  3. Walk through Macau by Vitorino Vong;  4. Stars Journey by Tramy Lui;   5. Starry Generator by Mcz_Thomas;  6. Hourglass No. 5 by PIBG 2038.  Update 2: Starting 08-APR, the previous six Macau Calling! SwatchXYou are now available worldwide in the Swatch Online Store.  Additionaly, six new
  SwatchXYou canvases have been designed by the Macau artists (so 12 watches in total):  7. 0730am (canvas) by Kun Lam;  8. Sleep Day (canvas) by Kay Tung;  9. Energy (canvas) by Vitorino Vong;  10. Puzzle (canvas) by Tramy Lui;  11. Happy Rain (canvas) by Mcz_Thomas;  12. DNA (canvas) by PIBG 2038.  Thanks to Joachim Meyer for the hint.
  
• Swatch (Club) Art Night events.  In several countries (Germany, Switzerland), Swatch Club is organizing an Art Night event:  Swatch X MoMA Live Stream Artnight.  A great idea to get creative in these strange times.  In Germany, a digital Art Night open to the general public will take place on 12-APR (the one for the Club is earlier).  Here are some of the results of the Art Night organized by Swatch Club Germany.  Lovely!
• Swatch Big Bold Bioceramic.  "Nick, if you are talking from this ... you will not be able to come to Swatch back again".  Despite strong warnings from Swatch:  Swatch Group CEO Nick Hayek unveiled a new Swatch product line during the annual Swatch Group Media Conference 2021 (unfortunately only online again): Big Bold Bioceramic is made from ceramic and biological material (probably similar to the Bioreloaded Swatch watches).  The new product line (pastel colours) will be launched in early April during a Swatch press conference.  Nick Hayek talks about the new Swatch near the end of the press conference (at the 1:36:30 mark).  Update:  A nice "WIP" box has been sent to 200 VIPs / bloggers / influencers (such as Thierry Tek, Co-founder and Managing Director of Visionarism), it contains a Bioceramic Big Bold (SB03M102, a unique model that is NOT available in the shops! Guarantee is stamped 06-APR-2021) and a card ("we honour your time").  WatchTime India has videos and photos of Swatch Bioceramic.  It was launched on 06-APR in an online press conference with Carlo Giordanetti and Bernado Tribolet. The new releases are available in five colours (47 mm, starting 15-APR):  1. C-Pink (SB03P100);  2. C-Gray (SB03M100);  3. C-Blue (SB03N100);  4. C-Black (SB03B100);  5. C-White (SB03W100).  The watch will cost 130 CHF.   Update 2: Here and here are more details and pictures about Swatch Next.  Update 3: A special Bioceramic page can now be found on the Swatch website, including the 20 minutes online press conference video with Carlo and Bernado.  Update 4: An exclusive presale of the Bioceramic watches will take place in the stores in Switzerland on 10-APR.  Update 5:  Additionally, Swatch has created the term Swatch Next (and #swatchnext): The new generation of Swatch materials (Bioceramics is the second addition and Bioreloaded from SEP-2020 is the first one).  Update 5:  The Swatch Harajuku store in Tokyo has a very special presentation of the new Bioceramic Swatch watches.   Thanks to @revolution.watch for the photo and to Ines Brem for the information.
• Ethereum co-founder wears a Swatch.  The co-founder of Ethereum crypto currency (Vitalik Buterin) has been spotted wearing a Swatch New Gent Cat Me Up (SUOW125).  Thanks to Doug Murphy for the hint.
• Eleutheria SwatchXYou special.  Hopefully no April Fools' Day joke:  Swatch has gifted a unique and limited SwatchXYou special Eleutheria to European Leaders on the anniversary of 200 years from the Greek War of Independence.  Here is a photo of Prince Charles and Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis with the special Swatch.
• Apple loses against Swatch.  Apple Loses Bid To Stop Swatch Using Jobs's 'One More Thing' Cue:  Swatch's attempt to register the phrase 'One More Thing' might have been an attempt to "annoy" Apple, Judge Iain Purvis said in his ruling, but Apple can't block it from doing so. Purvis said in his ruling that the phrase probably originated with the fictional TV detective Columbo....  Swatch and Apple are having some "conflicts" regarding the trademarks "iSwatch" and "Tick Different".
• "Annual Event" SwatchXYou.  An "Annual Event" related SwatchXYou special Easter (canvas) is now available in the Swatch Online Store. Thanks to Tak Lun Lee for the hint.
• Berner Fachhochschule special.  In 2009, the Berner Fachhochschule (Bern University of Applied Science) released a special Swatch bfh.ch (SUMK104E).  It is a Jelly in Jelly Access Schneespur (SUMK104) with a special strap and a "bfh.ch" loop around the strap.
  
• Greek Destination special / Greece SwatchXYou.  In order to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the Greek War of Independence, several Greece related Swatch specials are now available online:  1. The Greece Destination special It's All Greek To Me (GW408C, until 26-MAR, 75 EURO);  2. SwatchXYou Greece Traditional (canvas);  3. SwatchXYou Greece Liberty (canvas).  Thanks to Ines Brem for the hint.
• Less limited / numbered Swatch specials.  During the annual Swatch Group Media Conference 2021, Swatch Group CEO Nick Hayek explicitly talks about his dislike of limited and numbered (S)watch specials (except for artist specials).  This may be the reason why we see less and less numbered Swatch specials :-(  Nick Hayek talks about this (in German) at the 1:32:50 mark.
• Swatch Smart Watch.  During the annual Swatch Group Media Conference 2021, Swatch Group CEO Nick Hayek talked about the development of a "more simple, more Swatchy" version of the Tissot T-Touch Connect Solar for the Swatch brand.  Will we finally see a (real) Swatch Smart Watch?  Nick Hayek talks about this at the 1:23:20 mark.
• Ireland Destination specials available online.  To celebrate St. Patrick’s Day (17-MAR), the three Ireland Destination specials are available online until 18-MAR (at least in Germany).
• ETA Apprenticeship special.  Swiss movement manufacturer ETA develops and produces calibres for the watch industry (ETA is part of Swatch Group).  A new special Chrono Plastic ETA Apprenticeship special has surfaced, it has two special loops "Lehrstellen / www.eta.ch" (front) and  "www.eta.ch / Apprentissages" (= Apprenticeship).  It is a Chrono Plastic Urban Jungle (SUSB403) from 2014 with a special strap.
• Canada Snowboard special.  A new Canada Snowboard special New Gent CS x Swatch Watch - Downhill Sideways (SUOB719D, $115.00 CAD) is now available for sale.  It is a New Gent The Indexter (SUOB719) from 2016 with a special strap and a nice paper sleeve.  Thanks to Thomas Chan for the photos.
• Mother's Day specials 2021.  Two different Mother's Day specials are available in 2021, both in a nice special packaging with a colorful funny stencil:  1. a blue Gent Love From A To Z (GZ354) in a book like packaging (open box with stencil);  2. a pink Gent Love With All The Alphabet (GZ353) in a book like packaging (open box with stencil).  Price is 90 CHF / TWD2850.
  
• International Women's Day SwatchXYou.  For the International Women's Day (08-MAR), a special SwatchXYou (canvas) is now available in the Swatch Online Store.
  
• SwatchXYou MoMA specials.  The three SwatchXYou MoMA specials by artist Beatriz Milhazes are now available:  1. Succulent Eggplants (1996):  watch (canvas);  2. The Mirror (2000):  watch (canvas);  3. Meu Bem (2008):  watch (canvas). It seems that the SwatchXYou MoMA specials have two special loops and they are packaged in a special paper sleve.
• Swatch stories at Hodinkee.  Hodinkee is an almost 10 year old online magazine featuring in-depth reviews, critiques, and reports on watches of a particularly high quality.  It has a huge number of followers, so it is a very important part of the watch collectors community.  Now Hodinkee has published a few reports about watches from the 80s during an "80s week" and Swatch was notably missing from their first report about the "10 favorite watches from the 80s".  Surprising but don't be disappointed:  Hodinkee has now published two more stories featuring Swatch watches:  1. The Art Of Swatch and 2. G-Shock And Swatch: The Two Most '80s Watches...    Great info, great photos (but not so much new information).  But it is always great to see Swatch watches reaching a wider audience.
• Commerzbank and Swatch.  #ThrowbackThursday (Commerzbank) :-)  Thanks to Markus Muth for the hint.
• Club Swatch 2021.  In 2021, a lot of things will change with Swatch Club.  Rumours about changing the "Gold" and "Pioneer" membership level to a new structure (including "Time Master"?) and many other changes.  It is not yet clear how to earn and how to retain the new membership levels.  A new Club watch will also be released, it will be a tribute to the first Club special Golden Jelly (GZ115) from 1990.  For 2021, it is a Swatch PAY! called My Time (SVIZ102-5300), packaged in a nice golden paper sleeve as shown on this Taiwanese shopping site and on a Facebook Swatch collector group.  It will be possible to customize My Time with several different straps (golden silicone, golden flex, transparent, ...).  My Time will be available starting 15-FEB.  The big change regarding club membership in 2021 will be:  It is not necessary to buy the My Time Swatch to extend your club membership, you can buy any other Swatch watch instead.  Exact details will be revealed on 15-FEB.  Update 17-FEB:  No much info about the changes so far besides this "30+1 anniversary" Instagram post by @swatch (not @swatchclub!). Update 2:  The old Club webpage is now offline, more details about the new Club will be revealed soon ("Celebrating 30+1")...
• Swatch at Basler Fasnacht 1992.  Carlos Zanotelli sent me the following great photos of Swatch Crash-Waggis at Basler Fasnacht 1992.  Check it out!
• Nations of Australia SwatchXYou artist special.  A special artist SwatchXYou special Nations Of Australia (canvas) is now available in the Australia Swatch Online Store.  The canvas has been designed by Aboriginal artist Jodie Freeman. Jodie's artwork combines her Aboriginal heritage with her spiritual beliefs.  In the canvas, the dots inside the outline of Australia represent the different communities living in Australia; the dots around the outside represent ancestors around us who protect and unite us all. Thanks to Joachim Meyer for the hint.
  
• Record prices for Swatch Maxis.  The Maxi Eclectic Mickey (MSUOZ336) and the Maxi Spot Mickey (MGZ323) are not the only really expensive Maxis.  Recently, a Maxi Les Aventures de Tintin (MGM165) was auctioned for 3000 EURO!  Ouch.
• Gold & Pioneer 2020 special.  The traditional Gold & Pioneer event never happened in 2020 due to .... well you surely know it.  But the Gold & Pioneer special 2020 (GZS73) was given away as a prize in FEB-2021 as a limited and numbered edition (xxx/200) to winners of a Black & White design contest.  Swatch Club Gold and Pioneer members were invited to participate at this contest in NOV-2020.  The special for the 25th anniversary of the Gold & Pioneer Club membership consists of two Gent watches:  1. A black Gent To The Left - To The Right (GZ343S);  2. A white Gent To The Left - To The Right (GZ344S).  Both watches have nicely embossed metallic dials ("G& 20" in gold in the black watch and "&P 20" in silver in the white watch).  The special is packaged in a nice silver / golden special packaging protected in a black numbered paper sleeve.  As Swatch Club and the Club membership levels will face some significant changes in 2021 (details will be published very soon), this may very well be the 25th(?) and last Gold & Pioneer special Swatch. Thanks to Hans van Buuren for the photos and to Thomas Chan for the information.
  
• Rare Skin IOC special.  Recently, a rare Olympic special Sweet Sarong CIO (SFZ107) has surfaced.  It is a Skin Sweet Sarong (SFK187) from 2003 with the olympic rings on the dial.  Super hard to find!  Thanks to Franck Chardiny for the photos.
  
• Disney Mickey Mouse X Keith Haring collection by Swatch.  The long rumoured Disney Mickey Mouse X Keith Haring collection by Swatch has finally been announced by Swatch.  Starting 07-JAN-2021, four special Swatch watches (including one Maxi) will be available:  1. Gent Mouse Marinière (GZ352, limited to 25000(?) pcs, 95 EURO);  2. New Gent Eclectic Mickey (SUOZ336, limited to 2000(?) pcs, 180 EURO, special packaging / closed box, based on a large drawing from 1982);  3. New Gent Mickey Blanc Sur Noir (SUOZ337, limited to 25000(?) pcs, 120 EURO, based on a drawing from 1981);  4. Maxi Eclectic Mickey (MSUOZ336, limited to 222(?) pcs, 475 EURO).  The Gent / New Gent specials are not numbered.  Here is a photo of the back of the watches.  Note that the clothing company Uniqlo currently has a similar Mickey Mouse X Keith Haring clothing collection.  Update:  Apparently, the Disney Mickey Mouse X Keith Haring collection by Swatch collection was launched on 23-DEC at the Swatch Art Peace Hotel in Shanghai.  General start of sales in China is 01-JAN-2021.  In the USA and Europe, sales are planned to start on 07-JAN.  In Japan, Swatch will open a special Pop-up Store at Shibuya PARCO on 07-JAN (until 28-JAN), note the funny error in the press release!  Update 2: Similar Mickey X Haring collections were also released by other companies (see also this Vogue report):  1. Luxury accessories: Disney Mickey Mouse X Keith Haring collection by Coach;  2.  Clothing: Disney Mickey Mouse X Keith Haring collection by Uniqlo.;  3. Socks:  Stance Haring Box Set (nice Haring artwork on the box!);  4. Art toy:  BE@RBRICK Keith Haring Mickey Mouse (further info);  5. Pet hoodie: Maxbone Mickey Mouse x Keith Haring Hoodie.  ;  6. Levi’s Disney Mickey Mouse x Keith Haring sweatshirts;  7. Diamond Supply Co. Disney Mickey Mouse x Keith Haring sweater;  8. Diamond Supply Co. Disney Mickey Mouse x Keith Haring jacket;  9. Corkcicle Disney Mickey Mouse x Keith Haring tumbler. Update 3: A lucky collector in Milan got a New Gent Eclectic Mickey.  It sold out very fast in the stores...    Update 4:  Some countries had some nice gifts with in-store purchases (of complete sets):  1. pins (Malaysia);  2. stickers (Singapore);  3. tote bag Eclectic Mickey  (USA, Switzerland);  4. tote bag Mickey Blanc Sur Noir (Switzerland);  5. tote bag Mouse Mariniere (backside, Singapore, Taiwan, France (different handle!, backside), Switzerland, Australia (3rd variant), ....);  6. cookies (for 'influencers' in the UK).  Did you get a gift with purchase?  If yes, please let me know so that I can collect the info.   Update 5: Here is a nice video from the special Pop-up Store at Shibuya PARCO in Japan. Update 6:  A special Disney Mickey Mouse X Keith Haring SwatchXYou canvas is also available, wrapped in a special sleeve with two exclusive loops.   Update 7: The right to purchase one of 203 Maxi Eclectic Mickey (MSUOZ336) was raffled in an online lottery from 15 to 18-JAN (centrally via Swatch HQ in Biel), open to anyone on the Internet.  The winners were notified on 20-JAN.  Update 8: A few non-winners of the Maxi Swatch raffle managed to find the semi-hidden purchase link for the Maxi in the Swatch online store and successfully placed an order.  These non-winner orders were canceled later.  Instead of a Maxi Swatch, Alessandro from Switzerland received a friendly letter from Swatch and a huge Toblerone chocolate (4,5 kilograms!) as a small compensation (here is Carlos picking up his huge heavy parcel from the post office!).  A few Maxi Swatches have already been sold on eBay, some fetching a price of more than 3300 EURO!  Thanks to R.J.Valdez for the hint and to Thomas Sonneville and to Paxton Wong for the photos.
• Earliest Swatch flyer?  After searching for many years:  Herbie Minnemann (from Argentina of all places!) finally posted a few photos of the first Swatch flyer (or press info?) (inside / back) from 1983, Switzerland ("holy grail" :-)  Also of interest:  The first information for UK Swatch retailers (early 1983, front / back).  Check out these photos (and many more!) in my info page about old Swatch ads from the 80s...
  
• Huge Swatch collection auction.  One of the world's largest private SWATCH watches collections is in auction at Lauritz until 14-DEC.  The collection comprises almost 2100 watches in a single lot, including great designer watches by Keith Haring (signed!) and Sam Francis as well as prototypes. Starting bid is 176,000 EUR (plus buyer's premium of 22.5% of the hammer price).  It seems that the collection does not include any of the "big five" watches (Original Jelly Fish, Kiki Picasso, Mimmo Paladino, Puff, Finger Nails), so good luck with the sale! :-)  Update FEB-2021:  The collection is still available, starting bid is now 110,000 EURO.   Update MAR-2021:  The collection is still available, starting bid is now 90,000 EURO.
• Chinese New Year SwatchXYou Taiwan special.  A special Taiwan Chinese New Year SwatchXYou special (canvas) is now available in the Taiwan Swatch Online Store.
• Valentines SwatchXYou specials.  Three different Valentines SwatchXYou specials are now available in the Swatch Online Store:  1. Cards Of Love (canvas);  2. Love Sentences (canvas);  3. Valentine Vintage (canvas).  The design for the Valentine Vintage SwatchXYou is inspired by six vintage Valentine's Day related Swatch watches:  1. Hearty Love (GZ314S);  2. Romeo + Juliet (GN162, 1996);  3. Aiming For Your Heart (GE107, 2003);  4. Sweet Valentine (SUOZ168, 2014);  5. Amour Total (GN196, 2001); 6. Pounding Heart (GK237, 1997).
• Michelin special.  A company special Michelin (YCS113D) has surfaced in the UK, apparently released in 2018.  It is an Irony Chrono Classylicious (YCS113C) from 2017 with a special strap and a Michelin loop around the strap and a nice special sleeve.  There have been Michelin company specials before, I remember a Solar watch.  Does anyone have a list?
• Taiwan Sinyi B2B special.  A brand new (DEC-2020) B2B special has surfaced in Taiwan:  A New Gent Sinyi (SUOW703D).  It is a New Gent White Character (SUOW703) from 2013 with a special strap and a loop SINYI around the strap.  Thanks to Sophia Chang for the photos.
  
• Incredible price for Dan Komar L'Orage D' Été.  Recently, a record breaking price (2996 CHF) was fetched for one of the inofficial Dan Komar ("King Of Swatch") Swatch specials:  L'Orage D' Été.  Check out more photos at my little webpage about the Luzern Auctions in the mid 90s.
  
• Australia Destination Swatch watches online.  To celebrate Australia Day (26-JAN), two Australian Destination Swatch watches are available online in the Australia Swatch Online Store until 27-JAN.  The phrase "available worldwide" suggests that the two watches might be available everywhere... yes, they are, see eg. Swatch Germany.  Thanks to Neel Bhatt for the info.
• Laax Open 2021 special.  The Laax Open snowboarding event takes place from 19 to 23-JAN in Laax, Switzerland.   A special Big Bold RIDEINTO2021 (SO27B119C, 115 CHF) has been issued.  The watch is available in the Swiss Swatch Online Store.  Swatch has a nice special website about the Laax Open.
• Valentine 2021 specials.  The Swatch Valentine special for 2021 is a New Gent Swatch P(E/A)nse-Moi (SUOZ718, $100 US/95 EURO).  A funny play with french words: "panse moi" = "bandage me", "pense moi" = "think about me".  It comes in a special packaging with lots of band-aids ready to heal all wounds ("peeling is healing").  You can preorder it here.  Three other Valentine related watches are also available:  1. New Gent Hate 2 Love (SUOB185);  2. New Gent Beating Love (SUOW171);  3. Gent Beatpink (GW214).  Thanks to Joachim Meyer and to Roberta Kleiman for the info.
• September 1982 Swatch.  Have you ever seen a Swatch (GC700) produced in September 1982 (production code "982")?  This was recently sold in the USA, so it is one of the very first Swatch watches from the regular production for the USA test market.  Production code A82 to C82 (October to December 1982) is also very rare but it can be found with some patience.  The earliest production code is "882" (August 1982).
• Scottish watches SwatchXYou.  Scottish Watches is a watch news website and a watch podcast 'With A Flavour of Scotland'.  To celebrate becoming the first watch podcast to reach the milestone of 200 episodes while also celebrating its forthcoming two year anniversary, Scottish Watches has collaborated with Swatch and they have released a nice special Scottish watches SwatchXYou (canvas) which is only available through the links specified in the news article about the special SwatchXYou (until about 23-JAN).  The canvas has been designed by Canadian artist and illustrator (and Swatch enthusiast) Diana Evans. Thanks to Ed Chung for the hint.