news from 2022 are below:

• 2022 - Year of the MoonSwatch.  A last news entry for 2022:  The story has been told before and the story is not completely new but it is a good summary of the Swatch world for this year:  Gear Patrol has a nice report The MoonSwatch Moment: How a $260 Marvel Became the Toast of the Watch World, with lots of infos and photos from a trip to Biel and a meeting with Nick Hayek who tells the story how the MoonSwatch came into the shops on that special MoonSwatch launch day on 26-MAR.  It all started with the ideation in April 2021...  Favourite snippet:  "Take Omega CEO Raynald Aeschlimann, for one.  “I showed him,” Hayek recalls, “and I saw his face. Yeah, he was scared. He’s a very good man, but he was a bit scared.”
• RIP Vivienne Westwood.  Rest In Peace Vivienne Westwood, the provocative doyenne of British fashion who married the anti-establishment ethos of punk with the flamboyance of high fashion.  She has died at the age of 81 on 29-DEC.  Vivienne Westwood has designed seven Swatch artist watches:  Two POP Swatch watches were released in the early 90s:  The POP Swatch special ORB (PWZ104) in 1993 in a limited and numbered edition of 49999 pieces (Orb advertisement, Orb London launch info on 22-APR-1992) and the standard POP Swatch Putti (PWK168) in 1992.  Putti was also available in two different special packagings in the USA:  Putti Cigar box (opened box) and the Passport’92 special packaging exclusively available at Macy’s department store (opened box).  In 2001, Vivienne Westwood designed the Flying time collection of five Swatch watches (a skin, an Irony Chrono, an Irony Medium, an Gent and a Square).  Each watch was produced in a limited, unnumbered edition of 10000 pcs, the collection sold out quite fast back then.  A special strictly limited edition suitcase (500 pcs, 555 EURO) containing the five swatches was launched on 12-OCT-2001 at the Swatch Megastore in Paris, France.  The suitcase is numbered xxx/500, each watch is also numbered on the back.  Vivienne Westwood signed 30 suitcases at the launch event.  Here is a closeup picture of the opened, signed suitcase.  Vivienne Westwood also participated with lot #13 at the Swatch Wristory charity auction in New York City on 03-DEC-2001 (Starting bid USD 2,500, Final bid USD 5,500). 
• SwatchXYou New York City.  A new prefabricated SwatchXYou New York City (SUOK147-021) is available in the Swatch stores in New York City.  Thanks to Melissa Starr and to Thomas Chan for the photos.
  
• Dragon Ball Z SwatchXYou specials.  Seven new SwatchXYou Dragon Ball Z Swatch watches are now available on the Swatch website:  1. DBZ Goku (canvas);  2. DBZ Bulma (canvas);  3. DBZ Trunks (canvas);  4. DBZ Piccolo (canvas);  5. DBZ Krillin (canvas);  6. DBZ Gotenks (canvas);  7. DBZ Android18 (canvas).  Additionally, these seven Swatch watches are also available as prefabricated DBZ SwatchXYou (87 GBP).  A huge Swatch DBZ ad can (still) be seen at Times Square in New York City.  Thanks to Alain Choisis for the photo.
  
• SwatchXYou Las Vegas.  A new prefabricated SwatchXYou Las Vegas (SUOK137-034, $105 US) is available in all Swatch stores in Las Vegas (the watch is not available online).  The SwatchXYou watch is packaged in the typical "Greetings From ..." Destination watch packaging but no "Greetings From ..." loop around the strap.  "Greetings From" on the strap, though.  Question:  Should I add it to my list of Destination Specials?  Should a prefabricated SwatchXYou be included?  Thanks to Tak Lun Lee for the information and to Thomas Chan for the photo.
• No official second hand market for Swatch(Group).  Swatch Plans to Stay Out of Second-Hand Market, Swatch Group CEO Nick Hayek recently told Bloomberg TV during an interesting and funny interview.  Definitely worth watching!  Is the orange Big Bold Fresh Orange (SB01O101) on Nick Hayek's wrist a subtle hint that the imaginary (so far!) orange MoonSwatch special Ultraman will be realized in 2023? :-)  Thanks to Carlos Zanotelli for the information.
  
• Biel Drive-Thru store holiday decoration.  A "MoonSwatch" style holiday decoration can now be seen on top of the unique Drive-Thru Swatch store at Swatch HQ in Biel.  Thanks to @madeinbienne for the photo.
  
• MoonSwatch Speedy Tuesday Editions.  Fratello Watches has a nice report about hypothetical(!) MoonSwatch specials:  What If: The Omega × Swatch MoonSwatch Speedy Tuesday Editions.
• Chinese New Year 2023 special.  2023 is the Year of the Rabbit in China.  A New Gent Bioceramic Year of the Rabbit (SO32Z107, 105 EURO) is now available.  The watch is packaged in a nice special packaging (open box).  Thanks to Joachim Meyer for the information.
• Swatch dial printing plate.  A rare vintage item:  An original printing plate for the yellow color on the dial of the Gent Sir Swatch (GB111, 1986).
• Swissmass Club Xmas Event.  On 09-DEC, Swatch Club Germany invited for a Swissmass Xmas event at the Swatch store in Düsseldorf.  Here are a few photos and a short report from the event.
• New KaDeWe Berlin Swatch Store.  A new Swatch store has been opened inside of the famous KaDeWe ("Kaufhaus des Westens" / department store of the west) in Berlin.  Long queues inside as the MoonSwatch is also available.  Good business for Swatch :-)  One half of a Fiat 500 MoonSwatch car is visible on the outside of the small Swatch store within(!) the KaDeWe building.  In earlier times in the 90s, KaDeWe also had a Swatch department (it was closed for a long time).  In 2005, Swatch even had a World Of Swatch exhibition in the big entrance hall of the KaDeWe featuring all important swatch specials such as the Puff  watches, Keith Haring, ... 
• 100% Swatch Swiss Club Xmas Event.  On 01-DEC, Swatch Club Switzerland invited for an 100% Swatch Swiss Xmas event at the Swatch HQ in Biel.  Christine Tanner sent me a few photos and a short report.
• Time Together Flik Flak / Swatch special.  A Flik Flak / Swatch duo special packaging inspired by 3-year-old Margot De Le Rue and her father, Swatch Proteam snowboarder Xavier De Le Rue is now available:  Time Together Set (SZS38, 135 EURO).  The special packaging contains the Swatch Slide Master and the Flik Flak Slide Monster sporting monsters having fun on the slopes.
• MoonSwatch street ads / tram.  Several huge billboards for the OmegaXSwatch MoonSwatch collection can now be found at the Western Harbour Tunnel Kowloon Entrance (Hong Kong).  Update:  Another huge billboard can now be found in Rome.  Update 2:  A beautiful Mission To Mars tram can be spotted in Hong Kong.  Wait!  There is a whole fleet of MoonSwatch trams in Hong Kong!  Thanks to Carlos Zanotelli for the photo.
• Pope Francis Swatch auction.  Since many years, it is well known that Pope Francis is often wearing a Swatch watch.  On 30-NOV, a New Gent Twice Again (SUOB705) which has been worn by Pope Francis in 2018 will be auctioned by Rago/Wright (for charity: Brian LaViolette Scholarship Foundation).  Starting bid is $10,000 US.  The watch comes with a letter of provenance and another letter from the Diocese of Green Bay.  Update:  Result of the auction:  $56,250 US!  Most expensive Swatch ever!(?)  Here is a report by GQ Magazine (in German).  Thanks to Ernesto Romano and @swatchfe for the hint.
• Swatch Club Swissmass events.  Several local Swatch Club Swissmass events will take place at the beginning of December in USA (Los Angeles & New York City), Switzerland (Biel on 01-DEC), Germany (Düsseldorf on 09-DEC), and on 19-DEC in the UK...  A special surprise during the event is promised.  Update:  Is this the surprise?  A special SwatchXYou Club Holidays (SUOK145-050, 105 EURO) was available at a recent club event in Paris.  Here is a photo of the packaging. Thanks to Rodolphe Foucart for the photos.
• Vienna Swatch Pop-up Store opening.  On 25-NOV, a new Swatch Pop-up store was opened at Kärntnerstraße in Vienna (Austria).  Two special SwatchXYou watches (Xmas theme) have been designed by Dominik Schubert.  The SwatchXYou watches are available in-store only.  A Maxi Swatch was also live painted during the event.  Lots of athletes from Austria were present at the opening as well: Michaela Dorfmeister, Andreas Herzog, Clemens Doppler, Michael Konsel, ...  On 28-NOV, club members from Austria were invited to the opening as well, the live painting of the Maxi Swatch continued...
• Cologne Pride SwatchXYou.  A special SwatchXYou Pride Köln is available at the Swatch store in Cologne (Germany).  This watch is not available online.  Thanks to Rodolphe Foucart for the photo.
  
• Swatch Xmas special.  As part of the Swatch Swissmass collection consisting of seven watches, Swatch is launching a reinterpretation of one of its most iconic watches from 2015: Die Glocke (GB285).  This reinterpretation can be considered as the Xmas special from this year, although the Bioceramic Gent watch is not limited and not numbered:  Golden Merry (SO28B115, 110 EURO) is presented with a round gold-coloured card inspired by the same paper-cut design that appears on its dial. And there’s another surprise, if you turn the box upside down, you’ll get six sparkling Christmas ornaments to hang on your tree.  Golden Merry will be available starting 01-DEC.  Update:  The full Xmas collection 2022 can be found on the Swatch website.
• Xmas SwatchXYou.  A special SwatchXYou Xmas Present (canvas) is now available in the Swatch Online Store.
• MoonSwatch suitcases stolen in Amsterdam / Crans Montana.  During the early hours of 10-OCT, there was a brazen smash-and-grab raid (video) at the Swatch store in Amsterdam:  The infamous blue window-display suitcase containing the entire BIOCERAMIC MoonSwatch collection was stolen.  This blue suitcase is impossible to sell on the open market as it was never ever sold anywhere before, totally impossible to get.  Update:  Another blue suitcase with eleven watches was stolen on 06-NOV in Crans-Montana, Switzerland.
• Zlatan Ibrahimovic wears a MoonSwatch.  During the Serie A match (soccer) between AC Milan and AC Monza at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza on 22-OCT in Milano, Italy, Zlatan Ibrahimovic (AC Milan) was spotted on the bench wearing a Misson To Mars MoonSwatch.  Update:  GQ Magazine has a nice report: Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s Mission to Mars MoonSwatch is his best watch flex yet.  Thanks to Agostino Pagani for the hint.
• Wristcheck Swatch report.  A wonderful report about the recent MoonSwatch and the history of Swatch watches can now be found on the Hong Kong based Wristcheck website:  Swatch: The Brand That Dared to Embrace Art, Fashion, and the Zeitgeist.
• Return of the GLAM collection?  An interesting Swatch Gent Tout Doux (GW200PZ) can now be found on the Swatch website.  Will the GLAM collection be enlarged?
• Biennale artist specials / Club event.  On 15/16-OCT, Swatch Club Italy held an Club event at La Biennale in Venice.  Only Italian Club members were invited.  During the event, several Swatch artist specials were launched:  1. Ciao Venezia! (SUOZ349, 115 EUR) by Thailand artist Navin Rawanchaikul.  The watch is packaged in a nice special packaging (not numbered) and it will be sold only in Italy and Thailand but it is available online in many countries.  Here are a few additional photos from the club event when collectors met the artist.  2.  A special set with 3 SwatchXYou watches (backside) by Italian Artist Lucio Schiavon (born in Venice) only available during the event.  The individual SwatchXYou watches are available at the Swatch Store in Venice and in the Swatch Italy Online Store:  1. Cucina Veneziana (canvas);  2. Venice Mon Amour (canvas);  3. Milk of Dream (canvas, this one was already available earlier).  Thanks to Andrea M. Faggioli for the photos.
• MoonSwatch Tour in Asia / USA.  On 16-SEP, the MoonSwatch Tour will make its first stop outside of Europe:  The Mission To Mars Fiat 500 will be in Hong Kong as announced in a Swatch Instagram story.  It is rumoured that further Fiat 500 cars will stop in other countries in Asia (Thailand?) and America...   So:  The MoonSwatch World Tour is ON now!  Update:  The MoonSwatch Tour will stop in Thailand starting 01-OCT.  Update 2:  The MoonSwatch Tour is now on the road in Japan (start at the Nicholas G. Hayek Center in Ginza, Tokyo on 13-OCT).  Update 3: And finally, on 22-OCT, The MoonSwatch Is Now Way Easier to Buy in the USA, the MoonSwatch Tour has arrived in America.  There will be three cute little Fiat Cinquecento cars covering three different US regions:  Mission to Mars in Florida, Mission to the Sun in California, and Mission to Neptune in the Midwest.  Update 4: Currently, the Mission To Mars car can be seen in Taiwan.  Maybe, it will be brought to USA soon, maybe it is a different car :-)  Update 5:  MoonSwatch Tour has made a stop in South Korea on 25-OCT.
• Swatch Calling competition winners.  During Expo 2020 Dubai, Swatch launched the Swatch Calling competition that invited artists from all 194 Expo Dubai countries to create a unique and imaginative SwatchXYou canvas celebrating their country.  On 07-OCT, Swatch announced the three winning artists:  1. Swatch Club Pioneer member David Catel: Five France(s);  2. Carlos Almenar: Colours of Venezuela;  3. Zoe Keramea: Greek Alphabet / ????????.  Congratulations!
  
• Halloween specials.  Swatch has released a nice bunch of Halloween Swatch watches which can also be seen on a dedicated Halloween page on the Swatch website:  1. Big Bold Bioceramic It's Spooky Time (SB03B700), the eyes move on a daily basis!  2. prefabricated SwatchXYou All Bones, No Skin I (SUOK144-040);  3. prefabricated SwatchXYou All Bones, No Skin II (SUOK145-046);  4. prefabricated SwatchXYou All Bones, No Skin III (SUOK145-047);  5. prefabricated SwatchXYou All Bones, No Skin IV (SUOK144-042).  Additionally, a SwatchXYou Boo (canvas) is available.
• MoonSwatch at Formula One.  During the recent Singapore Grand Prix, Formula One driver Yuki Tsunoda (Alpha Tauri) was spotted wearing a Missing To Pluto MoonSwatch.  Thanks to @niccoloy.
  
• KMM2022 SwatchXYou special.  At the end of September, Swatch held its annual internal KMM2022 ("Key Market Meeting") at Messe Basel in Switzerland.  Every participating Swatch employee received a special SwatchXYou KMM2022 as a gift, unavailable in the shops.
• Swatch collectors and MoonSwatch.  Fratello has a nice report:  The MoonSwatch From A Swatch Collector’s Perspective.  Some photos from my little website made into the report too...
• MoonSwatch on German TV.  Recently the MoonSwatch was 'featured' two times on German TV:  1. A MoonSwatch (Mission To Jupiter) was used as a contest prize during a "street quiz":  TV Total 28-SEP-2022 (watch the video, starting at ca. 39:00 min.);  2. Famous German chef Tim Raue was seen on German TV wearing a Mission To Neptune(!) (during "The Taste" cooking game TV show).
• François Planche collection auctioned.  The Swatch collection of François Planche (co-author of A Guide To Swatchwatches, one of the "must have" Swatch books) was auctioned on 28-SEP at Arteal in Lausanne, Switzerland.  More than 1000 Swatch watches in the collection, you can find the results here (don't forget to add 24% fees to the result).  Some bargains in the collection....
• Dragon Ball Z specials.  Swatch is teasing a Dragon Ball Z special collection to be released on 25-AUG.  Spoiler:  watchpro has all the details about the Dragon Ball Z Swatch collection, including the photos of the watches.  Update:  The Dragon Ball Z Swatch collection is now available:  It consists of seven watches:  1. Big Bold Goku X Swatch (SB01Z101, $135 US);  2. Big Bold Cell X Swatch (SB01Z401, $135 US);  3. New Gent Gohan X Swatch (SUOZ345, $105 US);  4. New Gent Kamesennin X Swatch (SUOZ346, $105 US);  5. New Gent Vegeta X Swatch (SUOZ348, $105 US);  6. Gent Majin Buu X Swatch (GZ358, $85 US);  7. Gent Frieza X Swatch (GZ359, $85 US).  The DBZ watches are packaged in nice special boxes.   Update 2:  On 01-OCT, an eighth DBZ Swatch special will be released:  Big Bold Shenron X Swatch.   Additionally, a limited and numbered collectors box set containing all eight DBZ watches in special orange balls will be released:  Shenron X Swatch Numbered Edition (SZS35). The box will be limited to 997 pcs (1000 CHF, $1300 CAD, 1050 EURO) and both all of the DBZ watches and the special box will be numbered.  545 boxes will be distributed worldwide in a raffle.   The official press release of Swatch Group first showed the photos of the special packaging.  Meanwhile, the pictures of the special box have been removed.  The Swatch Drive Thru store in Biel has been decorated in DBZ style as well.   Update 3: Actual photos of the closed Shenron X Swatch Numbered Edition box set:  top / side, taken during a DBZ event at a Swatch store in Hong Kong.   We've seen that "closed box in a sealed showcase" sales tactic before :-)  Update 4: On 08-SEP, a DBZ calligraphy event was held in New York City.  Update 5:  Huge advertisement displays for the Dragon Ball Z Swatch collection in Taipei City and at the Times Square in New York City.  Update 6:  Here is a 'real life' photo of the Shenron X Swatch Numbered Edition.  Distribution: 25 sets in Hong Kong, 5 in Macau, 70 in China, ... Update 7:  The eighth DBZ special Swatch will be released soon (also "standalone" outside of the box) and it was presented in France:  Big Bold Shenron X Swatch (SB01Z102, 135 EURO).  This individually available Shenron Big Bold has an orange crown and is packaged in a nice box.  This is in contrast to other photos that were circulating earlier, this version shows a golden crown.  So the Shenron X Swatch Numbered Special (SB01Z103S) in the boxset is different from the standalone version and has a golden buckle, golden loop and golden crown.  Thanks to Tristan Segovia, Tak Lun Lee, Thomas Chan, Sophia Chang and Chi Kuen Yuen for the photos.
• MoonSwatch production numbers.  Here is a nice report which "guesstimates" (using some official export numbers) the MoonSwatch production numbers (until end of August):  Up to 320000 (probably close to that number).  This number excludes Switzerland!  That's about 15000 per week in ~100 MoonSwatch stores (= circa 150 MoonSwatches per week per store).
• Smuggling Swatch watches.  Do not try to smuggle Swatch watches!  Otherwise, the collection might be confiscated by custom officers.  A modest Swatch collection (57 watches) has been "catched" recently by the Italian Guardia Di Finanza on the Swiss-Italian border at Piaggio Valmara (Lago Maggiore).  A fine up to 50000 EURO is possible.  More details here (Google translation).
• Lollapalooza Berlin special.  For the Lollapalooza Berlin festival (24 and 25-SEP), a special Swatch SwatchPAY! Lollapalooza (SVIK102C-5300, 100 EURO) is available at the Festival, in the Berlin Swatch stores and also online in the Swatch Germany online store.
• Mission To Neptune ads.  On 06-SEP, Swatch placed a full page ad for the Mission To Neptune MoonSwatch in the Financial Times newspaper (European edition).  Mission To Neptune was withdrawn from sale immediately after the launch on 26-MAR (the blue case was "bleeding" blue).  Since August, an improved second version (looks identical) is available again but it is very very hard to find.  Another two page ad (with Mission To Mars) can be found in the August edition of GQ magazine in Germany.   Update:  National Geographic (September).  Thanks to Carlos Zanotelli and Jörg van Dyk for the photos.
• Emirates Team New Zealand specials.  The Emirates Team New Zealand sailing team has issued two Swatch specials:  1. New Gent Emirates Team New Zealand (SUOB702CV, issued in MAY-2020);  2. Chrono Plastic Emirates Team New Zealand (SUSB103D, issued in NOV-2020).  Both watches have the Emirates Team New Zealand logo on the strap and on a special loop around the strap.  Thanks to Fabrizio Mazzucco for the photos.
• Unusual battery compartment.  Who can explain this unusual SwatchXYou battery compartment to me?  It seems to be a combination of "old style" and "new style" battery compartment ring.  Are all recent Gents / New Gents like this?  It is not a production error as I have another SwatchXYou from 2022 with the same style battery compartment...
• Geneva Swatch exhibition.  From 01 to 16-SEP, a fine selection of Swatch watches is on display at Divan Luxury Goods in Geneva, Switzerland.  The exhibition comprises vintage and recent artist specials and other collectable (Moon)Swatch watches.  It is open by appointment only.  See also @myholyobjects.
• Verona Destination special.  A new Swatch Destination special is available since 31-AUG:  Gent Bioceramic Love In Verona (SO28Z112, 80 EURO) is Destination special #79 and it can be bought in Verona (Italy) only.  The watch is packaged in a cigar box style packaging made of recycled paper (as usual now).  Thanks to Andrea Marco Faggioli for the photos.
  
• Beijing 2022 Olympics Volunteer / NOC specials.  For the Beijing 2022 Olympic Winter Games in February, NOC (National Olympic Committee) specials have been issued as usual: A (so far unknown) Bio-Sourced Gent Beijing 2022 NOC Hong Kong (SO28Z104D) in a special red paper sleeve.  For Germany, we have: Beijing 2022 NOC Germany (SO28Z104C) with no special loop around the strap but a nice pin.  If you know of any other NOC Beijing watches, please let me know.  Update:  A Bio-Sourced Gent Beijing 2022 Volunteer special (SO28Z104) is distributed to volunteers at the Olympics, 30,000 pcs have been produced, so it should not be too hard to get.  It is packaged in a special red paper box. The strap and the loop are different compared to the NOC specials.  Update 2:  Beijing 2022 NOC Liechtenstein (SO28Z104E, loop), Beijing 2022 NOC Monaco (SO28Z104F, loop).  Thanks to Tak Lun Lee, Thomas Chan, Fabrizio Mazzucco, and to Daniel Licata for the photos.
• Hyla Ames lecture.  At the 07-SEP-2022 lecture of the Horological Society of New York (HSNY), watch and jewelry writer Hyla Ames Bauer will discuss the Quartz Crisis in the watch industry during the the 1970s/80s.  Judging from the title photo of this Hodinkee report, I am sure that our favourite watch brand (Swatch) will also be mentioned...  Thanks to Carlos Zanotelli for the hint.
  
• Marcelot artist special?  Swatch has published a new Facebook video about Swatch Faces 2022:  artworks by five former Swatch Art Peace Hotel artists-in-residence at Biennale Arte in Venice.  In this video, Carlo Giordanetti (CEO of Swatch Art Peace Hotel) can be seen wearing a special unknown Swatch.  What kind of Swatch is this?  The white watch is the special Gent How Majestic (GZ711).  The unknown Swatch might be an artist special designed by Brazilian artist Marcelot.  A POP?  We are also waiting for the Swatch artist special by Navin Rawanchaikul (who has created The Description of The World, an installation in Giardini) in September, so maybe there will be an artist Swatch collection soon.  Thanks to Angelo Moccaldi for the hint.
• Jackalope 2022 SwatchXYou special.  A special SwatchXYou Jackalope 2022 Montréal (canvas) has been issued for the Jackalope 2022 Montréal festival (19 to 21-AUG), it is available in the Swatch Canada Online store.  Additionally, a special prefabricated SwatchXYou Jackalope 2022 Montréal (SUOK144-039, limited to 100 pcs, $130 CAD) is available, it has a special loop around the strap.  It is the biggest action sports festival in Canada featuring Skateboard, Bouldering, Breakdance, BMX, BASE Jump, FMX, ...  The watch is available only in Montréal.  Thanks to Thomas Chan for the information and photos.
• Destination Hong Kong Swatches.  Pad Griffin sends the following info:  "It appears that the Destination Swatches for Hong Kong have found a home at Swatch Mong Kok Langham Place following the demise of the Central flagship and Airport stores.".  The (S)watch business in Hong Kong and China is 'complicated'....
• Tresor Magique revisited.  As part of the '90s Week, you can read a nice story about the 1993 Platinum Swatch Tresor Magique at Hodinkee.
• MoonSwatches at La Samaritaine.  Until the end of August, the MoonSwatch watches are available at a Pop-up store at La Samaritaine, Paris.  The Pop-up store also sells the other Bioceramic Swatch watches and it features the Mission On Earth Fiat 500 car.
• Destination specials available at Zurich airport.  Since quite a while (and permanently), almost all Swatch Destination specials are available at Zurich airport (landside).  Tim (Shwatch150 / Shmee150) just took photos of all available Destination watches.  Please count them yourself and try to find out which Destination watches are missing (so far, 78 Destination specials have been issued).  An easy way to complete your collection.
• Long interview with Nick Hayek.  A long and interesting video interview with Swatch Group CEO Nick Hayek can be found on the blick.ch website.  In the 23 minutes interview (in [Swiss]German), Nick talks about the success of the MoonSwatch, the independence of the Swatch Group (enabling such bold decisions as the MoonSwatch), his former career as a film director, and the situation in different watch markets around the world (Russia, China, ...).  Really interesting.
• The Joy Of Swatch.  Hodinkee has published a nice report How Swatch Went From Disrupter To Iconic Brand.  A great read (although nothing really new for the die-hard Swatch collectors :-)
• New Swatch store Hamburg Hauptbahnhof.  A new Swatch store will be opened soon in Hamburg Hauptbahnhof (main train station in Hamburg, Germany).  That's good news after the closure of many Swatch stores in Germany in 2020/21.  Thanks MoonSwatch :-)    Thanks to Fabien Perissinotto for the photo.
• Crankworx Big Bold special.  Crankworx, the world’s biggest gravity-fuelled mountain bike festival, descends on Innsbruck (Austria) from 15 to 19-JUN.  A Big Bold Bioceramic Crankworx Special Edition is now available onsite at the event in the Swatch truck.  Update:  A similar Big Bold Bioceramic Crankworx Whistler (SB03B100E, $175 CAD) is now available in the Swatch Canada Online store, released for the Crankworx Whistler festival (05 to 14-AUG).  Thanks to Thomas Chan for the information.
  
• Neptune MoonSwatch available again.  It seems that the Mission To Neptune MoonSwatch is available again in the shops.  Only very very few pcs of course (a Swiss MoonSwatch store got 1 per day recently).  Mission To Neptune MoonSwatch was withdrawn from sale immediately after the launch on 26-MAR as the blue case was "bleeding" blue a little bit on the wrist.  Now a new mixture for the Bioceramic has been found and an updated version of Mission To Neptune MoonSwatch is available for sale again.  This second version should be optically identical to the first version available at launch.  Hopefully, the crazy prices for Mission To Neptune MoonSwatch will come down a bit.  But it may take some time as tourists and swiss people in (eg.) Zurich are still queuing for the MoonSwatch after all these months....
• Swatch Ballon up in the air.  The well known Swatch Balloon (code HB-BHC, featuring the 80s Gent Nine To Six and the Lady watch Neo Quad) went off for the first flight after many years on 01-AUG in Switzerland.  Here is a photo of the start.  In the 80s, there were four similar Swatch balloons in existence.  Today, one of these is located in England and two of them in Switzerland (owned by a Swiss collector).  The fourth balloon is missing. Thanks to Antonio Greco for the information and photos.
  
• Carlo Giordanetti interview.  Here is an interesting recent interview (in German) with Carlo Giordanetti (Member of the Product and Design Committee Swatch) about MoonSwatch and the recent success of Swatch.
• MoonSwatch Summer Tour.  A MoonSwatch Summer Tour has just been announced on Fratellowatches and Watchpro.  Nick Hayek had hinted at such mobile sales locations in Europe in a recent interview.  Known dates / locations so far:  Biel (12-JUL), Amsterdam (14-JUL), Paris Montmartre (15-JUL), Isola Di Ré (hint).  The teaser photo hints at:  Barcelona, Ibiza, Locarno, London, Marbella, Mykonos, Porto Cervo, St. Tropez and further cities in France, Germany (CW29), Greece, Portugal...  Update:  It is unclear if the watches will be available directly on the location or not (maybe they are shipped later).  Watchpro has some new info:  "Swatch is promising to have MoonSwatches available to buy at each pop-up.".  On the other hand, the Fratellowatches author comments: "Also, I think only pre-orders are available from the cars themselves, no actual watches will be available to purchase directly. Whether it’s home delivery or pick-up at the boutiques, we also don’t know.".  Update:  A special MoonSwatch Summertour webpage on the Swatch website, not much info though unfortunately.  It seems as if Swatch wants to keep the exact dates / locations secret...  Update 2:  Additionally, several new MoonSwatch stores have been opened recently (in Canada, China, Greece, Italy, Switzerland, and USA).  Update: The special MoonSwatch Journey webpage on the Swatch website about the MoonSwatch Summer Tour now shows a huge number of photos of the different stops across Europe.  Amazing!
• Locarno Film Festival 2022 special.  A special New Gent Swatch Locarno75 (SO29Z702, 100 CHF) for the 75th Locarno Film Festival 2022 (03 to 13-AUG) is now on sale in Switzerland, also in the Swiss online store.  The special is packaged in a yellow paper sleeve.  A great watch, finally a real special Swatch.  The cool watch design is by Italian artist Vito Manolo (@vitomanoloroma).
• 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, two special SwatchXYou watch are available online in the Swiss Online Store:  1. Festanew (canvas);  2. La Suisse (canvas).
• Swatch at Biennale Arte 2022 / special Swatch watches.  The 59th International Art Exhibition Biennale Arte 2022 will take place in Venice, Italy, from 23-APR to 27-NOV.  As in the last years, Swatch is a main sponsor of the Biennale (for the sixth time) and will present five artists from the Swatch Art Peace Hotel in Shanghai at the Arsenale venue in Venice (Swatch Faces 2022):  1. Landi (China);  2. Xue Fei (China);  3. Tang Shu (China);  4. Shin Hoyoon (South Korea);  5. Marcelot (Switzerland / Brazil).    Additionally, Swatch has invited Thai artist Navin Rawanchaikul to the Giardini, where he will create The Description of The World, an installation created specific to that place.   Swatch will also release a Swatch artist special by Navin Rawanchaikul in September as well as a watch inspired by the graphic identity of the Biennale Arte 2022.  Carlo Giordanetti (Swatch Management and CEO Swatch Art Peace Hotel) presented this information during the online press conference for the Biennale Arte 2022 in February.  Hopefully, Swatch Club will offer the possibility of visiting Biennale Arte 2022 as in earlier years.  Update:   The Description of The World at the Giardini has been unveiled at a press event before the official opening of Biennale Arte 2022 (video).  Swatch has released two specials for Biennale Arte 2022, both available in the shops:  1. Gent White Dream by Swatch (GW151R, 75 EURO);  2. New Gent Black Milk by Swatch (SUOB720R, 85 EURO).  Here is a picture of the packaging of the watches, new eco packaging with special sleeve.  Update 2:  A special Biennale SwatchXYou Milk Of Dream (canvas) is now available in the Swatch Italy Online store.  Preprinted Milk Of Dream SwatchXYou watches are available in the Swatch store in Venice.
• Destination specials Pop-up store at Geneva airport.  Until 01-AUG, Swatch is selling many Destination specials at a Pop-up store in Geneva airport (airside, so you need a flight ticket).  Now is the time to complete your collection.  Here are photos of the available Destination Swatch watches (I counted 53 different ones) in the Destination Pop-up store.
• Hors Du Temps Swatch exhibition.  500 Swatch watches will be on display in the Hors Du Temps Swatch exhibition at the Boutique Hors Du Temps store ("out of time") in Champéry (Switzerland) from 17-JUL to 30-AUG.  Swatch watches by artists such as Keith Haring, Folon, Mordillo, Enki Bilal, Hergé, Mimo Rotella, Mika, Rankin, Sam Fancis, ... and early Swatch watches from 1983 onwards (incl. prototypes and Original Jelly Fish will be on display.  Additionally, about 600 Swatch watches will be available for sale.  Update:  Carlos Zanotelli send me photos from the exhibition during the exhibition pre-opening event for Swatch Club Gold & Pioneer members on 16-JUL.
  
• Inside the MoonSwatch production facilities.  Fratello Watches has published a nice exclusive report:  Inside the MoonSwatch production facilities.  Additionally, they recently conducted an interview with Swatch Group CEO Nick Hayek about the MoonSwatch where Nick shared some stories about the time before and during the MoonSwatch Launch (some of these stories were shared with the Swatch Gold & Pioneer members earlier during the MoonSwatch Experience in Biel in May).  Here is a short Instagram Reel with a few impressions from the production facilities.  Update:  Wired Magazine also has a nice long report about the MoonSwatch and how it came to life.
  
• Chinese Valentine specials.  Chinese Valentines Day (Qixi) is celebrated on 04-AUG.  Swatch has launched two special watches to celebrated Chinese Valentines Day:  1. Gent Red Heart By Swatch (SO28Z111, special packaging);  2. New Gent Heart In Blue By Swatch (SO29Z701, special packaging).  A special set (SZS37, 185 EURO) containing both watches will also be available.
• Beach Pro Gstaad special.  The Swatch Beach Pro Gstaad will take place from 6 to 10-JUL as a tournament in the highest category of the Beach Volleyball Pro Tour.  A special SwatchPAY! Super Power Volleyball (SVIB107C-5300) has been released for this event (with a paper loop around the sleeve), it is also available online on the Swiss Swatch Online store.  Update:  Swatch Club Switzerland invited 20 Club members as VIP Guests to the tournament.  Here is a nice report with a few photos by Christine Tanner.
• Swatch Group Apprenticeship Graduation special.  For the Swatch Group apprenticeship graduation 2022, each apprentice received a nice Big Bold Swatch (looks like Big Bold Bioceramic C-White (SB03W100)) with a special apprenticeship graduation 2022 display.  If I counted the list of apprentices correctly, 156 displays were distributed.
• Paris Megastore reopening event.  On 02-JUN, the Swatch Paris Champs-Élysées Megastore was reopened after a long redecoration period.  Thomas Sonneville sent me photos and infos from the Swatch Club reopening event on 02-JUN.  Two special SwatchXYou by Decktwo (aka Thomas Dartigues) will be available:  Decktwo produced 2 canvases: one will be available worldwide (right) and the other one is exclusively available at the Megastore (left). No special watches were produced for this event.  Update:  On the day of the reopening event (02-JUN), the printing machine for the SwatchXYou was not usable, so it was impossible to print the special Decktwo canvases for a few days.  Meanwhile, the printing machine was repaired so Thomas met again with Decktwo for a special signing session.  Update 2:  The worldwide SwatchXYou Decktwo 2 (canvas) is now available in the Swatch Online Store.  Update 3:  Swatch has published a nice video about the Paris Megastore reopening event.  Update 4:  The second "exclusive" canvas is now available in the Swatch France Online store:  Decktwo1 ok (canvas).  A preliminary version of the canvas had an issue with the "2DS" company logo on a truck in the picture...
• MoonSwatch will be available in more locations.  Some interesting MoonSwatch info in a recent interview with Nick Hayek:  1. Swatch plans to introduce "11 flexible retail locations during the summer" in Europe where the MoonSwatch will be sold (I guess popup stores, sales trucks etc.).  2. Swatch will add additional 25 stores selling the MoonSwatch in July and August, including new locations in Switzerland, Thailand, Malaysia and the U.S.   3. The sales of Omega Speedmaster Moonwatch (the expensive original!) have increased in Omega stores by more than 50% since the launch of the MoonSwatch in March.  So I guess that the risk of introducing the MoonSwatch pays off...
• French Destination special available online.  As part of Swatch Celebrates France (14-JUL, Bastille Day), the Bisous De Paris Destination special is available online.
• "iSwatch" Big Bold.  In addition to a "Tick Different" Skin Bioceramic, Swatch has now released a Big Bold in order to further protect the "iSwatch" claim (trademark?):  Big Bold Iswatch Blue (SB01N102).  No "iSwatch" imprint on the watch or strap or loop, though.  Thanks to David Rippmann for the hint.
• Swiss Music Festivals SwatchPAY! specials.  SwatchPAY! is accepted at several Swiss Music Festivals (Openair Frauenfeld [06 to 09-JUL] and Gurtenfestival Bern [13 to 16-JUL]) during this summer and Swatch has now released two SwatchPAY! Swiss Music Festivals specials: 1.  Headtailspay! Openair Frauenfeld (SO32B112C-5300, 100 CHF);  2. Blackback Pay! Gurtenfestival Bern (SVIB105C-5300, 100 CHF).  These specials are only available onsite at the festivals and in three Swatch stores in Switzerland. Thanks to Ines Brem for the information and pictures.
  
• Porto São João special packaging.  For the traditional Festa de São João do Porto (23/24-JUN), Swatch Portugal has released a limited special packaging Swatch Porto - Ed. Sao Jao (SUOZ315SCC, 120 EURO).  The special packaging contains the Destination special Swatch Porto (SUOZ315, Destination Special #64) and is not numbered (according to rumors:  200 pcs).  The packaging is quite big (ca. 40 x 30 x 8 cm) and it is shaped in the form of the traditional funny plastic hammer ("One of the main traditions of São João festival is to lightly pound the head of everyone you meet on the street with a plastic hammer.").  Click here to see a few photos from this amazing street festival a few days ago.  This new packaging is the third packaging version of the Destination special Swatch Porto (special packaging Porto Reserva (SUOZ315SC) is the second packaging version).  Thanks to Paula and Miguel for this wonderful experience.
• US Destination specials available online.  As part of Swatch Celebrates USA (04-JUL, Independence Day), seven US Destination specials are available online for a few days.  Additionally, the SwatchXYou Swatch Celebrates USA (4th of July, canvas) is available again too.
• Café de Flore special.  On 22-JUN, a special Swatch X Café De Flore For Not In Paris (SUOZ347) was launched on Highsnobiety (sold out).  You can find more information about this collaboration on the Swatch website.  The watch is packaged in a nice special box and it is supposedly limited to 1000 pcs.  It has a nice mirror dial.  The watch is available online and it is (was?) available in a Parisian pop-up store, located at 35 Rue des Francs-Bourgeois, 75004.  Here is a small report by Highsnobiety.  Thanks to Thomas Chan for the hint and to David Catel for the photos.
  
• "Swatch Celebrates" SwatchXYou available again.  Two "Swatch Celebrates" SwatchXYou are available again in the German Swatch online store:  1. Frankfurt Grüne Sosse (canvas);  2. Swatch Celebrates USA (4th of July, canvas).
• Pride month Swatch watches.  June is LGBTQ+ Pride Month.  Two Swatch Pride themed watches are available in the Swatch Online Store:  1. New Gent Biosourced Stripe Fierce (SO29K701);  2. Big Bold Bioceramic Peace Hand Love (SB03N105).  A colorful SwatchXYou Pride (canvas) is available as well.  Update:  In the German Swatch online store, a variation of the colorful SwatchXYou is available:  Köln Pride (canvas).
• Opening Event Swatch Store Berlin.  On 23-JUN, Swatch Club Germany has invited the Club members to an opening event of a new Swatch store in Berlin (Tauentzienstraße 17).  This store has a unique design which will be finished during the day by the Tape That Collective.  Update:  Here are a few photos of the new store.  Very colorful, I like it!
• Skin Classic Bioceramic / "Tick Different".  Swatch has launched a new Bioceramic product line with five new watches:  Skin Classic Bioceramic.  One of the five models is Tick Different Blanca (SS09W100).  The name of this watch contains the slogan "Tick different".  There was a long court battle between Apple (owning the "Think different" trademark) and Swatch ("Tick different").  Swatch had been sued by Apple about the use of the "Tick different" slogan.  Recently, Apple has lost yet another trademark battle to Swatch.  So the usage of the "Tick different" in the name of the Skin Swatch is surely no coincidence, strengthening the "Tick different" usage by Swatch.   Thanks to David Rippmann for the hint.
• MoonSwatch battery cover / straps / production codes.  Finally a brave Swatch collector (Pioneer Member Tak Lun Lee) took the challenge and carefully(!) opened the battery cover of his MoonSwatch (one Swatch store in Germany told me that they haven't opened the battery cover of a MoonSwatch so far).  The battery cover (with the planet imprint) is a new construction.  The special "Planet" battery covers will (are?) be available as replacement parts.  Not surprisingly, the MoonSwatch takes a Renata 394 battery which we all know from the Swatch Plastic Chronos (MoonSwatch has a standard ETA G10.212 [slightly modified] calibre).  Additional information about the MoonSwatch straps:  All MoonSwatches are delivered with "M" straps (except for the pink Mission to Venus which is delivered with "S").  The strap size is embossed on the backside of the strap (backside of "swatch" logo).  See the red square on this photo, showing an "M" strap.  Meanwhile, replacement straps are available in S, M, L (except for the pink Mission to Venus: only available in S and M), price is 25 CHF each.  If you buy a MoonSwatch and if you need a different strap size:  You should be able to exchange the strap for free during the purchase (depending on strap availability of course :-)  Update: Tak Lun Lee sent me photos of the inside of the battery compartment where we can read the production codes (that's our guess):  Mission To Jupiter ("IC10c") / Mission To The Sun ("IC08c").  We assume that "C" stands for "2022" and that "08" is "calendar week 08" (21 to 27-FEB) etc.  This watch was bought in May.  Can you share a production code of a watch from launch day (26-MAR)?
• Four new SwatchXYou canvases.  Four new "permanent" SwatchXYou specials are now available in the Swatch Online Store:  Geometry Madness:  1. Form (canvas);  2. Puzzle (canvas);  Power Nature:  3. Camo (canvas);  4. Jungle (canvas).   Thanks to Joachim Meyer for the hint.
  
• Spanish SwatchXYou special.  A nice new local SwatchXYou special ("square periscope") is now available in the Spanish Swatch Online store:  Periscopio Cuadrado (canvas).  No further info why this watch has been released.  Thanks to Joachim Meyer for the hint.
• Expo 2020 Dubai Maxi.  A recent photo from Expo 2020 Dubai shows a (unique?) Expo 2020 Dubai Maxi Swatch.  It was used for decoration purposes and it was not available for sale.
• Tokyo Olympics 2020 IOC special.  A nice Tokyo Olympics 2020 IOC special (with the olympic rings on the dial) has surfaced:  A SISTEM51 Sistem Planet IOC (SUTZ410).  It is packaged in a nice special Tokyo 2020 paper box.   The watch is a SISTEM51 Sistem Planet (SUTW404) with olympic rings on the dial and a special imprint on the back of the watch case: "Limited Edition 2020".   Very hard to find.  The recent IOC specials seem to be much more limited compared to previous years (maybe until 2017).  The watch is listed as "Limited Edition 2020 Sistem Planet" in the Swatch database.
• Vintage Swatches in Stranger Things.  The 80s related Netflix series Stranger Things features a wide variety of vintage Swatch watches:  1. Gent Yellow Racer (GJ400, 1984);  2. Gent McGregor (GJ100, 1985);  3. Lady Dotted Swiss (LW104, 1985).  Thanks to Laurent Stefani for the hint.  Photos by @fratellowatches.
  
• Father's Day SwatchXYou.  A special Father's Day SwatchXYou (canvas) is now available in the French Swatch Online Store.
• Shareholder special 2022.  On 24-MAY, the annual Ordinary General Meeting of Shareholders of Swatch Group was held in a virtual setup.  Nevertheless, each shareholder who registered in time received a special New Gent Bioceramic Swatch Let's Jass (SO32R100) as a gift (as every year).   The watch is packaged in a beautiful special packaging, well done Swatch!  Jass is a trick taking, Ace-Ten card game, played in Switzerland and Germany.   Thanks to Kouroche Amini, Christine Tanner, and Ivo Meier for the photos.
• Over The Moon Gold & Pioneer Event.  For the first time after 2019, the traditional Gold & Pioneer Swatch Club event took place from 24 to 25-MAY in Biel, Switzerland.  Swatch had invited(!) 130 Club members from 13 countries for an Over The Moon event at the Swatch HQ in Biel, Switzerland.  The highlight of the event was a 3 hour "MoonSwatch experience":  A presentation and a long  Q&A session with Swatch Group CEO Nick Hayek and key members of the team that created the amazing Bioceramic MoonSwatch Collection.  We got unique and exclusive insights into the development process of the MoonSwatch which were not shared before.  Each invited club member received a nice special Gent Over The Moon (GZ160E) as a gift, packaged in a nice paper sleeve.  The special is the old 1999 Club Special Space Dreams (GZ160) with an additional "Over The Moon" loop around the strap and the date of the event on the back of the loop.  Additionally, the club members also received the first NFT by Swatch (MoonSwatch NFT collection OverTheMoon 24-25 May 2022 on OpenSea [not verified Swatch or Omega??!?]) and quite a few other goodies.    Update:  On 25-MAY, a special SwatchXYou G&P Exclusive (canvas), SUOK136-999, 125 CHF) was available in the Planet Swatch Museum in Biel for one day only.  Photos of finished G&P Exclusive SwatchXYou:  pic1, pic2, pic3.  Update 2:  Here is a report with many photos from two fantastic days in Biel (and a night in Neuchâtel).  Update 3:  Swatch has published a nice video from the event. Thanks to Andrea Marco Faggioli, Roberto Tintori and Roberto Quadrini for the photos.
  
• Stay Tuned To Swatch renovated.  Yes, after 26 years, my little website is a little bit more mobile friendly.  Please let me know if you find any issues.
• Biel Drive-Thru Store Destination special.  A new Biel Drive-Thru Store Destination special Biel-Bienne (SO29Z118, 125 CHF, Destination Special #78) has been launched at the
  Biel Swatch Drive-Thru Store on 24-MAY.  The watch is packaged in a unique special packaging resembling the Biel Drive-Thru Store.
• "Rings" New Gent / SwatchPAY! Swatch watches.  Swatch has introduced several nice "Rings" New Gent / SwatchPAY! Swatch watches in the regular collection:  1. New Gent Purple Rings Yellow (SO29J100);  2. New Gent Blue Rings Red (SO29R103);  3. Swatch PAY! Blue Ringspay! (SO29N103-5300).  Thanks to David Rippmann for the hint.
  
• New Swatch store in Munich / opening event / SwatchXYou specials.  On 24-MAR, a new Swatch store has opened in Munich, Germany in the center of the city (Sendlinger Straße).  The store already shows the Omega X Swatch suitcase in the shop window.  Update:  A Swatch Club opening event for the new store will take place on 20-MAY.  Two Munich artists (Nadja König und Michael Wiethaus) have designed new Munich SwatchXYou specials.  Both artists will be present during the opening event.  Update 2: Three Munich SwatchXYou specials are now available in the German Swatch Online store:  1. München BW Michael (designed by Michael Wiethaus, canvas);  2. München C Michael (designed by Michael Wiethaus, canvas);  3. München Nadja (designed by Nadja König, canvas).  wristory (Dino) has some impressions from the Munich Swatch Club store opening event.  Here is an overview of the goodies given to the event participants in Munich.  Thanks to Wolfgang Seiler for the photos.
• Father's Day special 2022.  The Father's Day special 2022 is a Biosourced New Gent Star Dad (SO29Z119, 105 EURO), packaged in a special packaging with additional removable transparent loops with white and green print with the emojis heart, chef, hero and friendship.
• Torino SwatchXYou specials.  Three different SwatchXYou specials dedicated to the city of Torino are now available in the Italy Online Swatch store:  1. Granata (canvas);  2. Skate (canvas);  3. Zebra (canvas).
• Ed Sheeran wears a MoonSwatch.  Singer Ed Sheeran was recently spotted wearing a MoonSwatch (Mission to the Moon). Did he queue for the watch?  Where?
• Peanuts Swatch on Swiss TV.  Swiss politician and journalist Roger Köppel recently wore a Peanuts Swatch (a New Gent Pow Wow, SO29Z101) during a TV show in Switzerland.  Update:  Here is another photo of Roger Köppel with the Peanuts Swatch, the photo is probably from 2023!
• Beijing 2022 Olympics IOC special.  A special Beijing 2022 Olympics IOC Swatch has surfaced (with the additional Olympic Rings on the dial):  Gent Biosourced Charm Of Calligraphy Olympia Logo (SO28Z109). Nowadays, the IOC Olympia Logo watches are much more rare than ~10 years ago so good luck in locating one...  Thanks to Thomas Chan for the photo.
• Pigcasso exhibition in Germany.  Starting 01-JUL, Pigcasso, the "artist" pig (who also designed a sought after Swatch artist watch), will have its own exhibition in Hannoversch-Münden in Germany.  Here is a small TV report about the exhibition and here is another report on tagesschau.de!
• The Nines SwatchXYou special.  A new SwatchXYou special designed by Swatch Proteam member Nico Vuignier is now available on the Swatch website:  The Nines (canvas).  It is released for the The Nines sport event in Crans-Montana (Switzerland) from 04 to 09-APR:  "The Nines in its essence aims to celebrate sports and the athletes who write history through their dedication, talent, and passion."  If you visit the Plaine Morte Glacier on the public viewing day on 09-APR, you can meet Nico Vuignier and get an autograph on your limited edition The Nines watch...
• Omega X Swatch MoonSwatch collection.  On 17-MAR, two mysterious full page ads ("On 26-MAR, it's time to change your OMEGA -- SWATCH" / "On 26-MAR, it's time to change your SWATCH -- OMEGA") have appeared in several newspapers in Asia (South China Morning Post [Hong Kong] and Singapore).  Is this announcement of a Omega X Swatch collaboration?  What else could it be?  Very mysterious.  This two page ad was also published in Financial Times (Switzerland).  Maybe "Swatch Group" company will be rebranded as "Omega Group" or "Swatch Omega Group" or "Omega Swatch Group"??!?  Now also on Swatch Instagram.  Here is a report (in German) about the mysterious ads.  Maybe a Omega SwatchXYou?  (only joking :-)  The riddle will be solved soon in a few days.  Update:  On 21-MAR, the Omega and Swatch stores have been decorated in "? X S" style and the Hong Kong store now shows a mysterious suitcase with an "? X S" logo.  So it looks indeed as if we are talking about a "Omega X Swatch" watch collaboration here.  The Straits Times in Singapore has a new ad showing 11 different planets, so we are probably talking about 11 watches in the suitcase ($$$$).  More shop decorations in Asia:  Shanghai Swatch store, Shanghai Omega store, Taipei 101 Swatch store.  Does this Instagram post show the battery cover of the new Bioceramic Omega X Swatch watches?   Last week, a few selected journalists got a sneak preview of the new collection at Swatch HQ in Biel, with Swatch Group CEO Nick Hayek, Omega CEO Raynald Aeschlimann, CEO Swatch Art Peace Hotel Carlo Giordanetti and Omega head of product design Gregory Kissling. 
  
  Update:  After an early leak by Revolutionwatch, the Omega X Swatch Bioceramic MoonSwatch collection has been unveiled on 23-MAR and the blue suitcases in the Swatch and Omega stores have been opened worldwide on 24-MAR:   The MoonSwatch collection is a fun collaboration to produce a playful take on the iconic Omega Speedmaster chronograph. There are eleven different planet / missions themed watches in the collection:
  
  

  Planet	Name	Color	Special feature	Ref.code
  	Mission To The Sun	gold		SO33J100
  	Mission To Mercury	deep grey		SO33A100
  	Mission To Venus	pink		SO33P100
  	Mission on Earth	blue and green		SO33G100
  	Mission To The Moon	black	Follows the exact design and dimensions of the Omega Speedmaster Moonwatch.	SO33M100
  	Mission To Mars	red	Omega Alaska Project watch hands	SO33R100
  	Mission To Jupiter	bronze	orange Omega Ultraman seconds hand	SO33C100
  	Mission To Saturn	beige	Saturn’s rings at 6 o’clock	SO33T100
  	Mission To Uranus	pale blue		SO33L100
  	Mission To Neptune	deep blue		SO33N100
  	Mission To Pluto	gray and burgundy		SO33M101

  
  Each watch in the new MoonSwatch product line features its own mission statement, inspirational engravings ("DREAM BIG – FLY HIGH – EXPLORE THE UNIVERSE – REACH FOR THE PLANETS.") and joint OMEGA X SWATCH logos on the dial and crown. The battery cover on each watch features a depiction of its planet.  The case on all of the Swatch watches (42mm size) is made of Bioceramic (a unique mix of two-thirds ceramic and one-third material derived from castor oil.  Each watch has a colorful Swatch Velcro strap.  Did you notice the engraved "S" in the center of the glass of the watch?  All the key Speedmaster design features can also be found in the MoonSwatch: the asymmetrical case, the tachymeter scale with "dot over ninety" and the distinctive Speedmaster subdials.  The watches are not limited and not numbered and the price is 250 CHF / 250 EURO / 260 USD and they are packaged in colorful cubic paper boxes.  The MoonSwatch watches will be exclusively available at 77 selected Swatch stores (and on the moon [or Mars?]) on 26-MAR, with a limit of two watches per customer (= it will be difficult to get a complete collection quickly).  The blue suitcase with the "? X S" logo is not for sale, so there is no limited box with all eleven watches.  The first Swatch collectors are already camping out at London Carnaby St. store and in Asia (Hong Kong).  No queues in Munich on Thursday evening (11.30pm, note the missing suitcase in the display!).  Additional reporting can be found at Hodinkee, Hypebeast, Fratellowatches, GQ Magazine, Time + Tide, Financial Times, ...  Update 2:  Due to concerns of safety, the launch in China has been canceled!  Long queues in Kuala Limpur (Malaysia).
  Update 3:  So the MoonSwatch broke the internet and the real world on the weekend of 26-MAR.  Same league as the launch of the original iPhone back in 2007.  Congratulations to Nick Hayek, Raynald Aeschlimann, Carlo Giordanetti and all others involved in the bold move to decide for this project and the realization of this amazing product.  I collected a few launch queue highlights from all around the world on Instagram and here is a video of the queue in Frankfurt (according to the police:  3500 people in the queue!).  Unbelievable!  This was crazier than the queues in the early 90s...   Thanks to Ed Chung, Tak Lun Lee, Thomas Chan and @stefan1165 for the photos and information.
• Swatch X Centre Pompidou SwatchXYou specials.  Three different Swatch X Centre Pompidou SwatchXYou specials are now available online:  1. Centre Pompidou Detail (canvas);  2. Centre Pompidou Front (canvas);  3. Centre Pompidou Views (canvas).  Additionally, three prefabricated Swatch X Centre Pompidou SwatchXYou specials can be purchased.  The canvases have been designed by the french illustrator Stéphane Kiehl.
• Mother's Day SwatchXYou special.  A Mother's Day SwatchXYou special Floritura (canvas) is now available.
• Swatch X Centre Pompidou Collection.  On 08-MAR, the new Swatch X Centre Pompidou Collection has been unveiled at the Centre Pompidou in Paris:  1. New Gent The Frame, By Frida Kahlo (SUOZ341, 100 EURO);  2. New Gent Blue Sky, By Vassily Kandinsky (SUOZ342, 100 EURO);  3. New Gent Red, Blue And White, By Piet Mondrian (SUOZ344, 100 EURO);  4. Gent Carousel, By Robert Delaunay (GZ712, 80 EURO; note the very special date window!);  5. Gent Eiffel Tower, By Robert Delaunay (GZ357, 80 EURO);  6. Gent Portrait Of Dédie, By Amedeo Modigliani (GZ356, 80 EURO).  The watches are packaged in nice paper boxes with the design of the artwork.  Each box also contains some additional information about the artist and the artwork.  Additionally, three different SwatchXYou Centre Pompidou designs will be available online and in Swatch stores starting 24-MAR.  In April, a new Swatch Pop-Up store will open opposite of the Centre Pompidou (across the place).  A special limited edition showcase box is available worldwide (with a nice black bag) if you buy the complete Centre Pompidou Swatch collection.  On 08-MAR, Swatch held a memorable launch event for media, VIPs and bloggers at the Centre Pompidou.  Additionally, there is a long interview with Carlo Giordanetti (CEO Swatch Art Peace Hotel Shanghai) where he talks about the different artworks used as a basis of the six Swatch watches in the collection.  On 09-MAR, Swatch Club invited 34 club members from all over Europe to Paris for a great club event in the Centre Pompidou and other nice places.  Here is a report with many photos from a wonderful day in Paris.  An overview of the Swatch X Pompidou Goodies from all around the world:  Club Launch Event Paris, Taiwan:  Puzzle, Düsseldorf (Germany):  Poster.  Update:  The three SwatchXYou Centre Pompidou designs have been prelaunched during a Swiss Swatch Club event on 16-MAR in Interlaken, Switzerland.  Worldwide launch is on 24-MAR.  Here is a nice report by Christine Tanner with a few photos from the Interlaken SwatchXYou prelaunch.  Update 2: Swatch Club has published a great video and some photos from the Paris Club event on 09-MAR.    Thanks to Sophia Chang for the photos.
• Mother's Day special 2022.  The Mother's Day special 2022 is a Biosourced Gent Star Mom (SO28Z108, 95 EURO), packaged in a nice Hollywood-style reflective special packaging with additional removable loops featuring a heart, a blowing kiss, a gift and a flexing muscle.
• New Kids On The Block single cover.  The cover of the new comeback single Bring Back The Time by (gulp!) New Kids On The Block is designed in true 80s Swatch style inspired by the 1988 Gent St. Catherine Point (GB121).  The single Bring Back The Time also features Salt-N-Pepa, Rick Astley & En Vogue.
• New SwatchXYou at Biel Drive-Through store.  6 new pre-printed SwatchXYou models are now available at the Biel Drive-Through store with the usual Hamburger packaging. The models are already printed and ready to buy, no possibility to move the canvas.  The chocolate special is very nice! Thanks to Paolo for the information and photo.
  
• Expo 2020 Dubai March 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 sixth (and final?) round of SwatchXYou designs has been released for March:  1. Greek Alphabet (canvas) by Zoe Keramea (Greece);  2. Croatia, Makes You Unique (canvas) by Marko Cukman (Croatia);  3. Porteuse De Lumière (canvas) by Onésime Lufuma Bengo (Congo DR);  4. Roots (canvas) by Zoha Khan (Pakistan);  5. Browski (canvas) by Vuyo Mahashe (South Africa);  6. Alegría En Colores (canvas) by Sergio Valenzuela (Guatemala).
• 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.
• Expo 2020 Dubai VIP gift box. Win a Swatch VIP gift box at Expo 2020 Dubai:  Each AED 200 spent at any Expo 2020 Dubai Official Store, Kiosk or Cart during the promotion period until 31-MAR enters the lottery.  Six boxes per week will be distributed.
• Photos of Chandelier launch in Luzern / Hergiswil in 1992.  The Swatch craze was much bigger in the early 90s.  Here are a few great photos from the Xmas special Chandelier launch in Luzern / Hergiswil (Switzerland) in 1992 (back then, they sold 3333 Xmas specials in Switzerland alone...).
• Expo 2020 Dubai February 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 fifth round of SwatchXYou designs has been released for February:  1. Loudly Spanish (canvas) by Jordi Fornies (Spain);  2. Windows (canvas) by Christoph Demaitre (Belgium);  3. Maningue Hope ("Much Hope") (canvas) by Cremildo Walter Zandamela (Mozambique);  4. Kilts On The Royal Mile (canvas) by Ilse Woodhouse (United Kingdom);  5. Balikbayan (canvas) by Mark Justiniani (Philippines);  6. Reog (canvas) by Arianni Kurniawati (Indonesia);  7. Cuba (canvas) by Dayami Hayek (Cuba);  8. Kilim Of Pirot (canvas) by Vojin Popovic (Serbia);  9. Joy Stamp (canvas) by Ivan Petrusevski (North Macedonia);  10. Mr. Gukki (canvas) by Stian Borgen (Norway);  11. Colours Of Cyprus (canvas) by Carolina Alotus (Cyprus).
  
• Platinum Jubilee of Elizabeth II special.  On 06-FEB, Queen Elizabeth II will become the first British Monarch to celebrate a Platinum Jubilee, marking 70 years of service to the people of the United Kingdom, the Realms and the Commonwealth.  To celebrate the Platinum Jubilee (festivities in early June), Swatch has issued a special Gent How Majestic (GZ711, 83 GBP).  Check out this video by Carlo Giordanetti for a close-up of the dial and the change of colors during the days...  For each year of service to the people of the United Kingdom, one golden dot has been placed on the edge of the dial, so 70 golden dots around the dial.  Great idea!  The watch is packaged in a nice special packaging.  Update:  In honour of Her Majesty’s Platinum Jubilee and the How Majestic Swatch, the London Carnaby Swatch store was appropriately decorated in May.  Great job!  Here is a nice How Majestic print ad by Swatch for the festivities.
  
• Beijing 2022 Olympics SwatchXYou specials.  Six SwatchXYou watches are now available for the Beijing 2022 Olympic Winter Games in February:  1. Alpine Ski (canvas);  2. Cross Country (canvas);  3.Hockey (canvas);  4. Skating (canvas);  5. Sled (canvas);  6. Snowboard (canvas).  Additionally, three of the SwatchXYou designs are presented as prefabricated SwatchXYou on a special Beijing 2022 Collection section on the Swatch website (104 GBP each):  1. Ice Hockey (SUOK136-028);  2.Snowboarding (SUOK145-013);  3. Ice Skating (SUOK147-004).  Update:  The press release for the Olympic SwatchXYou specials shows a seventh SwatchXYou All Sport which is not (yet?) available online.  Thanks to Joachim Meyer for the update.
• RIP Billy The Artist.  Rest In Peace Billy The Artist.  He made some great colorful contributions to the Swatch universe, he will be missed.  In 2009, he created two great Gent artist watches which are still hugely popular:  Afterdark (GZ204) and Morning Glow (GZ205S).  In the same year, we had the great G&P event in Venice with a huge outdoor live painting performance with Billy The Artist on Piazza San Marco.  No one who was there will forget that night, it was crazy!  We also met Billy later in 2009 at the Xmas event in New York City.  Those were the days, enjoying life to the fullest...  Update:  Here is a tribute by a local news site covering the East Village of NYC where Billy lived.  There will be a celebration of Billy's life on 20-FEB in NYC.  Details in this Facebook event here.  Update:  A few years ago (in 2009), a US based Swatch collector commissioned Billy The Artist (and other Swatch artists) for drawings on custom made Swatch folio boxes, these are really beautiful and are shared here as a tribute to Billy:  1. Afterdark;  2. Morning Glow.
  
• Best Swatch Watches from the 2000s.  Fratello Watches online magazine has a nice new report:  Buying Guide: The Best Swatch Watches From The 2000s.  An (erm!) interesting selection in my opinion, check it out and think about it....
• Kölner Karneval SwatchXYou specials.  Two special SwatchXYou watches dedicated to Kölner Karneval (Cologne Carnival) are available in the German Swatch Online Store:  1. Veedelliebe (canvas);  2. Fastelovend (canvas).  Despite the circumstances, Cologne Carnival is celebrated, with most highlights in the last week of February and the first week of March:  Kölle Alaaf!
• Valentine 2022 specials / SwatchXYou.  Three Swatch Valentine specials for 2022 are now available in the Swatch Online Store:  1. Bio-Sourced New Gent Half <3 White (SO29Z112, 80 EURO, packaged in a nice red box, glowing in the dark);  2. Bio-Sourced New Gent Half <3 Red (SO29Z113, 80 EURO, packaged in a nice red box, glowing in the dark); 3. Gent Love O'Clock (GW718, 70 EURO, packaged in a nice red box).  A special packaging for the two New Gent specials seems to be available as well.  Update: A special SwatchXYou Valentine (canvas) is now available in the Swatch Online Store.  Additionally, six pre-fabricated Valentine SwatchXYou specials are available (scroll down).
• Berlin Hauptbahnhof store opening / SwatchXYou specials.  On 13-JAN, a new Swatch store in Berlin Hauptbahnhof (central train station) will be opened.  Two new Berlin related SwatchXYou specials (with lots of local specialities and tourist attractions such as Currywurst, Brandenburger Tor, Fernsehturm, ...) are now available in the Swatch Online Store Germany:  1. Berlin1 (canvas);  2. Berlin Colored (canvas)., designed by Hülpman (Felix Aaron Hülpüsch).  Six different prefabricated SwatchXYou based on his designs are exclusively available in the new Swatch store.  During the store opening celebration on 13-JAN, Hülpman will create a live painting...  Update: Here are a few photos and videos from the in-person and virtual (hybrid) store opening celebration.  Swatch Club Collectors were able to purchase a prefabricated SwatchXYou and they received one of 54 pieces of the great custom artwork, signed by Hülpman.  This is artwork 13/54.  Here is a press report about the new Swatch store in the central train station of Berlin.
• Laax Open 2021 PAY! special.  The Laax Open snowboarding event takes place from 11 to 15-JAN in Laax, Switzerland.   A special limited edition Big Bold SwatchPAY! Laax PAY! (SO27B120C-5300, 130 EURO) has been issued, it has an extra long oversize strap for a comfortable fit over ski/snowboard jackets (great idea! why not earlier :-)  A free regular-length watch strap is also included with the watch.
• Clear collection.  As a fresh start to 2022, Swatch is hinting at a new Clear Collection with a new teaser website "Reset. Go Clear".  The collection has been launched on 05-JAN-2022 and it includes the Jelly Fish New Gent Swatch watch that was available for sale (by mistake?) in very very limited numbers in OCT-2021: 1. Bio-sourced Gent Clearly Gent (SO28K100);  2. Bio-sourced New Gent Clearly New Gent (SO29K100, already available in Japan in OCT-2021);  3. Big Bold Clearly Bold (SB01K100) [note the semi-transparent strap and compare to the earlier Big Bold Jellyfish (SO27E100) from JAN-2020];  4. Bio-sourced Skin Clearly Skin (SS08K109);  5. Big Bold SwatchPAY! Clearly Pay! (SB01K102-5300).  The watches are available in a new kind (restyled again!) of eco-packaging which looks good and fits nicely to the "Clear" theme:  Gent/New Gent;  Big Bold (closed box).  The Clear Collection contains four more clear Gent and New Gent watches "with a touch of color":  6. Gent Clearly Yellow Striped (GE291);  7. Gent Clearly Red Striped (GE292);  8. New Gent Clearly Blue Striped (SUOK156);  9. Gent Clearly Black Striped (SUOK157).  Fun fact:  During the "early" release in OCT-2021, the planned name of the collection was "Hard Core" and the planned name of the watches was:  Gent Jellyfish Revisited (SO29K100) and Gent Jellyfish Again (SO28K100).  So a lot of work for Swatch marketing in the months between October and January 2022.  Thanks to Tak Lun Lee and Chi Kuen Yuen for the photos.
• Expo 2020 Dubai January 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 fourth round of SwatchXYou designs has been released for January:  1. Boleh (We Can) (canvas) by LengHuat Lee (Malaysia);  2. Couples (canvas) by Esther Pomerantz (Israel);  3. Pangu (canvas) by Xue Fei (China);  4. Fado (canvas) by Policarpo Rodrigues de Brito (Portugal);  5. Bojagi (canvas) by Baewoon (Korea);  6. Sola Melite (canvas) by Andre Farrugia (Malta);  7. Home Is Where My Heart Is (canvas) by Minxian Koh (Singapore);  8. King of Jakrav (canvas) by Lisa Mam & Peap Tarr (Cambodia);  9. Holi of colours (canvas) by Syed Oosman (India);  10. Picturesque Slovakia (canvas) by Veronika Barrera (Slovakia);  11. Exit (canvas) by Andre Beaulieu (Canada);  12. Karijini Bliss (canvas) by Iwan Isnin (Australia).