Swatch watches

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The history of Swatch

In the late 1970s, faced with the growing popularity of inexpensive quartz watches, a group of engineers in Fontainemelon (Neuchatel) developed a super-thin, gold luxury watch known as Delirium Tremens. At just 1.98 mm and later at 0.98 mm in thickness, it was the thinnest watch ever made. But a thin, expensive watch would not be sufficient to stave off competition from the cheap quartz watches flooding the market. A more radical approach was needed, and the drive to simplify was soon complemented by a search for new materials and methods that would allow the production of an entirely new kind of Swiss watch — one made of a synthetic material, shock-proof, accurate, perfect for mass production, affordable for everyone, and available in a wide range of colours. Nicolas G. Hayek launched the Swatch, a plastic-cased watch consisting of only 51 components instead of the usual 91 or more, offering high quality at an affordable price. It was phenomenally successful – the most successful watch of all time – and its parent company, the Swatch Group, was to become the largest and most dynamic watchmaking company in the world.
The company continues to find new ways to impart texture and colour to an expanding range of shapes, and inventive designers take advantage of everything technology offers. The radical reduction in the number of parts known as “Revolution 51” enabled innovative assembly methods, and special packaging technologies make it possible to deliver the products in pleasing and captivating containers. Continuing advances in design, materials and production technologies have enabled the brand to make even mechanical watches accessible to a much broader range of customers.

Swatch, launched in 1983 by Nicolas G. Hayek, is a leading Swiss watch maker and one of the world's most popular brands. The first watches surprised everyone with their revolutionary concept, creative design and provocative spirit. Today Swatch continues to innovate and surprise with new models, collections and special editions. The brand maintains a strong presence in the world of sports with its commitment to snowboarding, freeskiing, surfing, volleyball and MTB Slopestyle. Right from the start, Swatch connected with art and artists, and their watches remain a prominent canvas for artists from a broad range of disciplines.

Swatch watches

Marketing and Communication
Founder Nicolas G. Hayek’s ‘second watch’ was never just a watch. It was always also a way to communicate, a ‘talking piece’ designed to let the wearers show just who they are and how they feel. Today, creative retail is the name of the game, and Swatch has monobrand stores, megastores, shop-in-shops and kiosks all over the world. The most famous stores are located on Oxford Street, Times Square, 5th Avenue and Champs-Elysees.

New styles from £40

Blackway

SWATCH blackway GB301 £40

Windy Dune

SWATCH windy dune GE709 £47

Pastelbaya

SWATCH pastelbaya GP154 £47

Bordujas

SWATCH bordujas GS159 £47

Lady Black Single

SWATCH lady black single LB170E £40

Golden Glistar Too

SWATCH golden glistar too LK382 £47

Fish Me Baby

SWATCH fish me baby LN152 £47

Bluedots

SWATCH bluedots LW159 £47

Pink Pastel

SWATCH pink pastel SFE111 £78

Vent Brulant

SWATCH vent brulant SUOK709 £54

Skinstripes

SWATCH skinstripes SVUL100 £86

Skinskin

SWATCH skinskin SVUT100 £86

Boule a Facatte

SWATCH boule a facatte GB305 £47

Ultraciel

SWATCH ultraciel GE713 £47

Sunetty

SWATCH sunetty GR175 £40

Fraicheur

SWATCH fraicheur GS161 £47

Something Black

SWATCH something black LB184 £40

Ultraviolet

SWATCH ultraviolet LK390 £47

Rose Glistar

SWATCH rose glistar LP132C £51

Pavered

SWATCH pavered LW163 £47

Mediolino

SWATCH mediolino SFE112 £78

Skinmesh

SWATCH skinmesh SVOM100M £90

Skinsteps

SWATCH skinsteps SVUM101G £98

Skinbrushed

SWATCH skinbrushed SYXS102 £108

Fluo Pinky

SWATCH fluo pinky GE256 £47

Ultrarose

SWATCH ultrarose GE714 £47

Redbaya

SWATCH redbaya GR405 £47

Marinai

SWATCH marinai GW189 £47

Silver Glistar Too

SWATCH silver glistar too LK343E £47

Ultra Golden

SWATCH ultra golden LK391 £47

Vents Et Marees

SWATCH vents et marees LW157 £47

Herzlich

SWATCH herzlich LW164 £47

Yokorace

SWATCH yokorace SUOB724 £54

Skinpure

SWATCH skinpure SVOW100 £78

Skinsparks

SWATCH skinsparks SVUN100 £90

Swatch by Coco Ho

SWATCH swatch by coco ho YLZ101 £76

Irisette

SWATCH irisette GE259 £48

Azulbaya

SWATCH azulbaya GL401 £47

Blue Loop

SWATCH blue loop GS148 £47

Edgyline

SWATCH edgyline GW708 £47

Materassino

SWATCH materassino LK365 £47

Mentalo

SWATCH mentalo LL122 £47

Colorino

SWATCH colorino LW158 £46

Cerise Moi

SWATCH cerise moi LW167 £47

Pink Glistar

SWATCH pink glistar SUOK703 £54

Skinnoir

SWATCH skinnoir SVOB100 £86

Skinnight

SWATCH skinnight SVUN101 £86

Cite Rosee

SWATCH cite rosee YSS305 £66

Classic styles from £40

Golden Tac

SWATCH golden tac GB274 £47

Red Grin

SWATCH red grin GB754 £47

Silverall L

SWATCH silverall l GM416A £54

Blue Ben

SWATCH blue ben GN254 £47

Color the Sky

SWATCH color the sky GS124 £47

Something New

SWATCH something new LB153 £40

L'inattendue

SWATCH l'inattendue LK375G £58

Redbelle

SWATCH redbelle LR130 £40

Climer Flowery

SWATCH climer flowery SFK300G £90

Metal Knit

SWATCH metal knit SFM118M £90

Black Rebel

SWATCH black rebel SUOB702 £54

Mono Black

SWATCH mono black SUOB720 £54

Costazzurra

SWATCH costazzurra SUOS704 £54

Deep Berry

SWATCH deep berry SUUP100 £57

Blue Maximus

SWATCH blue maximus YOS455G £162

Night Flight

SWATCH night flight YVS444G £148

A Cote

SWATCH a cote GB286 £47

Schoggi

SWATCH schoggi GC114 £47

Silverblush

SWATCH silverblush GM416C £47

Sir Blue

SWATCH sir blue GN718 £47

Just White

SWATCH just white soft GW151O £40

Chessboard

SWATCH chessboard LB160G £54

Paseo de Gracia

SWATCH paseo de gracia LN151 £47

De Travers

SWATCH de travers LW146 £47

White Classiness

SWATCH white classiness SFK360 £78

Blaumann

SWATCH blaumann SFN123 £78

Dark Rebel

SWATCH dark rebel SUOB704 £54

Turquoise Rebel

SWATCH turquoise rebel SUOL700 £54

Rose Rebel

SWATCH rose rebel SUOT700 £54

Elegantum

SWATCH elegantum YCG418G £162

The Magnificent

SWATCH the magnificent YOS456G £162

Chic Sailor

SWATCH chic sailor YVS448 £126

Once Again

SWATCH once again GB743 £40

Sunblush

SWATCH sunblush GE242C £47

Up-wind

SWATCH up-wind GN230O £40

White Delight

SWATCH white delight GN720 £47

White Bishop

SWATCH white bishop GW164 £47

Greenbelle

SWATCH greenbelle LG129 £40

Ora d'Aria

SWATCH ora d'aria LN153 £47

Squirolino

SWATCH squirolino LW152 £40

Black Classiness

SWATCH black classiness SFK361 £78

Hello Darling

SWATCH hello darling SFP115M £98

Twice Again

SWATCH twice again SUOB705 £54

Blue Rebel

SWATCH blue rebel SUON700 £54

Love Game

SWATCH love game SUOW116 £44.50

Strictly Silver

SWATCH strictly silver YGS131 £76

Flower Box

SWATCH flower box YSS222G £78

College Time

SWATCH college time YVS449 £126

Sir Red

SWATCH sir red GB753 £47

Candy Parlour

SWATCH candy parlour GG219 £46

Linajola

SWATCH linajola GN237 £47

Astilbe

SWATCH astilbe GP140 £47

Mariniere

SWATCH mariniere GW169 £51

Quadretten

SWATCH quadretten LK372 £47

Pinkbelle

SWATCH pinkbelle LP150 £40

Jardin Fleuri

SWATCH jardin fleuri SFE102 £78

Summer Breeze

SWATCH summer breeze SFK397 £78

Dive-In

SWATCH dive-in SFS103 £78

Gaet

SWATCH gaet SUOB714 £54

New Gentleman

SWATCH new gentleman SUON708 £54

Sprinkled

SWATCH sprinkled SUOW705 £44.50

Mint Halo

SWATCH mint halo YLS193 £66

White Chain

SWATCH white chain YSS254G £76

Harmonieuse

SWATCH harmonieuse YWG406 £100

Art
Right from the start, Swatch connected with becoming a canvas for world famous artists - painters, sculptors, musicians, filmmakers. The first artist to collaborate with Swatch was Kiki Picasso in 1984, less than a year after the first watches made their appearance. American painter Keith Haring created a number of prototypes in the mid-1980s, and four watches with Haring’s designs were produced and launched in the United States, among them the watch Milles Pattes (1986). The relationship between Swatch and art has since produced a fascinating series of creative collaborations with artists from a broad range of disciplines. Among the many memorable works designed for the “the world’s smallest canvas” are Swatch watches by Alfred Hofkunst, Jean-Michel Folon, Sam Francis, Mimmo Paladino, Nam June Paik, Spike Lee, Moby and Jeremy Scott.

Sports
Sports are an essential component of the Swatch identity. Swatch has been promoting and supporting action and lifestyle sports since the very beginning. The brand shows its support through official timekeeping and sponsorships of a wide range of projects and events all over the world which include freeskiing, surfing, snowboarding, FMX and Ice Cross Downhill.

Swatch watches

Swatch Club
The Swatch Club began as a way for collectors and fans to get together and share their enthusiasm to show off, exchange and talk about the latest watches. Today, the Swatch Club has evolved to become a worldwide community. The Club helps market Swatch through social networks and engages with its members and fans through web sites in different markets and languages. Swatch Club brings people together, 24 hours a day - fans who love art, follow sports and keep up with the latest trends in lifestyles and communications. They share the fun and the brand experience with fellow members all over the world, enjoying the Swatch experience online and at live events, where they meet athletes, artists and VIPs. They live the world of Swatch through Swatch.tv, special watches, insider news and exclusive previews of future launches.