What’s Your Take on Swatch?
The Swatch Group.…one of the chief historical glues that has maintained adhesion among many important brands for decades.
When the Swatch brand emerged in the 80’s, I was there to watch it quickly seep into the minds and onto the wrists of the majority of kids with whom I sat in the high school classroom by day…and with whom I got into mischief at night. Swatch and its legions of colorful promises added to our youthful repertoire…and aided each of us in our social orchestrations.
I still own one Swatch — my fun, red fish-swimming Irony. After the ’Great Scandal of the Century’, involving one notable collaboration between two notable companies within the group, it has sparked my emotional kindling to look at getting another Swatch to complement my little lone wolf.
The Swatch website is painted with a plethora of styles and sure-footed time-telling fur babies for sure! Even a quick peruse locked me into favor with:
Clearly Gent…
and Jungle Snake.
I have no interest in the infamous collaboration…nor its controversial MoonSwatch. I think instead I will seek the path recently less talked about…but greatly-adorned with traditional flair — the classic, whimsical Swatch.
What is your take on Swatch?
Time dictates my linear path to its bitter end. My watches keep me one step ahead of time…and one foot out of the grave.
I had been looking at picking up a Swatch before the MoonSwatch release, just to have some cheep and cheerful fun in my collection. I still haven't picked up a standard Swatch yet, but I did happen to luck into a Jupiter MoonSwatch...
I'll still get a standard Swatch, but for now the cheep and cheerful spot is taken by the MoonSwatch.
I had been looking at picking up a Swatch before the MoonSwatch release, just to have some cheep and cheerful fun in my collection. I still haven't picked up a standard Swatch yet, but I did happen to luck into a Jupiter MoonSwatch...
I'll still get a standard Swatch, but for now the cheep and cheerful spot is taken by the MoonSwatch.
Then that’s quite a boon…in that you were able to secure the infamous and can enjoy it as a cheerful Swatch as Swatch was intended.
I own a Sistem 51 my wife gifted to me. I love that they do their own thing design wise. I really don’t like that the movements aren’t serviceable (I’ve heard I don’t really know). However, it’s one of my most comfortable watches so I end up wearing it pretty frequently!
Was just starting high school when swatch blew up. Seeing in person those first years I always thought - Meh 🫤
Dads Rolex 1016 had set the bar high maybe?
I currently remain with a strong sense of Meh for plasticy fashion watches.
Hmm - that sounds a bit harsh. I suppose there has been some brilliant designs over the years - but I dislike that most of them are not made to last very long. Glancing in a swatch store recently re affirmed this.
I remember those rubber band protectors! Hadn't thought about them since the 80's. Then I remembered that I still have some of those 80's Swatches - and dug them out for this thread. Bands have perished and I doubt they still work. No idea why I kept them.....
I own a Sistem 51 my wife gifted to me. I love that they do their own thing design wise. I really don’t like that the movements aren’t serviceable (I’ve heard I don’t really know). However, it’s one of my most comfortable watches so I end up wearing it pretty frequently!
I like that ‘skeleton’ date wheel!
My first new watch in years is a Swatch. I bought it at the store on Time Square (ironically).
Yeah…it’s very tempting.
I remember those rubber band protectors! Hadn't thought about them since the 80's. Then I remembered that I still have some of those 80's Swatches - and dug them out for this thread. Bands have perished and I doubt they still work. No idea why I kept them.....
Oh man…look at those!
HUH? WHAT? I CAN’T HEAR YOU OVER THE TICKING OF MY SWATCH!
I have a couple Swatches. I like them. They’re fun. I just can’t wear them too long because the ticking gets to me after a while.
I never had one. They deserve huge credit for the idea of a "second watch" and for using timepieces as fashion for everyday people.
However, screw that stupid proprietary band system. That's a total dealbreaker. Supposedly it was because 1980's (translucent or transparent) plastic was not strong enough to work with a conventional lug design, but improvements have been made in the meantime, yet the multi-hinge nonsense persists in a vestigial manner.
HUH? WHAT? I CAN’T HEAR YOU OVER THE TICKING OF MY SWATCH!
I have a couple Swatches. I like them. They’re fun. I just can’t wear them too long because the ticking gets to me after a while.
I find the ticking quite comforting.
I too was a witness/participant to the Swatch craziness in high-school. As a bmx/freestyler with the Miami Vice shorts and the greatest George Lynch mullet in Grand Forks North Dakota, I had a Swatch for each wrist and then some. Now....I'm bald, walk with a cain and just had Shingles kick my ass. Not a fan of the modern day Swatch, especially after the moonswatch insanity. I have an old Irony stainless that I really like and definitely don't hold my Irony responsible for the brand. I wear it and enjoy it for what it is and what it's not.
I too was a witness/participant to the Swatch craziness in high-school. As a bmx/freestyler with the Miami Vice shorts and the greatest George Lynch mullet in Grand Forks North Dakota, I had a Swatch for each wrist and then some. Now....I'm bald, walk with a cain and just had Shingles kick my ass. Not a fan of the modern day Swatch, especially after the moonswatch insanity. I have an old Irony stainless that I really like and definitely don't hold my Irony responsible for the brand. I wear it and enjoy it for what it is and what it's not.
George Lynch Mullet. Full on!😂
I have a new gent twice again since almost 7 years. It's a fun & light watch with simple and legible dial. Goes well with any casual attire. The only drawback is the design of the lugs which makes it difficult to change straps. My original strap however has stayed intact since all these years!
This is my first Swatch bought over twenty five years ago. It still runs but, sadly, the chronograph function no longer for this world; it is dead; deceased; it is pushing up the daisies; has no plumage to show for it.
This year I bought Another two during a short, watch buying spree.
To be honest, I never owned a Swatch before but was excited when my son told me about the Swatch-Omega collab. I live 6 hours away from the nearest Swatch store but figured I'd order one of the Moonswatches online. I thought this was great since we live in a time of limited editions and such. Swatch had made it clear that these were not limited and everyone would be able to get one. A few months later I read an article where the CEO states that sales will not be online but through official stores only. That really turned me off as I think they secretly liked the insane lines out their doors and would rather keep the hype and limitedness going rather than honor what they originally said.
Don't even get me started on the resell prices.
This was my throw back had to buy it again. The only way I buy another one if they came up with design similar like the old style Bulova Accutron with internal mechanism how cool looking that would be. Swatch.. I hope you listening.
I still have one of the black ones with black case, black dial, black hands and black strap. My wife bought it for my birthday in 1986. It's not on the original strap anymore and I haven't worn it for years but I put a new battery in it and it still works.
I think the fact that it's still working after 38 years is very impressive. She bought me a quartz TAG Huerer dive watch in 2005 and that had to have a new movement in 2019. I have no criticsm of the TAG but it obviously cost many times more than the Swatch.