Horological Meandering
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What's this?? A tribute to Swatch

By: dalevito (registered) Wednesday, May 14th, 2008



Hi Guys,

long time lurker here... I might even have introduced my self some years back but I can't remember.

I just took some pictures of my latest ultra-affordable... And thought it would be nice for ThePurists to share their Swatches.

After all, what would we be posting about on this very site, if it wasn't for those little plastic watches? The impact Swatch made on the entire industry is MAJOR.

So, some more pics:







But above I was talking about the Originals, the plastic cased 33mm ones we all know.

This is the one I have:



Two icons of pop culture. The comic book hero TinTin & a swatch original

They make these in different sizes nowadays.. This one is 38mm I believe (I rarely, if ever wear them)



As you see another comic hero, Corto Maltese



This one must be the cheapest "skeleton" The Swatch Group has ever produced.. It has a mechanical ETA movement. If I remember correctly, even some of the revolving parts of the movement are made of plastic. When I bought it years ago I don't think the term "fusion" was used in the watchworld yet... But it has a case of plastic with aluminum, metal & plastic movement. I put on a "alligator" since the aluminum bracelet was not of my liking.. I wore this one quite a bit.. but the last time was a big while ago wink .









I hope you enjoyed these cheap Swatches as a change of pace from the normal TP-stuff.. And PLEASE share yours!

Take care,

Dale Vito


Hot and cold

By: Bill (registered) Wednesday, May 14th, 2008

That is a pretty good effort.  Not knowing the price it would be hard to judge the value but I don't think that is your point. 

I wonder how Swatch will impact its own brands as well as other industry leaders if they move up the food chain under their own brand name?

Any Thoughts

Bill


my view

By: dalevito (registered) Wednesday, May 14th, 2008

Value? Most "expensive" was the automatic one which cost me (if I recall correcly) some 130 euro's.. That might seem a bit steep nowadays for the US residents, but remember it was bought 3 years ago.. but indeed that wasn't the point wink .

I don't think Swatch will ever alter the Swatch-brand in terms of positioning. This will forever be the cornerstone of the collection of brands the Swatch group carries I hope. I've owned many more expensive pieces but looking at one of the cartoon-Swatches fill forever bring a smile to my face.

thanks for editing the title.

take care

btw I'd love to hear some thoughts on the history of the Swatchgroup, what role the Swatch-brand played in this history and your views on the matter... How do you all think our lovely passion would look if it wasn't for these plastic cuties???

This message has been edited by dalevito on 2008-05-14 13:22:02

You can use this to figure out the price

By: mrsnak (registered) Wednesday, May 14th, 2008


Sort of...

My Swatch Euro calculator




I am guessing that is the French Franc to Euro version Cool.

By: Bill (registered) Wednesday, May 14th, 2008

It took me a moment but I think the base is a 6.55.

Thanks for that one.

Bill


i had a lot at one stage, but nearly all went in bulk to a dealer

By: gmhutton (registered) Thursday, May 15th, 2008

my 12 year old son wears an auto and i have an autoquartz plus an irony chrono for holidays.

without realising it in 1983 i bought their first ever model for £25 from local jewellers. it is the purely black one with just gold hands. if only i had it now, its worth a fortune. the last time i saw it it was covered in paint after decorating a house years ago.

what i cant understand about them is the upmarket models like the platinum version that antiquorum sold at weekend. and their tourbillon. they just seem too much watch for a brand aimed originally at bargain pricing.

i do like the gold chrono, will i find it on squigglyswatch or can you pass info about it. it looks nicely different.

i think they changed the fortune of what was the Omega group and perhaps even saved them from going under. will we ever really know?

Graham



Don't know why the French would need it ....

By: Marcus Hanke (registered) Thursday, May 15th, 2008

... since until today, more than six years after the Euro's  introduction, all French markets still show the French Franc value additional to the Euro. Apparently, France still does not believe the Euro will stay ... smile

Regards,
Marcus


Pfund...

By: nickd (registered) Thursday, May 15th, 2008

...and when I shop in markets in Swabia they still sell vegetables by the pfund when Germany has had how long to go metric ...?  smile  Worst of all are those Swiss watchmakers, still using the ligne as a unit of measurment a couple of hundred years after the rest of the world stopped using it smile

Having the Franc shown is actually useful as it enables you to get a better hande on how high inflation really is compared to the government's lies.

nick



Don't be fooled...

By: DonCorson (registered) Thursday, May 15th, 2008

The German "Pfund" is a half a kilo (500gr) and not the measure of old.
It has been "metricised" long ago.

Don

 



I know - but someone has to try to defend the French :) nt

By: nickd (registered) Thursday, May 15th, 2008

 

What, who, where??? A French??? And I thought it was a decent site! LMAO

By: amanico (registered) Thursday, May 15th, 2008




You're right: my fuel bill was even more impressive after converting it back ...

By: Marcus Hanke (registered) Thursday, May 15th, 2008

... into Austrian Schilling! sad

Marcus


It was good for figuring the now obsolete currency conversions

By: mrsnak (registered) Thursday, May 15th, 2008


It comes with interchangeable bezels for all the original EU countries who went to Euro.
Don't know what I'll ever do with it, but there's a watch for every occasion.

Like this smile





Here's mine...

By: pingtsai (registered) Thursday, May 15th, 2008

I think my very first watch was a swatch when I was a teenager.  I no longer have that one but I got this one maybe 8 or 10 years ago. 

I do believe that Swatch has made an important impact on the industry in terms of breaking out of the traditional watch styles and looks.  They prooved that colorful, fun watches don't have to be just for kids.




Dale... I like the first one...

By: Bruce-YVR (registered) Thursday, May 15th, 2008

Can you tell me what is the model number for that? and do they come with s/s case and s/s bracelet?

Thanks

Bruce


Bruce, its called 'serious affair' YRG400 and is very good value

By: gmhutton (registered) Thursday, May 15th, 2008

as its rose gold plated with 3 retrograde chrono counters and leather strap. all they need to do is put an auto chrono movement in, up the price somewhat and they would have a seriously big seller.

whilst perusing the squggly site i saw a very nice 25 jewel auto skeleton in steel. also very nice and exceedingly good value.



it is indeed

By: dalevito (registered) Friday, May 16th, 2008

one of the new irony retrogrades. shouldn't be to hard to google. good luck!


Don't Be To Late! Is my favorite!

By: Axelzon (registered) Thursday, May 15th, 2008

Tony Axelzon

Sweden



Karma Sutra

By: mikethw (registered) Friday, May 16th, 2008

I think this is a LE. I bought it for my wife (then girlfriend) as a Valentine gift ;-P.

Watch is still good but the strap has hardened and disintegrated.

Mike

  




LOL

By: dalevito (registered) Friday, May 16th, 2008

that's just awesome. A firm wink to the erotic watches of the established brands.. I like it!!

Now we just need somebody to show their bunnysutra... My girl spotted it for sale @ NY.. but did NOT buy it for me... it's a hard knock life wink .

thanks for sharing guys!