Why is Swatch such a joke?

[Darlinboy]

Originally Posted by shnxx

[IMG]

[/IMG]

These are the swatch designs from the discussion.

Whether it's G-shock or smart watch or some better looking seiko, there have got to be better options than those design farts.

They make some decent designs. This blue is not one. The cutout gears at the bottom remind me of butt cheeks.

[landroverking]

Swatch is NOT a joke.

[speedo]

Originally Posted by Darlinboy

They make some decent designs. This blue is not one. The cutout gears at the bottom remind me of butt cheeks.

This probably is one of the most revolutionary watches of our times. I for one love it, its design and the whole concept and put it very proudly besides this other swatch watch in my box.

[AJMarcus]

Originally Posted by speedo

This probably is one of the most revolutionary watches of our times. I for one love it, its design and the whole concept and put it very proudly besides this other swatch watch in my box.

Well said....Gorgeous piece!

[shnxx]

Originally Posted by speedo

This probably is one of the most revolutionary watches of our times. I for one love it, its design and the whole concept and put it very proudly besides this other swatch watch in my box.

Haha I was of course not talking about Breguets or any other brand owned by the group.

Anyway this has been an embarrassing thread.
I wish I hadn't used the word "joke."

[steveclocks]

Originally Posted by unknown

Is it ?

When I was 14 I had several Swatches and loved them, today , many years later I have some superb watch from the best brands out there

So for me it somehow started with swatch … I would never call them a joke

I agree, same here

[Andad]

I have just read through the Groups 2013 returns.

Very impressive.

[speedo]

Originally Posted by shnxx

Haha I was of course not talking about Breguets or any other brand owned by the group.

Anyway this has been an embarrassing thread.
I wish I hadn't used the word "joke."

To me this isn't a joke either. 90 hours power reserve, 51 mechanical movement components, 17 pending patents , 1 screw in the movement, display caseback and a gorgeous looking summer watch.

[shnxx]

Originally Posted by speedo

To me this isn't a joke either. 90 hours power reserve, 51 mechanical movement components, 17 pending patents , 1 screw in the movement, display caseback and a gorgeous looking summer watch.

That's very impressive.
Don't agree about it being gorgeous.

[speedo]

Originally Posted by shnxx

That's very impressive.
Don't agree about it being gorgeous.

It is very personal what you do or do not find gorgeous. The swatch is not to be compared to a sub or a breguet dress watch in any way.

[asadtiger]

actually, to the OP, sir I understand what you were trying to talk about in your post...I think you make ense in stating that good designs can be made for cheap then why does swatch choose such vast and idiosyncratic palette of colors and designs! thats basically the point you are trying to make if I am not wrong...and that is not an illogical point at all..but let me state a few things to clarify the matter.

Swatch (the brand, not the group) is absolutely unlike any other brand...it truly and genuinely reflects and spearheaded the modern culture..the culture of disposable consumer goods...while ofcourse they are not disposable, swatches in general do not allow for any meddling or working on movements by the naturak design of the cases..one could argue that that is crazy....companies pride on thier after sales and service records and performances...but thats exactly what I am saying..swatch does it it the swatch way! its colors and fashions completely revolutionized the watch industry and the assembly line production capabilities and the cheap, colorful cool fashion approach..it is truly a cultural phenomenon of the twentieth century! I believe even fashion houses like Route 66 cant exist if the approach to casual fashion was not changed so radically by swatch...swatch constantly works in collaboration with pop icons and design artists from fashion industry to bring fresh colors and designs in completely non-horological approaches to their watches, and this is what we recognize and love about swatch.

I must admit that they do make very basic simple essential design watches too and ou can easily find those around too...but its juts the more fun ones that get the notice :) I remember my first swatch was a very big watch, something like 50mm, in the mid nineties, taht could pop out of its basic casing and you could put the watch through a shirt back into the casing, such that the watch stuck to your shirt where ever you wanted on your shirt...it had a fun stretchable band, and as a kid I just loved it :) wish I could get one for my children and nephews/nieces :)

the fact that swatch group is way more than the swatch brand is a completely different discussion and the fact that these weird, colorful crazy watches actually saved big traditional houses and the entire watch industry is truly a baffling business achievement of Mr. Hayek that no other businessman or brand in any other field can match and deserves un-relenting dissection to understand the acumen of this genius. And, indeed, it is a joke on all the traditional houses and watch making techniques that swatch, so modern and so different, saved them and drew the world's attention to them, and not on swatch ofcourse :)

[shnxx]

Originally Posted by asadtiger

actually, to the OP, sir I understand what you were trying to talk about in your post...I think you make ense in stating that good designs can be made for cheap then why does swatch choose such vast and idiosyncratic palette of colors and designs! thats basically the point you are trying to make if I am not wrong...and that is not an illogical point at all..but let me state a few things to clarify the matter.

Swatch (the brand, not the group) is absolutely unlike any other brand...it truly and genuinely reflects and spearheaded the modern culture..the culture of disposable consumer goods...while ofcourse they are not disposable, swatches in general do not allow for any meddling or working on movements by the naturak design of the cases..one could argue that that is crazy....companies pride on thier after sales and service records and performances...but thats exactly what I am saying..swatch does it it the swatch way! its colors and fashions completely revolutionized the watch industry and the assembly line production capabilities and the cheap, colorful cool fashion approach..it is truly a cultural phenomenon of the twentieth century! I believe even fashion houses like Route 66 cant exist if the approach to casual fashion was not changed so radically by swatch...swatch constantly works in collaboration with pop icons and design artists from fashion industry to bring fresh colors and designs in completely non-horological approaches to their watches, and this is what we recognize and love about swatch.

I must admit that they do make very basic simple essential design watches too and ou can easily find those around too...but its juts the more fun ones that get the notice :) I remember my first swatch was a very big watch, something like 50mm, in the mid nineties, taht could pop out of its basic casing and you could put the watch through a shirt back into the casing, such that the watch stuck to your shirt where ever you wanted on your shirt...it had a fun stretchable band, and as a kid I just loved it :) wish I could get one for my children and nephews/nieces :)

the fact that swatch group is way more than the swatch brand is a completely different discussion and the fact that these weird, colorful crazy watches actually saved big traditional houses and the entire watch industry is truly a baffling business achievement of Mr. Hayek that no other businessman or brand in any other field can match and deserves un-relenting dissection to understand the acumen of this genius. And, indeed, it is a joke on all the traditional houses and watch making techniques that swatch, so modern and so different, saved them and drew the world's attention to them, and not on swatch ofcourse :)

Thank you for this post.

Yes that was my point, despite what the title may have suggested.

I guess I should study the history of swatch and Mr Hayek.

[Challenger Deep]

I have an old Seiko kinetic watch that was under $200 and looks good. Simple, clean and just utilitarian simple. It tells time and is capable of getting wet. I also have a Citizen Perpetual Calibre 8500 that is dressy, elegant and useful.

Here it is next to my Seamaster, which i personally think was designed after. The bands are at first glance, very similar.



Here is the Seiko.



I paid just under $200 for the Seiko and under $130 for the Citizen at a pawn shop. The watch fit perfectly and i had to buy it. For under $400 i have two good looking cheap watches, the Citizen not so much is cheap but the Seiko is considerably cheaper than the Citizen.