Spinning Swatch At The Hour Markers Office
5 min read
If you are a watch enthusiast, it is very likely that your first watch ever was a Swatch. Simple, reliable and inexpensive, a Swatch watch is often the first step in exploring the world of watches for a collector. A great option for an entry level luxury watch collector, these quartz powered watches appeal to every kind of watch lover. Be it the bright pops of colour splashed across the Originals collection or the more recently introduced MoonSwatch that had the entire watch community gaping, there’s a Swatch for every occasion. Not just that, the multiple collaborations that the brand has fostered with artists, museums, television shows, celebrities and other watchmaking brands over the years has created a limitless canvas for the brand to unleash its creativity making this not just a timepiece but a vibrant cultural souvenir of the current times.
We at The Hour Markers think that the eclectic visage of these watches provides a much needed break from the tech heavy timepieces that most watchmaking brands cater to allowing one to freely wear their heart on their wrist! Read on for some of our favourite picks from this consolidated collection of the watch lovers at The Hour Markers office.
The association of Swatch and art is a long and glorious one as the brand has collaborated with some of the most reputed art galleries through its history effectively putting the art in the art of watchmaking. Named the Swatch Art Journey, the program aims to build on the concept of where will art take you, beautifully bringing some of the most famous paintings to your wrist thus making it accessible to all.
Starting with the latest, in 2024 Swatch collaborated with the renowned Tate art galleries, where they collectively celebrated a true journey through time, genre and self-expression. The Swatch x Tate Gallery Collection is a selection of wearable masterpieces, inspired by artists known for their boundary pushing, innovation and positive provocation. Sunset lover, Disha proudly flaunts Turner’s Scarlet Sunset which is a watch that displays the artist’s mastery of light and colour. It features a calendar wheel that evolves along with the sun, shifting hues gradually and animating a beautiful portrayal of a sunset.
The Bourgeois’s Spiral model in the same collection deftly uses spirals to enliven the watch with swirls of blue and white perfectly complimenting Palak’s liking for bold prints. A trademark of Bourgeois's artistic sensibilities, the spiral is a motif where each curve resonates with trust, freedom and a surge of positive energy.
Continuing with the art gallery themed timepieces the Swatch X MoMa collection is a fitting tribute to modern art as depicted with a pastel palette, Sanjana’s favourite colour scheme. Featuring the signature composition that artist Mondrian is known for, the dive into geometric abstraction taken from Composition in Oval with Color Planes 1 cements the Dutch artist's legacy as an inspiration to other artists.
Legend has it that Swatch had originally reached out to Andy Warhol to see if he might be interested in creating a limited edition timepiece with the brand. When Warhol declined, he suggested Keith Haring – his protege at the time. The result is four now-iconic Swatches from the Mickey Mouse X Keith Harding collection that continue to appreciate in value and help to form a pillar of Swatch collectability among enthusiasts from both the watch world and the art world.
Inspired by the colours of Mickey’s iconic shorts, the Mouse Mariniere turns telling time into a pure moment of timeless joy that exuberantly brings out Karishma’s inner child. Adding movement and depth to the design, Haring’s illustration of Disney’s most famous character sits printed on the glass and creates a double-layered illusion with the white and red-striped dial on the back.
In an unprecedented launch, Swatch collaborated with watchmaking giant Omega to birth a stunning collection of Bioceramic MoonSwatch timepieces inspired by the solar system. This collection delighted both Swatch as well as Omega fans the world over and we at The Hour Markers too tried to get our hands on these coveted timepieces.
As a lover of all things luxury and beauty, the powdery pink tones of the dial and oval sub dials Mission To Venus that celebrated the planet Venus making it a sureshot addition to Ritu’s collection. Oval subdials embellished with diamond-like details on the edges add a touch of feminine elegance just like the hours, minutes, chronograph seconds hand and counter hands are also pink. The dial carries the Omega X Swatch branding, as well as the iconic Speedmaster logo and the new MoonSwatch logo. This collaboration was so well received that it was sold out as soon as it dropped and is still a prized possession in most collector’s collections.
Adopting the adage of ‘Laughter is the best medicine’ Punit shares the lighthearted philosophy embodied by cartoon character of Peanuts as he spreads smiles at The Hour Markers office with his hilarious adventures. Literally bringing laughter to your wrist, the watch is aptly named He He He. Featuring a solid matte dark blue case in bio-sourced material and a matching silicone strap with a multicolored print, this collaboration is one for the books!
Selecting your first entry level luxury watch for your growing collection should be fun and a memory you will always cherish. With Swatch’s wide range of options you will definitely be spoiled for choice!
