swatch

Luxist Giveaway: Swatch New Gent Rebel Watch

New from Swatch is a collection of watches for men with contemporary good looks, a modern feeling size, and available in a host of colors. This is the "New Gent" Rebel collection, and does actually look quite good. I fancied these designs from the first time I saw them, and really appreciate the more modern 41mm wide size of the case. The watches are in plastic with silicon straps and feature day/date Swiss quartz movements. The New Gent Rebel watches currently come in 10 color choices. The winner of this giveaway can choose the color they like (subject to availability by Swatch). The Swatch New Gent Rebel watches retail for $65. You can follow Swatch on Twitter here.

THE GIVEAWAY IS NOW OVER. THANKS TO ALL WHO HAVE ENTERED.

To enter, leave a comment on this post sharing why you'd like to win the watch. The giveaway ends on November 11th at 8:00pm PST. See additional rules below.

* To enter, leave a confirmed comment below.
* The comment must be left and confirmed before November 11th, 2010 at 8:00PM Pacific Time.
* You may only enter once.
* One winner will be selected in a random drawing.
* One winner will receive one Swatch New Gent Rebel in a choice of color, subject to availability, valued at $65.
* Open to legal residents of the 50 United States, and the District of Columbia, who are 18 and older.

See full giveaway rules here.

Ariel Adams publishes the luxury watch reviews site aBlogtoRead.com.

Tags: giveaway, luxist giveaway, new gent, rebel, swatch, watch

Swatch Group Chairman Nicolas Hayek Passes Away At 82

by Ariel Adams (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Timepieces / Watches

One of the richest men in the world and often cited "savior of the Swiss watch industry" Nicolas Hayek has recently today. His history is closely linked with the Swiss watch industry that he helped pull out of doom by creating the Swatch Group. Forming the low-cost Swiss Swatch watch brand of quartz watches helped fund and keep alive the mechanical watch industry that Hayek adored and fought for since the 1980s. If you own a Swiss watch, chances are it was somehow influenced or made possible by Mr. Hayek. Read more about him here on Wikipedia.

Born in Lebanon in 1928, Hayek moved to Switzerland early in life. A series of clever business moves and initiatives brought him to a fateful time in the early 1980s when the quartz crisis (as the Swiss call it) was threatening the mechanical watch industry with much cheaper quartz movement based watches from places like Japan. It was a key time of "do or die" in Switzerland, and Hayek really did an incredible job of keeping Switzerland's most famous export alive, and even thriving.

His death was sudden and unexpected. He remained working until his final moment. As far as I know, his death was without much or any prior medical notice. Hayek prided himself on being the soul voice of the Swatch Group. Giving interviews and answering questions daily. I unfortunately had some interview questions with him pending at the time of his death, which I doubt will answered posthumously. While it is not clear who will take over for Mr. Hayek, it will likely be his son Nicolas Hayek Jr. Switzerland and the entire world of watch lovers mourn on this day for the late and great Nicolas Hayek.

See the official announcement here from the Swatch Group.

Ariel Adams publishes the luxury watch review site aBlogtoRead.com.

Tags: chairman, death, died, dies, hayek, nicolas hayek, swatch

Swatch Automatic Chrono Right Track White Or Blue Watch Giveaway

by Ariel Adams (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Timepieces / Watches

These are two good looking Swatch watches. Fresh from the Automatic Chrono collection, Swatch offers two new versions of the Right Track model, and we have got one for you. Enter below to win your choice of a Swatch Automatic Chrono Right Track White or Right Track Blue watch (you can click on those respective links to see more details about them or buy one. We previously offered a Swatch Automatic Chrono watch giveaway here that was so popular, Swatch agreed to another round for this new model. The watches are handsome, and have a great sense of civility, but also modern design to them. You can think of one as a man' piece, and the other as a woman's piece, but they are actually unisex and larger at almost 45mm wide. The cases are in Swatch plastic with alligator print leather straps and mechanical automatic calibre C01.211 movements from ETA. The watch bezel is metal, along with the dial and hands. A pretty chic look, retailing for $370 each. View the gallery below for more images. Check them out, enter to win, and enjoy a cool Swatch watch for the summer. Follow Swatch on Twitter here.

THANKS TO ALL WHO ENTERED. THE GIVEAWAY IS NOW OVER.

To enter, leave a comment on this post sharing why you'd like to win the watch. The giveaway ends on June 28th at 8:00pm PST. See additional rules below.

* To enter, leave a confirmed comment below.
* The comment must be left and confirmed before June 28th, 2010 at 8:00PM Pacific Time.
* You may only enter once.
* One winner will be selected in a random drawing.
* One winner will receive one Swatch Automatic Chrono Watch in a choice of white or blue valued at $370.
* Open to legal residents of the 50 United States, and the District of Columbia, who are 18 and older.

See full giveaway rules here.

Ariel Adams publishes the luxury watch review site aBlogtoRead.com.

Gallery: Swatch Automatic Chrono Right Track White and Blue Watches

Tags: Automatic, blue, Chrono, giveaway, luxist giveaway, Swatch, white

Swatch Heartfelt Watch For Mother's Day Is Easy Gift

by Ariel Adams (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Timepieces / Watches

Mother's day is tough for gift giving. If you are anything like me, you don't want to spend too much money, but you need to show mom that you care right? It is basically like Valentine's Day, without any romance (and all that comes with it). So what is someone to do who doesn't have a mom who is specifically asking for that new toaster oven? Well Swatch has you covered with a new limited production watch for Mother's Day this year. A nice baby blue numeraled Swatch watch with an easy to read, but feminine dial, and a matching textured blue leather strap. The dial is in steel and polished, with a Swiss quartz movement. Size is 33mm wide which is good for just about any female wrist (while not being too small a watch). The Swatch Heartfelt comes complete with a shopping tote - because all moms can find good use for another tote bag. Really a well designed piece that is good enough to leave most any mother satisfied. Get a Swatch Heartfelt watch online here.

Ariel Adams publishes the luxury watch review site aBlogtoRead.com.

Tags: gift, heartfelt, mothers day, MothersDay, Swatch, watch

Luxist Giveaway: Swatch Sporty Friends Vancouver Olympics Watch

by Ariel Adams (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Timepieces / Watches

Enter to win this watch! The last Swatch watch up for grabs to celebrate the 2010 Winter Olympics is this Swatch Sporty Friends timepiece made specially for the Vancouver Winter Olympics. For the right woman or youth, the Sporty Friends watch is 34m wide with a Swiss quartz movement inside and a fun quirky character. Limited in production only for this year's winter games, this watch is the piece to have for fans in search of a reasonably priced watch to remind them of the occasion.

Aside from the easy to read silvered dial with black Arabic numerals on the dial (with the Vancouver Olympics logo on it as well), the main visual item on the watch is the placement of the Vancouver Olympics mascot cartoon characters on the blue silicone strap. Anyone who spent time at the games or on the Vancouver Olympics website will immediately recognize the pair. The are printed on a specially made strap and wrap around the wrist when the watch is worn. For a closer look at this and the other Swatch 2010 Vancouver Olympics go here for a mini review by me. Enter below by the end of this week and one of these Sporty Friends watches can be yours. The Swatch Sporty Friends watch retails for $55. Follow Swatch on Twitter here.

THE GIVEAWAY IS NOW OVER. THANKS FOR ALL WHO ENTERED.

To enter, leave a comment on this post sharing why you'd like to win the watch. The giveaway ends on February 28th at 8:00pm PST. See additional rules below.

* To enter, leave a confirmed comment below.
* The comment must be left and confirmed before February 28th, 2010 at 8:00PM Pacific Time.
* You may only enter once.
* One winner will be selected in a random drawing.
* One winner will receive one Swatch Sporty Friends watch valued at $55.
* Open to legal residents of the 50 United States, and the District of Columbia, who are 18 and older.

See full giveaway rules here.

Ariel Adams publishes the luxury watch review site aBlogtoRead.com.

Tags: 2010, giveaway, olympics, Sporty Friends, SportyFriends, Swatch, vancouver

Luxist Giveaway: Swatch To The Top Chronograph Vancouver Olympics Watch

by Ariel Adams (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Timepieces / Watches

Enter to win this watch! Next watch up for grabs is this Swatch To The Top timepiece made for the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics. Fanciest of the trio that we are giving away, the To The Top watch is 41m wide with a Swiss quartz chronograph movement inside and a cool winter sports character. Limited in production only for this year's winter games, this watch is the piece to have for fans in search of a reasonably priced watch to remind them of the occasion.

The chronograph subdials are each in a separate color while the hour numerals are applied with silver squared dots and raised a bit for a neat look. The movement also has a date indicator. The case is made from almost clear plastic with an interesting look in to parts of the movement. You'll also like the large crown and chronograph pushers. The strap is blue silicon with a multicolored strip down its length. The 12 o'clock indicator on the dial is the Vancouver Olympics games logo and label. For a closer look at this and the other Swatch 2010 Vancouver Olympics go here for a mini review by me. Enter below by the end of this week and one of these To The Top watches can be yours. The Swatch To The Top watch retails for $110. Follow Swatch on Twitter here.

THANKS FOR ALL WHO ENTERED, THE GIVEAWAY IS NOW OVER.

To enter, leave a comment on this post sharing why you'd like to win the watch. The giveaway ends on February 21th at 8:00pm PST. See additional rules below.

* To enter, leave a confirmed comment below.
* The comment must be left and confirmed before February 21th, 2010 at 8:00PM Pacific Time.
* You may only enter once.
* One winner will be selected in a random drawing.
* One winner will receive one Swatch To The Top watch valued at $110.
* Open to legal residents of the 50 United States, and the District of Columbia, who are 18 and older.

See full giveaway rules here.

Ariel Adams publishes the luxury watch review site aBlogtoRead.com.

Tags: 2010, Giveaway, Olympics, Swatch, To The Top, ToTheTop, Vancouver, Watch, Winter

Luxist Giveaway: Swatch Happy Games Watch With Snowpass Technology

by Ariel Adams (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Timepieces / Watches

Enter to win this watch! For the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics Swatch has created three new fun and occasion celebrating timepieces. You can enter to win one watch a week until we have given away one of all three. This model is called the Swatch Happy Games and is the most understated of the three. Plus it has built-in Snowpass technology. It is medium sized and from the Swatch Original family of timepieces. Case is 38mm wide with a gray strap embossed with Vancouver imagery. The light gray tone and white face are hallmarks of the watch's skiing theme. You see a Snowpass label right under "Swatch" on the strap loop, with the Olympics logo underneath that.

Snowpass technology is really cool. Inside the watch is a small chip (likely RFID) that can be loaded with your daily, weekly, or seasonal ticket. The Snowpass technology is available at over 700 ski resorts around the world. This often makes is to that you don't need to wait in line at the slopes, and is a great tool inside of an otherwise good watch. No more carrying tickets either. The watch dial is very easy to read and should appeal to all Swatch and Olympics fans. Inside the watch is a Swiss ETA quartz movement. The Swatch Happy Games watch retails for $75. Follow Swatch on Twitter here.

GIVEAWAY IS NOW OVER. THANKS TO ALL WHO ENTERED.

To enter, leave a comment on this post sharing why you'd like to win the watch. The giveaway ends on February 14th at 8:00pm PST. See additional rules below.

* To enter, leave a confirmed comment below.
* The comment must be left and confirmed before February 14th, 2010 at 8:00PM Pacific Time.
* You may only enter once.
* One winner will be selected in a random drawing.
* One winner will receive one Swatch Happy Games watch valued at $75.
* Open to legal residents of the 50 United States, and the District of Columbia, who are 18 and older.

See full giveaway rules here.

Ariel Adams publishes the luxury watch review site aBlogtoRead.com.

Tags: 2010, free, giveaway, Happy Games, HappyGames, Olympics, Snowpass, Swatch, Vancouver, watch, winter olympics 2010, WinterOlympics2010

Luxist Giveaway: Swatch Automatic Chrono "Sign in the Sky" Watch

by Ariel Adams (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Timepieces / Watches

Enter to win this watch! Brand new from Swiss Swatch, comes the the new Automatic Chrono line in the Irony collection. Five good looking watches push Swatch timepieces up to a more luxurious level - but retain the light and airy character that they are known for. The watches house a brand new ETA automatic chronograph movement and retail for $370 each. Style is suitable for a man or a woman, but at about 45mm wide, the watch is sized for a man. Follow Swatch on Twitter here.

I have for you one of the pictured watches, known as the Swatch Automatic Chrono "Sign in the Sky." You can learn more about it directly from Swatch right here. You can see the nicely engineered automatic movement through the case back of the watch, while the dial has a mixture of textured white and brushed metal tones. The bezel is steel with lume dots, and the case is a tough semi-transparent plastic. I quite like the soft, white rubber strap. You'll like this watch too - perfect for snowy days ahead.

To enter, leave a comment on this post sharing why you'd like to win the watch. The giveaway ends on December 4th at 8:00pm PST. See additional rules below.

* To enter, leave a confirmed comment below.
* The comment must be left and confirmed before December 4th, 2009 at 8:00PM Pacific Time.
* You may only enter once.
* One winners will be selected in a random drawing.
* One winners will receive one Swatch Auto Chrono Sign in the Sky watch valued at $370.
* Open to legal residents of the 50 United States, and the District of Columbia, who are 18 and older.

GIVEAWAY IS NOW OVER. THANKS FOR PARTICIPATING

See full giveaway rules here.

Ariel Adams publishes the luxury watch review site aBlogtoRead.com.

Tags: automatic chrono, AutomaticChrono, giveaway, sign in the sky, SignInTheSky, Swatch, watch

Swatch Group Posts 2008 Profits: Little In The US

by Ariel Adams (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Timepieces / Watches

Despite the state of the world economy, watch and jewelry sales were up 6.6% in 2008 for the Swatch Group. This statement is not indicative of all watch and jewelry brands as many companies have seen decreased sales in 2008. A press release from the Swatch Group helps to shed light on the their performance in the watch market. The Swatch Group is involved in more than just watches, with arms in the automotive, electronic, optics, and other markets with group growth of 4.3% last year. Regardless, the core business of the Swiss watch conglomerate are still watch sales. The purpose of the press release seems to be a note to the public that despite everything, you don't need to worry about the Swatch Group's future.

The press release admits that hurting currency exchanges and a drop in demand are the immediate causes of the watch industry sales and profit slowdown. Nevertheless, growth in certain markets has been strong enough to compensate for poor performance in other markets. As such, the Swatch Group states, "the slowdown was more acute in the USA in the last few months of 2008, which was offset to a certain degree in other growth markets." Markets that did display impressive growth are the Middle East and certain Asian countries most notably China. This does not necessarily mean that traditionally well performing markets such as Europe are doing poorly, but rather that growth is slow or nonexistent.

Key areas of growth involve a high demand for watch movements as well as an increase in retail watch distribution in many markets. I guarantee that news of impressive growth in China and the Middle East will garner attention by a number of industries including other watch companies. My hope is that such attention will not flood these markets and result in over saturation. Outlooks for 2009 are unclear, but I am glad the Swatch Group isn't speculating much. We shall wait and see.

Ariel Adams publishes the watch review site aBlogtoRead.com.

Tags: earnings, group, industry, swatch

Swatch Makes A Watch Collection For James Bond's Villains

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Timepieces / Watches

Omega may have sealed the deal for James Bond's watches but what about the villains. Enter Dr. Swatch, otherwise known as Nicolas G. Hayek. Swatch has created a new collection dedicated just to Bond's antagonists. The new collection will be out next month and will be a tribute to those Bond has sparred with in twenty-two James Bond films, from Dr. No to the forthcoming Quantum Of Solace. Featured villains will include Christopher Walken's Max Zorin, Gerd Froebe's Goldfinger, Lotte Lenya's Rosa Klebb and more. Sounds like fun, I'm just hoping my favorite, Richard Kiel (aka Jaws) has one.

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Tags: james bond, JamesBond, quantum of solace, swatch, swatch watch, SwatchWatch, watches

Tiffany Partners With Swatch

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Timepieces / Watches

Tiffany & Co, has made an interesting move with regards to their watch business. They currently produce a small line of classic watches under their own brand. Now they have announced an alliance with Swatch Group for the development, production and worldwide distribution of Tiffany brand watches. The agreement is for 20 years with an optional ten year extension. Swatch will incorporate a new watch-making company in Switzerland that will operate under the TIffany name and use Tiffany trademarks. This is far from Swatch's first foray into luxury watches. Swatch's brands include far more than Swatch watches, their brands also include Breguet, Blancpain and Omega. As a result of the deal, Tiffany will stop selling some of their luxury watches. No word on what sort of watches will be produced but I would bet that they will involve far more complications than their current line. Part of the evolution of luxury watches has been to elevate them above simple elegant time-telling devices but to wear a piece that is a reflection of the highest iteration of the watchmaker's art.

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Tags: swatch, tiffany, timepiece, watches, wristwatch

Swatch Infinity Concept Watch

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Timepieces / Watches

While you pine away for the iPhone, consider this concept, the Infinity Watch from Swatch. Pierre Merlet designed the concept watch that has a built-in mp3 player, video player/recorder and a photo album and of course, is also a watch. The strap has a magnetic clasp and the body of the watch pops off to be recharged. I want, I want, I want. If Swatch makes this (preferably with straps in many different colors) I will be a very happy girl indeed.

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Tags: concept, infinity, swatch, watch

Diaphane One Swatch

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Timepieces / Watches

We recently saw the Fossil Twist which combines an inexpensive watch with a touch of watchmaking craft. Swatch, the popular maker of quirky plastic watches takes craft one step further. Their new mechanical watch is the Diaphane One. The watch has a revolving movement which is visible from both the front and the back and makes two full turns each hour. It has blued steel hands and an 18K pink gold flange, bezel and crown and a brown leather strap. Swatch hasn't forgotten their roots, the watch is mounted in a plastic case. The Diaphane One is a limited and numbered edition of only one hundred pieces and sells for around $3,000.

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Tags: diaphane, mechanical watch, swatch, timepiece, watch

Swatch Olympics 2006 Watch Collection

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Timepieces / Watches

Swatch has created a new collection that celebrates the Olympic Winter Games 2006 in Turin in February. The watches are designed to appeal to skiers and snowboarders. This model, the Annelli e Stelle is part of the Skin collection. The design is inspired by the Turin 2006 emblem and has a polished steel bracelet and silver-colored hour and minute hand. This watch sells for £48.94 (around $86). You can see other models at the Moodie Report.

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Tags: olympics, swatch, timepiece, turin, watch

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