In this article, we look at some of the rarest and most collectible Swatch watch models: some prototype Swatch watches dating back to 1983. These were some of the first Swatch models released in the brand's first year of existence and they were the base for the multitude of Swatch watch designs available today. Intrigued? Let's have a look!
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Swatch watches and their history
Swatch is a Swiss watch manufacturer that is of key importance in Swiss watchmaking history. Founded in 1983, the Swatch brand was created with a mission: to save the Swiss watchmaking industry that was facing a collapse due to the quartz crisis.
Up to that point, the Swiss were famous for their mechanical movements and fine watchmaking and craftsmanship. But as soon as quartz watches hit the market, everyone was able to afford a watch, notably, one that could tell accurate time, at a fraction of the price. So why still opt for the exclusive Swiss-made movements that were expensive and offering almost the same accuracy?
Swiss watch manufacturers were, however, loyal to their craft, and refused to let go of their in-house mechanical movements for the sake of remaining competitive in the global watch market. Consequently, the Swiss watchmaking industry was in decline.
1984 Swatch CHRONO TECH GB403 Watch
So, Nicholas Hayek, who was back then chief advisor of the nation's watch industry, came with the idea of creating the "Swatch" - a watch that is entirely Swiss-made, operating with a Swiss-made quartz movement, and with a very competitive price. The novelty elements that made Swatch watches so successful and desirable were their out-of-the-box, creative designs, and the fact that they were made from plastic.
From the first prototype models created in 1983, until the thousands of watch models available on the market today, Swatch had quite the journey in the watchmaking world. If you're interested in the fascinating story behind the brand, we invite you to check out our article: The Story of the Swatch Brand | How Swatch Watches Became a Thing.
RARE 1983 Swatch Prototype Watches
Swatch prototypes are the first Swatch watches ever made. These date back to the early years when the brand was founded (1983-1984). What makes them special is that they hold some unique features that are no longer used in the standard Swatch designs, like the 8-whole strap for example.
1983 Swatch Standards GT402 Watch - Swatch Prototype
There was a limited production of these watches, and these are the standard after which all of the other Swatch watches were modeled after. In other words, they tell the story of the beginnings of Swatch. Given their scarcity, these early Swatch watches have grown very popular among collectors. So their value has also increased with time.
Since we have an extensive collection of thousands of vintage Swatch watch models, we have come across a few Swatch prototypes throughout our collecting journey. Some of these are also available for sale on our website.
BIGGEST SWATCH WATCH COLLECTION FOR SALE ONLINE
Vintage Radar is a great place to find vintage Swatch watches, as we have one of the biggest Swatch watch collections available for sale online. We have over 1000 Swatch watches in our store, so make sure to check them out here.
