Swatch Mackintosh GB116

My watch today is my final Swatch. Like all my Swatches, I bought this one new when Swatches were near their peak of popularity. This model, called the Mackintosh, was released in 1987 and originally had a black and white checkerboard band. My band was damaged (the checkerboard was a coating and not as durable as regular Swatch bands) so I replaced it with a black band. I believe the watch was named after Scottish architect and designer Charles Rennie Mackintosh as the graphic on the dial seems to be inspired by his designs.

I Love the '80s Week - Day 4: Swatch Mezza Luna GB107

Yes, yet another Swatch. Don't worry, tomorrow will be something different. This one is from 1986. The name means "half moon" in Italian. I don't recall why I picked this one, it was certainly more reserved than most of my other choices, although I do recall neons were on their way out and earth-tones were definitely coming in by the end of the 1980s. I still like the design and think it looks modern even today. In looking for info about this one I ran across the same model in wall clock form. I remember those and I always wanted one, of course, although not necessarily in this style. Occasionally they show up on eBay and are relatively cheap, but I don't think I'm into Swatches enough to buy one now.

I Love the '80s Week - Day 3: Swatch White Out GW107

Today I'm wearing my Swatch White Out from 1987. This one is definitely a classic and brings back memories of the white Ferrari Testarossa on Miami Vice and the all white (even the grill, wheels, interior, trim, etc.) 6-series BMW driven by Hawk (Avery Brooks) on Spenser for Hire (of which there is not a single photograph on the internet.) This was decades before Apple made all white cool again, if you're into that kind of thing. If the current prices of this vintage model is any indication, it was very popular and many still exist. Maybe this is a model whose style has come back around, but as a man's watch it is very small (33mm wide) by today's standards. One note about this one, while it started running as soon as I put a new battery in and is keeping perfect time, I had to use a knife to pop out the crown and a pliers to turn it to set the time. I believe after years in storage the crown has rusted or otherwise corroded and wedged itself inside the plastic case. Probabaly a light oiling would free things up.

I Love the '80s Week - Day 2: Swatch Techno-Sphere GK101

Ok, this is more like it. Real '80s style straight from the '80s. This Techno-Sphere model was part of the Color Tech collection and was released in 1985. I'm pretty sure it was my first Swatch, and as you can see, it has not lived a pampered life. If I recall correctly, I did like the Swatch Jelly Fish but it was a little too common and mundane for my tastes. I was definitely into the lime green and pink color schemes of the day, showing up on everything from freestyle bikes to skateboards to surfwear, so the Techno-Sphere was an easy choice for me. If you're not familiar with Swatches, well, read up a little. You'll find that they are surprisingly important in the history of wristwatches. Also, if you're a fan of modern Swiss watches, most likely you've heard of some of the brands owned by the Swatch Group. So back to my watch: I like it, but it hasn't really stood the test of time. I mean, it runs fine, and it looks ok (teenage abuse notwithstanding) but for me it will always be a nostalgic piece, definitely stuck in the late 1980s with very little relevance to my modern watch collecting habits (less so than even a vintage G-Shock I'd wager.) I suppose I should wear it once in a while, just for kicks, and to remind me of the days I could feed my still young watch obsession with $35 Swatches from the local mall.