
Watches are sometimes known as wearable artistic endeavors, however Swatch’s efforts are extra literal than metaphorical. Swatch has collaborated with the artwork world since 1985 to create its collection of Artwork Particular watches, typically with nice success. Now, Swatch pronounces a brand new chapter within the type of the Swatch Artwork Journey collection, which could have 5 capsule collections launched from mid-March to Could. The Swatch Artwork Journey 2023 debuts with seven new masterpieces in its flagship Gent and New Gent fashions. Made in partnership with world-renowned artwork museums and foundations, these new Swatch x MoMA, Swatch x Magritte, Swatch x Le Gallerie Degli Uffizi, and Swatch x Louvre Abu Dhabi watches rejoice the work of Roy Lichtenstein, René Magritte, Sandro Botticelli, and Katsushika Hokusai.
The pair of Swatch x MoMA watches pays tribute to the a centesimal anniversary of the beginning of American pop artist Roy Lichtenstein, who was well-known for his comic-style artwork and single-color Ben-Day dots. The primary is the Lady by Roy Lichtenstein, The Watch (ref. SUOZ352), which homes a recreation of the well-known art work Lady (1963) inside its blue 41mm New Gent case. The again of the watch, from plastic case to silicone strap, contains a zoomed-in model that clearly reveals the dots of the famed Ben-Day approach. The opposite Swatch x MoMA mannequin is the Reverie by Roy Lichtenstein, The Watch (ref. SO28Z117), which brings collectively a canary-yellow 34mm Gent case, matching yellow strap, and the copy of Reverie (1965) on the dial. There’s additionally a speech bubble loop on the strap printed with the art work’s textual content, “The melody haunts my reverie.”
Created in collaboration with the Fondation Magritte, the pair of Swatch x Magritte fashions highlights two iconic works from surrealist painter René Magritte and honors the one hundred and twenty fifth beginning anniversary of the artist. The primary of the duo is the La Trahison des Photos by René Magritte watch (ref. SO29Z124), that includes the pipe from The Treachery of Photos (1929) on the dial and the textual content “Ceci n’est pas une pipe.” on the strap. Swatch additionally playfully added “Ceci est une Swatch.” to the strap so collectively it reads, “This isn’t a pipe. This can be a Swatch.” Subsequent is the Le Fils de l’homme by René Magritte watch (ref. SUOZ350) with the bowler-hat-topped head and inexperienced apple-obscured face from The Son of Man (1964) printed throughout the dial, and the picture carries on to the underside of the case and all through the decrease strap. Each Swatch x Magritte New Gent fashions embrace loops imprinted with the painter’s signature.
The subsequent pair of the Swatch Journey 2023 assortment is the Swatch x Le Gallerie Degli Uffizi, that includes two of probably the most celebrated works by Italian Renaissance painter, Sandro Botticelli: Allegory of Spring (ca. 1480) and The Delivery of Venus (ca. 1485). Although the unique portray features a group of mythology figures, The Allegoria Della Primavera by Botticelli watch (ref. SUOZ357) consists of the depiction of Flora, the goddess of flowers, on the strap, accompanied by a fruit tree on the dial contained in the New Gent case. The Nascita di Venere by Botticelli watch (ref. GZ360) has a smaller Gent case, which features a portrayal of the gods of wind and breeze, Zephyr and Aura, on the dial whereas the face of Venus is on the strap.
The ultimate watch is a Swatch x Louvre Abu Dhabi collaboration that mixes Underneath the Wave off Kanagawa (ca. 1830–32) by Katsushika Hokusai and the Astrolabe (ca. 1726-1727) navigational instrument by Muhammad ibn Ahmad al-Battûtî. The entrance of the Nice Wave by Hokusai & Astrolabe watch (ref. SUOZ351) showcases a close-up portrayal of the cresting wave whereas the again is embellished with elements from the Astrolabe, a flat projection of an evening sky as soon as used to calculate stars’ positions and calculate actual time of day.
Creativity and approachability have at all times been on the coronary heart of what Swatch has to supply. And these Swatch Artwork Journey watches for 2023 illustrate how the model can playfully reinterpret a medium as severe and intellectual as effective artwork into one thing that virtually anybody can personal and luxuriate in.
As is customary for many Swatches, the Artwork Journey 2023 watches are powered by quartz actions and are waterproof to 30 meters. The worth for the smaller Swatch Artwork Journey Gent fashions is $95 USD whereas the worth for the bigger New Gent variations is $105 USD. The Swatch x MoMA and Swatch x Magritte watches will likely be out there from March 16, 2023, whereas the Swatch x Le Gallerie Degli Uffizi and Swatch x Louvre Abu Dhabi watches will roll out on April 13, 2023. For extra info, please go to the model’s web site.