Ｒｅａｄ ｔｈｅ Ｓｗａｔｃｈ

　　　　　　Ｇ　　ＭｏｄｅｌＴｙｐｅ

　　　　　　Ｂ　　ＣａｓｅＣｏｌｏｒＣｏｄｅ

　　　　　　1　　 ＳｐｅｃＣｏｄｅ（針の数）　　

　　　　　　48　　ＣａｔａｌｏｇｕｅＣｏｄｅ

Model Type (First part of code)

　　　　　G............Gentlemans' model------>GB148

　　　　　L.............Ladies' model------------>LG116

　　　　　PAT......　Pager Tone---------------->PAT100

　　　　　PW.......　Pop Watch----------------->PWB175

　　　　　SA........　Automatic------------------>SAK123

　　　　　SC........　Chrono--------------------->SCB114C

　　　　　SD........　Scuba200------------------>SDM106

　　　　　SL.......　. Musicall------------ ------>SDM106

　　　　　SR.......　..Solar---------------------->SRN101

　　　　　SS.........　Stop Watch--------------->SSB100

　　　　　Yxx......　.Irony----------------------->YDS105

*Irony Second part of code.Model Type ...G=Gents/L=ladies/D=Scuba/C=Chrono

*Irony Third part of code.Case Color ...G=Gold/S=Silver...etc.

Case Color Code(Second part of code)

　　　　　A............Anthracite

　　　　　B............Black

　　　　　C............Dark brown

　　　　　F............Transparent brown

　　　　　G........... Green

　　　　　I..............Indigo

　　　　　J............ Yellow

　　　　　K........ 　Transparent/clear

　　　　　L............Turquoise

　　　　　M............Metallic gray

　　　　　N............Dark blue

　　　　　O.............Orange

　　　　　P..........　Pink

　　　　　R.............Red

　　　　　S.............Electric blue

　　　　　T.......　...Beige

　　　　　V.... ........Violet

　　　　　W...........White

　　　　　X.............Metallic cap/plastic band

　　　　　Y............ Metallic Cap/band

　　　　　Z............ Special....etc.

Spec. Code(First number of code)

　　　　　0xx........... 2針（時針/分針）

　　　　　1xx..... ......3針（時針/分針 /秒針）

　　　　　4xx........... 3針+日付

　　　　　7xx............3針+日付（曜日付き）....etc.

数字３桁コードの最後の２桁はカタログコードを示す。

　 ( Eg 01=First type of a particular series.)

　　　　　For example.........

　　　　　　　A watch with the code SLB 101 can be broken down as follows:

　　　　　　　SL=Musicall.......

　　　　　　　B=Black.......

　　　　　　　1=Hours minutes and seconds

　　　　　　　(although this particular one has no second hand!)....

　　　　　　　01=Being the first musicall.

初期製品の中には上記の分類通りでないものがある。

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On the back of the watch case you will find an export code (only if it hasbeen exported).

A selection of these are

　　 7345=Argentina...
6103=Australia...
747=Bahamas...
5753=Belgium...
6107/7683=Canada...
6449=Denmark...
7347=Dutch Antilles...
6052=Finland...
754/7448=France...
5742=Germany...
6131=Japan...
7516=Jordan...
7342=Greece...
5824=Hong Kong...
5629 (8213 ?)=England...
6546=Ireland...
5629=Northern Ireland...
6549=Italy...
6730=Kenya...
5753=Luxemburg...
7398/7700=Malta...
762=Mexico...
6108=Norway...
6538=New Zealand...
4301=Holland...
7267=Portugal...
234=Singapore...
6129=Spain...
671=United Arab Emirates...
5755/755/7400=USA...
4573=Sweden...
541/9003=Switzerland.

On the ladies models since 1986 there will be a code similar to S 611 or S925. The letter S always appears on the ladies models (some gents models are fitted with the "ladies" movement and thus have the S and a single position pull out winder.Gents movements always have a two position pull out winder and no letter S) followed by three figures.

The first figure is the year of manufacture. eg 6 can be '86 or '96 (no distinction between the two is made), 9 must be '89 (untill 1999), 5 can be '85 or '95.

The next two numbers are the week of manufacture. So the example S 611 would be a ladies model made in either 1986 or'96 (no distinction between the two is made) in week 11. Or S 925 is a ladies model manufactured in the 25th week of 1989. It must be '89 as there are no Swatches from 1979 or 1999 yet!.

On the Gents models there is USUALLY a four figure code above the patented waterresistant logo. First number=Year of manufacture, Second and third numbers=Week of manufacture, Fourth number=Day of manufacture................. eg 9502 tells us that this watch was assembled on Tuesday (4th number=day of the week 2) in the fiftieth week (2nd and 3rd numbers=week 50) in year 1989! So the birthdate of this watch would be Tuesday 19th Dec 1989. This code is often followed by a letter P. Thi simply indicates that the watch was made in Gretchen on the main production line near Biel.

Note. The Swatch range is so varied that some will have slight differences in exactly where and what information is contained on the back of the case.
The information I have given here applies to the broad range of ladies and gents watches and for example "chronos" will have a slightly different method of "coding.

Some watches are stamped with the letters P or R usually above or over the export code (3 or 4 figure code. See above) or on the upper part or the rear casing. The letter P ( not to be confused with the one following the date code) means that the watch was sold to a member of staff working in the factories (Personal edition). These can sometimes be prototypes or variations from the standard model. The letter R indicates that the watch has been refurbished or reconditioned. This usually applies to watches that have been cleaned or had new bands fitted as a result of being "on the shelf" or being unsold for a long time. These letters are normally quite obvious and can be seen to be tampered with on occasions.

Limited editions.

True limited editions have the stamping ????/9999 or ????/****. The **** being the amount issued, ???? being the watch number of that edition. eg 069/100 would be watch number sixty nine of one hundred. This would be very rare as a great deal more than one hundred are normally produced ! This number is stamped into the watch case on most limited editions but th corresponding paperwork should have the matching number where appropriate.
"Normal" editions run typically to arond 20,000. The recently added, yearly, artist colections are limited to 50,000 but are only stamped "Limited Edition" on the case. The Time Cut chronometer is a numbered limited edition but as this particular one is an Aluminium Irony, stamped at the chronometer testing centre, it is stamped with the number on the watch face (more or less tamperproof) and on the perspex display box. This is just another example given to show how wide ranging and varied the system of numbering and authentication stamping can be. If your'e not sure of the watches authenticity ask someone who does know. Don't get burned!.

Why are the older art specials so expensive?

Well thats because firstly there are so few. eg Kiki Picasso, 120 or even 140 depending who you ask ! (prices were at｣20,000 in 1992) or the Mimmo Palladino, 160 of (prices were at around｣10,000 in 1992) . Secondly they were never on sale to the public. These were sent to people whom had done a "service" to Swatch or to recognise those whom Swatch held dear.
The newer art specials will never reach the prices of older ones as the watches are no longer limited to runs of 100 or 1000 but more likely 20,000+. Good news for collectors, bad news for "investors". The true art specials are not to be confused with the Artist series of watches produced now each year. These are a limited run (limited to 50,000) of watches by modern artists including such illustrious names as Yoko Ono, Kenny Scharf and Bridget Mutji to name but a few. Some of these watches are now relatively collectible but you couldn't retire on the strength of them.

Known problems.

Thankfully the list of known problems with Swatch watches is very small indeed. The earliest series of Swatch watches (over 10 years old) are known to deteriorate and suffer from "crumbling" where the case and strap begins to break up but considering that a Swatch is designed to last around ten years its not so bad. The ten year mark is nothing to worry about. I have seen very few non-working watches up to thirteen years old with no troubles.
It is designed to last at least ten years rather than just ten years. Why the ten year figure? Apparently it is difficult to provide enough "oil" to lubricate the watch for longer with todays production methods. The "crumbling" watch problem has been fixed by using modern polymers rather than those availiable in the early years.

Variations and prototypes.

Known variations from the "normal" Swatch product range are few and far between. These range from watches that you will not find in the normal catalogues (certain specials included) to slightly "different" Swatches. For example, some watches come with a date window but the occasional one slips through without the window or some watches have been known to have two hour hands instead of one or even come with the Swatch swiss logo printed upside down! These type of watches have a market all of their own and fetch some surprising prices. There are known examples of early Swatches being "personalised" by members of staff at the factory and these are also to be included on any Swatchers list of wants. Prototypes attract similarly surprising prices but of course are difficult to authenticate and there is always the risk of buying a fake although I have never seen a convincing fake Swatch yet.

Note of caution.

Be very careful when buying so called automatic "prototypes". If you look on my front page you will see an automatic that I made from an irony face, regular gents hands and some of my added bits, eg my name on the face. The pic isn't so clear but you get the idea? It can be done (only with auto's as far as I know) with a little knowlege (I did!) so my advice is stay well clear. Don't shell out for something you cannot get proof of manufacturefor.

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