The History of Swatch Watch - 1983

A watch for every trend, outfit, and occasion. That’s what the Swatch Watch was all about in the eighties. People went crazy over them. Swatch is short for “second watch”. The idea was to have a watch that was fashionable yet cheap enough that you could buy several. The first line of swatch watches were introduced in 1983. It was in response to the quartz crisis. Check out the video as we uncover the interesting history of the Swatch Watch.

[@Dorelaxen]

Swatches were and still ARE cool. Timeless.

[@KEEPINGitREAL213]

I still collect Swatches! They're better today than they were back then. The biggest improvement is the size increase of the watch bodies (from 34mm to 41mm) And the plastic straps are now a softer, more comfortable silicone. I wear a different Swatch every day! The 80s were the best time to be a kid.

[@theretroshow]

Great comment, I was actually looking into getting one because I teach, and I have an apple watch that is constantly showing notifications (even if I have them off - I can't figure it out). I would love to get a swatch, just a normal watch not tied to my phone.

[@vukcevu5854]

​@@theretroshowwow. What subject do you teach?

[@theretroshow]

@@vukcevu5854 I teach video production at a High School in Texas.

[@vukcevu5854]

@@theretroshow that's amazing! I would love to be a professor too

[@SwatchfanatiC]

The Swatches are not better with their prices today compared back then.

[@LarryLeeMoniz]

I have 3, vintage Swatch watches, all working fine in in great condition. I wear them all the time!

[@elizabethpeterson1644]

When I was in my teens that I wanted one when I was 15 or 16 years old. I got a couple cheap knockoffs of Swatch Watches. They were called La Watch. They were $10 each as I remembered. I had them both a little bit over 2 years. One of the was black and grey. The other one was red and green. I was lucky to had them. A little bit over 4 years ago that I bought 4 of them. 2 of them were a little to small for my wrists and the other 2 were big. I liked the big ones around my wrists. I still liked them.

[@KEEPINGitREAL213]

Wow! I remember the La Watch brand. I also remember other companies trying to cash in on the fashion watch craze, such as Coca-cola, Guess, and various other unknown brands.

[@lymarie1974]

Wonderful time piece of my childhood ❤❤. I’m looking for a swatch for my Bday.

[@a.j.e4349]

... Great video pal! I've had Omega Seamasters Tudor Blackb and Tags. I'm 55 years younger now and all I currently wear is the Swatch watch Twice Again and I've just ordered myself the Black Mono Again too! These particular models are ideal for my poor eye sight simple in design and easy to read. The 30m water resistance is spot on for showering washing up etc. (Proves I don't need a 200m water resistant watch after all lol) The over all quality speaks for itself especially at the price point in today's current market. The face, the strap and case are all well made and above average and for an everyday watch just to tell the time with what more do you actually need? Tbh pound for pound it beats a £3k+ watch hands down anytime and it's more accurate too!!! Keep up the good work.😉

[@theretroshow]

That’s awesome, thank you so much for sharing!

[@user-zn6bn9cu3k]

Material world

[@guymorris6596]

I just bought a new Swatch watch for $115 today at the Swatch store located at Galleria mall in Houston, Texas. It replaces my 1985 Swatch Jellyfish. It's my fourth watch and joins the three Fossil watches I already have.

[@MrVee24]

Love my seconds of sweetness. It's the weirdest watch I own but love it the most 😂

[@michaelmyers7425]

My friend Cathy had the swatch where you can pop out the face, and there was a small gap between the band and back of watch face, Cathy used it a a Roach 💨stash spot and or Beavis and butthead LSD tabs. Those were the best of days

[@rushajeraan1715]

Swatch is one of the best 👌 👍

[@commandergb715]

You should read Swatchissimo by Roland Carrera. Swatch is originally not for second watch !

[@michaelmyers7425]

GSHOCK is my go to watch brand then it's the SHARK watch then the FOSSIL then the SWATCH

[@puffeiffer]

That “second watch” business was pure marketing baloney. It stands for what everyone thinks it does: Swiss Watch. The clue was right on the logo with the Swiss flag. Not as interesting as the made-up backstory, but there we are. I got my swatch on lay-away and paid it off in three installments working at the local grocery store after school. The pressure was REAL to own one, at least at MY high school. And knockoffs just weren’t an option. Swatch watches taught me how to coordinate color in my clothing. I took my cues from their color schemes.

[@JJONNYREPP]

The History of Swatch Watch - 1983 my swatch was transparent. my mother says she has it somewhere - the face. dunno what happened to, to swatch, it but i enjoyed swatch and would recommend it. i may even seek one out. as i need a watch...

[@NicolasPrince-lv5nv]

❤

[@theeeveegamer428]

dang i should have gotten one of these, now I'm stuck with a low quality ugly watch

[@ovh992]

Swatch should have expanded into digital watches and smart phones. They dropped the ball. But who knows. Maybe they did. I stopped following swatch in the late 80s.

[@ericb5457]

Thanks