Women's Swatch watches are unlike others, you can recognize them from hundreds of others when you see them in a shop window. First of all, they attract attention with their original design and a combination of bright colors. The history of the corporation consists of reasonable deeds and a fortunate combination of circumstances, thanks to which mankind has regained faith in Swiss-made chronographs.
Content:
What do we know about the brand
Swiss watches have always been associated with unsurpassed quality. However, not everyone could afford such a luxury. The history of the company dates back to the 80s of the last century, when the watch industry in the country was overtaken by a severe crisis.
This was due to the intensification of Japanese production and the introduction of quartz into watch movements. The Japanese offered people cheap food, and mankind loved it.
As a result, the Swiss watchmaking giants ASUAG and SSIH, the owners of the well-known brands Omega, Longiness, Tissot, were on the verge of complete ruin. The situation was saved by the talented entrepreneur Nicholas Hayek. He bought out the shares of bankrupt firms and, based on them, created a new corporation called SMH.
The businessman's goal was to regain recognition and repel Japanese competitors. The primary task was to create both a high-quality and inexpensive product that would attract the attention of the consumer. So, through trial and error, the world saw a laconic quartz watch enclosed in modest plastic.
Their "heart" of which consisted of only 51 parts, instead of the usual 90 and more, so the cost was relatively low. However, this was not enough to win back the leadership from Japan.
So Nicholas came up with the idea to create a spare or secondary wristwatch (Secondary watch - SWATCH). Moving away from strict shapes and classic colors, fun and colorful accessories were developed that could be changed depending on clothes, weather or mood.
The chosen strategy bore the desired results, during the first year of its existence, about a million watches of Swatch were sold out. The businessman did not forget about the subsidiaries, he used part of the proceeds to restore the famous brands - Tissot, Omega, Breguet and Léon Hatot, which had fallen into complete decline.
The main reason for the success of the corporation was that it was always in search of new solutions, as much as possible anticipating the desires of its fans.
Types of accessories
Several breathtaking collections are released annually under a big name, thereby announcing their belonging to the fashion world. Among them there are also classic lines, fashion developments and sports samples.
You can find a copy both in the classic version and in the youth. Swatch is especially popular during the summer season. During the holidays, nothing will impress the colorful beach sundresses and eye-catching swimwear as well.
Every year the company acts as a sponsor at various social events. In 1999 this brand entered the Inessa Book of Records as the best-selling brand.
In 16 years, about 250 million units have been sold.
Despite the indisputable leadership, the director is not going to stop at the achieved results. In 2015, the corporation presented the Swatch Touch Zero One compatible with smartphones to the public.
This electronic watch is designed specifically for fans of beach volleyball: it counts the number of steps taken, hits on the ball and calories burned. The product has a curved body, protection against mechanical damage and a long-lasting battery.
Following in 2016, a new development went on sale - Swatch Zero Two, which can show how actively you root for your favorite team.
This unusual novelty works in conjunction with a special application on a smartphone and has the following functions:
- "Activity" - displays the physical condition of the owner, expressed as a percentage. A surprise achievement (Trophy) awaits the owner for each achievement.
- Fan is the most interesting function. Displays the number and strength of claps, the number of "waves" in the stadium. At the same time, the Fan Rating subfunction will compare this value with the data of other members of the Swatch Fan Club.
- Time is a standard display of time and date.
A little about materials
All the details of the legendary products are made of an alloy of nickel, zinc and copper. It can withstand temperature extremes and has anti-corrosion properties.
Unlike quartz developments, mechanical copies are not easily placed in a sealed, but in a non-separable case. This point can be treated in two ways: on the one hand, it makes the product disposable, however, when it fails, you probably want to please yourself with a new purchase.
Quartz units are created from the following materials:
- The body is plastic, aluminum or steel. The last two alloys are hypoallergenic. Steel elements take on a golden or dark color after PVD application. However, scratches occur less frequently on pure, silvery steel.
- Glass - mainly represented by high-quality acrylic made using PMMA technology from polyurethane acrylate. In luxury items, sapphire and mineral glasses are used. The good thing about acrylic surfaces is that even if scratches appear on them while wearing the watch, they can be easily polished. This service is provided free of charge in all Swatch workshops. Mineral and sapphire are resistant to abrasions, but they cannot be polished, only completely replaced.
- The quartz products use a Swiss made battery with a life span of 3-4 years.
- Stones - Used in mechanical units to extend the life of a product. In watchmaking, synthetic rubies are used to reduce friction between rotating parts.
Legendary collections
The company annually pleases fans with updated lines. What beauty is not offered by the catalog on the official website of the brand:
- Sistem51 - revolutionary mechanics without battery with a power reserve of 90 hours. The collection is expressed in two directions: Irony with a modern design and automatic movement and Originals with a bright sporty design.
- Transformation - the freshest offers of the spring-summer 2019 season. The creators offer to enjoy the smooth color tints that are so relevant this year.
- Skin looks laconic, but not boring. The line includes options for women and unisex models. The straps are very diverse, made of silicone, stainless steel and Milanese "chain mail". Most of the proposals are backlit in the dark. Drawings on the dial add extravagance to the look.
- Listen to me - a collection full of vitality and thirst for life. Fascinating design solutions remain in the memory for a long time.
- Energy boost - a real explosion of colors and mouth-watering prints that can set the tone for this summer. The design of the watch instantly attracts the eye; it is impossible to resist colorful exotic fruits and juicy berries.
- Big Bold is a six-sentence limit. Catchy and stylish designs are made in an urban style, they are intended for the brave and energetic individuals. And flat glass draws attention to the unsurpassed 3D printing on the screen.
What is the cost
The main motto of the company is: "A person should have as many watches as he has outfits." The Swatch Pricing Policy contributes to the enforcement of this rule.
The low price is due to the minimum of parts used. This miracle watch has only 50 elements instead of 100 and above. From here comes the only drawback of the models - a small number of built-in functions.
Basically, there are only a few of them - a stopwatch and a date display, while mechanisms with several hundred microelements may have several dozen.But this entails an increase in the cost of development of other brands.
It will be possible to purchase a standard sample for 2,000 rubles. The maximum price tag is 10 thousand rubles. This applies to luxury products made of steel, coated with precious metals and sapphire crystals.
Selection rules
Despite the fact that each of us has a huge number of gadgets that display the date, time, and so on, the fashion for watches has not lost its strength. It is not as changeable as for shoes and clothes; you can wear the same model for more than one year.
So how do you choose a chronograph to keep you happy for a long time?
It's up to you to decide. The range of prices for original Swatch is very large, you without a twinge of conscience can buy several products and change them depending on your mood or season.
Pay attention to the shape of the clock. For strict business suits, options with round or square dials are suitable, thin straps and the absence of flashy decor are welcome.
For everyday wear, for holidays and walks, prefer bright colors - pink, blue, red. At the same time, the color of the case and the belt should impress the outfit.
Trends 2019
Fashion trends change very quickly, but this does not apply to watch products as much.
Trends 2019 imply laconic unisex products, which are presented in many Swatch collections. Conservative designs with a calm design will appeal to connoisseurs of the classics.
Another direction is the use of pictorial compositions in watch design. So in the new 2019 Gracious Bouquet, a painting by the Dutch painter Balthazar Asta is used, transferred to a strap.
The minimalistic black screen with golden arrows adds elegance and mystery to the creation.
By the way, diminutiveness is also in vogue; many brand proposals meet this requirement. Plastic and other inexpensive materials fit well here.
Care features
In order for the purchase not to fail for a long time, you need to properly care for it.
Here's what the manufacturer requires with regard to their products:
- Do not wear mechanics and manual-winding options on a strap that is too loose - this leads to damage to the spring and impairments in accuracy.
- Do not place watch products on TVs, microwaves, refrigerators, or other household appliances that contain electromagnetic radiation.
- When manually winding, move in a strictly clockwise direction. It is advisable to perform these actions at the same time of the day.
- Do not leave the watch in a cold place for a long time.
- If salt water gets on the waterproof model, rinse the product in fresh water to prevent aging of the seal gaskets.
- You can store a quartz watch with or without a battery. In both cases, there are pros and cons.
- Calibrate the product only when the arrows, even after resetting the result, are not set strictly to zero. This can happen after replacing the battery, or as a result of a strong shock.
- Clean the straps after stubborn dirt in warm, clean water and soap;
- Do not expose leather belts to prolonged exposure to heat and sunlight.
- Any interventions should only be carried out by a master in the official workshops of the company.
Take care of your watch, and it will serve you for more than one year.
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