Three Monkeys
In late 1983 the Swatch designers were very prolific. Especially the “Schmüllers” managed to produce dozens of prototypes. Sometimes though other designers or engineers came up with funny or provocative ideas such as the pieces found in the ex-Blum-Collection showing Mickey Mouse, the Pink Panther or the Smurfs. These watches were never intended to end up in stores, they had been made for amusement only.
1984 6ex
This watch named ‘6ex’ belongs into the same category. Most probably a one off, it features the depiction of a pin up cowgirl with the typical 1980ies features. The highlight of the dial though is the word game upon the number ‘6’, which is extended to ‘6ex’. In German the number six would be written as ‘sechs’ which is spelled almost like ‘sex’. By adding the ‘ex’ the word game is accentuated and linked to the picture.
As typical for the early prints on dials, the quality is mediocre as compared to the photodial technique introduced in 1986. All features point to a production in 1983: case (thin battery hatch rim), thin hands, typical font for the numbers, mediocre print quality and the ‘old style SWISS’ print which got replaced later in 1984 by a smaller font.
This fantastic watch is in fully working condition.
1987 Orange Jelly
The so called “Orange Jelly” is one of the Swatches misunderstood as prototype for the “Original Jelly” of 1983. As this piece has most probably been made in 1987 it CAN’T be a prototype of the “Original Jelly”! However, it can be also attributed to the prototype category because of the technical trial to produce ‘marbled cases”, which is achieved with injecting scrap material into the injection molds to clean them. These type of watches were planned to be put on the market, but because it was impossible to produce equally marbled cases the idea was dropped.
It is a working model and has no codes on the back.
1986 – 1992 Factory Hybrids “Mutations”
Hybrids are Swatches made by employees for themselves or as primordial design to be presented as teaser for a new model. Sometimes Swatch organized also a competition for the employees to hand in their own designs of which the best one would then be produced.
Each Hybrid is an unique piece, but they exist in huge amounts, even if the Swatch company tried to limit their production once the “Swatchmania” had reached its peak. Of course it was at this time, that these Hybrids were the most expensive.
The model on the left is hand painted on a dial mounted upside down. It can also be attributed to the prototype category, as it represents the trial of enameling colors by hand on the dial, as to reproduce a watercolor finish.The central piece features a low quality paper dial of the work of art “Les demoiselles d’Avignon” painted by by Picasso in 1907 (right painting). This picture was essentially influenced by “the three graces” of Rubens (1635) seen on the left painting.
The piece on the right features painted calendar rings as reminder of the model of Kiki Picasso. These rotating rings replace the non-existing dial.
Some hybrids are clearly marked “MUTAT” by hand on the back, which should state, that this Swatch has been “mutated” from an official model to a factory made hybrid and thus can not be regarded as prototype.
1987 Coca Cola Prototype/Hybrid
It was planned to for Swatch to produce watches for the well known beverage Coca Cola Company. The deal was never concluded, as Swatch wanted the “Swatch” brand name on the dials but Coca Cola refused to share the dial surface for advertising Swatch as well. Many different dial designs exist and even more combination of dials and corresponding cases. Even ladies versions were planned.
Finally it was still the Swatch group who produced the watches for Coca Cola, even reusing the dials previously designed, but instead of mounting them inside Swatches they were mounted inside a lower quality plastic watch. Many of these watches exist and most of them are working, since it was planned to produce them and many of the same combination of elements exist it can also be attributed to the prototype category.
As can be seen on the back this fully working prototype/hybrid has been made in 1987.
1990 Kiki Picasso Hybrid dial
It is not clear whether this dial has been made for an official re -issue of the Kiki Picasso, which is rather unlikely, or if it has been made by a Swatch engineer for his personal watch. An other option would be the manufacture of this dial to be sold to collector, who would have paid immense sums to own a factory made Kiki, even if not one of the originals from 1985.
The dial is made of aluminum, unlike the original Kiki dials, which are printed on transparent plastic. The windows for showing the movement of the date rings is cut out very carefully. There is ‘Swatch’ marked of the dial, ‘swiss’ has been left away.
The picture is taken from the side on purpose to avoid illicit reproduction.
1991 Keith Haring: Serpent, Hybrid
One of the most sought after series of Swatch models are the ones designed by Keith Haring in 1985. Many different prototypes and variants exist, where different color combinations on the dial and different types of hands and case colors were tested.
During the Swatchmania in the early 1990ies Swatch employees increased the production of their personal models, also to sell them to collectors.
The ‘Serpent’ Hybrid shown here can clearly be identified as such, by looking at the back where the impressions on the top of the case suggest that a model celebrating the 700 years of Switzerland (Fläck) of 1991 has been used as donor. When looking closely at the dial one can also notice, that it is a plastic dial and not a metal dial as in the original version.
The engineer who made this watch was honest enough to engrave by hand the word ‘mutat’ on the back, which states that the watch is a later ‘mutation’ and not an original prototype or variant.
The watch is in fully working condition.
Swatch Prototypes 