First of all I need to emphasize that the attribution of Swatches to the different categories is very difficult because of the many criteria involved. Some watches do not meet all criteria to be categorized specifically, so they ‘float’ in a grey zone in between two categories. Sometimes the definitions overlap such as ‘Test’ and ‘Prototype’.
Prototype
A prototype is a hand made (non-working mock-up) or a machine made (working or non-working (dummy)) pre-production piece. Either it is a design prototype, where colors or shapes of the cases, dials and hands are visualized (in connection with different case colors or strap types) or it is a technical prototype, where techniques to produce dials (photodials, laser etched dials etc. , hands, cases (marbled cases, cases of different material etc.) are examined.
Prototypes never have country codes, but they can feature production codes. A stamped ‘P’ where the country code is normally placed does not mean, that the watch is a prototype, but that the watch has been sold in the factory shop to Swatch employees. The ‘P’ stands for ‘Personal’ or employee in German. The main criteria however is, that the design, the engineering and potential production codes MUST be anterior to the market model. If one of the features or the production code points to a later manufacture it is either a Hybrid, a Newseum model (no codes, or production codes for 1987) or a reproduction.
Test
Test models are mostly prototypes, but used to test specific features of these prototypes, such as function (ETA-Test-Prototypes), or design (for potential market acceptance).
The ETA-Test-Prototypes have been made in 1988/89 and they also include a small number of prototypes of Swatch Chrono, Scuba or Automatics.
Hybrid
Most watches circulating for sale on the net are hybrids. These factory made watches are mostly unique pieces made by Swatch engineers either for their amusement, their personal use (gifts for family and friends) or to be submitted at a factory competition for the quest for new models to produce. They can have all codes (country + production), just one of both codes or no codes). ALL of these watches are machine made, with ultrasound welded crystals, some however feature reused cases. Latter feature the word ‘mutat’ on the back, which identifies them as ‘mutated’ watches from market model to hybrid. Most hybrids were made in the late 1980s but some are still made today! A scarce amount of Hybrids are known from before 1985, so most of them feature the large battery hatch ring an the “ETA” Inscription on the back (watches before 1985 have a thin battery hatch rings and are inscribed with “ESA” on the back. Some exceptions exist with large battery hatch rings and the “ESA” inscription. These few transitional models have been mostly made mid 1984.
Variant
Sometimes designers want to see what an already completely designed dial would look like with different combinations of cases and hands. All elements (cases, dials, hands) correspond to the definitive market model, just the combination of these elements can vary. A Swatch with a differently colored case or different hands is NOT a prototype (exception: if the case type or the hands themselves are prototypes, as in the picture of the ‘Rotor’ model, then it is considered a prototype). Depending on what cases the designers had access to, they also can have all codes (country + production), just one of both codes or rarely no codes). Models with slight variations in dial-color (paler, darker, blurry etc.) are also considered variants (‘Bar Oriental’ on the right).
Proto-Variant
A very special group of Swatches, which sits in between the variant and the prototype are, can be described as Proto-Variants. These pieces are variants of already existing models, but are at the same time prototypes of a possible later re-issue.
This ‘Don’t Be Too Late’ which was originally issued in 1984, has been made in early 1985 to test different case colours (red, blue, green, white) for a possible re-issue in a differently coloured case. That way Swatch would be able to put very successful models back on the market, but with slight modifications in order to keep the public interested and motivated to buy a ‘new’ fashionable color.
This very intelligent marketing move would have saved time and material as compared to the development of completely new models. Also the risk of a possible non acceptance of the public for such completely newly designed models would be minimized. This marketing strategy has not been applyed for the models of 1983 or 1984, but for the models of 1985 and later. The ‘Jelly Fish’ of 1985 is the best example of a slightly modified re-issue (large hands) for 1986 and 1990. Finally Swatch re-issued some models even more than once which is visible if thinking of the enormous amounts of ‘Jelly’ models issued in the 1990s and also very recently.
Dummy
A dummy is simply a purposely, factory made non working Swatch. It can be a prototype, a test or a variant or just an exhibition piece for Swatch stores (in that case mostly a market model). Dummies can have movements, but then the connector to the battery is ripped off, or they can have no movement at all. It latter case there is just a special metal axle holding the hands in place, but then the hands can not be activated by turning the crown, which is glued in place.
Swatch Prototypes 