Tap the image to enlarge
Swatch Tickertape 1988 Collectable Black Strap Watch- GB713 - Z4341
Ref. GB713
See more premium optionsHide
Stepping up in Swatch's range
Rocking 1993 Collectable Orange Leather Strap Watch- GM117 - Z4322£120
Batticuore 1992 Collectable Black Strap Watch- GB724 - Z4333£70
Tee 1993 Collectable Black Strap Watch- GB728 - Z4334£70
Blue Anchorage 1993 Collectable Sailor Watch- GK140 - Z4321£70
Blue Neptune 1990 Collectable Multicolour Watch- GB718 - Z4340£70
The Tickertape was part of the wave of Swatches that turned Swiss watchmaking into a cultural conversation in the late 1980s. Released in 1988 under the Originals line, it takes the standard Gent case and does something genuinely odd with the dial: the grey surface is translucent enough that the day and date wheels are visible rotating beneath it, the date showing through a white aperture at three o'clock rather than printed on top. It is a small piece of mechanical theatre that made perfect sense in an era when Swatch was treating the wrist as a place for ideas. At 34mm in a resin case the watch sits lightly, and the ribbed black rubber strap locks into the notched lugs without hardware — the whole thing reads as a single object rather than a case with something attached to it. New old stock after nearly four decades, it comes with its original box and paperwork, which for a watch this embedded in 1980s collector culture is the condition that matters.
- Reference
- GB713
- Brand
- Swatch
- Case size
- 34mm
- Case thickness
- 8.75mm
- Lug width
- 16mm
- Case material
- Resin
- Case shape
- Round
- Dial
- Grey
- Crystal
- Acrylic
- Movement
- Quartz
- Functions
- Day-date
- Water resistance
- 30m
- Bracelet / strap
- Rubber strap
- Strap colour
- Black
- Clasp
- Buckle
- Lume
- Luminous
- Condition
- Vintage
- Retailer
- F.Hinds
Learn more about Swatch
Swatch was the Swiss industry's answer to its own near-death. By the early 1980s Japanese quartz had reduced Swiss watch exports catastrophically and employment had collapsed. Nicolas Hayek, brought in as a consultant to advise on liquidating the ASUAG and SSIH conglomerates, recommended the opposite: merge them and attack the low end.
The engineering that made it possible was radical. Ernst Thomke, Elmar Mock, and Jacques Müller designed a watch with fifty-one components instead of the usual ninety-odd, with the movement assembled directly into the injection-moulded case so the watch could not be opened or repaired. It could be made in Switzerland, by robots, for less than the Asian competition.
The first Swatches went on sale in 1983. They were cheap, plastic, colourful, and — critically — sold as fashion rather than as timekeeping. Buyers owned several. Artists including Keith Haring, Kiki Picasso, and later Vivienne Westwood designed editions, and some early models now trade for thousands.
Swatch sold over a hundred million watches within its first decade and financed the rescue of the entire Swiss industry. The Swatch Group that resulted owns Breguet, Blancpain, Omega, Longines, Tissot, Hamilton, and Glashütte Original, and remains the largest watch company in the world.
The MoonSwatch collaboration with Omega in 2022 caused queues around the world.
- 1983
- The first Swatch launches with a 51-component movement.
- 1985
- Keith Haring designs the first artist editions.
- 1992
- Cumulative sales pass 100 million watches.
- 2022
- The MoonSwatch collaboration with Omega sells out globally.
Manufacturer’s guarantee
Your new watch
Frequently asked questions, and things you should know about this watch
Can I swim with it?
No. At 30m it will survive rain and handwashing, but not submersion of any kind.
Will the glass scratch?
Yes, but it polishes out. Acrylic marks easily and a scratch can be buffed away at home, which is why vintage-style watches still use it.
Does it need a battery?
Yes. It is quartz, so expect a battery change every two to three years at a jeweller.
What size strap does it take?
16mm. Any strap of that width will fit, and on most modern watches quick-release bars make the swap a two-minute job with no tools.
Is it a men's or women's watch?
Listed as unisex, and at this size it suits any wrist that takes the dimensions.
Cheapest place to buy
F.Hinds is the only UK retailer we track stocking this reference, so there is nothing to compare it against today.
Who are F.Hinds?
F.Hinds has been run by the same family since 1856 and is now in its fifth generation, with more than 115 shops across England and Wales. They are a member of the Responsible Jewellery Council and an Authorised Diamond Dealer.
You may also like
In stock, and close on style and price
