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Swatch Blue Neptune 1990 Collectable Multicolour Watch- GB718 - Z4340
Ref. GB718
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Stepping up in Swatch's range
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Released in 1990 as part of the standard Gent line, the Blue Neptune is one of the more visually arresting pieces from that period of Swatch's catalogue. The black resin case frames a blue dial with yellow accents and neon pink hands — a combination that reads as entirely deliberate rather than accidental, and is very much a product of its moment. At 34mm with a lug-to-lug span of just 39.2mm, it sits closer to the wrist than most watches of any era, the resin keeping it almost weightless through the day. The integrated two-tone strap is part of the design rather than an afterthought, the colour carried through from the dial. Battery access on vintage Swatch unibody cases comes via a small rotatable hatch on the caseback — the movement itself is sealed, which is simply how these were built. Having spent decades unworn and in original storage, the case and dial will be in a condition that a worn example rarely reaches. The strap, however, is another matter: plastic of this age becomes brittle, and using it is a risk the buyer should go in knowing about.
- Reference
- GB718
- Brand
- Swatch
- Collection
- Unknown
- Case size
- 34mm
- Case thickness
- 8.8mm
- Case material
- Resin
- Case shape
- Round
- Dial
- Blue
- Crystal
- Acrylic
- Movement
- Quartz
- Functions
- Date
- Bracelet / strap
- Silicone strap
- Strap colour
- Two-tone
- Clasp
- Buckle
- Lume
- Luminous
- Condition
- Vintage
- Retailer
- F.Hinds
Additional specifications
- Lug-to-lug
- 39.2mm
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.
Also in 7 collections
This watch appears in the Swatch Unknown range (5), Back in Stock (3,734), Watches Under 37mm (1,369), Blue Dial Watches (714), Watches Under £100 (439), Two-Tone Watches (386) and Pre-Owned, Ex-Display & Vintage Watches (333).
Manufacturer’s guarantee
What the specifications mean
Strengths
- 34mm wears small and slips under any cuff
- 39.2mm lug-to-lug keeps the 34mm case wearable
- Luminous hands and markers for low light
- Sits in the lower half of Swatch's range as we list it
Worth knowing
- Acrylic crystal marks easily, though it polishes out
Your new watch
Frequently asked questions, and things you should know about this watch
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.
Sapphire, mineral and acrylic comparedDoes it need a battery?
Yes. It is quartz, so expect a battery change every two to three years at a jeweller.
Quartz, automatic and solar comparedWill it fit my wrist?
Lug-to-lug is 39.2mm, which suits wrists from roughly 15cm (6 inches) upward.
Lug-to-lug decides fit more than case diameter does.
How to size a watch to your wristCheapest place to buy
F.Hinds is the only UK retailer we track stocking this reference, so there is nothing to compare it against today.
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