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Swatch Batticuore 1992 Collectable Black Strap Watch- GB724 - Z4333
Ref. GB724
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Stepping up in Swatch's range
Ean Code 1992 Collectable Patterned Watch- GB143 - Z4309£100
Blue Jet 1990 Collectable Grey Strap Watch- GS701 - Z4349£120
Sandy Mountains 1990 Collectable Black Strap Watch- GG105 - Z4328£120
Harajuka 1989 Collectable Black Strap Watch- GB124 - Z4337£170
Stucchi 1991 Collectable Patterned Strap Watch- GN107 - Z4311£90
Released in 1992 as part of the Originals Gent line, the Batticuore takes its name from the Italian for heartbeat — and the dial makes the reference literal, carrying a bold orange heart rate monitor graphic against the black ground. It is the kind of graphic design that dates Swatch precisely to its early nineties peak, when the brand treated the dial as a canvas for something closer to street art than horology. At 34mm in a lightweight resin case, the proportions are unisex and the whole thing sits lightly enough that you barely register it on the wrist. The day-date sits clearly on the dial alongside the graphic, which given the busyness of the design is a small achievement in its own right. What makes this particular example unusual is its condition: new-old-stock, unworn, and supplied in original box with paperwork. Thirty-odd years of storage means the silicone strap should be treated with caution before use, but as an object for a Swatch collector — sealed, complete, unhandled — that is almost beside the point.
- Reference
- GB724
- Brand
- Swatch
- Collection
- Originals Gent
- Case size
- 34mm
- Case thickness
- 8.75mm
- Lug width
- 17mm
- Case material
- Resin
- Case shape
- Round
- Dial
- Black
- Crystal
- Acrylic
- Movement
- Quartz
- Functions
- Day-date, Heart rate
- Bracelet / strap
- Silicone 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.
Also in 6 collections
This watch appears in the Swatch Originals Gent range (10), Back in Stock (4,300), Watches Under 37mm (1,535), Watches Under £100 (650), All Black Watches (306) and Pre-Owned, Ex-Display & Vintage Watches (277).
Manufacturer’s guarantee
What the specifications mean
Strengths
- 34mm wears small and slips under any cuff
- 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 comparedWhat size strap does it take?
17mm. 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.
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.
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