Kensington Watches
Swatch Tee 1993 Collectable Black Strap Watch- GB728 - Z4334

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Swatch

Swatch Tee 1993 Collectable Black Strap Watch- GB728 - Z4334

Ref. GB728

Among our 20 Swatch watchesThis watch£70
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Stepping up in Swatch's range

Price range £60 to £170 across 20 Swatch watches in stock.

From Swatch's 1993 Spring/Summer Gent collection, this is the Tee — named for the golf tee motifs scattered across the white dial, part of a season in which Swatch was at its most uninhibited, producing designs that read as small graphic objects as much as watches. The unibody resin construction keeps it remarkably light on the wrist, and at 34mm it sits with the compact confidence of the period rather than the oversized proportions that followed. The white dial with its playful graphics reads as deliberately cheerful against the gloss black case. This example has been stored unworn since new, which means the dial and case retain their original condition — though the strap, as with most resin pieces of this age, should be treated with care. It comes in its original box with paperwork, which is what separates a collectable from a curiosity.

Reference
GB728
Brand
Swatch
Collection
Gent (Tee)
Case size
34mm
Case thickness
8.75mm
Lug width
17mm
Case material
Resin
Case shape
Round
Dial
White
Crystal
Acrylic
Movement
Quartz
Functions
Day-date
Water resistance
30m
Bracelet / strap
Silicone strap
Strap colour
Black
Clasp
Buckle
Lume
Luminous
Condition
Vintage
Retailer
F.Hinds
Additional specifications
Lug-to-lug
39.2mm
Origin
Swiss made
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.

All Swatch watches

Also in 4 collections

This watch appears in Back in Stock (3,734), Watches Under 37mm (1,369), Watches Under £100 (439) 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

  • 30m means keeping it away from water
  • Acrylic crystal marks easily, though it polishes out
Best forSmall wrists
Less suited toWater

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.

Water resistance explained

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 compared

Does 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 compared

What 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.

Will 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 wrist

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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