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Swatch Hackers Reward 1991 Collectable Patterned Watch- GK122 - Z4308
Ref. GK122
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Stepping up in Swatch's range
Campana 1994 Collectable Red Leather Strap Watch- GM119 - Z4339£100
Crazy Eight 1993 Collectable Colourful Watch- GN125 - Z4335£100
Moonquake 1990 Collectable Black Strap Watch- GX404 - Z4307£100
Big Enuff 1993 Collectable Illustrated Watch- GB151 - Z4315£100
Ean Code 1992 Collectable Patterned Watch- GB143 - Z4309£100
The Hacker's Reward sits at an interesting moment in Swatch's history — a standard Gent release from around 1990 or 1991 that captured the era's infatuation with circuit board aesthetics and transparent construction. The clear resin case was not merely a styling trick; it was a deliberate statement of how Swatch thought about its own engineering, inviting the wearer to see the watch as a piece of miniaturised technology rather than a traditional timepiece. The blue dial printed with circuit board graphics reads as a product of its exact cultural moment, and that specificity is what makes it collectible now. At 34mm and just 8.75mm thick, it sat flat and weightless on the wrist — at 18 grams there is almost nothing there, which made the transparent case feel even more like wearing a piece of hardware than a watch. This particular example has remained unworn since new, and comes in its original box, which for a piece of this age is genuinely uncommon. The original strap, being decades-old resin, should be treated accordingly; the watch itself is the object of interest here.
- Reference
- GK122
- Brand
- Swatch
- Collection
- Unknown
- Case size
- 34mm
- Case thickness
- 8.75mm
- Lug width
- 17mm
- Case material
- Resin
- Case shape
- Round
- Dial
- Blue
- Crystal
- Acrylic
- Movement
- Quartz
- Strap colour
- Green
- 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 Unknown range (5), Back in Stock (4,300), Watches Under 37mm (1,535), Blue Dial Watches (803), Watches Under £100 (650) 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
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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