Swatch Loden 1993 Collectable Leather Strap Watch- GK167 - Z4313

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Swatch Loden 1993 Collectable Leather Strap Watch- GK167 - Z4313

Name: Swatch Loden 1993 Collectable Leather Strap Watch- GK167 - Z4313
Brand: Swatch
SKU: GK167
Price: 80 GBP
Availability: InStock

Ref. GK167

Among our 30 Swatch watchesThis watch£80

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Stepping up in Swatch's range

The Loden takes its name from the dense wool fabric long associated with Alpine workwear and traditional Austrian dress, and the reference runs through the entire object: a dial in dark, earthy green with red graphics, and a strap built from leather topped with genuine loden cloth, its edges finished with structural red stitching that echoes the dial's accents. Released in 1993 as part of the Gent line, it is the kind of piece Swatch produced when the brand was at its most confident — pop culture sensibility applied to material that carried genuine regional meaning. At 34mm in a resin case with a milky translucent finish, it sits very close to the wrist and weighs almost nothing. The three-prong lug layout integrates the 17mm strap cleanly into the case rather than framing it, which gives the watch a cohesion that photographs do not entirely capture. Surviving unused after three decades, the loden cloth strap remains the thing to examine first — loden fabric does not age the way plain leather does, though the leather beneath it warrants the usual caution that comes with any strap that has been in storage since 1993.

Reference: GK167
Brand: Swatch
Case size: 34mm
Case thickness: 8.75mm
Lug width: 17mm
Case material: Resin
Case shape: Round
Dial: Green
Crystal: Acrylic
Movement: Quartz
Water resistance: 30m
Bracelet / strap: Leather strap
Strap colour: Green
Clasp: Buckle
Lume: Luminous
Condition: Vintage
Retailer: F.Hinds

Additional specifications

Lug-to-lug: 39.20mm

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.

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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?

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 39.20mm, which suits wrists from roughly 15cm (6 inches) upward.

Lug-to-lug decides fit more than case diameter does.

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.