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Swatch Good Shape 1991 Collectable Red Strap Watch- GN704 - Z4320
Ref. GN704
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Stepping up in Swatch's range
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Big Enuff 1993 Collectable Illustrated Watch- GB151 - Z4315£100
Moonquake 1990 Collectable Black Strap Watch- GX404 - Z4307£100
Good Shape dates from the 1990/1991 Originals collection, a period when Swatch was treating the wrist as a canvas for colour that Swiss watchmaking had never seriously considered. The blue dial with yellow Arabic numerals and the waffle-textured red strap are exactly as they left the factory — this is new-old-stock, unused, stored in its original box with original paperwork. The 34mm resin case sits light on the wrist in the way that made the Swatch Gent format ubiquitous, and at just over 8mm thick it barely registers under a sleeve. The blue and yellow combination reads with the same directness now that it did in 1991, which is either a period piece or simply good pop colour depending on your view — both readings are defensible. The strap warrants honesty: decades in storage can make original plastic brittle, and this one should be treated as part of the display rather than something to flex daily. The movement is sealed Swiss ETA quartz — unrepairable in the Swatch manner, but historically reliable for timekeeping so long as the battery is fresh.
- Reference
- GN704
- Brand
- Swatch
- Collection
- Originals
- Case size
- 34mm
- Case thickness
- 8.75mm
- Lug width
- 17mm
- Case material
- Resin
- Case shape
- Round
- Dial
- Blue
- Crystal
- Acrylic
- Movement
- Quartz
- Functions
- Day-date
- Water resistance
- 30m
- Bracelet / strap
- Silicone strap
- Strap colour
- Red
- 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.
Also in 6 collections
This watch appears in the Swatch Originals range (14), Back in Stock (5,018), Watches Under 37mm (1,760), Blue Dial Watches (914), Watches Under £100 (647) and Pre-Owned, Ex-Display & Vintage Watches (382).
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
Worth knowing
- 30m means keeping it away from water
- Acrylic crystal marks easily, though it polishes out
Swatch Good Shape 1991 Collectable alternatives
Watches from other brands at a similar price, style and size, so you can see what else your budget can buy.
| Specification | GN704 | A168WG-9EF |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £80 | £60 |
| Case size | 34mm | 36.3mm |
| Water resistance | 30m | 30m |
| Movement | Quartz | Quartz |
| Strap | Silicone strap | Stainless steel bracelet |
| This watch |
|
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 explainedWill 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.
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.
How to size a watch to your wristIs 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.
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