Swatch Voie Humaine 1993 Collectable Illustrated Watch- GX126 - Z4304

Tap the image to enlarge

Swatch Voie Humaine 1993 Collectable Illustrated Watch- GX126 - Z4304

Name: Swatch Voie Humaine 1993 Collectable Illustrated Watch- GX126 - Z4304
Brand: Swatch
SKU: GX126
Price: 60 GBP
Availability: InStock

Ref. GX126

Among our 44 Swatch watchesThis watch£60

Premium

See more premium options

Stepping up in Swatch's range

Released in the Spring/Summer collection of 1993, the Voie Humaine belongs to the period when Swatch was treating the watch as a canvas as much as a timekeeper. The name — Human Way — runs through the design literally: the orange rubber strap carries a continuous print of antique human silhouettes, figures repeating band to band, and the dial answers them with a fine filigree wreath motif picked out in silver and black against the orange ground. The translucent resin case is finished with a metal ring at the top edge that gives it just enough structure to stop it reading as purely casual. At 34mm and under 9mm deep it sits flat and weighs almost nothing, which is partly why these early Gents age so well on the wrist. What makes this particular example unusual is its condition: new-old-stock, untouched in storage since the early nineties, and supplied with the original box and paperwork. The orange strap will be fragile after thirty years, and that is worth knowing before deciding whether to wear it or display it, but the movement — a sealed Swiss quartz unit that needs only a battery to run — tested and runs.

Reference: GX126
Brand: Swatch
Collection: GentCase Size: 34 mmCase Thickness: 8
Case size: 34mm
Case thickness: 9mm
Case material: Resin
Case shape: Round
Dial: Orange
Crystal: Acrylic
Movement: Quartz
Bracelet / strap: Rubber strap
Strap colour: Orange
Clasp: Buckle
Lume: Luminous
Condition: Vintage
Retailer: F.Hinds

Additional specifications

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

This watch appears in Under 37mm (1,010), Under £100 (305) and Pre-Owned & Vintage (46).

Manufacturer’s guarantee

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.

Does it need a battery?

Yes. It is quartz, so expect a battery change every two to three years at a jeweller.

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.