Tap the image to enlarge
Swatch Hielo 1993 Collectable Yellow Strap Watch- LK146 - Z4302
Ref. LK146
See more premium optionsHide
Stepping up in Swatch's range
Ean Code 1992 Collectable Patterned Watch- GB143 - Z4309£100
Campana 1994 Collectable Red Leather Strap Watch- GM119 - Z4339£100
Big Enuff 1993 Collectable Illustrated Watch- GB151 - Z4315£100
Crazy Eight 1993 Collectable Colourful Watch- GN125 - Z4335£100
Moonquake 1990 Collectable Black Strap Watch- GX404 - Z4307£100
Released in 1993 as part of the Lady line within Swatch's Originals collection, the Hielo is one of those early-nineties pieces that has sat in its box long enough to become a genuine archive object. The transparent matte resin case and the frosted yellow strap — with its contrasting orange buckle — were never meant to be understated; this was Swatch designing for colour first and everything else second, and the silver sunburst dial with its dark red inner circle reads exactly as intended. At 25mm it sits almost entirely within the wrist rather than on it, and after three decades of storage the strap carries the risk that aged silicone always does — it may be too brittle for daily wear, which is rather the condition of the thing now than a flaw in it. What survives intact is the acrylic crystal, which can be polished back to clarity if needed, and a movement that will run reliably on a fresh battery. For a collector, the interest is in having it complete, unworn and in its original packaging — which this is.
- Reference
- LK146
- Brand
- Swatch
- Collection
- Originals
- Case size
- 25mm
- Case thickness
- 7mm
- Lug width
- 12mm
- Case material
- Resin
- Case shape
- Round
- Dial
- Red
- Crystal
- Acrylic
- Movement
- Quartz
- Water resistance
- 30m
- Bracelet / strap
- Silicone strap
- Strap colour
- Yellow
- Clasp
- Buckle
- Lume
- Luminous
- Condition
- Vintage
- Retailer
- F.Hinds
Additional specifications
- Lug-to-lug
- 31.4mm
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), Women's Watches (1,688), Watches Under £100 (647) and Pre-Owned, Ex-Display & Vintage Watches (382).
Manufacturer’s guarantee
What the specifications mean
Strengths
- 25mm wears small and slips under any cuff
- 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
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?
12mm. 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 31.4mm, 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 women's.
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.
More Swatch watches like the Hielo 1993 Collectable Yellow
In stock, and close on style and price
