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Swatch Papaya Swing 1990 Collectable Colourful Watch- LN113 - Z4342
Ref. LN113
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The Papaya Swing is a piece of Swatch's Lady collection from 1990, a line built around small, bright, unashamedly plastic watches that treated the wrist as a place for colour rather than ceremony. At 25mm it sits barely larger than a two-pence piece on the wrist, and at 7mm thick it is essentially flat — proportions that made the Lady series a different proposition from the larger Swatch originals of the same period. The yellow dial and patterned two-tone fabric strap read as a coordinated whole, the kind of deliberate cheerfulness that feels considered rather than accidental in a watch this old. Three decades of storage mean the strap retains its original appearance, though fabric and plastic combinations from this era can become fragile with use — this one is better understood as a collectible than a daily wearer, a distinction the condition itself makes clearly enough.
- Reference
- LN113
- Brand
- Swatch
- Case size
- 25mm
- Case thickness
- 7mm
- Lug width
- 12mm
- Case material
- Resin
- Case shape
- Round
- Dial
- Yellow
- Crystal
- Acrylic
- Movement
- Quartz
- Bracelet / strap
- Fabric strap
- Strap colour
- Two-tone
- Clasp
- Buckle
- Lume
- Luminous
- Condition
- Vintage
- Retailer
- F.Hinds
Additional specifications
- Lug-to-lug
- 31mm
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.
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.
What 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 31mm, 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 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.
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.
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