Swatch has recently collaborated with the Museum of Modern Art in New York to develop a collection of six watches, all inspired by art displayed in the museum. Swatch was first founded in 1983 and are best known for their bold and fun colour combinations. The brand does not shy away from colour and pattern in its designs. Each Swatch watch that is released is a bright, statement accessory. Swatch is an accessible and affordable brand with watches built to be suitable for everyday wear.
The Collaboration
The collaboration between Swatch and MoMA allows people to be able to wear a little piece of modern art on their wrist, using it as an integral element of everyday accessorising. Each of the watches in the collection is inspired by a different piece of art, using the most iconic aspects of the work to create an instantly recognisable design on the watch strap and dial.
Swatch have worked with MoMA before and have three designs in the museums collection. Work from Swatch has also featured in exhibitions that have been staged at the museum. The relationship between Swatch and MoMA and their common interest in all things bright and eye-catching makes this collaboration work flawlessly.
Each watch in the collection is powered by a quartz movement, making the watches precise and reliable. They are all water-resistant up to 30m (3 bar), making them splash resistant to be able to withstand daily life. All of the watches have a silicone strap which is printed with a design inspired by a piece of art from the MoMA. The design continues onto the dials which are framed by plastic cases. The straps fasten with plastic pin buckles. The keeper on each watch is printed with the ‘MoMA’ logo to further acknowledge the collaboration that has occurred to produce this striking and colourful collection of watches.
The watches in the Swatch and MoMA Collaboration are distinctly different and provide a great variety for watch enthusiasts and art lovers alike.
The Collection
Swatch MoMA COMPOSITION IN OVAL WITH COLOUR PLANES 1 GZ350
This model is inspired by an artwork titled ‘Composition in Oval with Colour Planes 1’ by Piet Mondrian. The dial is mostly pink so the defined black lines in the artwork do not distract from the dial and the black baton hands. A black plastic case frames the dial and the bold pastel pattern that Mondrian is famous for spills out onto the strap of the watch. Mondrian is known for artwork build around geometric abstraction and Swatch have managed to capture the essence of that in this multi-coloured timepiece.
Swatch MoMA THE CITY AND DESIGN, THE WONDERS OF LIFE Multi-Coloured Silicone Strap SUOZ334
This bold and graphic model uses the work of Tadanori Yokoo. The piece that is used in the design of the watch is titled ‘The City and Design, The Wonders of Life on Earth, Isamu Kurita’. This artwork uses a pop art style to blend humour and political satire, and Swatch have managed to draw both elements into the design of this watch. MoMA and Swatch have captured Yokoo’s vivid style and framed it perfectly in watch form. The artist’s name features on the dial to further emphasise the collaborative efforts of Swatch and MoMA.
Swatch MoMA NEW YORK BY TADANORI YOKOO, THE WATCH GZ351
Swatch and MoMA have captured an iconic image of New York City in this watch design. An image of the Statue of Liberty is perfectly framed in the centre of the dial and the hands are skeletal, so they do not interrupt the image. Tadanori Yokoo’s use of kaleidoscopic imagery in ‘New York’ does not go unnoticed in the watch design. Bright, pop art images feature towards the ends of the strap to ensure that the true essence of Yokoo’s work is included in the collaboration.
Swatch MoMA THE STARRY NIGHT BY VINCENT VAN GOGH Blue Silicone Strap SUOZ335
The design of this watch is perhaps the most iconic and easily recognisable in the collection. The watch features Vincent Van Gogh’s ‘The Starry Night’, capturing the power of Van Gogh’s brushstrokes on the dial, over the case and down the length of the straps. The hands are gold to complement the hints of yellow in the original artwork. The eye-catching shades of blue throughout the design of this watch are muted enough for everyday wear, but iconic enough that they will be easily recognisable as a piece of art from the MoMA.
Swatch MoMA THE DREAM BY HENRI ROUSSEAU Green Jungle Print Silicone Strap SUOZ333
This watch takes its design from ‘The Dream’ by French artist Henri Rousseau. Despite never having left his home country, Rousseau had vivid dreams about vibrant green jungles and expressed the images from his dreams in his artwork. Swatch and MoMA have recognised the beauty in Rousseau’s work by featuring it in one of the watches from their collaboration. The dial depicts a jungle cat hiding amongst bright green foliage, and a pattern of green leaves continues along the watch straps. The hands are a wave shape, reminiscent of vines to further the jungle theme.
Swatch MoMA HOPE, II BY GUSTAV KLIMT, THE WATCH Multi-coloured Silicone Strap GZ349
Gustav Klimt is famous for his portraits of sensuous female figures, but Swatch and MoMA have chosen to take the iconic patterned elements of his work to create the design for this watch. The design channels the Austrian symbolist’s gold-leaf detailing and is complemented by the use of gold baton hands. Klimt’s original work is a signature piece from the Art Nouveau movement, making this watch a modern-day iteration of a classic masterpiece. The case of the watch is made from clear plastic to give the artwork centre stage.
What do you think of the Swatch and MoMA collaboration? Will you be adding any of the watches to your collection? Let us know in the comments below!
