Tokyo (SCCIJ) – The Swiss watchmaker Swatch has unveiled a collection of timepieces cased in bio-sourced materials that were extracted from the seeds of the castor plant. This marks the first time a watchmaker has succeeded in replacing all conventional materials with bio-materials in a serial production environment.
The biodegradable Swatch models follow the design of the original Swatch series from 1983 (© Swatch).
“Green” packaging
Innovation has always been the drive defining the brand’s personality, said the Swiss watchmaker in a statement. The latest “1983” collection continues this tradition with two newly introduced materials “made from nature”. All components meet the high Swiss Made quality requirements that Swatch places on its products.
The new packaging emphasizes this new standard. The paper foam consists of an innovative mix based on potato and tapioca starch. As a result, the packaging produced with the injection molding process is fully biodegradable and can be recycled with paper waste or even composted right at home.
A milestone as such deserves a special design to go with it: the “1983” collection takes its cues from the early days of the illustrious Swatch spirit. Six models offer reinterpretations of the first Swatch watches and feature bespoke typography created for the signage of the new Swatch Headquarters.
History of sustainability
Swatch has a tradition of making sustainable watches: Already at its start in 1983, Swatch quickly turned an entire industry on its head, launching 12 colorful watches made of only 51 individual parts, with modern materials, at a democratic price and high quality.
In 1995, Swatch joined forces with the sun, demonstrating its innovation skills in the area of alternative energies. Swatch Solar relied on Mother Nature for its energy – and could do without the usual batteries.
In 2013, the SISTEM51 presented the first mechanical movement ever made whose assembly is fully automated. The automatic watch is made of only 51 components – as the original Swatch watches – which are held together by a single screw.
The “Tokyo” watches with the disruptive design of the Japanese streetwear brand Bape (© Swatch)
Swatch named “Tokyo”
In different news, Swatch launched its latest “Big Bold” product line with a 47-millimeter diameter watch case as a result of its second collaboration with the legendary Japanese streetwear brand “A Bathing Ape” (Bape). The three timepieces of the line named “Tokyo Multi Camo” have multi-colored print on their straps representing all the different cultures and people connected by their uniqueness.
The watches carry Tokyo in their name and on their loops as an homage to the birth city of the Bape label. Additionally, each watch features both brands’ favorite (mega)-cities on their bezel, including the Swiss capital Bern. The packaging comes in the signature Bape camouflage print design; the iconic statement envelops the hard-case box. For die-hard fans, Swatch issued a surprise highly limited set with subtly modified designs.
Text: SCCIJ with material of Swatch
