Enthusiasm for hybrid watches: Are Swatch’s “plastic” luxury watches worth their price?

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Swatch caused worldwide excitement last year with Moonswatch, and that excitement continues today. Ingenious concept: eleven colorful plastic watches worth 250 francs each, paying homage to the Omega Speedmaster Professional, the first wristwatch to walk on the moon. Queues have formed in front of Swatch stores all over the world, and as of today, it is very difficult to get hold of the “Mission to Neptune” model, which has attracted great attention. I was also inspired and after a few unsuccessful attempts at the Swatch store in Bern, I bought the “Venus Mission” for my wife, while I bought the “Mercury Mission” from her.

Since this September, Swatch has been trying to repeat its success with a new collection based on the dive watch from luxury brand Blancpain. The price of five models of “Scuba Fifty Fathoms” is 375 francs. The higher price is justified because, unlike the Moonswatch with a quartz movement, the Blancpain Swatch is powered by a mechanical movement. This means the watch is not dependent on a battery and could potentially be used for decades if the so-called bioceramic case lasts that long.

Stylish but not very durable

Which brings us to the watches’ weaknesses: Bioceramic is nothing more than Swatch’s own blend of plastic; When looked at closely, it very much resembles plastic, and this is especially noticeable in the lighter versions. The material is also not very durable; My Moonswatch has a few nicks after a year of intermittent wear. My watch glass is also a little scratched. But I have to admit that my wife’s watch still looks new after a year, even though she probably wears it as often as I do.

In conclusion, there are definitely better watches for 250 francs and especially for 375 francs. An example of this is Japanese manufacturers Seiko and Citizen, who are known for the longevity of their watches. But quality is not the most important argument for buying an Omega Swatch or a Blancpain Swatch. It’s about the style of the watches and the ability to wear a design on your wrist that would originally cost half a fortune. I definitely think the price is reasonable and I still enjoy wearing my Moonswatch from time to time.

Source :Blick