Vertaal siteMy Swatch book!
Please visit the page about my book: Swatch Specials from the Netherlands! All Swatches shown in this list can be found in the book with lots of extra info and great pictures.Intro
On this page I sum up all the special Swatch editions from the Netherlands that are listed in my book. The book was finalized in June 2007 so all Specials found after this date are not yet in the book. They can be found on the root page Swatch Specials from the Netherlands.When you see the
logo (Wanted) this means I do not have
this Swatch yet and I am looking for it. If you have one for me of know of one being sold, please
let me know! I am very anxious to get it and complete my collection!
2006 Squiggly and Phenomenon 10 years of friendship
Squiggly and Phenomenon from Portugal share ten years of friendship this year. That's something you don't see that often nowadays. To honour this they issue a special display with two Skins together. Each sells 50 so together they have 100 pieces, all individually numbered. The set costs 140 Euro, about the price of the two Skins. The code is SFK170PACK and the two Skins are Bludablu (SFK170) and PinkyPink (SFK200) from 2003. Sales started on November 3 so get yours quickly!
2006 Swatch Clopedia Special Package Collector's survival kit
Here we have something special because it is a special without a Swatch. Let me explain: It has been an honour for me to participate in the making of this year's Swatch Clopedia catalog. I put my programming skills to the test to create a database and automate the creation of texts, descriptions, valuations, page references and contents pages. And I did some of the DTP work. It has been hard work but good fun and it is great to see the finished product. I recommend all to buy this catalog! It is quite complete and high quality. And you will find my name on the title page! You can find it on Squiggly and many other sources. No collector should do without it.
Now there also is a luxury edition that comes as a special package "collector's survival kit". It has a hard cover and is fully bound. It comes inside a special bag that is numbered and filled with collector's goodies. First, check the full special package where you can see it all. It is limited to one hundred pieces only which really is a small amount. For what I heard it sold out through the wishlists. Sale started on September 7, 2006. There is a big variation in the colours of the bags, they can be brown, gray, blue, camel and probably some colours I forgot. Price is 80 Euro.
As a courtesy of the guys at Squiggly I got number 001/100. Here you can see Jeroen at work, numbering the packages. Here he is numbering my package. This is the result: My number 001/100. And because I was there I got my first page fully autographed. Thanks!
2006 WC Soccer - Netherlands
For the 2006 Soccer World Championships in Germany Swatch found a good way to get rid of some .Beats. They made country Swatches for all 32 competing countries! They are not available worldwide, I have bought mine in Germany but there will be sellers in other countries as well. Limitation is unknown. Since The Netherlands are one of the countries in the championship one of them is the 2006 WC Soccer - The Netherlands Swatch. They are based on the YQS100, Floating Dot. Specific code for this one is YQS1003J. As you can see in the picture the colour that should be orange looks much like a metallic gold. Also the flag that should have white in the middle has the alu colour of the watch case instead. Still, I like it!
2005 FC Volendam
The Dutch Soccer Club FC Volendam "The Other Orange Club" has issued a unique special in collaboration with Swatch The Netherlands. This unique special features eleven orange watches which where signed by the eleven players of the Volendam Soccer team on the 12th of November 2005. On January 1st 2001 a big fire in a local pub destroyed the lives of hundreds of young people from this little village. Many have scars and need operations and treatment for the rest of their lives. The proceeds of this auction fully went to these young people of Volendam. The special was auctioned on Squiggly between Friday November 11th 2005 17.00 hours and Monday November 21st 2005 21.00 hours. It made 1,200 Euro (plus VAT).
2004 ASML
ASML (a world leader in the manufacture of advanced technology systems for the semiconductor industry) has given all her Dutch employees a Swatch for Christmas (among the usual calendar). This ASML logo Swatch comes in a box that has a sticker with the number 9005, I don't have a clue yet as to what it means. Given the fact all employees received one at least a thousand have been issued.
2004 Lustrous Bliss
As official openingspartner of the Miljonair Fair in the RAI Amsterdam (10-11-12 december) Swatch had a limited number of exclusively signed Skin Diamonds; Lustrous Bliss for you. These Skins are signed by a unique company, all four Dutch gold medal winners of the Olympic Games in Athens 2004 (Leontien van Zijlaard-Moorsel, Pieter van den Hoogenband, Inge de Bruin, Anky van Grunsven). This special company of four has not appeared together before and has been brought together especially for Swatch and the opening of the fair. Here is a picture of a standard Lustrous Bliss (well standard, it is packed with diamonds and costs around a thousand Euro). Update: During the Swatch The Club Christmas event in the Holland Casino in Rotterdam on Sunday December 19 another one of these was auctioned among the 300 attendees. It made EUR 1,300. Whoever has a picture of the signed special, do mail it to me!
2004 8 Auspicious Symbols
Squiggly has once again made a super special to help out with the construction of the Tibettan / Buddhist temple in Rotterdam (see further down also). Read all about it on this special page (not by my but from the Squiggly site)! I think it is lovely and asked for and got number 12! Sales started on September 26 and delivery started November. The special is packed inside a numbered outer box that has extra information about each symbol. On the Endless Knot of my number 12 I had "Amsterdam" replaced by "Rotterdam" where my roots are and where the tempel is being built. Very good initiative and a very good cause!In March 2005 only three sets where left. To sell these quickly and to finish the financing of the temple these sets where split up into separate pieces that where sold for 150 Euro each (VAT included). This way it became available for smaller wallets as well.
2004 Athens Olympic NOC
The Athens Olympic NOC for the Netherlands has the code SUDK106M. Only 900 pieces have been made. Here is a picture. The story so far is: 450 pieces will be used to give to athletes, coaches and so on. 100 Pieces will be sold through the Swatch Stores (10 or 15 pieces each). The other 350 pieces will be sold to collectors through the Club.
2004 Tibetan Buddhist Pack
Squiggly has made a truly great special package for GM164, Les Aventures de Tintin. Read all about it on this special page (not by me but from the Squiggly site)! I think it is awesome! Sales started on May 12. The price for this special was 119 Euro but number 1/222 was sold separately with a price of 300 Euro. This one sold almost immediately (I saw it first!). Well done Squiggly!2004 Florence
On January 1st three care companies in The Hague where combined into one new company: Florence. By this occasion a Florence logo Swatch in a special blue sleeve was issued and given to all employees. As you can see it is an official special GM411C with the Florence logo on the strap. 5,000 Swatches where issued (4,500 initially, 500 extra).
2003 HP & Citrix Take you to the top incentive
The following three stories where copied from the CDG (an international IT-distributor) site. It's probably a bit much to translate it all so I will bring it to you in short:In 2003 CDG and HP gave away some great holidays to Davos to the best performing resellers of the HP Citrix product. This probably was the occasion for this logo Swatch. It has the official code SKK 1030A. The logo's can be seen best on this close-up.
I don't have it so please help me!
HP & Citrix Take you to the top incentive 2003
Ook in 2003 organiseren Citrix Systems en HP samen met de distributeurs de "Take you to the top" incentive, waarmee u als partner wederom kans maakt op een geheel verzorgde Snow-trip naar een schitterende locatie.De incentiveperiode zal dit jaar lopen van 14 juli tot en met 31 december 2003. Daarna wordt de balans opgemaakt en zal er voor de top 20 deelnemende verkopers een wel verdiend en formidabel verblijf van 4 dagen te wachten staan. Schrijf u snel in en CDG, HP & Citrix will Take you to the top!
Voorwaarde is wel dat u naast Citrix CSN partner ook een HP partner status heeft.
HP & Citrix incentive: Glide your way to Davos
Het HP & Citrix incentive is al enige tijd onderweg. Als voorproefje op het ski avontuur in Davos nodigen wij u graag uit om op 16 oktober as. naar het Tubeglide event te komen in het in- en outdoor Sportcenter 'de Uithof' in Den Haag.Tijdens dit winterse event informeren wij u over de laatste ontwikkelingen van HP & Citrix, bespreken de voortgang en bezorgen u een onvergetelijke avond Tubegliding.
de agenda:
15.00 uur Ontvangst
15:15 uur Update "take you to the top incentive"
15:30 uur Laatste ontwikkelingen van HP & Citrix
16:30 uur Tubegliden
18:30 uur Kaasfondue
20:00 uur Après-ski
U kunt zich inschrijven voor dit "take you to the top" event door het versturen van een email naar: davos@hp.com. Vergeet hierbij niet te vermelden of u deelneemt aan het winter-diner.
Wil jij óók kans maken om met HP & Citrix naar Davos te gaan, schrijf je dan vandaag nog hier in
HP & Citrix Take you to the top incentive 2003
Nog ruim drie weken te gaan........en de race is nog lang niet gelopen. In de top 10 vinden nog behoorlijk wat verschuivingen plaats en voor de resterende plaatsen is de strijd helemaal nog onbeslist. Alle kans dus om mee te dingen naar een van de 20 beschikbare plaatsen!Vergeet dus niet om orders te claimen, en daarmee bedoelen we, alle orders vanaf 14 juli. Hoe claim je? Ga naar http://hpincentive.hp3.nl en log in via uw email adres en eerder verkregen password. De rest wijst zich vanzelf. Password vergeten? Stuur een mail naar davos@hp.com Vergeet niet de opdrachtverstrekking van de klant te faxen!!, anders word uw claim niet geaccepteerd.
2003 Otazu Warchild's Christmas Gift
Check out this picture of the Warchild's Christmas Gift Swatch. Fantastic! This Swatch is a special one of a kind redesign of a standard SFK159 Essentiality Skin Swatch done by the utterly famous and hot jewel designer Rodrigo Otazu who made designs for the likes of Princess Maxima of the Netherlands and Madonna. In cooperation with Squiggly and Gassan Diamonds this special was auctioned on the Millionares Fair in Amsterdam from December 11 to December 14. Bidding was also made possible throught the Squiggly web site. It reached a final price of 2,400 Euro. A lot of money but well worth it. It went to Italy. The strap contains Swarovski stones and a single 0.10 ct Wesselton diamond provided by Gassan Diamonds. The watch comes with a certificate of authenticity signed by Gassan Diamonds and Otazu. Packaging is a black cube shaped box. All proceedings were donated to Warchild. A rare top piece!
Update. Great news! As of April 2011 this Swatch is back in the Netherlands and in my collection! The certificate seems to have gone missing.
2002-2003 Vredestein
The well known Dutch car tyre company (well, please have a look at their site, they make much more) Vredestein is celebrating the launch of their high end tyre Ultrac (looks really promising, next year my GTV needs new tyres so who knows...) which was designed in partnership with Giugiaro Design. By the beginning of 2002 they created a Swatch with a special strap as a promotional item. These tyres and Swatch do well together as a design statement. It is a limited run of 1,000 pieces. Here are the pictures: Overall view of the Swatch, closeup of Vredestein and Ultrac Giugiaro design logo's on the upper band, Vredestein logo on the box and the official price sticker. As you can see they used a 1997 SOB401 Twinkling. I must say it now looks great and appropriate with the tyre black strap. Well done! You may also notice this is an official Swatch Special. This can be seen by the code SOB401F on the official price sticker. Until 2003 these where all given away to people in the tyre business so please don't call or email them.
2003, 1998 Pfizer
During recent years the pharmaceutical company Pfizer has offered different packages to clients, usually to promote a certain medicin. Until now I have information on two of these packages.Here is a picture of 1998 GN176D, love Bite. Please take notice of the very special strap which has been made to match the face of the watch. The box box comes in the same print. The price tag on the cardboard box and the price tag on the plastic box both mention the official code, GN176D. On the plastic box you can find the upper sticker and the lower sticker. Great straps and nice box.
Here is a picture of 2003 GK391, Kalimera. This package was made to promote the medicin Spiriva.
You probably didn't know pharmaceutical companies give presents so to get docters to prescribe their medicin instead of the same thing made by other companies. This probably is the reason they are truly non cooperative when it comes to giving information on or selling these specials. So of none of these I know how many have been issued or indeed anything else. I only have Love Bite myself so if anyone has other sets please let me know!
2003 Bep van Klaveren
This fall "Made in Rotterdam" and the Swatch Store in Rotterdam have released a special honoring the Dutch Olympic light weight boxing champion of 1928, Bep van Klaveren, with a special pack. The package contains an entry ticket to the 10th Memorial held on September 29 2003 as well as two other tickets, a post card picturing Bep van Klaveren and a parking voucher for the night. The pack also contains a (Dutch) book with interviews, a CD with interviews, and the Translucent Dream Swatch (SUDK105) with an image of Bep van Klaveren on the strap. Here is a picture of the overall view. It is an unnumbered edition of 250 pieces (as mentioned on the back of the white outer box). The price for this special is 75 Euro. For me there is some extra shine to this special because my mother was born in that era in just the same neighbourhood of Rotterdam (Crooswijk) where Bep comes from, not very far from his home.
2003 Squiggly 10 Years
This pack is specially made for Squigglies 10 Years Anniversary. Limited to 50 pieces with 5 different Vendome Irony chrono's YCS418P, YCS419P, YCS420P, YCS422P or the YCS423P. This special (a box) comes with 1 of the 5 Ironies. Also a booklet with the past, present and future of Squiggly is included. Official prize was 199.75 Euro and they sold out in no time at all. Here are pictures of the inside view and the outside view. I am sure you will agree this is a real classy leather box with the engraved name and number plates. The name plates says Squiggly Swatch Watches 1993-2003 and the number plate says 06/50 (for the one I have anyway). Well done!
2003 Crystal Fall Unknown
Please look at these pictures (courtesy of Squiggly): Overall view, the Swatch, view from the bottom and closeup of price tag. This special package may be from the Netherlands but there is no certainty yet. As you can see from the price tag it is Dutch ("advies prijs") and it is an official special (code PMK147A). All other information will be very welcome. Official price (when sold) was Euro 47.50.
2003 Dealers
These two Dealer Packs for the 2003 Spring-Summer Collection are quite rare. The first is Dealer Pack 1 with GS111 Lucky You and the second is Dealer Pack 2 with GE100 Buzzin Around. They where presented to Dutch dealers at the dealer party for the launch of the 2003 Spring-Summer Collection. Each special package consist of one foot. It is hollow and the watch is fitted inside. The print is on one side only. There is also a Journalist Pack for the 2003 Spring-Summer Collection and you can find it on this site as well.
2002 Jeroen Bosch Hospital
This month the employees of the Jeroen Bosch Ziekenhuis (Hospital) received a Swatch in their Christmas box (a typical Dutch thing). It is a GK262 Tempo Romano from 1998 with either a transparent strap or a black strap which has the logo on the upper and lower sides. It is a limited run of 3,000 or 4,000 pieces alltogether. It is an official special as you can see on the original price sticker which has the code GK262C for the black strap and GK262D for the white strap.
2002 VNV Beveiliging
At the end of october the security company VNV Beveiliging had it's 100th anniversary which was celebrated with a special edition Swatch. This was given to all (4,000 or so) personnel and probably also some business relations. There are two editions, the first one for gentlemen. The Chrono comes inside a standard box and has "VNV" and a logo on the loop and "100 jaar" (100 years) on the lower strap. Here is a picture. The watch itself is a SCN118 Smokey and the price tag says SCN118C making it an official special. The second one is for ladies. Here is a picture. It has the same prints. Surprisingly this Skin comes in a flat box, formerly only seen as KLM special package. The box has no price tag nor is the warranty stamped with a code.
2002 Gassan
Two official specials. No further info on my site but no need to send it to me.2002 Kamer van Koophandel Haaglanden
This year the Kamer van Koophandel Haaglanden (Chamber of Commerce in the Haaglanden region) has it's 150th anniversary which was celebrated with a special edition Swatch. Here is a picture that shows the special strap. This Swatch has the official code GG809A making it an official special. It is a limited edition of 250 pieces.
2002 SCM
The Dutch firm SCM, specialized in Shopping Center Management, has released a Swatch with their logo on the loop in a limited edition of 80 pieces.
2002 Sioux
On October first 2002 the Dutch firm Sioux, specializing in Technical Software Development will reach one hundred employees. By that occasion a special package was made by their in house designer, Annemiek Machielse and given to each employee. Here is a picture of the box. This box contains this Swatch. To be ready for new employees 120 pieces where produced. Now there two different kinds of these: these first 120 pieces with one printed loop and another 60 pieces with one printed and one extra black loop. These final 60 pieces will be sold to collectors through the Swatch Store in Utrecht.
2002 Amnesty International
On June 16 there was a sponsor run for Amnesty International in Utrecht. For this occasion the Swatch Store in Utrecht released a special edition, sales started on June 15th at 500 Beats exact. Here is a overall picture of the front side, the Swatch not yet mounted onto it. It is "The Dictator Of Love", the dictator collaborating with Amnesty International. Do have a very good look, I really like this guy! There are a total number of only 222 pieces produced. The picture is printed on a cardboard card of about A3 format. A transparent Skin Swatch is attached to the picture having the face cover the golden rosette of the Dictator. Here is a picture of the lower front showing how the Swatch is attached and also showing the message of this special package. After that the whole package is sealed in a very nice manner. On the back there is a great number sticker which not only shows you the number but also a nice picture of the Dictator Of Love kicking ass of a real dictator! Good fun! The signature of Marcel below is not on all packages. The design of the pictures is by Marcel Bierenbroodspot as you may have guessed. The price for this special is 70 Euro of which a good part is donated to Amnesty International. It has been some time since the last special from the Netherlands but I think it was worth waiting. This is another great one!
2002 Calendar
Swatch Calendar for 2002. First have a look at all these pictures: Front, January/February, March/April, May/June, July/August, September/October, November/December and Back. As you can see it is a very good looking calendar in the famous Pirelli style. For each set of two months there is a picture of the hardly dressed model (Magda Borowiak) featuring a famous Swatch. On the front cover a Jelly Skin is featured and this one is real, it is stuck into the picture. The final page contains all information about this special like the fact the photographs where made by Mike King of the Dutch Playboy. It contains a description of all featured Swatches. Also the limitation of 300 pieces is mentioned and there is a numbering at the bottom. As you can see I have number 1 once again! I think the pictures are done quite subtile, it's really very nice. This is a great and artistic special that will maybe be issued every year from now on. Unless you all don't like it! Would surprise me. Shop price is NLG 170. It comes inside a numbered envelope with the Swatch Store Utrecht stamp on it, this envelope also contains the warranty certificate.
News! In February this special was forbidden by Swatch in Switzerland. All remaining pieces where taken from sale and had to be destroyed. I heard at that moment around hundred pieces had been sold (not the first hundred numbers). It seems this has become a rather rare piece now!
2001 FC Utrecht
In July a special Swatch was issued for the FC Utrecht soccer club. On the 21st the annual supporters day was held and the special was launched. Here is a picture of the FC Utrecht Swatch and here is a picture of the official presentation to the team. 671 pieces where created. Members of the FC Utrecht supporters club pay NLG 100 for this Swatch, others pay the regular Access price of NLG 115.69.
There are two special packages of this Swatch, called "The Winners Game" and "The Losers Game" which where issued December 2001 and January 2002. The first one is a limited and numbered edition of 300 pieces and the second one is a limited and numbered edition of just 200 pieces. The boxes are quite nice, they have the distinct "Bierenbroodspot" look of Twitch Twins and Peter. This is the outside of the Winners Game box, this is the inside of the Winners Game box, this is the outside of the Losers Game box, this is the inside of the Losers Game box and this is a picture of the number on the back. Yes, I have number 1 of both editions! Now check the pictures. Did you notice the Goal being reversed on the Losers Game to indicate the goal for the opponent? Also did you see the soccer fan taking it out on his dog? And finally Marcel signed my box with the two of us shaking hands, me wearing lots of Swatches (only my box has this). That's all quite funny! I like it a lot. The official shop price for these packages is NLG 125 before January 1st 2002 and Euro 56.72 after that.
2001 Ben Sneeuwklokje
The Dutch mobile phone operator Ben has presented it's employees with a nice christmas present: a Swatch "Sneeuwklokje". An estimated number of 2,700 pieces where given away. Here go the pictures, outer box showing two ski's in the snow, front of inlay quite funny, back of inlay, inside of box, Swatch itself and price tag on the box. Very nice package! This one has not been for sale, it was given away only. As you can see on the price tag the Swatch has a code SKK113C and it is a Monte Da Lua with a new strap. This translucent strap fits the Swatch perfectly. Inside the box is a flyer explaining the meaning of the Swatch. Do have a look at it. For Dutch people it should all be clear right away, for the rest of you: the Swatch is meant to keep your hands free on the ski piste. It is Ben's way to say thanks and to look forward to the 2002 Olympic Winter Games where Ben is an official partner of the NOC*NSF. The present is a Sneeuwklokje (Snowdrop), something that usually just gets it's head above ground in January. One more thing can be said about the box. The layout of the front says "Postage Paid" and some other things which show the box is designed to be sent by post. As Ben employees did receive the special in person this may be used to send it to Ben dealers as well. I have seen another box without this print as well. This is a worthy package to close the 2001 special Swatch year!
2001 Prime Time
Have a look at this special package called "Prime Time". Another one by Marcel in a limited and numbered edition of 300 pieces. The box is quite nice again. This is a picture of the outside of the box, this is a picture of the inside of the box and this is a picture of the number on the back. Yes, I have number 1! The official shop price for this package is NLG 105. Around 100 pieces where sold, during a fire in 2006 the rest of them where destroyed!
2001 Holland Casino's
This is the Holland Casino's Swatch in it's box. By occasion of their twentyfifth anniversary Holland Casino's issued this special through October. It is a Juggler (GK307) with a special strap and box. Visitors to the casino's will have a chance to win this Swatch every time they enter the casino. What they need to do is put their welcome chip on a Roulette table. If their number comes up they win so it is a chance of 1 in 37. 13,000 pieces have been made. That really is a lot! It comes in a nice box with the price sticker and code GK307C or GK307CV on the back. As far as I know there are 10,000 pieces with the first code and 3,000 pieces with the second. The second run has been added later. The text on the inside of the box is a little different. In GK307C they mention the twentyfifth anniversary, in GK307CV they mention the opening of a new branche in Enschede in 2002. So it is possible the second run was made in 2002 and these where not won in the casino as described above.
2001 KPN
Have a look at this picture. I have asked KPN's Communication Services and this is what they told me: "The department involved in checking the proper use of KPN logo's have had a look at this Swatch and concluded the KPN logo is not used correctly. That means this can never be an official KPN product. They also called KPN's incentive bureau asking if they ever had this Swatch made. This was not the case either. Probably this Swatch was made for some employee's jubilee. To find out who is behind this is, from KPN's point of view, practically impossible." For me this is enough: this must be an illegal, selfmade strap. I will leave the information here for you to know though it really doesn't belong here.
2001 Libertel
Have a look at this add with picture. A short translation of the text:
Now get a Swatch Beat with an Ericsson T20e. The Ericsson T20e now really has it all. Use SMS, send pictures and sounds and WAP. It has exciting games and Swatch Internet Time. Want more? A Swatch Beat watch? A Libertel subscription? So ask for the special offer in one of the shops! Available a.o. at BelCompany, t for telecom, The Phone House, Libertel-Vodafone City Point.
This add was used in July 2001. As you have noticed a subscription is compulsory. All info welcome!
2001 Port of Rotterdam
To celebrate the opening of the Port of Rotterdam building in the Netherlands in the summer of 2001, a beautiful special packaging has been given to the employees of the Port of Rotterdam. Each box is indiviually numbered inside. 2050 pieces have been made, 1850 were given to employees, the rest was distributed elsewhere. The box contains the Ocean Of Love (Swatch code GK909C) loomi gent Swatch refitted with a special strap. Here is a picture of the box and here is a picture of the Swatch and warranty.
2001 Maastricht Store
On July 1st a new Store was opened in Maastricht. This was celebrated with a limited edition special Club Swatch World2 only sold there. It comes in the well known box for this special, this time with blue plastic. So far these boxes where sold in Portugal (red), Barcelona (green and yellow) and in the UK (blue). A picture will follow.2001 Crazy Train Utrecht
On June 30th and July 1st Albin Christen signed the Swatches he designed (Crazy Train, Valentine 2001, Montreux Jazz Festival) in the Store in Utrecht. He also painted and signed special Crazy Train Boxes, just five Crazy Train Maxi's and just three Crazy Train Artwork, a limited and numbered edition of hundred pieces only. Albin designed a T-shirt for the choire The Kids Crew which was sold these two days for twentyfive Guilders only. Funds raised went to the aids babies. Here is a picture of the T-shirts being sold.
2001 Rotterdam Access Swatch
On June 1st in the Havengebouw (Harbour Building) Rotterdam mayer Opstelten presented the first Rotterdam Access Swatch. This Swatch can give access to many attractions in the city (when upgraded). Shortly after that it went on sale (eg from Tourist Information). Here goes a picture of the complete set and the Swatch. As you can see it features the great skyline of Rotterdam, the city with the biggest port in the world. Many important buildings and bridges are shown. This is not another Access Swatch with a different strap, case and dial are made especially. It looks great, the box too! Should come with a postcard and flyer featuring the Swatch and skyline. Another great Dutch special. Limitation is probably 10,000 pieces and the price is NLG 105.
The "Rotterdam Topsport" organization has produced a limited edition variation on the strap. Here is a picture of the print on the strap. Limitation is said to be between 100 and 300 pieces. The Swatch is called "Rotterdam City of Sports".
Another organization to produce a limited edition variation on the strap is "Ontwikkelingsbedrijf Rotterdam". Here is a picture of the extra loop on the strap. Limitation is said to be 500 pieces.
In September another limited special packaging was available. In an aluminium frame you find the Swatch, a small photo camera and the brochure of the Rotterdam Pass. Price was NLG 295 which seems like a lot to me because all parts are easily available. Here is a picture of that package. Limitation is 333 pieces.
In 2006 I found another logo on this Swatch. Here is a picture of that logo. I am still trying to find out where the logo came from, what the number issued is and at what occasion it was issued.
In 2008 I discovered another variant of the Rotterdam Access. Here you can see the "Zorgwerk" loop on the upper strap. This one is probably made for Zorgwerk, an intermediary in the care business. Any more information is welcome!
Many of the 10,000 pieces where not sold, the order was not fully taken so a lot of them are still with Swatch.
2001 Double Bubble Blup
The Swatch Store in Utrecht and Marcel Bierenbroodspot have done it again! This time they created a special package for Bubble Blup. The package consists of a bottle of Double Bubble Blup bathing shampoo and a Bubble Blup Scuba Loomi inside a specially decorated square box. Here goes a picture of the complete set. This new special was sold starting April 14 2001 09.30 AM. They hurried to get it out on this day as it was the birthday of the owner, Ben! I got there early and was able to buy number 001/400! The price was NLG 120. It is a limited and numbered edition of 400 pieces, the number is printed on the front side of the bottle label. Great one! I have seen this special also being sold in a box with an extra item (eg a brush). These are not original! Here goes a picture of that bootleg set. As you can see the picture on the box is an enlargment of the picture on the Swatch box. All first three hundred are sold out! The remaining numbers (301 through 400) are on sale now in different bottles containing pink and blue shampoo. The ones with the pink shampoo are more rare. The bottle has a different sticker (bigger and other colors). Here goes a picture of the new set. The price is EUR 65. During a fire in 2006 a lot of the remaining pieces where destroyed!
1999-2001 Roche Series
The chemical concern Roche has issued a series of four Swatch watches, each in a limited edition of 5,000 pieces (unofficial announcement). This is an official special. Within the pharmaceutical branche of the company these Swatches are used to give away to business relations. It is said it is not allowed to sell them and in fact, you don't find them around. Very rare indeed! First three Swatches are designed by well known Dutch artists (have a look at the folders). Number one was issued spring 1999, it has the code GM113E. This is the folder, this is the box (front and back) and this is the Swatch itself. Number two was issued fall 1999, it has the code GM113F. This is the folder, this is the box (front and back) and this is the Swatch itself. Number three was issued spring 2000, it has the code GM113C. This is the folder, this is the box (front and back) and this is the Swatch itself. Number four was issued December 2000 to January 2001, it has the code GM113D. This is the folder, this is the box (front and back) and this is the Swatch itself. This final Swatch was designed by the winner of a contest, held under customers of Roche. Great work! I also like the box of this fourth one, with the Swatch picture and the word "Mediswatch". Inside the folder the designer describes his creation with a critical note about health care in The Netherlands.
2000 Burgers Ergon
Burgers Ergon Installatietechniek has issued a Burgers Ergon logo Swatch at the occasion of the opening of the KPN tower on the "Kop of Zuid" in Rotterdam. As the Swatch this tower is designed by Renzo Piano. Only 250 pieces where made making this a real hard one to find.
2000 KLM Skin box
Usually Skin Swatches are sold inside halfround boxes. Because the KLM (Koninklijke Luchtvaart Maatschappij or Royal Dutch Airlines) sells these Skins underway and space in planes is very limited these Skins are sold aboard in a different and special flat box. Because KLM is a Dutch company I think this is a Dutch package, even though it is quite plain.
2000 Shell Easypay
This is the Shell Easypay Swatch. This special was launched in November 2000. If you look at the picture you may notice the "new" look of the case of this original Swatch. This is because there are two chips inside it. The first one is the standard chip for using it as a ski pass and the second one is a proprietary chip for use by Shell. It is available in The Netherlands only. This Access Swatch has an extra function, that is you can pay with it at the Shell Easypay gas stations. This means you have to register before you can get it. Of course it also functions as a ski pass. Limitations for a start are 10,000 units. There may be something similar coming to other countries but that will probably be another Swatch. It is not available to Collectors through The Club or through the Stores. The package is not very special, just a standard plastic box inside a blue paper box. Inside the box are the guarantee, a letter and instructions. The code of this Swatch is SHN103.
Like the Ajax and Rotterdam Swatches the minimum order from Swatch for a private issue, 10,000 pieces, turned out to be too high. Less than a thousand where sold. In 2006 the remainder was put into the trade. But note the Shell loop has been cut off! This is how you can spot the difference. These also come without the blue outer box and instructions.
2000 Gouden Kalf
This is the outside of the Gouden Kalf special box and this is the inside with the Swatch itself. This special is sold on "het Nederlands Filmfestival" ("Dutch Movie Festival") in a limited edition of 450 pieces. 50 of these are for the winners of the Gouden Kalfs and the organisation of the event, the rest is sold on the event itself (from September 20, 2000), starting with the low numbers. They are sold through the Swatch Store in Utrecht. A selling party in one of the theatres could not be organized. This is a picture of the specials waiting for you... They did create another great special! The code on the warranty is GK319C and the official price was NLG 170. The number sticker is on the back, eight pieces only have an engraved number on the back! If you have a picture of that, do let me know! On the inlay there is room to write the names of the Gouden Kalf winners. Now here you can read the press release with more information. During a fire in 2006 over 200 pieces where destroyed!
2000 Swatch-Clopedia
In 2000 Squiggly have issued their first Swatch-Clopedia catalog, the best Swatch catalog ever. The issue of this book was celebrated by a party held on the evening of June 30th, at the same time Rob Versteeg opened his Squiggly Store in Rotterdam. This was a very nice party with great food and drinks and lots of visitors, also from abroad. Here is a picture of the opening of the Store, here is a picture of the party and here is a picture of the crowd inside the Store. We all had a great time and enjoyed ourselves. This is a great place to be and really worth your visit next time around. On this party a special edition of Jelly Piano was sold to go with the limited hardcover version of the book. It has a strap with a special imprint. Only 150 pieces are made! Only fans attending the party could buy them and they where limited to two per person. Here is a picture of the numbered outer box, here is a picture of the inside of the box and here is a picture of the Swatch itself. Please have a look at the Swatch-Clopedia website to learn all about the catalog. Official price for this special was NLG 195.
2000 Run After Sydney Olympic NOC and team Swatch
In 1996 at the Atlanta games participating countries had their own silver and gold NOC Swatches. The Netherlands did not! This time in Australia things where different and my country had one too. Here is a picture. Code is GK419N and the price is NLG 90. Limitation is 1,000 pieces.
Apparently there where no gold ones this time but there is a Dutch team watch after all! I have been looking for one of these for well over a year but no luck until September 5th, 2001. At that day I met Chris Bruil and his girlfriend Lotte Jonathans, both top Olympic Badminton players. Very nice people, working hard for their sport. We will be seeing more of them... This is a picture of Chris signing several things for me. Now something about this Dutch Olympic Team Swatch. I've got the one that belonged to Chris! Very cool and important piece in my collection. Ultra rare, even more in this condition (new, unworn and complete). So, very very happy and pleased to have it! Limitation is said to be 200 pieces, most of those worn. Please note the logo on the strap comes off very easily! Wear it for a few days and it will be gone completely. Most of the boxes have no price sticker, when it is there it says YGS4007C to tell you this is an official special. Both watch and box have the country code 4301 for the Netherlands. Here is a picture of this special Penrith with an orange strap and here is a closeup picture of the logo on the strap. Chris signed the guarantee for me. What more can one ask?
2000 Streets of Utrecht and Maxi
In 1999 a Swatch Store was opened in Utrecht. This was celebrated by a Special, called Streets of Utrecht. I have made a special page about the party on June 3rd of 2000 when this special was sold. Please click here to have a look and share the fun. Now some information about this special: design is again by Marcel Bierenbroodspot (Twitch Twins and Peter). It is a great and also big and heavy box (approx. 25 x 50 x 5 cm and 1.5 kg). It contains a game for a maximum of four players called "Streets of Utrecht" with rules in Dutch and English. This game will show you around Utrecht, the nicest city in the Netherlands (well, just after Rotterdam). The money in the game is called Dommies on which famous people from Utrecht are depicted. This is an overview of the outside of the box and this is an overview of the inside of the box. Here is a picture of the Swatch with three different straps. The one on the right is the actual Swatch sold, the two on the left are test prints with the upper half of the strap upside down, one of them in a different colour. These two where actually sold, of both only 20 pieces exist. Needless to say they are very rare! Please don't ask me to find some for you, I cannot. The other 360 pieces are standard. The Swatch is a GK303. Here is a picture of the front of the box and here is a picture of the gameboard in detail, showing the watch in the middle. Here you can see the number sticker on the back. This special is a limited edition of 400 pieces. Price is NLG 190. It looks great, Marcel has done well! Just have a look at the details. During a fire in 2006 over 200 pieces where destroyed!
There is also a Maxi of this Swatch. Marcel has done all work by hand. They where all sold out before they hit the Store and where limited to two per buyer. 40 pieces have been made. Four different kinds where issued, ten of each! The straps are the same but the dial contains a picture of a Whore, a Burglar, a Golden Calf or a StreetNews Seller. Here is what Marcel did to my loops and my box, great! Price was NLG 300.
And finally, here is a picture of the T-shirt sold matching this special. I wear mine!
2000 Divine Time
In the year 2000 the Amsterdam soccer club Ajax exists 100 years. Celebrating this event a special Swatch is sold through the Ajax site and also through some Stores. Here is a nice picture of this Swatch. The code is SKK117. Here is a picture of the front, here is the back and this is the price sticker. Limitation is the minimum 1,000 units. Official price is NLG 100. This Swatch was presented during a soccer game between Ajax and AZ on Sunday April 16. This was also done through a 3.5m high (!) Maxi Swatch that was presented on the field and also on the main screens. Here is a picture of this Maxi Swatch and here is another one. The first of the normal Swatches was presented to Sjaak Swart during this game.
On November 28th 2000 the Swatch Store at Schiphol Airport started selling a transparent box with twelve of these Swatches, signed by these Ajax soccer players: F. Grim, T. Galasek, C. Chivu, A. Winter, A. van der Meyde, R. Witschge, S. Averladze, T. le Cler, Wanberto, N. Machlas, C. van der Gun, R. van der vaart. The boxes seem to be delivered to the buyers at the end of March 2001. It is said to be a limited edition of ten boxes. Here is a picture of this box.
Ajax did not find a way to sell a lot of these. They did not take the rest and they are still with Swatch.
2000 Chemistry
NO MORE QUEUES! Enter the Escape with your Swatch Access Beat!On April 8th, 2000, Chemistry party Escape celebrated its 5th Birthday. Swatch has decided to join forces with Chemistry to help celebrate this event, with the installation of a new Access entry system . From April 8th new members will no longer have to wait in line to enter the weekly Chemistry-party in Escape.
With the special Swatch Access Beat Chemistry (available only via the Chemistry organisation) your membership will be loaded on to your watch. At the turnstyle, hold your Swatch Access Beat Chemistry to the Swatch Access scanners in order to check your access authorization. And you are in! No more queuing! the ultimate pose. Furthermore a special message will appear on the access TV screen at the entrance to the nightclub to welcome you to the party. And as with all Swatch Access watches, the Beat Chemistry, can also be used (once loaded) as a ski pass in over 450 ski and snowboard resorts worldwide.
Chemistry is the first party organisation in Europe with the unique Swatch Access-system. The Swatch Access Beat Chemistry is a big, trendy and super-intelligent high-tech watch. On the comfortable black velcro-strap you will see the red Chemistry-logo embroidered. Only Chemistry-members can purchase this ultramodern Chemistry membership pass for fl. 125,-.
Via the special Swatch-entrance in Escape you can enter for a whole year - 52 Saturdays - and you will never have to wait in line anymore! During Saturdays Chemistry-parties there is also a chance to win - still secret - prizes which are loaded on to your Swatch!
Now that was the official announcement. Here is a picture of the Chemistry Swatch with embroidered logo. 500 Have been produced but only 100 where actually sold. Some remainder went into the trade in 2006. Code is SXW100L. On my pricetag it says 0688 but what that means?
2000 Peter
The Store in Utrecht released a special package on February 26th of 2000. Design is by Marcel Bierenbroodspot, who also designed the very succesfull special package Twitch Twins (see below). This special package is great: funds raised (after extra contributions of The Store and Swatch The Netherlands they made NLG 10,000!) where donated to the Seal Rehabilitation and Research Center in Pieterburen (Peter in English sounds like Pieter in Dutch). Swatch The package contains GK202, Frozen Tears. Because the money was going to a good cause the Store owner liked to make a lot of them but at the time he asked Switzerland they had 60 Frozen Tears (this gave him the idea in the first place) but when it all came through there where only 42 left. Luckily he found another way to get some more making it a round 222 pieces. Price for this special was NLG 170. Here are some pictures of the special: overall, front, inside, backside and box. I have made a special page about the party on February 26th of 2000 when this special was sold. Please click here to have a look and share the fun.
1999-2000 Unilever
I don't know much about it but it seems to be a real special. Can anyone help me? Here is a picture.
1999 Newconomy
This is an alu Beat Swatch YQS1002 with a Newconomy (an Internet investment company not doing to well, a good example of the Internet Bubble) inscription "Nieuwe tijden, nieuwe kansen" which means "New times, new chances". I think they did that in a nice way! Great inscription. It also has a Newconomy sticker on the box. In April/March 1999 this watch was given away in an edition of about 250 pieces as a gift to business partners, especially those who where involved in the stock market introduction of Newconomy but also to for instance Americans working with e-business related companies in Silicon Valley as a thank-you for exhibits, presentations and so on.
1999 PcM Publishers
These are the inscriptions on the two PcM Publishers Swatches. These specials where launched at the occasion of the completion of the Y2K project of the Facilitaire Bedrijven ICT of PcM Publishers. This was around the end of November, beginning of December 1999. The first Swatch is referred to as the ladies one, it is a skin Black Out Too with a special strap with imprint "PcM FACILITAIRE BEDRIJVEN ICT Y2K PROJECT". Around fourty of these where given away to the female employees of the Facilitaire Bedrijven ICT of PcM Publishers. The second one is referred to as the male one and it was given away to around two hundred male employees. It is a YCS4004AG Toxin, with the same imprint, though this time it seems to be etched into the metal. Very nicely done!
1999 DMSA
This Access was given out in the Netherlands during a congress of the Direct Marketing Sales Association (DMSA in short) which was held in the MECC center in Maastricht. The abbreviation is printed on the small extra loop around the strap. Only 1750 VIP's out of 6000 visitors where given this special Access for a big party in the Holiday Inn during the event. This access was used as the only key to enter the celebration at the VIP party. The watch case has an original price tag with price in Guilders and numbers on it (SKK 106K) making it an official special. Here is a picture of the watch and here is a picture of the box.
1999 Haagse Bluf
At the occasion of the opening of the Swatch Store in The Hague a special package for GK280 Agatic Agatac was released on November 20 and 21 1999 in a limited and numbered edition of 500 pieces. The Swatch is packed inside a square box. The box looks like the mosaic floor inside the Store which is designed by Alessandro Mendini, a great name not in Swatch alone. Inside the box is the Swatch, an eraser and some pencils (not a very original idea!), a calender and some postcards of pictures also on display in the real Store. Overall not bad. Pictures will follow. Official price was NLG 170.1999 ABN/AMRO tennis tournament
On occasion of the ABN/AMRO (a bank) tennis tournament (ATP) in the Netherlands, which was held from February 15th until February 21st 1999 a special package for GK277, Advantage, was sold. Apparently only 500 where produced although the price sticker is numbered to 1500. When demand is higher than the first 500 more will be produced. When the tournament was over there where still enough available but now they seem to be all gone. The original price was NLG 120. The package itself is not so very different from the original. A new price sticker and a number have been added and also two tennis balls where added to the box. The name of the tournament is written on the inlay. Here is a picture and here is another one. Official price was NLG 120.
1998 PAN 98
This is rather a simple box. Here is a picture. It was used to pack all Art Swatches that where sold at the "Pictura Antiquarie National" art fair in Amsterdam in 1998. Original price was probably NLG 120 and the production no more than 500 pieces.
1997 Kalvertoren
It was issued by occasion of the official opening of the second Swatch store in the Netherlands, in Amsterdam, on wednesday November 19th 1997. I big party was held and the 1000 Kalvertorens where sold quickly. Free drinks, ice creams, a performance of 45 minuten by Candy Dulfer, also signing her Swatch "Funky Town", which is also the name of her band. Also a lottery with 65 Christmas specials was held. A very nice evening! The package is an official special, numbered and packed in a nice special package. 1000 where produced in the standard color. Another 100 pieces (also numbered) where sold with a white object instead of a red one. These where apparently given to VIP's. The name Kalvertoren comes from the shopping mall the Store is situated in, "Kalvertoren", which in it's turn inherited it's name from the nearby standing tower. The package is a white tube, with cow imprint, the Swatch and Kalvertoren logo's. Inside is the Swatch, an access with a specially made strap, also showing cows and the Kalvertoren logo, black on transparent. It also has an extra wide loop saying "Swatch Store Amsterdam". Inside the tube there is a kind of peg/picket, the thing they put on the pavement in Amsterdam to prevent cars from parking there. It is in red plastic, about the size of the Swatch, and showing the three crosses of Amsterdam. In Dutch this object is called an "Amsterdammertje". The number of the set is on the bottom of this "Amsterdammertje". Also inside the tube is the warranty certificate, stamped with the Kalvertoren Store's name. Altogether this is a very attractive and nice set. Original price was NLG 170. Here is a picture of the Swatch and here is a picture of the entire package.
1997 SMH
Up until 1997 Swatches where imported into the Netherlands by Ed Maassen. In 1997 SMH took over and for this occasion a special access SKK103M was produced and given away to the people attending the evening. It is merely a standard SKK103 with an extra loop with "SMH Netherlands" on it. About 800 must have been produced. I do not have any information as to how many of these have been given away. The remaining Swatches have been sold for NLG 100. Although Swatch the Club members could fill out a form to get one it was also freely available. Here is a picture.
1997 Twitch Twins
By occasion of the first anniversary of Swatch the Club in the Netherlands a special package for GN168 Twitch Twins was issued. 250 of these where made, all numbered on the bottom of the box. Design of the box by Marcel Bierenbroodspot, the creative brain behind the Club in the Netherlands. On the Club meeting he received number 1/250 and 100 buying certificates where drawn between the attending Club members. As a matter of fact, all who registered got their certificate. The other boxes went to the Swatch outlets. Original price was NLG 170. Inside the box there is the Swatch, three pencils, an eraser, and a booklet to design your own comic. Colours of the pencils may vary, but these can be exchanged by anyone. A true variation in the box is the little piece of fabric that helps you to get the Swatch out. I have seen this in red and in purple. Here is a picture.
1997 Love Kit
This special package was issued by the Swatch store in Rotterdam. It is a transparent spaghetti canister, containing the Swatch Pounding Heart (GK237, 1997), heart shaped candy, a Swatch etui and a greeting card. The box itself has a sticker on the outside, is numbered xxx/230 on the metal clip and has an official price sticker on the bottom. On this sticker the code GK237S is printed and the price is NLG 170. Lucky buyers also received a heart shaped Swatch balloon with the box. Here is a picture.
1996 Minolta
In 1996 Minolta introduced the Minolta Vectis APS camera. Over 1,000 Minolta partners attended the Vectis Product Training to learn how to handle and sell the camera. Attendees where asked to fill in and return a questionaire. 972 people indeed did so and of those 582 where filled in correctly. The first hundred received where awarded a Swatch fitted with a special strap (picture). The Swatch is issued by Minolta Benelux so this is a special for Belgium, Luxembourg and the Netherlands. As made clear above there are only one hundred pieces which makes it really hard to find. I got mine in 2004!
1995 Vive Le Paix
In 1995 a Swatch designed by the famous Cobra artist Corneille was issued. By this occasion "The Bijenkorf", one of our major department stores, marketed two special editions of this Swatch. The first special edition is a frame containing the same litographic as shown on the Swatch, numbered xxx/125 en signed by Corneille, and the Vive le Paix Swatch. Here is a picture. These 125 sets where sold for NLG 950. At the evening of it's introduction on the sixth of november 1995 (here is a picture of the special invitation for the event) five more specials sets where auctioned. These sets where the same as the other, but now numbered I/V - V/V and extra with the set came a Swatch with the same number and signature on the strap. At the auction Corneille was also present. The money of the auction went to "The Prince Bernhard Fund". The special sets where sold for NLG 4600, 4800, 5200, 5000 and 9000 respectively. Later I learnt there are more than 125 of the original sets. Extra "test" sets have been spotted on the market. They are marked "Epreuve d'Artiste" on the front side and numbered xx/25. Also there are unnumbered EA's. I recently learnt that some of these prints are in a frame without the Swatch! Here is a picture of that version. I hope to find out how many exist and which numbers are concerned (some are numbered, some are EA as well). I guess totally there are 155 numbered ones and an unknow number of EA's. Update: I have found an unframed EA litho.
1995 Oongawah!
This special package was issued by "The Bijenkorf", one of our major department stores at the occasion of its 125th anniversary. It is not numbered and was sold for NLG 100. I heard 3000 of these packages where produced, Swatch-Clopedia says it is a 1000. My guess is some of the packages have been destroyed as I am quite sure "The Bijenkorf" never sold 1000 Oongawah!'s. Here is a picture of it.
1993 Quarto
In 1993 the shop Quarto in Maatsricht celebrated their opening with this special package. It is numbered on the back of the strap and inside on the explanation paper. It is a limited edition of 400 pieces. I don't know if there where different Swatches inside this package. Here is a picture, this is another picture, this is another picture, this is another picture and this is another picture of it.
