Swatch 'Arcimboldo' Wrist Watch
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
1994
This Swatch 'Arcimboldo' wrist watch, catalogued as registration number ST 42099, was manufactured in Switzerland in 1994 by Swatch SA as part of their spring/summer collection.
The watch features a distinct clear orange acrylic case paired with a clear and blue plastic strap, both of which incorporate a mechanical-themed graphic design. It is powered by a quartz movement. As one of 91 Swatch watches acquired by the institution, this piece reflects the company's 1980s-originated strategy to produce affordable, replaceable timepieces as an alternative to traditional mechanical watches. The overall dimensions of the object are approximately 23 cm in length, 3.5 cm in width, and 1 cm in height.
Evidence at a glance
- Linked sources
- 1
- Photograph views
- 1
- Catalogue references
- 0
Counts describe this entry’s documentation, not authenticity, rarity or completeness. Photographs may show one specimen; check each caption and licence.
Technical characteristics
- Date
- 1994
- Type
- Quartz wrist watch
- Reference
- SAO 100
- Manufacturer
- Swatch SA
- Case material
- Clear orange acrylic
- Included items
- Plastic box, warranty, and instructions
- Place recorded
- Switzerland
- Strap material
- Clear/blue plastic
- Maker / attribution
- Swatch SA
- Registration Number
- ST 42099
Design
- Visible features
- • Clear orange acrylic watch case • Strap decorated with blue and white mechanical gear motifs • Exposed mechanical gear aesthetic on dial • Matching clear orange plastic pin buckle
- Case and Aesthetic Design
- The watch is constructed with a translucent, clear orange acrylic case that provides a high-contrast housing for its internal components. The aesthetic theme centers on a mechanical motif, which is printed directly onto the surface of both the clear and blue plastic strap and is visible through the crystal of the dial. This specific model, the 'Arcimboldo', is identified as part of the spring/summer 1994 collection, reflecting the visual identity maintained by the manufacturer during that period.
- Movement and Technical Identification
- The movement is identified in the records as a quartz mechanism. The watch was produced in Switzerland, consistent with the brand's origin in Biel/Bienne. The case back allows for visibility of the movement, which bears the printed inscription 'automatic' in the source photography, despite the primary record describing the object as a quartz watch. The contrast between the record's textual description and the physical markings visible on the movement indicates a potential discrepancy in the provided museum documentation regarding the watch's specific power source or classification.
- Institutional Provenance and Collection Details
- This object is held within the collections of the Museums Victoria and is designated under the registration number ST 42099. It entered the collection via purchase and is classified under the areas of science and measurement. It forms part of a larger acquisition of 91 watches from the same seasonal collection, illustrating the institution's focus on the series as a study of industrial design and watch manufacturing history.
Identification
- Reference
- SAO 100
- Source note
- Facts transcribed from the linked source listing or collection record. Attribution and specifications are source-reported and have not been independently authenticated.
Catalogue references
No catalogue numbers recorded. Numbers are only published once transcribed from a verified edition of a standard catalogue — they are never inferred.
Research required
- Research required: Source summary states 'Quartz movement' while the photo of the case back shows the word 'automatic' printed on the movement
- Research required: Plastic components may be prone to degradation over time