Swatch – Sistem51 Hodinkee Vintage 84 Watch

Swatch has announced its Sistem51 Hodinkee Vintage 84 Watch, the brand’s first collaboration with watch store and news site Hodinkee.

The watch features the Sistem51 movement, and is inspired by one of the first watches that sparked Swatch’s transformation of the traditional Swiss watchmaking industry.

The translucent black case and black rubber strap appear alongside a brushed aluminum dial and bright, luminous hour markers, and the broad hands glow, making the watch more legible. The date window at six o’clock adds extra functionality, while the discrete red dots on the dial are a nod to the mechanical Sistem51 movement within.

While a typical mechanical watch movement can consist of hundreds of components, the Sistem51 movement contains just 51 total components, enabling a fully automatic production process, rather than requiring labour-intensive production by hand.

The watch does not use a battery, but is rather powered by the person who wears it. Every movement of the wrist sets the rotor in motion, which can be seen through the transparent caseback. When not in use, the watch will still work for 90 hours.

Overall, Sistem51 is an interesting starting point for those looking to get into the world of horology. It combines the past and the present to give us a reminder of Swatch’s impact on the watch world, with its plastic construction and 21st-century production methods offering a different take on what a mechanical watch can be.

The Sistem51 Hodinkee Vintage 84 Watch, by SWATCH x HODINKEE