Swatch x Jean-Michel Basquiat collection: what you need to know
Swatch is no stranger to strapping art to your wrist. Now it has a collab with one of the world’s greatest modern artists.
If it ticks, Luke Hopewell has worn it. A watch expert with years of experience, Luke is the guy in the know when it comes to what to wear when and for whom. His favourite watch is the Omega Speedmaster Professional, but he’s also partial to anything with a crown…
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There are three watches in the new Jean-Michel Basquiat collection. Each takes elements directly from Basquiat’s best works.
Each features a quartz movement, plastic case and a silicone strap. It’s meant as an easy wearing art piece that won’t cost you an arm and a leg to own.
Hollywood Africans
This piece pays homage to Basquiet’s 1983 masterpiece of the same name.
The dial of this vivid yellow timepiece serves as a canvas, bringing to life a trio of figures—the artist himself, the rap musician Rammellzee, and the painter Toxic.
Untitled
This extraordinary watch faithfully reproduces Basquiat’s iconic artwork, Untitled. That’s actually the name.
At the heart of this timepiece is the iconic Basquiet crown. Encased in a sleek black frame, the dial exudes an aura of regal elegance that captures the essence of the piece perfectly.
The printed strap of this remarkable timepiece recreates the captivating textural juxtapositions and oil-stick scribbles that are Basquiat hallmarks.
Ishtar
Drawing inspiration from Basquiat’s masterpiece, Ishtar, this timepiece showcases a mesmerising black printed dial adorned with numerals and text that are precise reproductions from the original artwork itself.
The case and strap proudly display a continuous symphony of faces from the artwork against a striking turquoise background.
The underside of the watch, as well as the loop bearing the artist’s name, beautifully contrasts in an alluring black shade, further accentuating the allure of the design.
Swatch Art Journey collection
The new Basquiat watches top off Swatch’s so-called ‘Art Journey’.
It’s a series of timepieces based on incredible art and galleries from around the world. Swatch has taken watches from individual museum collections and strapped them to its GENT and NEW GENT watches.
There’s the incredible pop art piece ‘Girl’ by Lichtenstein, a few Botticellis from the Galleria Degli Uffizi and some of Magritte’s best surrealist work too, just to name a few.
When I went to the launch event, Swatch told me that all the Art Journey (and the Basquiet) models will be on sale online via Swatch.com, or via the new boutiques.
The new collection I’m told arrives at the same time as the new Sydney boutique opens. Pay it a visit!
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